ALEXA ROMANO was never one to hold the word "awkwardness" or any variation of the word close. If you were being awkward she wasn't going to reciprocate the feeling.

It was actually something she never really felt unless you really pushed her.

"I don't know." She said into the phone, "Do you really think it's a good idea?"

Do Something was a huge part of Alexa's life and she would do anything to change that.

Whenever people thought of Do Something it was either her beauty brand or her webshow with Chase Matthews and Della James. And when the trio had gotten and email from the infamous Webicon had messaged them about how they were being reward with the Achievement of Higher Goals, they were more than hesitant on going to the event... which they've only been to once and didn't have a pleasant experience.

Chase was a highly respected director and working on movies with people with names such as Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, and many more.

Della was a surgical technician at a hospital in Florida and her only online presence had been her Instagram where she posted pictures of her socks and various cat pictures. She also helped campaign in Alexa's beauty brand every no and then, but mainly the socks and cat photos.

And Alexa, well, been there done that.

"Sounds fun." Della said through the phone, "I mean, we're adults now. I think we can handle petty kidnappings and drama over who's dating who."

Alexa furrowed her brows and held her cup of coffee on her hands as she swiveled in her chair.

"Speaking of," Chase spoke, "never finished telling the story of your one night with Freddie."

Alexa scoffed, "You have sex with one man and it turns into the hot topic of our group chat."

"Alexa." Della called.

"It's whatever." She said, "I had a good time, he had a good time. We're adults. That's just how things work sometimes."

"And no romantic feelings between the two of you?" Chase asked, "Like... none whatsoever?"

Alexa sighed, "I don't know. We haven't talked about it and I don't think I want to."

"Was it like that time in college?" Della asked.

"No. It was actually better this time." She smiled, "It's just been a while since everything's happened so... I rather not be hurt. I guess."

"Talk to him, Alexa." Chase said, "He may be avoiding just because you are."

Alexa gave him a small smile and soon, a knock was heard at her door.

"I've gotta go." She sighed.

"We're going to Webicon this year." Della said, "This is going to our year."

Alexa and Chase gave Della a worrisome smile and hung up.

Alexa stood to her feet and answered the door. On the other side, Freddie stood and Alexa allowed him inside.

The two of them sat down on the couch, Alexa holding her legs and resting her chin on her knees.

"Are you sure about Webicon?" Freddie asked.

"Maybe." She answered, "It's changed a lot. Not being in a sweaty, hot, cramped arena."

"On an island." He smiled.

"And Della and Chase are possibly going."

"And there's your comfort crowd."

"But I was kidnapped trying to go the first time and a chair was thrown at me the second time I was actually at the venue."

"Fun." Freddie joked.

He rested his hand against her knee for reassurance, telling her that things were different.

She could only hope that things would be different.

SOON ENOUGH the event was drawing itself closer and the group, plus Carly's new boyfriend Wes, we're on the way to Webicon.

Alexa had trudged her suitcases downstairs and heavily sighed. She was anxious as hell and on the verge of completely backing out entirely.

There was a knock on the front door and she opened it to see Chase and Della on the other side.

She was quick to wrap her arms around her oldest friends and some of her anxiety had diminished.

She didn't know if her anxiety had been visible for everyone else, but Della and Chase had know the girl for years and it was very visible to them and they knew that they brought her comfort.

And that comfort was very much needed after they were pretty much abandoned in the woods.

"Why don't the trees have houses?" Harper asked.

It was an absolute dump. Nothing like the paradise that they had been led to believe.

"Come on guys." Carly said, "We just have to roll with the punches, and it'll be an adventure."

Definitely better than being kidnapped, so, there was that plus.

"Is this hell?" Millicent asked.

"No." Harper answered, "Hell at least has Lil Nas X. Dutch is the only one from the music lineup who showed."

"I guess all the rich people already figured out what to do with their money— they used it to get on the last helicopter out of here." Freddie said.

"Don't worry," Della said standing, "we're still gonna have a great time."

"She's always optimistic." Alexa said, "Ignore her."

"Alright, here's the deal." Spencer said, "I talked to the person in charge before she was wished away by six competing documentarians. They planned to have luxury tree houses, a pitch-fest, and a sick music lineup, but without money, that plan never went beyond the idea."

"We have a sick music lineup." Carly said, "Dutch can still preform."

But that was a no go because they had possums who were attracted to singing.

"Are they still sending the boats?" Chase asked, "Anything to get out of here? Provide entertainment."

"Okay, film industry man." Spencer mocked, "They aren't sending anything until Monday."

Moments passed and the group had spilt off and Alexa made her way around the area to try and find cellphone reception.

"Do you think this is a sign?"

She turned and saw Freddie, "Sign for what?"

He was pretty bummed that pitch-fest had been canceled. He'd racked up plenty of ideas to sell off, but it had seemed pretty wasteful at this point.

"Maybe it's time I hang up my entrepreneur hat."

"If I gave up my dreams I would probably still be househopping like I was when I was 13." Alexa said, "I can help you."

"No." He answered quickly, "You're not allowed to give me any money."

"Okay, fine. I'm sure there's someone here that will spend their money on you without much care."

"You're not going to find anyone." He sighed, "I'm just not cut out for the tech world. Maybe it's time I find something else."

He turned leaving the girl alone once more. She sighed.

