The show must go on
by NihilisticAmbition313
Disclaimer:I do not own iCarly. I do this only for entertainment purposes. I do not make a dime from this.
Thanks to my reviewers, your support mean a lot. Please keep reading.
...
#2-"Take what you need"
Freddie's view
I patted Sam on the shoulder as her eyes filled with tears. We stood in the doorway of our fallen friend's home with the intention of raiding her stuff and claiming it for ourselves. I wasn't sure how I felt about going through Carly's things like a common thief, but I did want a thing or two to remember her by. If Spencer was just going to box it all I may as well.
Sam and I walked into the apartment that housed so many memories we shared with Carly. It was a surreal feeling, knowing that the beautiful brunette wasn't going to welcome us.
"So, um...You wanna go upstairs now?" I asked Sam, who was shaking like a leaf
"...I can't. I can't do this." Sam choked as she ran out of the apartment
"Sam..."
Sam's view
I bolted from Carly's apartment and curled up into a ball by the elevator. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle going back in there, but Fredward just had to insist that I did. He just had to have Carly's stuff, like it would bring her back or something. Yeah right. What's some stupid fucking stuffed animals and her PearPod matter now? I've never been all sentimental like that anyway. Material shit is just material shit at the end of the day. It's nothing you can take with you to the afterlife.
"Sam?"
Great. The nub has come to check on me.
"Leave me alone." I said barely above a whisper
Not only did he not leave me alone, he sat down beside me.
"...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to go in there with me. I just thought it would help maybe."
"Help? Help what?"
"Help us deal."
"Oh, so going and grabbing Carly's things is supposed to make me feel better or something?"
"Maybe."
"You know what? I don't need any fucking mementos. I got all the memories of Carly I need up here." I hissed as I pointed at the top of my head "You can go in there and take what you need, but I don't want none of it. I'm outta here."
Freddie's view
Sam stood up and pushed the 'down' button on the elevator.
I decided that it would be best to let her go. She wasn't comfortable here and the last thing I wanted to do was try to force her to stick around for my sake.
"...Can I call you later on?" I asked
"You can, but nobody said I'd answer."
"Sam, that's cold."
"Life's cold, nub."
I gave up. Sam was upset and she needed time to gather herself. I figured I would call her or at least text her later, just to let her know that I intended on standing by her.
The elevator came, and Sam stepped inside without another word toward me, and not even so much as a last glance. The doors closed, and she was gone.
I sighed and leaned against the wall. Looking up I noticed that the Shay apartment was still wide open. I walked over to the doorway and stood there for a short moment, then closed the door after making sure it was locked...
Sam's view
The sun had gone down finally, but my body was nowhere near tired. I lay sprawled out on my bed, gazing at the ceiling as if I could bore a hole through it with mental power or whatever.
I kept replaying what happened earlier between me and Freddie in my mind. I felt bad that I lashed out at him the way I did, when he was only trying to help. That was what we were supposed to be doing for each other after all. Even though I said I may not answer if he called, I decided I would. He deserved that much.
There was a soft knock on my door. Just my mother.
"Yeah?" I called out
"Hon? You okay?" Momma asked came in slowly
"Fine Momma."
Tragedy has a funny way of changing people. Before Carly got sick, Momma was a lazy, neglectful, drunken slouch of a mother who basically left me to my own devices. But when she found out Carly was sick, really sick, something within her clicked. I guess it was some sorta motherly thing. She started cutting back on drinking, and she started insisting on spending time with me. We started to talk everyday about what was going on with me, and with her. Momma even finally started cooking (cheap and easy stuff, but I wasn't nitpicky). I was skeptical at first, but I gradually began to accept that she really was trying to do better. It just really blows that it took my best friend fading away to spark the change, but, I like to look at it as one good thing that came from Carly's struggle.
"...You hungry? I didn't see you eat." Momma said as she came over and sat on my bed
When I thought about it, I realized that I hadn't eaten since lunch. Heh, you know Sam Puckett is out of sorts when she's skipping meals.
"We got any ham?"
"Yeah. You want some?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't Momma. Duh."
"Mind yourself young woman. I'll be right back."
My mother left to fetch my food. I sighed and rolled onto my side, just in time to see my cell phone light up on the nightstand. I could see the screen and who was calling.
It was Freddie.
"Hey." I answered after reaching for the phone
"Hey." he replied, sounding relieved that I picked up
"...Look man, I'm sorry I wigged out on you earlier."
"I don't wanna hear that Sam, I don't blame you at all. I'm just glad you picked up."
"...So, what did you take from Carly's? You didn't nab any of her underwear did you?"
"Like I would do something like that! Come on!"
"I'm just fuckin' with you dude, chillax. Seriously, what did you get?"
"Nothing. I didn't go back in."
"What? Why not?"
"Because of what you said. You're right that having Carly's stuff isn't gonna make me feel better. It's not gonna matter, so I figured what's the point?"
I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach for having said that. I may not have wanted any of Carly's stuff, but that didn't mean Freddie shouldn't have it if he really wanted it.
"Freddie, don't say that. If you really wanted something to remember her by you should've taken it. Forget what I think."
"...Yeah...Maybe I will take something."
"Do that...Ah hell, I may grab something myself after all."
"Are you up to going back in there, Carly's place?"
"Mmm...Yeah, I can do it. I'll be straight as long as you're with me."
"Tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow, after you buy me a smoothie of course."
"Why don't you ever treat me to anything?" Nub King whined
"Because Momma thinks it's better to receive than to give."
"Ha ha...See you later Sam."
"Later."
"Oh wait, Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Um...My mother says that you-"
"Oh no, I don't wanna hear anything your mother says."
"Sam, please. I'm being serious."
"Sorry. Go 'head."
"I was saying, my mother says you should never pass an opportunity to tell the people you care about how you feel, because you never know when it'll be too late. That's why I just wanted to say, um...I love you Sam."
"...Love you too, nub." I whispered with a cracked voice
"Good night."
"Night."
I turned my phone off and swallowed that lump that grows in my throat whenever I get all emotional. I hadn't noticed Momma standing in the doorway with a plate of ham.
"Here hon." she said as she came and gave me the plate
"Thanks Momma."
"Mmm-hmm." Momma mumbled as she turned to leave
"...Momma?"
"Yeah hon?"
"I love you."
My mother looked at me like I was fresh from Mars and I just told her I was here to take her back with me. I don't blame her though. We didn't do 'I-love-you' in the house of Puckett, but it's like Freddie said; You never know when it'll be too late. When the nub is right, he's right.
"Uh...I love you too Samantha."
Something else we didn't do in this house was displays of affection, so imagine my surprise when Momma gave me a hug over my plate of ham. It felt really awkward, but at the same time it felt good.
