Author's Note: Hey, everybody! Since I'm officially done with my Creddie story, "iFind And Keep You", I thought I'd try my hand at a little femslash. I downloaded "iFight Shelby Marx" onto my computer last week and just love the episode so much, good comedy all round. And it got me thinking about all that underlying tension between Carly and Shelby before their big fight. Of course, that was probably just "I'm gonna punch you in the head" tension. Oh well, one can interpret accordingly, right? Hope you crazy cats like this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly or the domain of professional fighting on any level.

Carly's POV:

If anyone had told me weeks ago that everything would change so drastically the way they had, I probably would've laughed. I may have my own web-show and I tend to get into some pretty whacko adventures with my two best friends, Sam and Freddie. But nothing could have ever prepared me for the events of the past few weeks.

And it all began and ended with Shelby Marx.

I'm not even sure where to begin when it comes to her. The girl was an enigma, from the very first day that I'd ever met her. From that very first meeting in my apartment, I could already tell that she was someone who oozed inner confidence out of every pore of her body. It wasn't that she was overtly friendly or overtly egotistical from the outset. But there was this look in her eye, something within those brown orbs of hers that just drew me in without me even recognizing it for what it truly was in the beginning.

And now I can't help but think that all the crazy misunderstandings between us was leading me straight to her all the while, like she was pulling me back into the ring with her all over again. But maybe she didn't have to be out of reach anymore, just standing in my doorway while I ran from her every single time. Maybe I'd finally keep the promise that I made at that press conference at the Beverly Garvin Hotel on that fateful day. Maybe I'd finally get the chance to last more than 3 minutes alone in the ring with her and let go of all my fears once and for all.

Maybe, just once, I'd get to knock the breath right out of Shelby Marx, the way she stole mine and my heart a long time ago.

Shelby's POV:

It was never supposed to be this way, this sudden changing of the rules mid-way through the fight. Juan had always taught me how to hone in on my opponent's every weakness, being sure to strike and paralyze with precision, showing no mercy. My Nana, Edith, says I've always been tough, even from the first time I ever used my fists to defend myself. But somehow, I'm starting to think that Nana was wrong about me. Maybe I'm not that tough. But I would never have figured that out had it not been for one sprightly web-show host named Carly Shay.

It was hard to dislike her after all of the misunderstandings between us. Strike that, try damn near impossible. There was just something about that girl that drew you in naturally towards her gravitational pull. And I felt that way even when I stood in her doorway with Juan and Rod, watching with inner satisfaction while she ran away from me because she thought I was coming to beat her up that day. Maybe it's that dimpled smile of hers that she gives all the time, making you feel like there's no one else she'd rather be talking to besides you. Or maybe it was just her optimism that never seemed to die in the wake of fear or mayhem.

Whatever it was, I knew I was in big trouble. The fight had ended weeks ago, we had patched things up and even become friends and I still wasn't ready to move on with my life. I wasn't ready to move on from her, and it was driving me crazy. Juan says it's affecting my technique in the ring now. All those hours spent in the gym for nothing, hitting aimlessly at a punching bag that would never stand still.

The worst part about all of it is knowing that I'd already had her for a moment in time.

For 3 minutes, she was below me, holding onto me tightly, promising to never let me go.

For 3 minutes, I broke every rule I'd ever learnt about fighting. I let my guard down, and I let her sock me right in the gut.

And now the sting just wouldn't go away.

Author's Note: I am well and truly in genuine shock right now. 683 words? That's gotta be an all-time records in my book for word-count in one of my fics. I'm going to try and keep each chapter under 5000 words. I'm going to post chapter 2 tomorrow because I'm feeling adventurous. So please do me a solid and leave me a review, telling me whether I rock or suck. Either one will do.