Soon, Carly was able to find everyone an actual livable area thanks to her ex Beau being there. He was a presenter at the event and chose to stay for... a reason.

Alexa wasn't really worried about that at the moment. She passed her conversation that she had with Freddie onto Spencer who claimed that Beau would be the perfect person to invest in Freddie's ideas.

Spencer and Millicent were on their way to pitch Freddie's idea to him and Alexa was able to bring the guy to Beau and he wanted Freddie to fully pitch him the idea tomorrow when he was able to talk to his business guy... aka his dad.

"Oh, my God!" Freddie cheered, "Did you see me just manifest that opportunity out of total thin air?"

The three of them gave him a small, awkward, but reassuring smile as they praised "his" achievement.

Nightfall soon came and the group sat around a small fire and roasted marshmallow.

"Okay, you were right, Wes— that nontoxic bug spray is useless." Carly said.

"Or maybe you're just too sweet."

"If you two are gonna flirt can you do it away from my marshmallows?" Alexa asked, "Your sweetness might burn it."

"You know what would make this weekend better?" Carly asked.

"Nothing could make this better, because it's great!" Harper said, "Right, Dutch?"

"No. A chipmunk looked at me weird."

"I was gonna say scary stories."

"Oh," Wes sighed, "like the one about the guy stranded in the forest with his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend."

"I saw the movie at a film festival and it totally tanked." Chase said.

"You wanna talk about scary?" Beau asked, "Let's talk about George the Bra."

"George the Bra?" Wes questioned.

"Some stupid bra that tells ghost stories." Alexa answered, "A character on iCarly."

"You remember that?" Freddie asked.

"It was Kendall's bra. It's the only reason I remember."

It soon began thundering outside and the group found themselves inside the treehouse. The treehouse began rocking back and forth almost predicting Wes' life of death scenario.

But Spencer, Della, Chase, and Alexa hadn't moved any muscles as the treehouse rocked.

"It's fun being rich." Chase smiled, "Your have to worry about your injuries."

"Really Della questioned, "I think my aura is the reason I'm stable right now."

"Could be worse." Alexa smiled, "Could've been kidnapped again."

The next day, the treehouse had been completely destroyed and Alexa sat down on a log and fixing her makeup in her very large and portable mirror.

"Hey."

She looked up from her mirror and saw Freddie standing nearby.

"Hey."

"Beau told me that Spencer and Millicent set up the investment because you told them about the help."

"I did."

"Why?" He asked, "Just so I could squeeze in one last failure before I give up entirely, or..."

Alexa stood, shutting her mirror and crossed her arms.

"I've always thought I had to compete against Carly." Alexa said, "With my webshow, my life, with you. I was always comparing myself to her and then I made something. Something I could call my own and it worked. I failed 13 times before I got Do Something to work. And I failed 18 times to get my beauty brand to work. If you can't handle the failure, you can't handle life. I had to learn that. I learned that whole thing at 13."

She pulled two dollars out of her dress pocket and placed it in his hands. Another 13 out her other pocket.

"Millicent wanted to give you 13 dollars for you start up. Totals up to 15. It may be small now, but it may be worth millions later. Take it or leave it, Benson."

Freddie held the money in his hands and smiled down at it before looking back up at Alexa once more.

"What do you mean?"

She furrowed her brows and scoffed, "I just spilled by guts out to you. I think I made everything pretty clear."

"It was." He sighed, "But I meant with Carly. You didn't have to compete with her for me."

"Oh." She smiled awkwardly, "I thought you'd skip over that."

She turned and sat back down on the log. She sighed heavily and looked back over at him. He'd now been sitting across from her.

"Do you remember when you broke your leg when you got hit by that taco truck?"

"Clear as day."

"Chase and I went to go see how you were doing one day and we saw you and Carly kissing and I was hurt." She explained, "It made me think, that no matter what, it was always Carly. You had been in love with her forever and I had never had a guy like until I met you. You were my first kiss Freddie and I was hurt. I was young and it may have been stupid to feel that way."

"Yeah, I was in love with Carly, but you were one to tell me that she was only dating me because she was in love with what I did. It meant nothing to her and everything to me."

Alexa sighed and ran her hands through her hair. A silence fell upon them until he spoke once more.

"But I did love you."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's scary isn't it?" Alexa asked, "I was scared and I was young and stupid and... didn't know if it was real."

She chuckled and stood to her feet. She was suddenly feeling pretty stupid airing out her emotions in that way.

She began mumbling on about nonsense in hopes it would confuse him. But no, of course it wouldn't.

In fact, Freddie caught her wrist and pulled her close and placed his lips onto hers.

It wasn't like that night in the hotel room. It wasn't like that at all, maybe even better than that. They were in an emotional state which could've ruined everything, but it didn't.

It would be the aftermath that matter in the end, but it didn't in this moment. In this moment, what matter was them and what would happen.

And right now, this was the craziest thing to happen to them on this entire trip.

And thank God it happened or it may have been a really awkward trip back home.

— lucy has something to say !!

okay on to season two let's all say slay

thanks for liking the story arent you guys glad i haven't taken it down yet 😝

anyways i've never mentioned alexa's living situation until now kind of lol i never even mentioned her parents like who was she living with ❓ well she's was couch surfing so she definitely wasn't living with her parents

bye :))))