Carly turned her head so fast that she was afraid her neck might break "Freddie!" she said and quickly got up, almost tripping over her own feet to get to his bedside.
"Geez Carly" he said softly, a small smile appearing on his lips as he looked into her eyes, "Don't hurt yourself"
Carly smiled and gently wrapped her fingers around his hand "I was worried about you" she admitted softly and felt tears threatening to come back as she thought about how he'd almost died.
Freddie looked confused "You mean, you were actually worried about me? I mean.. It's nice but you've never been before" he said, trying not to sound bitter.
"I know" she whispered, "and I'll understand if you don't believe me, but when I saw you falling down those stairs I thought I'd almost lost you.. and I realized some things" she said.
Freddie's eyes shone for a moment, like it was a dream come true, but then he closed his eyes "I want to believe you so badly Carly.. But I need.. I don't know what I need, but time sounds good" he whispered.
With a nod she muttered an "Okay" and let go of his hand "So um, I need to go.. Okay?" she asked "I'll be back in a while" she said, "I need to go check in with Spencer" she lied. Quickly walking out of the room she headed for the elevator and let the tears fall. She had known he might react like this, had even tried to prepare herself, but hearing those words had cut a hole in her heart like nothing she had ever felt.
The elevator doors opened with that familiar ding and she stepped out into the lobby of the hospital. Walking quickly she almost bumped into someone "Sorry" she muttered quickly and walked out the sliding doors. Pulling out her phone she quickly typed Spencer, I'm the hospital, can you pick me up? and hit send.
At the Groovy Smoothy Sam was sitting at a table in the back thinking about what Carly had said to her, this was the first time Carly had ever truly snapped at her for something she had done to Freddie and it made her actually stop and consider that maybe she had gone to far.
Lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice Gibby slide into the seat across from her until he tapped his knuckles down on the table. "What do you want Gibby?" she asked.
"I just noticed you sitting here, so I figured I'd come see what's on your mind" he told her.
She sighed and looked up at him "I went to the hospital to see Freddie, right?" she asked, continuing after he nodded, "But when I got there his freak of a mom kicked me out. I wasn't surprised be that though" she said with a shrug "I am the reason he was in the hospital after all, but then on the way out I ran into Carly"
Taking a deep breath she continued 'Then she asked if I apologized or some Chizz like that and I told her that I hadn't, why should I? It's not my fault he was so close to the stairs when I pushed him, then she said that he was a better best friend than me, since he took a taco truck for her. Finally she paused again and looked at Gibby "Does it make me a bad person, because I don't want to apologize.? She asked.
"I don't think so" Gibby said, "Well in a way, I mean if you hadn't pushed him in the first place then he wouldn't have fallen, but him being close to the stairs was just a coincidence" he said "So I think you should at least apologize for pushing him."
Sam sighed and took a sip of her smoothy "I suppose you're right" she said , "I mean, I like teasing the kid but I don't want him dead!" she exclaimed, "I mean property smashing is one thing, but even I don't go for murder."
Gibby sighed "You are so odd sometimes" he said looking at her.
Standing up she smirked "You're one to talk" she said and quickly kissed his cheek before running off. Leaving him there to wonder if that had actually happened or had he just dreamed it up.
Back at the Shay apartment Spencer was working on his next sculpture when the door opened and Carly walked in, it was obvious she had been crying, and sat down on the couch. Spencer stood up and slowly walked over to the couch, wanting to help his little sister but was always wary of a crying girl.
Sliding onto the couch he looked at Carly and opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by her.
"I was at the hospital" she said slowly, "Freddie woke up and we spoke for a bit.. He was shocked that I was worried about him, which just proves how horrible of a friend I've been to him" she paused to look at Spencer, to make sure he was paying attention, "He told me he wanted to believe me when I told him how worried I was but he needed time."
Spencer sighed, wishing he could help his little sister more but knowing all he could do was listen "Kiddo, sometimes doing the right thing isn't always easy" he said, "At least, that's what my teachers always told me but it's true, I promise."
She nodded "I knew he might say something like that, and I tried to prepare myself for it, but hearing him say that was just.. It felt like someone had taken a knife and cut my heart into pieces" she said, "I don't.. It just hurt."
"Why don't you go upstairs and relax" Spencer suggested, "and I'll make some Spaghetti Tacos" he said. With a nod she got up and slowly trudged upstairs. Half an hour later they ate dinner and pushed her plate away, having only eaten one taco.
"Thanks, but I'm gonna go back up to the hospital" Carly said, leaning back in her chair
"I'll drive you, and I'll be back at 11 to pick you up, Text me if I need to come earlier" Spencer replied and got up to get his coat.
The drive to the hospital took about 5 minutes, Spencer left as soon as Carly entered the hospital. Taking the almost familiar route to the elevators then hitting the 3rd floor button she sighed, what would she say?
"I guess I could start with.. Is it okay if I stay?" she muttered out loud and sighed "Great, now I'm talking to myself."
With a shake of her head she stepped out of the elevator and down the familiar hallway, though today it seemed even brighter than usual and she wondered if maybe it was her imagination. She slowly slipped into the room just as Mrs. Benson was leaving.
"Oh Carly!" she said as the young girl shut the door, "Can you stay here with Freddie, make sure he's not alone? I hate to leave but I really need to go home" she said.
"Oh um, sure" Carly said, taken aback "Uh.. It'd be my pleasure."
"Thanks dear, I can tell you really do want to be Freddie's friend.. And I thank you"
After Mrs. Benson left Carly sat in the chair next to Freddie's bed, one she assumed Mrs. Benson had put there, and sighed. "Freddie" she muttered, "I wish I could just.. Tell you everything I'm feeling and let it make sense" she whispered softly. "Nothing makes sense anymore and it's just ugh.."
Closing her eyes she struggled to put her thoughts into words. Finally she opened her eyes and smiled, before she started to sing softly to the sleeping boy in the hospital bed.
I know you think you're all alone
I haven't been there when you've needed me
I didn't deserve the love you gave
But now I'm telling you I'm here if you need a friend
Give me your pain
Give me your anger
Let me be your rock
I can be the pillar of strength that you need
I'll help you keep it all together
It's better late than never
Lay your world on me
I can take the weight
Pausing she smiled softly and looked down "I mean, after all.. You've always done that for me" she whispered softly "The least I can do for you is return the favor. Freddie didn't seem to hear her so she continued, just wanting to get it off her chest.
Don't let it twist you up inside
Time never fails to make the heartache stop
You've got to let those feelings go
I'll give you everything I can if you say the word
We all laugh and we all cry
We all hurt the same inside
We all fall down and we lose faith in who we really are
But if we bend instead of break
The choice for us is to make it together
Lay your world on me
I'll help you keep it all together
It's better late than never
Lay your world on me
I can take the weight
As Carly sang she didn't notice the door open slightly and Sam stick her head in. The Blonde froze when she heard Carly's voice and strained to listen, realizing she was singing she stopped to listen to what she was singing. She frowned and slowly stepped back, promising herself to talk to Carly about what she'd heard later.
Before Carly knew it Mrs. Benson was back and it was time to leave "Thank you for staying with him" she said kindly.
Carly nodded "It was my pleasure" she said before slowly walking to the elevator. A new resolve in her to prove to Freddie she was a worthy friend. 'And' she thought with a small blush, 'maybe more.'
