Hey everybody, I'm back!! So sorry for the long delay, school and work have been kicking my ass as of late, so it took a little longer than I'd have liked to get this chapter out to you. Not gonna say much, I'll save that for afterwards. Thanks to those who reviewed and added this to their alert/favorite list, it means a lot! So here goes, enjoy everyone!

I don't own iCarly. I want to but I can't. Them the breaks.

"Whoever you are, go away. I'm not talking to anyone."

If I had a nickel for every time I said that this past week, I'd be a millionaire right now. I'd rather be rich than dealing with this constant struggle that is my life, though. I know, that sounds cliché as hell, but it is a struggle. One which I'm not going to win for a long, long time, if ever. It's nothing new, though. I never, ever win at anything when it involves Sam. I'm destined to be a loser forever…in cupcake throwing contests…in bets about whether Mr. Howard is a robot or not (don't ask)…and certainly a loser in competing for her heart. I was foolish to even think that I was worthy of competing for it in the first place. Me, the dude behind the camera, the technical producer, the proclaimed biggest nub in all of Seattle, winning over Sam Puckett's heart? I was an idiot for thinking I could. She'd never go for someone like me.

"Hey Freddie…"

Oh...why is she here. I don't need this right now. Normally, in a situation along these lines, I'd welcome her presence with open arms. But not now. Carly's the closest thing to Sam that I've come in contact with since Monday morning. What makes her think that being here is going to help me out? Why was she even let in here in the first place?

"What do you want, Carly. I'm obviously not in the mood to be talking to anyone, as you can see, so make it quick."

My words are cold and bitter. I've most likely offended her or hurt her feelings, and again, normally, I'd feel like a jerk for doing that to my best friend. Right now though? Yeah, no. Why should I have to concern myself over whether or not I hurt someone else's feelings when my own were just torn to shreds a little over seventy two hours ago? Exactly. I shouldn't, and I'm not going to. Sorry Carly, but not even you are immune to a pissed off Freddie Benson.

"Um…okay then. Um, I was just stopping by to see how you were doing…you know, cause that's what friends do."

I roll my eyes and turn around in my seat to face her. She's playing with her thumbs, keeping her hands in front of her, shifting around nervously as I glare at her. I can tell that she feels uncomfortable right now, that this awkward situation is making her feel uneasy about coming over here. Well then, that's a good thing. I don't need to be bothered with this crap right now. I'm such a mixture of emotions, I feel like I'm about to spontaneously combust and splatter all over the walls. I just…just wish she wasn't here, that's all.

"I'm fine. There's nothing wrong. I'm working on something. Happy now?", I say, the words like piercing daggers coming out of my mouth. I notice her wincing at the harshness of my words, but I don't care. She's got no right being here, even if she is only trying to do the right thing and be here for me, be a good friend.

"Freddie, don't act like this. I know you're bummed and everything, but…"

"Don't act like this? Excuse me? I'm sorry, but where do you get off telling me I can't act like this? Bummed? I'm more than bummed, Carly. I'm an emotional wreck, for God's sake! I've barely slept since Monday morning! I haven't left my apartment at all! I've spoken maybe four words to my mom! And you're telling me to not act like this!? Well you know what Carly, just forget you. I have EVERY right to be like this. I know it, you know it, and the entire SCHOOL knows it. So just go and don't come back for a long time. Leave me alone."

You know those moments when you say or do something, and then immediately regret it literally two seconds later? This is one of those moments. What the heck did I just do? Did I really just explode on my best friend like that? Did I honestly just say all that? Aw man…I can't believe I had that in me. I must have gotten that from my mom, because she only explodes like that whenever I talk back to her or refuse to take a tick bath. Just…wow. I can't believe I did that…and now Carly probably hates my guts. The hurt look in her eyes pretty much confirms that. She's backing away, trying to keep the tears that are threatening to fall from her eyelids from doing just that. And if what I said didn't confirm it, then the image of Carly on the verge of tears pretty much sums up that I'm a big ol' jerk face.

