Disclaimer: Much like Spencer I don't own a law degree, just like I don't own iCarly.

A/N: Chapter 10 written and edited and posted. It's been a long day, and I haven't slept in 2 days. Somewhere around 45 hours. And it's all for you.

Chapter 10

Sam's POV

Yesterday had been such a fucking disaster. Mom had been killed, Melanie was here, I had lied about my feelings for Carly in front of Carly, and now my sister was dating the nub. The thought of them together made my stomach churn, although I wasn't sure why. I mean, Melanie would only be here until the end of August, and then she'd be across the country and they would break up.

Okay, don't get me wrong, Freddie is my friend and he's sort of grown on me. I don't want to see him hurt, except when I'm the one inflicting it. Melanie, on the other hand, was a Puckett, regardless of whether or not she actually acted like one. When it came to being with someone, we always managed to fuck it up. Mom had had her many boyfriends, the only one to ever last longer than two weeks was our father, and even he ran out on us when we were little. I had had my share of boyfriends, like Jonah and Pete. Shane didn't count because we didn't technically date, and that was the closest to dating Carly as I had ever gotten. Melanie, well, she had never dated.

Maybe she was good with Benson.

I rolled onto my back, groaning at the sharp pain in the back of my head. I had forgotten that I had been hit with a baseball bat. Once the pain subsided, I sighed and realized Carly wasn't in the bed. On her pillow was a note, which I grabbed and squinted against the gradually brightening sunlight in the room.

Tried to wake you with no luck. Ham is in the fridge. I'll be back soon. Carly

I groaned. Where could she have gone? Throwing the blanket off of me, I noticed that I was only in my boxers and bra. I stood and stretched, seeing another note on the side table on my side of the bed. Picking it up, I read it and sighed.

Please try not to hurt yourself or anything while I'm gone. Carly.

How many notes did the girl leave for me? I found my jeans and shirt on the couch in the room and put them on before going down the hall to the bathroom. There were no notes in the bathroom or the kitchen or anywhere in between.

I found the ham in the fridge and devoured it. Carly finally came in through the front door four root beers and five Girly Cow episodes later, two bags in her hand. "What's that?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I went and got more root beer and ham for you." I watched as she emptied the bag in the fridge. "Are you feeling any better?"

"I haven't felt like slaughtering anyone, so I guess so."

Carly nodded and sat at the opposite end of the couch. I almost felt as though she was avoiding any physical contact with me at all. Fuck, why was this so hard? I could never have her. She was biting her lip again, so I reached over and touched her shoulder. Her eyes met mine. "Stop biting your lip."

I love her to death, even more than that, but it drives me nuts when she chews on her lip like that. They should be kissing mine. I scooted closer to her and rested my head on her shoulder. When did everything between us get so fucking awkward? I'd say the night she kissed me in her sleep had something to do with it. That was the moment my pre-existing love for her had gone into overdrive and was now dragging me by the ankle to hang me upside-down over a fire that made everything so much worse.

She had kissed me consciously twice, meaning she meant to. Twice. Both times I had rejected her so coldly. I didn't want to ruin our friendship and if this was some fucking experiment of hers, to see if I would come out and tell her how I felt about her. It was always about Carly. Protect the Cupcake at all costs.

I finally noticed that Carly's head was leaning against mine and her hand was palm-down on her thigh, her fingers flexing. Did she want to hold my hand? I debated, failing miserably against all reasonable thought, and slid my arm around hers, my hand slipping under hers, and threaded my fingers between hers.

She didn't move.

I half-expected her to pull away or to tell me no. Hell, even an "I don't feel that way" would suffice. When she didn't reject me, I stroked her thumb with mine and turned my attention back to the TV. But nothing mattered now.

The front door opened, and I pulled away from Carly, but I still sat close. Spencer went to the kitchen, mumbling something under his breath. "Hey, Spence, how goes it?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I got dumped."

"What happened?" Carly jumped in.

Spencer stared at her. "You'd think a girl would let you know she's not into guys before she has sex with one." He shook his head. "It was so embarrassing."

"Aw, I'm sorry, Spence."

He nodded at me. "Save yourself the trouble. Don't date."

I didn't plan on dating any time soon. Not when the love of my life couldn't be mine. Fredward and my twin barged into the apartment and looked at us. Spencer went to his room. I looked at the dork. "Hey, go chat with Spencer. I think he would prefer a fellow guy to talk to him about a girl who isn't into guys." He got the hint. We watched as he went to Spencer's room, and I looked at Melanie. "Have you two done it yet?"

"Sam!" Carly said, looking at me.

"What? They've been dating one day and started making out. Who's to say Princess here isn't letting the nub fu-"

"Sam!" Carly said again, this time grabbing my wrist.

Melanie shook her head. "No, we haven't, Sam. You'll be happy to hear that we're going to wait."

"Why would I be happy to hear that? You both need to…" Carly yanked my arm and dragged me upstairs after giving Mel an apologetic look that told her we needed to have a talk. Once in her room, she closed the door and pinned me against it before I could react, her hands holding my wrists above my head. "What did I do, Carls? She's my sister."

"You don't need to be crude and nosy."

"Fine, whatever you say, Cupcake."

"What is wrong with you?"

"Everything!" I almost shouted. I was now aware of her nails digging into my wrists. Her eyes met mine and I twisted my hands until my fingers interlocked with hers. She knew what I was trying to do. Throwing herself against me, she had me pinned completely against the door. I was in trouble now.

And she did the one thing I told her not to do. She leaned in and kissed me. With her lips against mine, practically holding my head still against the door, I couldn't pull away. Thankfully, she finally did, and I realized she had let her guard down in that moment. I took a chance and spun, pinning her against the door. Her brown eyes stayed with mine, like melting chocolate chips.

"Why? Why don't you stop?" I hissed.

"S-Sam…"

I had tightened my grip on her hands enough that she knew I was angry, but not enough to hurt her. "I fucking told you to stop." She was crying. Why? She was the one person in the entire world that I would never harm, no matter how much I suffered. She hadn't listened. "If you have a real reason, tell me. I'm tired of your excuses."

"I-I c-can't."

I let go of her, and knowing that I was going to regret saying any of this, I said it anyway. "Then I can't be your friend, Carly." She was starting to cry. I pushed her aside and ran downstairs, past Fredbag, past Melanie, and out of the apartment. I ran as fast as I could and ended up at home, where Mom had died, where I had been treated like shit every single day of my life. Slamming my bedroom door, I sank to the floor, bursting into tears.

I, Sam Puckett, was dying inside.

A/N: Okay, so Sam and Carly still haven't told each other. Have I dragged it out too long? Because that chapter is written and done. I just can't tell you when it will be.

Review, and you'll find out. :]