So I've re-read and revised this many times, so hopefully you will find it worth reading. Here's chapter 2; and I forgot to do this in chapter 1, so here it goes:
Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly or any of its characters.
The next morning…
Freddie woke up before his alarm and the first thing he noticed was he was hurting. Everything hurt, his back, shoulders, legs, arms, and even possible, his hair hurt. 'How does hair hurt,' he wondered. Normally, he would just roll over and go back to sleep if he woke up before his alarm, but being this sore, it was going to take him longer than normal to get ready for the day, so he decided to just get up. BIG MISTAKE!
"Ow, ow, ow," Freddie repeated as he lifted himself from his bed (painfully slow) and made his way to the bathroom. Freddie looked in the mirror. Now the evidence of last night's accident was clearly showing. He has many purple bruises all over; a huge bruise on his right side of his face; going from his ear and down his cheek to his chin.
Freddie turned on the hot water to the shower and removed his nightclothes (painfully slow too). More purple bruises were noticeable; the biggest on his right shoulder. He remembered that was the first part of his body to hit the gravel roadside. Many large bruises lined both of his legs, and his rib cage. He also had many smaller bruises and lots of scrapes on his body too. Freddie shuttered thinking of what Sam might look like today when he goes to see her. The more he thought about it, the more nauseated he felt.
Freddie step under the shower head, hoping the hot water would help his sore muscles. When the water became too hot to bear, he adjusted the temperature. After who-knows-how-long of just standing under the water's stream, he finally cleaned himself up from the night before and step out of the shower.
Freddie wanted to get ready as quick as possible so he could head over to the hospital. He wasn't sure what time visiting hours were, but he didn't care. He would just sit around until he could see Sam. While dressing, he silently prayed that Sam's condition had improved 100% and that she was awake and back to her old self. Freddie never thought he would want to spend time with 'Sam', but today, he would do anything to spend time with the Sam he knew all too well.
But Freddie also knew that his mom would be waiting. He knew she held back last night in light of the accident. But today he was going to have to face her rath. His mom wouldn't let another minute go by without a heavy lecture and probably a through exam of his injuries before he could go anywhere.
Freddie looked at his clock on his nightstand and confirmed his predictions when he woke up. It did take him twice as long to get ready this morning.
"Might as well get this over with," Freddie mumbled to himself. Grabbing his backpack (gingerly) he walked out of his room ready for his interrogation.
"Good morning Freddie," Marissa Benson said calmly and lovingly to her son.
'Okay, she seems way to calm. Is this a good or bad thing,' Freddie thought to himself as he sat down at the table where his breakfast was waiting.
"Mornin' Mom," he replied.
"How are you feeling Freddie dear?" again in a calm voice.
"I'm alright,"
"Are you sure?" she questioned.
"Yea Mom,"
Marissa came to sit down at the table, "Good." She took hold of Freddie's hand and gave it a loving squeeze. "I'm glad to hear it," she squeaked out.
'Oh no, she's going to start crying' Freddie thought.
"Freddie," Marissa started, "I want to talk to you about what happened yesterday."
"Okay," Freddie replied knowing this was coming.
"Freddie," Marissa began trying to stay calm, but really wasn't able to. "What were you thinking? Riding a motorcycle? What made you think that was a good idea? Motorcycles are dangerous, you could have been killed! What made you think you could even ride one or be allowed to ride one? Do you know how many people are killed each year from motorcycle accidents? Freddie, do you know what's it's like to have the police show up at your door to tell you your child's been in an accident? I nearly fainted! Never do that to me again, I only have you and no one else in my life." Marrisa paused to breathe again, "I – can't – lo-se you - Freddie." Marissa choked out the last part trying not to allow her sobs to take over. Marissa took 3 deep breaths before looking at Freddie again.
Nausea took over Freddie once again, and the smell of breakfast was not helping. "I'm really sorry Mom." Freddie couldn't bear to look up at his mom.