"Carly…listen, I…I didn't mean to say all that…it's just, I've been…been really, really upset the past few days, and--"

"No, don't…don't worry ab-about it. I-I'll just go an-and l-leave you alone…I'm s-sorry for coming over h-here and bothering y-you…"

Instinctively, I feel my body lurching forward and grabbing Carly's hand, pulling her towards me and onto the end of my bed, where I quickly wrap my arms around her frail body and hug her, one she reciprocates. It's something that we both need right now, and I'm glad that she didn't storm out of here a complete mess, glad that I was able to get a hold of her before that came to fruition. My shoulder suddenly begins to feel a little damp, and upon looking at it, I see Carly's head buried there, sobbing madly. It's funny, but given the situation and what's happened since Monday morning, I thought that the roles would be reversed, you know? It doesn't matter right now, though. I still can't believe I went off like that on Carly Shay of all people. My best friend, the girl who wouldn't (and couldn't) harm a fly, the sweetest, nicest, kindest girl anyone could ever meet in all of Seattle. And I just screamed and yelled at her, treated her like trash. What the hell is wrong with me?

"It's alright, Carls, let it out. I'm sorry I said all that chizz. I don't know what came over me", I say softly as I rub her back, letting out a hoarse cough, expunging the rudeness that previously had a hold over my vocal chords. She's still sobbing into my shoulder, gripping the back of my shirt tightly. After a few more moments of the only sound being her sobs, Carly finally lets go of my shirt and inches away from me, creating a tiny bit of space between us on my bed. The tears have stopped, but her make-up is smeared and her lip is still quivering. She paws at her face, wiping away any stray waterworks, so naturally, I quickly reach over to my desk and grab her a tissue. She takes it from my hand and proceeds to noisily blow her nose, before asking with her eyes for another one. Without even looking, my hand shoots towards the box and grabs another, lightning quick in my movements. She wipes away the smears and fixes herself up slightly. We both sit here, no words spoken between us, this awkward silence slowly beginning to torture me. I've decided that after another twenty seconds or so, I can't not say anything to my best friend.

"Carly, listen, if there's anything I can do to make that up to you, just say the word, and I'm on it", I state, almost pleading with her, waiting to see if she'll accept my apology. Sure, I've gotten irritated with Carly before, and she'd always forgive me, but never on a level like this. She's giving me a knowing look, her lips curled up thinly as she tosses the used tissues away into the trash. She nods her head and then pulls me into another hug, and as she does so, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I don't know what I'd do if Carly ended up leaving me too…

"It's okay, Freddie, I understand. I shouldn't of said what I said, I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I know you've got a lot on your mind, and I should be here to help you out, not exacerbate the situation. Friends don't do that to their friends when they're feeling down", she says cheerily, the color returning to her cheeks along with the smile that warms my heart whenever I see it. And to think, I almost lost this girl as my best friend because of some stupid, borderline obsessive crush I developed to hide my true feelings for…the demon. I can never do anything right, it seems.

"No, it's not. I don't know what came over me there. I--"

"Freddie, I get it. I'm alright. Don't worry about it. I'm not here for me, you know. I'm here for you."

Carly reaches over and rubs my shoulder, a small grin on her face as my head falls into my hands. Lifting my head back up and letting out a deep sigh, I lean back against the wall, thinking of what to say. What is there to say that hasn't already been said, though?

"I know, and I appreciate that, Carls. But what's there to say or do about it? I can't change her mind. I can't go back and reverse time. I just…I just need to accept the facts and chalk it up to me being an idiot about everything. It's just...I don't feel as if it's worth it anymore."

"Freddie, don't talk like that. This can be fixed, I know it can. You two just need to…sit down and talk, hash out your differences and see where to go from there."

A snort escapes my lips, followed by a sarcastic chuckle. Carly raises an eyebrow at me and gives me a look that says, 'What?', but she should know what that was for. The whole idea of me and Sam talking is hilarious. But not 'ha ha' hilarious. More like 'you're out of your mind' hilarious. Does that even make sense? I hope so.

"What was that for?", she asks, curious as to why I would react like that, obviously. Is she blind to the reason why? I hope she's just acting right now.

"Carly, getting Sam to talk to me right now is like trying to capture a wild goose…it just ain't gonna happen", I say, stating the obvious one more time in an attempt to make myself think that everything is over before it could even fully begin. Carly takes a ragged breath and sighs, her eyes rolling as she pouts.

"Freddie, seriously. Can't you see what Spencer and I see?", she asks pointedly, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion, before the sudden realization hits me. Shaking my head vehemently, I wonder to myself how Carly's suddenly now on board with that idea. Not that it'd ever happen, but still, it's quite the about face from a week or so ago, when the mere thought of Sam liking me and me liking Sam would cause her eyes to bug out and a scream would be elicited from her voice box. Now she's all gung ho as far as everything goes. I understand that she's just looking out for us as our friend, and she only wants what's best for the both of us, but this is just too farfetched, too out of the realm of possibility, even for Carly. It's broken…there's no use in trying to fix it anymore.

