Chapter 2 (I don't want to go 2)

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After Freddie dropped Sam off at her house, Sam stepped in through the door with curious thoughts about Freddie running around in her head. She was still trying to wrap her mind around Freddie wanting to walk her home, as she walked through the door. Sam was so deep in thought, that she didn't even notice her mom; or that fact that her mom was trying to get her attention.

"Sam...!"

"Huh? Oh, what's up mom, aren't you supposed to be at your new job?" Sam asked.

"Someone has something on her mind; and yes, I am supposed to be, but the health inspector closed the joint down; something about rats and roaches."

"That's disgusting...I just ate at the ham pit yesterday." Sam said; shivering from the thought.

"Yeah...but there are plenty of greasy spoons to work at here in Seattle."

"Have you ever thought of going into a job that doesn't get shut down by the health inspectors?" Sam asked.

"Yes...but with my record, they're the only places that will hire me." Pam said; popping open a beer, and slurping some down.

It was at that moment Sam had a thought flash through her mind. It was a thought that bothered her, because she had been arguing over it earlier in the day. "Do I want to end up like my mom...running from job to job?" She thought to herself.

"Mom, I know we don't agree on anything most of the time. But I was just thinking."

"About what Sammy...?" She asked, after taking a gulp of her beer.

"You like tattoos..."

"Doesn't everybody?" Pam asked.

"No...not really." Sam replied.

"So what are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is...have you ever thought about working in a tattoo shop? I'll bet the one you always go to would hire you. You sure have more than supported his business with just the work you have had done with him." Sam said simply.

Pam gave Sam a curious look. She wasn't sure how to take what Sam had just said to her.

"What are you saying? I don't know how to get a job? I have had plenty of them, so I think know how to get another one." Pam said.

"What? That's not what I said, what I was saying was..."

"No Sammy, you worry about yourself, and let the job finding to me!" She hollered.

"You know what mom...SCREW YOU! I hope you enjoy your life, because it's pathetic!" Sam yelled back, as she stormed off to her room.

Pam sat on the couch; still pissed, as she finished her beer; throwing it into the kitchen; listening to the noise it made as it hit the floor. Pam was hurt from Sam's stinging words, because she knew deep down inside Sam was right; but feeling there was no way to change anything, and no way to escape.

XXX

Carly went to go meet up with Gibby and Tasha out front of Ridgeway High School. She scanned the area, and found Gibby standing out front by himself, and walked over to him.

"What's up Gibb...what is it you need help with, and where is Tasha?" She asked.

"She's not coming."

"Why not...?"

"We kinda had a fight, and she's not talking to me right now." He answered, as he slid his hands into his front pockets.

"Well...what is it you guys need help with?" She asked.

"Nothing anymore; it kind of involved her, and since she's not here, I don't need the help anymore." He said plainly.

Carly noticed that Gibby looked a little down, and being Carly; needed to know what was going on.

"What was the fight about?"

"I would rather not talk about it." He said.

"C'mon Gibb...what's up?" She asked persistently

"Fine...she said she wanted to take some time apart from each other; regroup as she called it."

"Sorry Gibb. Then what was it you needed help with?" She asked.

"I was thinking of buying one of Spencer's sculptures for her, but I wasn't sure if he had any he would sell me. I needed you to ask Spencer while I distracted Tasha up in the ICarly studio. When you found out from Spencer which one it was, I figured you could give me a gesture on which one it was, and then I could surprise her." He said not sounding his usually happy abnormal self.

"Sorry Gibb...want to go to the Groovy Smoothie, and hang out a little while?" Carly asked; figuring he could use a friend at that moment.

"Sure Carl's...that would be nice." He answered; feeling a little more up-beat.

XXX

Freddie arrived back at his apartment, and for some reason, was in a good mood. He figured it was because Sam wasn't there torturing him, or Carly going on and on about being single. Freddie decided to put the thought out of his mind, and decided to enjoy the good mood. Freddie unlocked his door; walked through the living room straight to his bedroom. Freddie dropped his book bag down on his bed, and set his lap top on his desk. He figured he would go through some of the college offers he had received; via email.

As he was perusing through the many college offers; one by one; analyzing all the benefits they each offered, a small thought ran through his mind. "What about Sam?" He thought to himself." Freddie thought it was weird that he would even give any thought about the blonde who had made it her life's mission to make him miserable. "It's probably just residual thoughts from earlier in the day, when Sam and me were discussing college...that's all." He thought to himself...dismissing the thought.

Freddie continued on with cruzing through the emails for quite some time, before starting on his homework. Halfway through Mr. Howard's history assignment, another thought of Sam flashed through his mind. "If Sam goes to college, where will she attend school?" He thought. Once again Freddie was confused at the sudden thoughts he was having about Sam, and decided to put those thoughts out of his mind as well.