"Why were you even on a motorcycle? Why were you driving it?"
'Okay, here it goes Freddie, brace yourself,' he thought before answering. "I got my motorcycle license yesterday and Sam wanted a ride, so I took her home."
Marissa's eyes widen in disbelief, "What do you mean you have a motorcycle license young man?"
God, Freddie hated that 'young man' expression more than 'Freddie dear'. "Yesterday I went to the DMV and took my test. I passed it and got my license."
"Freddie, how on Earth did you get a license? You're underage!"
Freddie took a deep breath, "All I needed was your signature, which I had, and they let me take my test."
"WHAT! FREDDIE, DID YOU FORGE MY SIGNATURE!"
"NO!" Freddie didn't mean to scream at his mom, so he calmed his voice before continuing. "I had your signature. When you were signing all my collage application, I slipped the consent form in the pile and you signed it."
Freddie still couldn't look at his mom. Freddie felt more ashamed of his actions than he ever did any other time in his life. He never felt this bad, even when he broke in and tried to help Sam vandalize the Petographers. And he would have gone through with it too, without regret, if the owners hadn't interrupted them by returning early to their store.
"Freddie," Marissa was beyond shocked at her son's devious actions.
"I'm sorry Mom. I'm so, so sorry. But this is something I've really wanted to do. I've wanted it more than anything; more than getting into my first choice collage, more than producing iCarly; more than anything. I don't know why, maybe because it makes me feel close to … him." Freddie cringed at what he just said. He wasn't trying to make his mom feel bad, by playing the 'Dad' card. But it was true, when he thought about being on a motorcycle, he thought about his dad.
"Freddie -"
"No Mom, stop. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought him up. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I should have never brought him up."
"Freddie, yes your dad loved motorcycles. He loved the history of motorcycle science, the different styles of motorcycles; the culture. But your dad never road one because he knew how I felt about them. And I never want you on a motorcycle again!"
Freddie didn't reply. He didn't think he should.
"Freddie, give me your wallet." Marissa commanded.
Freddie finally looked up at his mom. He took out his wallet without question and handed it over. Marissa opened it looking for Freddie's driver license. She removed it and gave Freddie back his wallet.
"Freddie, you might hate me for doing this, but I can't have you hurting yourself again. I'm doing this because I don't want to lose you. I want you to be safe."
"Yeah, don't worry mom. After what I did to Sam, I deserve what I get."
Again Marissa's eyes widen realizing Freddie misunderstanding.
"Freddie," Marissa gasped, "That accident wasn't your fault! I'm not doing this because I think you should be punished for the accident. I'm doing this to keep you safe." Marissa grabbed Freddie's hand to get his attention.
"You are NOT to blame for what happened to Sam. You were not in the wrong. That drunk bast-," Marissa stop before regretting her words.
"The police talked to the witnesses. Did you know there were witnesses? They all said the same thing. That truck was in your lane. You did everything you could. You – are – not – to – blame for this," she enunciated each word to get her point across.
"Sam is alive because of you," she finished off.
Freddie let out a disbelieving huff, "Sure."
"FREDDIE!" she yelled. "You are not to blame. The police are not charging you with anything. It was that DRUNK'S fault. He almost killed both of you!"
"Okay mom," Freddie still felt it was his fault, but after what he put his mom through; he needed to pretend to make her feel better.
Marissa let out a sigh. She had to stop for today. "Eat your breakfast honey or so you can get to school."
"Mom, I'm not going to school. I'm going to the hospital to check on Sam."
"Freddie, you need to go to school. Sam's condition hasn't changed."
"How do you know that?"
"Pam called to give me an update while you were in the shower," she replied.
"Oh, did Sam's mother finally show up?" Freddie didn't hide the venom in his voice.
"Freddie, Pam loves her daughter, of course she's been by Sam's side all night."
"Really," Freddie replied with disbelief. "If she cares so much, where was she last night when Carly and I were with Sam?"
