A/N: I don't own iCarly or its characters. I don't profit in any way from writing this. I only wish.
In most fan stories I write I try my hardest to make the characters sound like themselves. In this I really just wanted these characters in this situation so I was a little more careless with their personalities. I'm sorry if everyone is ooc to you.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed and have put this story in their favorites or watch lists! I really wasn't expecting that kind of response, it warmed my heart.

Running

Sam didn't care where she was going, or even how long she'd run, she just went. The sun was hot on her head and she knew she wouldn't get far before it sucked all her energy away. Mercifully she ended up along the waterfront where the heat was tempered by coastal breezes. She sat in the middle of a wide stone staircase; unfortunately it was a popular spot, located between the Aquarium and Pike Place Market. Tourists milling around were staring at her because she was mumbling to herself, but she paid them no mind. All she could think about was what she'd seen and heard in Freddie's apartment.

Was she offended or flattered by what he'd done? She didn't know. This was too much. Freddie. Freddie thought of her when he... What should she do with that?

Suddenly embarrassment was washed away by anger. He had been ignoring her lately and it'd hurt. Admitting that to herself was difficult but she realized it was true. Now she finds out the whole time he's had more than "friendly" feelings for her. The snubbing hurt more. Did he really find her that repulsive that he couldn't stand the thought of them together?

Of course she had no idea if he really liked her or simply saw her as attractive. He was a guy. It almost made her feel dirty to think that he still hated her but thought of doing thing like that with her. Her head hurt. Why did this matter so much? It wasn't like she liked the nub. The tall, strong, best friend, who proved time and again that he was there for her...

"No," the word squeezed out through gritted teeth. He doesn't get to make her have feelings for him if he's going to treat her like this! Yes, that made perfect sense in her head.

She decided this required a second opinion. She pulled out her phone and looked through her call list. Admittedly it wasn't a long list, there weren't many people she could stand talking to. For a second her eye caught at Freddie's name. In a daze she scrolled past his name then hit the call key.

"Hello?" a perky female voice answered.

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Carly? I have to talk to you."

"Sam? Goodness girl, it feels like I haven't talked to you in ages. What's going on?"

It was good to hear Carly's voice, it calmed her slightly. "I kinda don't want to over the phone. Can I come see you?"

"Are you okay?" She could hear the concern in her friend's voice and she wondered how bad she must sound. She didn't get a chance to answer before Carly continued, "Um, I'm out shopping right now. How 'bout you meet me at Groovy Smoothie in twenty minutes?"

"Okay. See ya there." Sam disconnected the call and replaced her phone to her pocket. She stood from sitting on the steps and turned her feet back towards Bushwell Plaza.

Sam sat at one of the tables near the windows, she didn't want to be seen from the door. Not that she was ashamed to be there, it was just she wasn't in the mood to talk – ironically. If she saw Freddie now she knew she'd bolt. Carly was five minutes late and the blond was starting to wonder if her friend was going to bail on her once again.

The aforementioned wayward best friend picked that moment to burst into the establishment, breathless and carrying way too many bags. "Sorry! Sorry, I'm late! Horrible traffic on 7th." She sat down in a flurry of motion and Sam calmly pushed a smoothie across the table to her.

Carly froze, dropping all her bags around her unceremoniously. She looked at Sam then at the proffered drink. "It must be bad," her voice had gone quiet. She picked up the cup and sipped thoughtfully, Sam never payed, it just didn't happen.

Sam shrugged and tried to sound normal. "It's nothing. I just want to get your opinion, that's all."

"I highly doubt that. Spill."

Sam looked at her with quirked eyebrow. "Spill what?"

"Whatever it is that's bothering you," Carly said pointedly.

Sam looked away and was silent for a moment. "I found out this guy likes me."

Carly's eyebrows rose. "And this is a bad thing?"

She tugged at one of her curls and her eyes roamed everywhere but towards Carly. "Yes! No. Maybe." The conviction in her voice petered more after every word.

Carly sipped her smoothie before asking her next question, she really was quite parched. "How did you find out?"

"That's unimportant."

"Well, who is it?"

"Also unimportant!" Sam's voice rose with her annoyance, though she couldn't have told you at what she was annoyed.

Carly sighed and set down her drink. "Sam, I don't think I can help you if you don't give me anything to work with."

Sam stood up abruptly and walked the two steps to the window, she was there only a second before returning to the table and flopping back into her chair. She sat on her hands as she stared at the tabletop. "This guy has been a big jerk to me lately then I find out he really likes me."

"And you're feeling all repulsive," Carly said knowingly.

Sam's eyes flew to Carly's. It still surprised her sometimes how well Carly knew her. She had a fleeting panic that maybe she let the girl get too close. It passed when she reminded herself this was Carly, she was trustworthy. "Why does he feel the need to hide that he likes me? Am I that hideous?"

Carly sprang from her seat and came around the small table. She put her arms around her blond friend and held her there. Sam wasn't terribly fond of displays of affection, public or private, but this was comforting so she'd allow it. This once.

The brunette pulled back leaving her hands on Sam's shoulders so that the seated girl couldn't turn away. "Listen here Sam Puckett, you are not hideous, or repulsive, or any of the other words that may be swimming around in that blond head of yours, so stop thinking that right now."

Sam let a smile tug at her lips. Despite her recent admonitions to the girl Carly was possibly the world's best best-friend. "Then why is he doing this?"

Carly returned to her seat and thought for a moment. "Have you considered the possibility that he's scared?"

"Scared? Scared of what?"

"You! Let's face it Sam, you're intimidating. Maybe he doesn't want to tell you because he's afraid your reaction will come in the form of a beating."

She pondered that, it did sound like her. "I'll grant you that, but why be rude to me on a daily basis?"

Carly surprised her by laughing. "Turnabout's fair play? Look, I don't know. Maybe he's afraid he'll blurt out his feelings if he doesn't say or do something mean."

Sam chuckled, that was a highly unlikely scenario but it did make her feel better.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Carly sipping her smoothie and Sam thinking about a boy they both knew.

"You know, you never said." Carly twirled her straw in her nearly-empty cup, avoiding Sam's eyes. "How do you feel about him?"

Sam froze, down to her very molecules. Oh, god. Oh, god! That wasn't something she'd considered since she'd had the shocking revelation. Her hands flew to her cheeks, which she knew were flaming red.

Carly watched her friend in silence, fully aware of the answer to her question even if Sam herself didn't know what that answer was. Carly wouldn't prod her, Sam would come to it on her own, in time. She looked at her watch. "I should go. I told Spencer I'd meet him at Socko's, there's something they want to show me," she rolled her eyes. She picked up a few of her bags then paused. "You should talk to him, Sam."

Sam came out of her stupor to look at Carly. "Who? Socko?"

Carly shook her head with a soft smile. "No. This guy who likes you. You should let him know you know. But promise me one thing?"

The blond nodded.

"Go easy on him, for me?"

Sam smiled genuinely for maybe the first time in weeks. "I make no such promises, Shay."

Carly chuckled and shook her head. She finished gathering her things and turned towards the door.

"Carly."

The brunette turned to look expectantly at her friend.

"Thank you."

Carly smiled and nodded once before disappearing out the door.

A/N: The place Sam ended up when she ran is a real location. If you've been to Seattle, or live there, you may recognize it.
Personally I'm a bit disappointed with this chapter. I like the interaction between Carly and Sam, but in total it feels like a filler. I'm sorry. I'll try to step it up in the next chapter.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate on the USA timetable. ^^