Chapter Ten

The rest of the day, Kevin avoided Sam and Freddie like the plague, or like his life depended on it. The latter would be more of a realistic situation. Sam and Freddie saw each other periodically. When they had class together; when they passed in the hall; giving each other an acknowledging glance; not to mention Sam giving Freddie verbal abuse as often as humanly possible. And she did; every chance she got. Some things would never change between them; even though they both shared an awkward experience together. Neither of them spoke of it, and for the time being, that's how they both wanted it.

Sam, Freddie, And Carly usually walked back to Bush Well Plaza together; but Sam made up an excuse so she didn't have to try to make up any more stories to tell Carly. So that left Freddie and Carly together; Carly was acting her normal chipper self; and Freddie was still being pre-occupied about his experience to pay that close attention to what Carly was saying. Since Sam wasn't there. Freddie had to endure lip gloss and build a bra talk.

"Why is it you think I have any interest in build-a-bra; or lip gloss for that matter?" Freddie asked; finally having his fill of the conversation.

"Well; Sam's not here; and you are."

"Again…why are you telling me?"

Carly rolled her eyes.

"Let's just go start rehearsal." She said while grabbing his wrist and dragging him along like a puppy dog.

Freddie and Carly arrived at the Shay's apartment to get ready for the icarly rehearsal. Freddie threw his bag on the couch and went up to the studio to make some last minute adjustments for some of their skits. Carly…went into the kitchen to grab a quick snack before going up to the studio herself.

"What's up kiddo?" Spencer asked walking out of his bedroom.

"Nothing too stimulating…just getting ready to rehearse the show..." She said as she walked back into the living room to wait on Sam; who was late as usual.

"So did you, Sam and Freddie want to have spaghetti tacos? I'm having a friend over who hasn't had them before." He asked not knowing of all that had happened in the last two days.

"I don't know. Sam's not here yet and Freddie is up in the studio getting things ready for rehearsal." She said walking over to the stairs; getting ready to go up and join Freddie.

"Who's your friend that's coming over?" She asked waiting to hear Spencer say that is was some weird person he met at the junk yard or someplace like that.

"It's Kevin…you know; the one Sam is dating. I wanted it to be a surprise." Spencer didn't wait on a response from Carly, and just went into the kitchen to get dinner ready for after the rehearsal.

"Sam's gonna love it! When did you talk to him?" She said smiling.

"He showed up here about twenty minutes before you did; he asked if you guys were here yet, and I told him you hadn't made it back yet. But he said he had to go do something; and that he would be back later." He said pulling a pot out of the oven.

"I'm sure she'll love the surprise; if she makes it here on time." Carly said on her way up the stairs.

After Sam had slipped away from Carly, she realized it was rehearsal night. "Aw chiz! Now how am I going to avoid Carly? She's just going to want to talk about HIM! And that's not something I want to do right now." She said to herself. But Sam hadn't missed a rehearsal, and decided to go and brave the possible storm whose name was Carly.

After Sam made it to Carly's she just walked through like always. "Hey Spence…where is everyone?" She asked looking around the place, scanning for her friends.

"Their upstairs getting ready for rehearsal. You better get going; you know how much they love it when you're late?"

"Yah, yah,yah..." She said throwing her bag on the chair by the door.

"Hey…is that spaghetti tacos I smell?" Sam asked walking over to the pot that Spencer was cooking the noodles in.

"Mama does like spaghetti tacos." She said reaching into the pot for a sample taste.

Smack! "Not until dinner!" Spencer said realizing who it was he just smacked with the wooden spoon. "OH…Sorry…I, I didn't…Don't hurt me!" He said backing away from Sam.

"No worries. I gotta go upstairs anyway. But don't ever get between mama and food again." She said giving him a look that scared him even more.

Kevin was walking around the streets that surrounded the apartment. He loved Cindy. But he needed to make Sam realize he still liked her as a friend. Even though she gave him a wedgie that possibly could be considered boarder line torture, he still wanted to have Sam as a friend. As he was thinking of a good way to convince Sam; he ran into Cindy.

"Hi Cindy!" Kevin said as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her; giving her a hug and quick kiss on the lips.

"Hi Kevin…miss me?" She asked returning the kiss.

"Of course." He replied.

"How was school? You know; with Sam and Freddie?" Kevin put his hands in his pockets, and answered quietly.

"About that…not so good. I've tried to get the both of them to understand we weren't trying to hurt them, but all I got was threatened by Freddie; and injured from Sam." He said rubbing his back side.