XXX

Although Sam had planned on finishing her homework, she was too distracted from the argument she had with her mom to even begin. "What the hell is wrong with my mom? Does she really enjoy being a loser?" She thought to herself; determined never to try to help her mom again. Sam was finally able to calm down enough to crack open her history book, and finish the little homework she had left. It only took her about an hour to finish it up, and decided to get out of the house; away from her mom.

Sam walked out of her room; passed her mom, and straight out the door before her mom had a chance to say an anything to her. Sam slowly walked down the sidewalk; cars honking; loud busses in the background she had blocked out as she was pondering what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. "Do I really want to go to college? No...it's not the Puckett way. We always fight our way through life, that's how it's always been. Uncle Carmine, Cousin Rob; the whole family, including...mom." Sam stopped right where she was at, and thought about the argument with her mom. "The Puckett fighting way huh, Look where it got my family? " She thought; as a battle raged on in her mind about going or not going to college.

Sam closed her eyes for a brief moment; took in a deep breath, and slowly letting it out, in an effort to calm her thinking down, maybe even relax. During the whole…trying to relax attempt. A small and brief image flashed through her mind. It was Freddie. She imagined him leaving in the fall to start his path in life, as she stood there watching him go. Sam pushed the thought aside, and continued on; maybe over to Carly's...maybe not. She even considered just walking around Seattle, just to clear her mind.

XXX

Carly and Gibby spent about an hour at the Groovy Smoothie, as Carly listened to Gibby pour his heart out. Carly had never noticed, or even considered how much Gibby cared for Tasha. It broke her heart just seeing him there; a shell of a man, and missing her.

"Ya know Gibby; I'm sure whatever it is that's bothering Tasha is something she just needs to work out for herself. I'm sure she will come to realize that she over-reacted, and come back to you. Besides you're a really nice guy, and she would be crazy to let someone like you get away." She said; trying to be comforting.

"You thin k I'm a good catch?" He asked; throwing Carly off guard.

"Well...for Tasha, she has been into you for a long time." Carly explained.

Gibby's facial expressions changed, and he began to show a small smile and even a slight glimmer in his eyes.

"Yes...but do you think I'm a good catch?" He asked; wondering if Carly thought the same way.

"Well...I don't know how to respond to that. I guess to me, you're a really good friend, and in some ways; have qualities some girls are looking for." She said; suddenly feeling uncomfortable with where the conversation was going.

Gibby didn't say anything. Instead, he began looking at Carly differently than he had before. Carly sat there a moment; deciding how to end the discussion on what girls liked in him.

"Listen Gibb, all I mean is if Tasha doesn't see the real Gibby; the kind; the faithful; understanding person you are, then I'm positive another girl will...that's all." She said; hoping it would make him understand Tasha was most likely still in love with him.

"Ready to go...? I have to get back home before Sam cleans out the fridge." She said as she stood up to go.

XXX

Later on in the evening, Freddie realized that he had some work to do for ICarly before the next show. So he grabbed some of the cables he needed for the effects he was going to use, and headed over to Carly's. After walking in, Spencer was watching the season finally of celebrities under water.

"Hey Spence..."

"What's up Fred man...?"

"I have to set up a few things in the studio for the next show. Is that okay?" He asked, not waiting on an answer, but heading straight for the stairs.

"Go ahead." Spencer answered; not removing his attention from the TV.

Freddie made his way up the stairs, and into the studio. As Freddie walked through the studio door, he stopped in his tracks. Sam was sitting on a bean bag on the other side of the studio; listening to music, and completely oblivious to what was going on around her.

Freddie stood there a few moments; gazing at her; watching her head bob to the music; watching what seemed to be a peaceful looking Sam. He noticed how the studio lights seemed to reflect off her hair, and how for some reason; enjoying the sight of her. Freddie's moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Carly's voice from behind him.

"Hey Freddie...what are you doing here?" She asked.

Sam heard Carly, and looked up to see who she was talking to.

"When did you get here Nerd boy." Sam asked.

"Just a few seconds ago…I came to prepare for the next show." He said, almost embarrassed at how he had been looking at her.

"So...since we're all here, anybody want to get in a quick rehearsal?" Carly asked, as she made her way in between them.

"No...I'll pass. I'm not in the mood." Sam said; re-adjusting herself in the bean bag.

"What's the matter Sam?" Carly asked; noticing how Sam seemed to be acting differently.

"Just...stuff; nothing important." Sam replied; looking over at Freddie and then back down at her pear pod.

"Anybody want ice tea?" Carly asked.

"No thanks. I'm just going to finish up with the set up; I'm getting tired anyway." Freddie said as he was unrolling a cable.

"What's the matter Nub; almost past your bedtime?" Sam mocked.

"Aren't you late for a meeting with you parole Officer?" Freddie mocked back.

"You know what? I'll just go get my own tea. If you want any, you know where to get some." Carly said as she made her way out of the studio, and down the stairs; leaving Sam and Freddie alone by themselves.

Okay...Kind of a filler, but I still had fun writing it. Just hope you had fun reading it. Again...thanks for reading, and please leave a review. Good or bad, I love reading them.