"I did, for a short time. You see everything differently through rose colored glasses, Carls. The world becomes brighter, things you used to never notice about people before pop out at you, everything becomes nicer and harmless. You think that nothing can go wrong, and that everything will forever remain peaceful. What you don't realize is, by thinking all that, your setting yourself up for failure."

"Ugh, seriously man, stop this! I hate the way you've become, and in such a short amount of time too! More than a week and a half ago, you were Freddie Benson, one of my best friends, hopeless romantic, and technical producer to iCarly! Now…now I don't even know if you're Freddie anymore. For everyone's sake, please, talk to Sam and settle everything! You both need it!", Carly yells at me, throwing her hands in the air for added effect. The frustration is seeping through her tone, and to be honest, I don't blame her for getting like this. But hey, why isn't she giving Sam this talk, huh?

"It works both ways, Carly. Why haven't you given Sam this talk? Am I just a convenient way of getting your anger out, seeing as I live three feet away from you? Why don't you give Sam a piece of your mind, huh Carly?", I ask, almost tauntingly, which in turn causes her to narrow her eyes to slits in my direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her hand shaking, like she's ready to explode, and it's in that short moment that I've done something that not many people have managed to do before.

Piss off Carly Shay.

"I have given her this talk, Freddie! And you know what she said! She said the same crap that you're saying!! She's as stubborn as you are, and it pisses me off! It pisses me off that neither one of you can see what's so clearly right in front of you! Yet you two continually beat around the bush and act ignorant to what the other person is feeling! You two…ugh, you two anger and annoy me so much sometimes!"

Personally, I've only seen or heard Carly get like this on three separate occasions the entire time that I've known her. The first time was when we were little kids, and some bully kept making fun of me, and finally, she couldn't stand it anymore, so she lashed out at him in a moment that would have made Sam proud, had she been there. The second time was, according to Sam, when Carly flipped out on her about pretty much ruining my life for telling everyone that I hadn't kissed a girl…talk about a secret there. And the third is right now, in living color, right in front of my face. Do I deserve this? Probably...no, I definatly do. Do I need it right now? Again, probably...yeah, I do. Still won't change the fact that everything is broken though. There's no going back…Carly just needs to realize that so we can all move on and live our lives as best as we can.

"Carly…", I start out, but I get cut off immediately by her putting her hand in front of my face, basically shushing me. I don't try to fight back or argue my point, and why should I? You don't do that with an angry Carly Shay. It's just…suicidal, almost.

"I'm going home, Freddie. I can't do this right now, not in the mood I'm in. Hopefully, you'll take the time that you have to yourself to think over everything, and maybe, just maybe, call Sam. Then again, I told her to do that as well, and look how that's turned out. Oh, and before I go, I just wanted to let you know…don't expect to show up at my place anytime soon for anything iCarly related…I've put the show on hiatus."

That was something I wasn't expecting. iCarly…on hiatus? The words can't escape my throat, my breath is hitching, and suddenly I feel really, really sick. iCarly's a big part of my life…and now it's gone? How…why…what…all over this?

"How could you--"

"I can, and I already have, Freddie. The show will be back when I see fit."

She gets off up my bed and makes her way over to my bedroom door, twisting the knob and swinging the door open, taking one step out before turning to face me one last time, a solemn, but knowing look on her face as she lets out a saddening sigh and speaks.

"You know, Freddie, there was a story that Spencer once read to me a long time ago, when I was a little girl. He'd read it to me before I went to bed every night, and every single night, it never got old. I figure that you might want to hear a synopsis of it."

"Yeah…what would it be about?", I ask, intrigued as to what she's got to say and how this applies to the volatile subject of me and Sam.

"There was once a princess who had a loyal servant, a young boy, who would do anything she asked of him. If she asked him to jump off the top of the castle she lived in, he'd of done it, because he truly liked her. Sure, she treated him poorly and barely gave him the time of day, but he cared deeply about her. Just being around her was enough for him. Eventually, the princess began to develop feelings for her young servant, but he was to be knighted for being such a noble boy, and he was going to be leaving the castle."

"What happened? Did the princess tell the servant that she liked him too? Well!?"