"Injured? How? Are you hurt?"

"I'd rather not talk about it. I'm fine." He said grabbing a hold of her hand. They started walking together; they didn't know why, but the both of them wanted to help both Sam and Freddie to realize there was nothing that either of them did wrong.

"I have an idea. How would you like to go to a spaghetti taco dinner with me? Sam and Freddie will both be there and less likely to want to hurt either of us."

"I don't know, Freddie has told me some things about her. If she's even a little of what he said she was I don't think I could."

"Don't worry; I'll be there with you. And besides, it will give us both a chance to explain about things together to the both of them.

Sam went upstairs and walked into the studio. Freddie was attaching a cable to the lap top and the camera, and Carly was sorting through some of the props they were going to use for rehearsal.

"What's up Carly…Fredbag?" She said picking up her remote.

"Demon…" Freddie replied.

"It's about time Sam; thought you were bailing on us." Carly said now facing Sam.

"Oh don't get you're under ware in a knot…I'm here aren't I?" She said walking over to the hood of the car.

"Barely…" Freddie replied.

"Don't get all Carly on me Freddork…no offense Carl's."

"None taken…why would I be offended?"

Sam rolled her eyes, and then walked over In front of the camera in her usual spot.

"Everybody ready?" Freddie asked walking over to the camera.

"Yes Freddie. We wouldn't want to keep you away from your girl Cindy for too long." Carly said smirking.

Freddie's smile disappeared and Sam unknowingly gave Carly a frown.

"What's going on here?" Carly asked.

"Nothing, let's get started. …" Freddie pointed at the girls.

During the rehearsal, Kevin and Cindy showed up at the Shay's door.

"Ready?"

"No, but let's get this over with." Cindy said feeling almost sick to her stomach.

Kevin knocked on the door and waited only a few seconds before Spencer opened the door.

"Hey Kevin…come on in. Cindy! Good to see you too. Sam and Freddie both are going to be surprised." Spencer said returning to the kitchen to finish the noodles. Both Kevin and Cindy stood around, and looking nervous. Kevin leaned over to Cindy. "I don't think Spencer or Carly know about us yet; just go with it."

"Carly! Sam! Freddie….! Dinner's ready." Spencer hollered up the stairs. Carly heard her brother call to them and ran down the steps way ahead of Sam and Freddie.

"Hey Kevin, nice…oh Cindy's here too! Freddie is going to be surprised." Carly said as she went over to the two of them and gave them each quick hugs.

Freddie was rolling up the last of the cables, and getting ready to exit the studio when Sam grabbed him by the arm.

"Freddie…we have to talk." She said in a serious tone.

At that moment Freddie felt a warm sensation run up his arm. He liked the way it felt; then as he glanced over at Sam, he noticed Sam's eyes. How big and blue they were; the way the studio lights made them irresistible, almost intoxicating. At that moment Freddie noticed that he was staring way too long; longer than he normally would.

"Look…if this is about the other night, we're cool. We were both upset and hurt about things, so don't worry." Freddie said those words to Sam; but was finding his thoughts wandering back to the time they shared out in the rain; how she felt holding onto him; how he felt comfortable holding onto her. Freddie was shaken from his thoughts suddenly by the sound of Sam's voice.

"No Fred-geek, that's not what I'm talking about. Carly doesn't know about you and Cindy breaking up; and she doesn't know about Kevin and me either. We're going to have to tell her…tonight."

Freddie didn't realize he hadn't told her; since he had been pre-occupied with his feelings; and trying to get to grips with them; and apparently neither did Sam.

"I don't know. Carly seems really happy for both of us; I think she's going to take it pretty hard." He said; sounding unwilling to.

"Don't you think she's going to find out when she sees them together on the street together; sucking on each other's face?"

Freddie thought about what Sam had just said. "Yeah I suppose." Freddie said in a quiet voice.

"Come on Fred-nerd, we're eating spaghetti tacos!" Sam said grabbing his wrist and dragging him down the stairs.

Just as they got to the bottom of the stairs, Sam saw Kevin and stopped quickly; making Freddie run into her causing the both of them to fall onto the floor.

"What the chiz Sam? Why di…" Freddie froze, looked over at Cindy, who was now looking like she just ate a can of worms that were sitting on the hot summer Seattle sidewalk.

"Surprise!" Carly yelled as Sam and Freddie finally got up off the floor.

Carly's happy and excited face quickly disappeared as she saw the looks of all four; quiet and staring in shock at each other.

Well; it's getting pretty good! What happens next is going to be good….I promise!