Love Sick Fred (Drop Dead Fred Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven

Fred appeared in a ball of green light careening out of control, smacking against trees and ricocheting off walls. He was an unstoppable blur and only seemed to gain momentum with each crash, until finally colliding with the side of park statue. The slam triggered Fred to pop back into his human form and he fell with flailing arms and onto his back.

Lying there on the purple grass, Fred groaned and realized he was again in the world where all imaginary friends existed. His plan had worked, but as he remembered what he'd done to get here a pained sensation flooded his chest. He could still feel her against his lips and shuddered at the way it'd felt being torn away from her.

That kiss had been better than their first one and Fred couldn't believe the way her mouth had responded to his so filled with some sort of need he didn't quite understand. He closed his eyes and fought to steady his breath. He needed to get moving. The sooner he got his answers, the sooner he could know Lizzie would be alright and he could get back to work as Natalie's imaginary friend.

Fred stood and frowned, some part of him wanting to drag this out just so he might get a bit more time with Lizzie, but he had a Nat Brat to take care of and Lizzie had a life to live.

"Why do I have to be so bloody noble?" he muttered, beginning his trek for the city headquarters. If he'd had better control over his stolen powers he'd have teleported himself closer, but he supposed a bit of a walk would give him time to sort out what he was going to say. He just hoped they would be lenient and not too nosy.

Fred's eyes wandered around the city. Everything still looked as it always had – strange. The buildings didn't even look like buildings. They were oddly colored, twisted, and random. Some weren't even solid. A few of them were actually made out of clouds, others were made out of candy, some were castles constructed out of shoes, others were tree houses with snow globes or igloos atop them as the house, and one building was even a giant hollowed out doll's head. Fred remembered Namby Pampy had lived in a giant tea kettle with its own tutu, but unlike everyone else he was one of the few to never make his own home.

Fred had never really cared for this world, which didn't have a name because imaginary friends never bothered to worry about such details. For him, it was so boring when everyone around you could do the same tricks as you, which made Fred love being around humans so much more. There were so many more possibilities when only one person could see you and no one could fight back.

Murmurs and whispers suddenly filled the air and Fred took notice to the odd gazes he was drawing from nearby imaginary friends. It looked as though someone had photocopied an expression and glued it onto every one of their faces. All of them were terrified, and as he passed, more and more of them popped away to hide in their homes. This was definitely not like he remembered it.

Fred gulped and walked faster, glancing suspiciously at the reactions. What was wrong with them? He hurried up the steps to the giant ship, which served as the headquarters for imaginary friends, and ducked inside. A group of ten imaginary friends gasped at his arrival, stopping Fred in his tracks.

For a moment he expected the usual excited welcome, but it seemed all of them had taken on the same frightened stares as those outside. He shifted with unease.

"Uh, hello... I'm back," he said cracking a smile, but it died as he saw them all fidget and bunch together like a pack of scared animals. Not a one of them would make eye contact with him and Fred's anxiety escalated.

"What, can't say hello to ol' Drop Dead Fred?" He chuckled nervously, but one of the females whimpered and took off running from the room. The hall quickly echoed with her hysterical sobs and Fred shrank back, feeling a knot the size of his fist form inside his stomach.