Carly's head drops, her hair covering her face, but underneath, I can make out a sad look upon her face. Lifting her head to face me, she shakes her head. "I don't know, Freddie. Spencer never told me the ending. Looks like I'll never find out."

With that, she walked out, closing my door, leaving me alone in my own little world…where suddenly…I find myself yearning for those rose colored glasses that I was wearing only a week ago…

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That was harder than I thought. I can't believe I whipped out that old story on Freddie like that. But it's true; Spencer never did tell me the ending to the story when I was a kid. He always left it to me to think of my own ending, but before I ever could, I'd always fall asleep. Call it cruel, but I think it's only fair that I leave Freddie hanging in suspense as well…after all, the story kind of resembles something before my very eyes, doesn't it? Yeah, I think so too.

Opening the door to the apartment, I'm greeted with the sight of Spencer sitting on the couch, feet kicked up on the coffee table, watching whatever he's watching on TV. He's laughing, having a good time, but the laughter quickly stops when he turns his head to face me. Uneasiness washes over him as he stands up from the couch and moves towards me, holding his arms out in a waiting embrace. Instinctually, I walk forward and fall into my older brother's arms, my head hitting his chest. No tears are falling, because I've used them all up. In their place is just…emptiness. And Spencer's picking up on that very quickly.

"So, little sis…how'd the talk with Freddie go?", he asks tensely, rubbing my back in a circular motion. What do I tell him? Do I lie and say that everything's going to be alright? I don't want to worry Spencer…this isn't his problem, and when he starts worrying over stuff, it just creates more problems. But it'd be wrong to lie to him when he's done more than his fair share of help. He's raised me better than that. And I'm terrible at trying to lie…it makes me feel all queasy and rotten inside every time I do!

"Not as good as I thought it would, Spence", I mutter softly, pulling back, out of his arms and flopping down onto the couch, my head thrown back so that I'm staring at the ceiling. He doesn't sit down next to me, instead walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator for some milk it looks like. Whatever. Milk isn't going to cheer me up, heck, I don't think anything at this rate is going to cheer me up. I've failed at being Cupid and therefore, my two best friends are going to suffer miserably for the rest of their collective lives. That's probably a really grim and depressing way to look at it, but bear with me, I'm an overly dramatic teenager who's just canceled the web show that made me a bit of a celebrity here in Seattle, and who has two best friends that can't see past their insecurities and ignorance to realize that they're meant to be together. Yeah, really grim and depressing, if I do say so myself.

"What happened? What'd he say?"

"Well, when I first got there, he was really angry and rightfully so, but then I said something stupid and he freaked out and I cried a little, then he said he was sorry, I said it was alright, he deserves to be upset, then I told him it could be fixed, he said it couldn't, we talked back and forth about it, he kept saying all these depressing things, and finally I got fed up with it and told him to stop being like this, that he needed to reach out to Sam and he said that was impossible, then he said I should give Sam the talk I gave him, I flipped out and told him that I did, that he needed to stop this, then I told him the show was on hiatus then I busted out the story you used to tell me when I was a little girl!"

I realize that I said that all way too fast for Spencer to understand and comprehend, but there was no other way of saying it. I can almost see the gears inside of my older brother's head coming to life, trying to decipher everything into something coherent, but then again, this is Spencer I'm talking about. For all I know, he could be thinking about peanut butter and rabid animals. I can't even bother to look at him right now, now that he's standing right next to me again, so I turn my head away and look at the fridge…in an instant, memories of Sam raiding it and eating everything in there rush to my head. In fact, a whole lifetime of memories re-appear, and all took place right there in that kitchen. Freddie sticking the sink hose down his pants…finding out the amount of viewers after the first ever iCarly…trying to convince Sam to have dinner with me and the Dorfmans…Freddie slicing Spencer's banana…Gibby being handcuffed to Sam…everything. I want them all back so bad, but right now, it's just wishful thinking.

"Alright, I managed to pick out you crying, Freddie freaking out, then you freaking out, depressing things, and finally the bedtime story I used to tell you. By the way, I'm surprised you even remember it after all these years…I haven't told you that story since you were like, ten years old. How come you still remember it?", Spencer asked, sitting back down on the couch next to me, turning my head to face him, quizzical look and all. All I can do is shrug my shoulders. I guess when you hear the same bedtime story every night from age 4 till age 10, things have a way of sticking with you. I feel my head fall onto Spencer's shoulder, and he wraps his arm around it, doing his best to comfort me. Then I ask him something that catches him by surprise, it even surprises me too. But I guess I'm just in one of those moods…

"Spencer…would you mind telling me the story again? For old times sake?", I ask, eyes never leaving their spot on the television, which is running commercials for some magical stain removing product, something nubbish like that.