Marissa's eyebrows furrowed, "She was in the waiting room with me of course."
"What?" Freddie asked in disbelief.
"Pam was at the hospital even before Spencer, Carly or I got there. She never left Sam's side, even when they took her for all her tests."
Freddie was dumbstruck. Pam was at the hospital? "Then why didn't I see her?"
"Freddie, you weren't really yourself last night. When Carly and you went to Sam's room after you were released, Pam left so you two could spend some time with Sam. She thought you would want that."
"Wow," was all Freddie could mutter.
"Pam loves her daughters. She just doesn't do public displays of affection. Neither does Sam. You know that."
"Well, I don't care if Sam's condition hasn't change," Freddie wanted to get back on subject. "I still want to be there for her."
"Freddie," Marissa started again more firmly. "You are going to school. You don't need to miss any school. You could ruin your chances of getting into a good collage if you have poor attendance."
"Mom, I have hardly…"
"YOU'RE GOING!"
Again Freddie stopped. He really didn't want to argue with his mom. So he got up quietly from the table, walked over to his mom to hug her goodbye, picked up his backpack and headed to Carly's to catch a ride. "Bye Mom, see you later."
"Bye Freddie dear, have a good day at school."
Freddie walked the short distance across the hall, knocked once and entered the Shay's apartment. Both Spencer and Carly were in the kitchen. When Carly's eyes caught Freddie's appearance, she frowned.
"Freddie, you look awful."
"Thanks Carly, I feel so much better now."
Carly hung her head, "Sorry."
Freddie let out a low sigh, "No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." Carly just nodded her acceptance of his apology.
"What some juice Freddie?" Spencer chimed in.
"No thank. Hey Spence, I'm really, really, realllly sorry about your motorcycle. I'll do what I can to pay you back for the damages."
Spencer just shrugged, "Hey don't worry about it. I'm just glad you and Sa..," Spence paused realizing her name was still painful to hear not knowing when and if she would recover. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse than it was."
"Spencer, you loan me your bike and then I wreck it like I did. I need to repay…"
But Freddie was cut off again by another adult today, "It's cool. It's only a motorcycle, it's replaceable, you're not."
Carly nodded in agreement.
"Hey, it's getting late, why don't I take you two to school now," Spencer continued trying to change this awkward and depressing conversation.
When Spencer dropped them off at school, Freddie just stood at the front steps of the school thinking hard about his next move. When Carly was half way up the stairs, and realized Freddie wasn't with her, she turned around to find him. Giving him a puzzling look, she descended down towards him, "Freddie, is something wrong?"
Freddie let out a low sigh, "I feel like I'm in a Catch 22."
"What?"
"No matter what I do next, I going to be making the wrong decision."
Carly shook her head trying to figure out where he lost her. "What are you talking about?"
"If I do what I suppose to do, I walk up those steps and go to my classes. But I know I won't be able to concentrate. All I'm going to be doing is thinking about Sam. But, if I do what I want to do, leave now and go to the hospital to see Sam, I'm going to be hurting my mom, AGAIN!"
"How?"
"Because in a span of less than 48 hours be defying her once again. How can I do that to her?" Freddie paused for a moment before continuing, "But I have to see Sam."
Carly understood Freddie predicament, "So Freddie, what are you going to do?"
A/N: Legal Disclaimer - The views express by Mrs. Benson are not necessarily shared by this author or any entity … yada, yada, yada. Just so you know; I happen to love riding on motorcycles. Practically everyone in my family rides them, Dad, Mom, hubby, and most my uncles, and I'm sure when my boys grow up, they will be too.
Well hoped this chapter was worth the wait. I already have the next chapter almost completely done (in my head at least). So I should be able to get it out sooner than I did this chapter.
Please review and let me know what you thought.
Also, if you haven't stop reading this long author's note yet, check out the story "As We Prayed" by muchasfandomas. The story didn't get many reviews and not sure why, such a good story; a little sad in parts, but well worth the read.
Until next time!