Carly smiled weakly at her brother.
"I shouldn't have blamed him," she murmured, pulling her arms tightly around her own body. "He's great, isn't he?" Spencer nodded and ruffled her hair.
"We all make mistakes," he replied softly. "And you know Sam's gonna be fine. Even she can't hide from a whole city. Just get some rest" Carly closed her eyes and curled up under her covers, satisfied. Spencer crept quietly out of the room and switched off the light before pulling the door to, letting a note of panic flash across his face as he moved down the stairs. He emerged into the main room of the apartment and switched on the computer, pulling up the iCarly website. He opened the comments for Freddie's video and studied them worriedly.
- I live in NY but I hope you find Sam soon! ! Love you iCarly! ! ! !
- hey freddie, have u checked at that smoohtie place u guys like? she mite b their
- Freddie, you're my favourite! Do you have a girlfriend? ;)
Spencer sighed and closed the page. There was nothing helpful in the comments, and he doubted anyone would see her. Despite what he'd told Carly, Sam knew how to avoid attention, and he was sure she could get anywhere in the city without being noticed. He bit his lip and let out another sigh.

Freddie groaned and stumbled into the Bushwell Plaza lobby, shivering from the cold. He glanced at the sleeping Lewbert and rolled his eyes.
"Worst doorman ever," he croaked. He checked his PearPhone habitually but there was still nothing new.
"Where the hell is she?" he wondered aloud, before cutting himself off with a loud cough. Lewbert jerked awake and his small angry eyes immediately fixed on Freddie.
"WHAAAAAT ARE YOU DOING?" he screamed, jumping to his feet. "DO YOU HAVE AAANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?"
"Yeah, I know," Freddie muttered. "I was just-"
"I DON'T CARE!" Lewbert continued. "GET OUT OF MY LOBBY! OOOOOOOUTT!"

Three hours later Freddie woke up with a start. His gaze was on his digital clock, and the numbers 06:03 glared out at him, stinging his eyes slightly. He rolled over to find an envelope resting on the pillow. He frowned and his eyes flicked to the window, which was swinging open slightly, the latch broken. He sat up slowly and picked up the envelope, peering at it through the darkness. He reached out to switch on his bedside lamp, blinding himself as the light flashed on. He looked back at the envelope in his hand as his vision cleared, but he already knew who it had to be from. He blinked and picked out the word Freddie scrawled on the front. He quickly ripped it open and slipped out a sheet of folded paper. The writing went over both sides, with large sections scribbled out, and Sam's writing was clearly identifiable. He straightened the sheet out on his lap, reading around the crossings out and mistakes.

Dear Freddie,

Don't tear this up just because it's from me. Not until you read it.

I'm sorry. Everything you said to me, you were right. What I've done to you over the years, and especially recently, is unacceptable. I could try to justify it by talking about how bad things are with my mom at the moment, or just that I haven't really got a future after you and Carly go to college, or- well no, I really shouldn't be taking all that out on you, and I'm really sorry that I have. Frankly, I can't believe you let me get away with it for so long. If it were me I would have done something about it a long time ago, but I guess that's just another thing you have on me. You're a really great guy. I know I've never told you anything like that without a heavy layer of sarcasm, but I mean it: you're amazing. Everything you've done for the people you care about, even when things turn out badly for you, especially when it's because of me, and you just keep going. You don't give up on what you believe in, you don't give up on people just because they do something bad. Until last week you never gave up on me, when anyone else would have snapped in no time. And you've never given up on Carly, no matter what anyone says... well, no matter what I said, because that was all me as well. I guess all that waiting has finally paid off though. I reacted badly, but now I've had time to think, I'm glad that it finally worked out for you. You really deserve this.

It's been four years now, since we first met. That's four years of hell I've put you through too, and now you've finally fought back, properly fought back, and you've won. And I'm really glad you did, because that's what I've needed all this time. Carly tries to keep me in line, and my mom's always got a wise-crack ready, but you're the only person who really fights back, and that's made me realise how horrible I can be. So I wanna thank you too, because you're the first person who was able to show me myself. You're the first person who's shown me how I look to every frightened kid cowering against his locker when I glance in their direction. And I look terrible.

So I'm leaving. I'm getting out of your lives before I screw them up any more than I already have. Don't bother trying to keep in touch, don't bother looking for me. Just let me go and get on with your own lives. There's three hundred dollars in the envelope which I'd been saving for... never mind that, it's not important any more. It's not enough to make up for everything I've done to you, but it's all I've got. Well... almost all. There's also two tickets for the Cuttlefish concert next weekend and a reservation for two booked at Finique, that fancy restaurant downtown, for that same evening. I want you to take Carly there, have a great time. You two are made for each other, and I know it'll work out between you without me there to mess things up.

Again, I'm sorry - I know that doesn't help anything, but I just want to say it. I'm sorry that I've screwed things up between you for so long, but this is my attempt at making it up to you as best I can. So just have a great time with her. I really hope it goes well. I've been thinking a lot about this and really, I can't think of anything I want more for you guys. So as I said, forget me. Enjoy your life.

I love you,
Sam