Author's Note: Hi, I'm Katelyn. This is my first fanfic. So yeah, hope you like.

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly unfortunately. If I did, I would not be writing fanfics. I would be out spending the wads of cash. Oh, and Strawberry Shortcake doesn't belong to me either.

Sam Puckett always hated the word love. She hated the feel of it on her lips, the taste of it in her mouth, the emotion behind it.

She didn't believe in it. She thought that love was just a big joke. No one really meant it when they told you they loved you. They might enjoy your company, or think you're entertaining, but they didn't really love you.

It wasn't always that way though. When she was a little girl, her daddy would tuck her into her Strawberry Shortcake blankets and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. She would giggle as he lightly tugged on her pigtail braids that she wore, tickling her all over while she screeched playfully. Finally, he would lay a kiss on her forehead and turn off the lamp matching her sheets. She loved him. And he loved her. At least that's what he said. Then he left. Just like that.

After his departure, she felt vulnerable and lonely. The delicate little flower who was once called a princess turned into a tough, mean deliquent who never let emotion escape from her body. She threw out her pink childish sheets and took down her braids. She became the Sam Puckett everyone knew. No one knew that deep inside, she was just another little girl with hopes and dreams.

And she was good at hiding that part of her. Until every door was closed and lights were turned off. There were nights when she would cry softly into a pillow, begging for her daddy to come home. Begging for him to appear as if this had all been a nightmare. Other nights she would drive herself into a fit of anger. Angry at herself for being so unlovable and driving him away. Angry at her mother for not pleasing him like she should have. Angry at him for leaving her like that, without a goodbye.

Eventually, she came to terms with the fact that no matter what she did, he would never come back. And she kept strong. But she still hated the word love.