Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly or the characters, just the storyline.
R/R. Let me know if you want me to continue with more or not.
Carly and Freddie walked into the hallway between their two apartments and stood there for a moment, silently. "So," Carly began feeling rather awkward for the first time since she'd met Freddie, "Thanks for helping with Spencer."
Freddie smiled to cover his blushing, "Anything I can do to help out…"
"Yeah, I'm just glad Spencer's no longer obsessed with that game. He tends to go a little overboard sometimes." For once she was grasping for words, anything to keep the conversation going. She couldn't help but notice Freddie earlier in the day. His voice had dramatically deepened as Sam had teased him weeks earlier, that was obvious. He'd since grown a few inches, now she looked up at him slightly, and her gaze slowly slid down his body.
How had she not seen this – him – before?
In all the years they'd been friends, she'd never once noticed how cute he truly was. As her eyes made their way back to his, Carly was pulled out of her daze, "Carly? You okay?" Freddie had taken a step closer to her, leaving less than a foot of air between them.
She shook her head rapidly, shaking loose her thoughts. "Yeah, sorry. Long night," she covered. She hoped it worked. "I guess I'm just tired," she rambled.
"Yeah, it's getting late," Freddie replied.
"I'm surprised your mom hasn't called the police looking for you yet," Carly joked; Freddie visibly tightened.
"Yeah," he said slowly, staring into her eyes, "My mom's a little uptight." There was a strain building between the two of them in the small hallway. Neither could move as they held eye contact; time seemed to stand still.
Carly couldn't help herself anymore. She let her thoughts run rampant, uncontrollably her mind raced from one thought to the next. Eventually, it landed where her eyes had: his lips. She hesitated, her mind finally catching up with the rest of her. She wanted to kiss Freddie. She, Carly Shay, wanted to kiss her best friend, Freddie. After all this time of his advances, his too-long hugs, and nose kisses that lost her chance with Jake, a past crush… she wanted Freddie? It didn't seem real. It didn't seem right.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Freddie's deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts again.
"Um, yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Freddie's hand reached up and Carly felt him slowly tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch grazed her ear, sending a shot of electricity down her spine.
"I don't know," he finally replied. "Well," Freddie paused.
"Well," Carly echoed. Do it, her brain was commanding, Just do it. "Thanks again," she said and quickly pulled him in for a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly.
Freddie, caught off guard by Carly's sudden touch and the strawberry kiwi scent of her silky hair, stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. As Carly began to pull away their cheeks touched and Carly stopped just inches away from Freddie's face. Still holding onto each other they paused. Freddie leaned an inch closer, his eyes locked on Carly's, waiting for a signal, or any other sign she might give him.
She looked from his eyes down to his mouth and back up again, they were clearly thinking the same thing. She sensed the hesitance in his eyes. Was she really going to do this? She wondered to herself for a moment, what would happen to them? Their friendship?
Could she risk it?
After what seemed like a lifetime, Carly looked into Freddie's eyes with a smile on her face. Even still, she felt his continued hesitance to kiss her. A beat passed as she closed her eyes and leaned in to meet Freddie's lips.
They were soft and silky, what she'd always imagined they would be.