"Sure thing, little sis", he says softly, clearing his throat, taking a moment to compose himself, I assume. "You sure about this?", he asks, getting a nod in response from me. "Alright then. Once upon a time, little Carly, there was a princess who lived in a castle far, far away. She had a loyal servant, a young boy who did anything and everything she asked of him. Despite his work, the princess treated him terribly, often insulting him and belittling his work. The boy didn't care though…as long as he was merely around her, he was happy, because he cared about her. This continued for a long time, until one day, the boy helped save her father's life. It was then, and only then, did the princess finally see her loyal servant in a different light. Eventually, she began to treat him more with respect and admiration than disdain and contempt. However though…the boy was to be knighted and given his own castle as a reward for saving her father's life…and he was going to be leaving soon…it was then that the princess realized what she needed to do."

Between Spencer stroking my head and wrapping his arm tightly around my suddenly fragile body, I can feel another tear begin to sting my eye. Once you get past the corniness of it, for a kid, the story really is beautiful. It's still beautiful now, and I'm a sixteen year old saying that. I really wish that I found out the ending to the story…Spencer once told me that, when he felt the time was right, he would tell me, but lo and behold, it's been like, a lifetime and he still hasn't. I guess I really won't find out.

But then it's like a ray of light has finally broken through the clouds that have been hanging over me, Spence, Freddie and Sam, and it appears right there on the television screen.

Immediately, I spring up and whip my head to face Spencer, who's caught a little off guard by the sudden movements, quickly retracting his hands and looking utterly confused. Grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him towards me, the thought that literally has been on my head for two seconds comes out like a whirlwind.

"SpencerpleasetellmeyoustillhavetheirphonenumberbecauseIreallyneedtoknowifyoudobecauseitwillfixeverythingandIreallymeaneverything!"

His eyes grow a little wide, and his lips are pursed shut, I can tell he's trying to understand why, A) his little sister is yelling in his face in a near-threatening manner and B) why she's speaking like a drug addict who just got his or her fix. He looks around the apartment, like he'd get an answer from any one of his sculptors or some other outside force, but I can't afford to wait anymore. I need answers!

"Well!?!? Do you have the number or what!?", I yell again, causing him to flinch and move back, though my hands never leave his shirt collar.

"What number, Carly!? What's going on, why're you--", he tries to say, only to have my hands upon his head, forcefully turning it to face the television. His eyes grow wide and his jaw drops, before a big, goofy smile creeps across his lips. "Ah ha! So that's what you meant! But wait, how is this going to help..."

"Don't worry about that! Just give me the number, Spencer!!! Give me the number or else your shirt gets ruined!!"

"But…this is my nice shirt…I trained in this today…", he says slowly, before I mess up the collar once more, causing him to rip away from my grip and furiously dig through his pockets for his phone. Instead of his phone though, he produces a football glove, half of a ham sandwich, a whoopee cushion, a sock, a roll of quarters and…a rubber chicken, before he finally gets what I want. All I can do is stare at the items he pulled out of his pants pockets with shock and slight disgust before snatching the phone out of his hand and running towards the stairs up to my room.

"Carly! Why do you need their number and what the heck is going on!?", he calls out to me as I reach the top step, coming to a screeching halt in front of my bedroom door.

"It's important! You'll see why soon enough!!", I yell back down, twisting the door and swinging it open, running inside, my brother's voice still calling to me as I go to slam it shut.

"What's going on!?"

"I'm going to make sure the princess and her loyal servant realize what they can have before it's too late!"

As I slam the door shut and frantically search for the number, I remember Freddie saying that it wasn't worth it anymore. I think I know the answer to that question now.

It is.

And that's all for chapter 10! Alright, just to point out a few things; it's currently spring time in Seattle, so it's around mid April that this is all happening. It's all gearing up towards the junior prom at the end of the year, and the events that have happened in all these chapters have taken place over the course of a week and a half (crazy, I know, and I hope it all makes sense; don't worry, the next chapter fast forwards a month). And one last note; the story is almost done. There's about four more chapters before it's all over. It's been a blast writing this, and I hope you all enjoy the final chapters, counting down to the end of junior year. That's all for now, hope y'all like this latest chapter, and expect chapter 11 to be out soon. Bye!