A/N - Sorry these updates are getting farther and farther apart. I've been pretty depressed lately and as much as I can promise I won't abandon the story, I haven't had the motivation to write. At least there are only two chapters left. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly.
Sam and Freddie were the only ones at the restaurant when six rolled around. They had gotten there around five-thirty and were still waiting for Carly to show up. Gibby had texted to warn them that he would be a few minutes late. Sam and Freddie shrugged it off and told the hostess of their reservations. She smiled and lead them to their table, and told her that they were waiting on three more people.
A few minutes later—after Sam ate all the bread and stole some from the next table over—Carly finally showed, wearing a pretty red dress and black high heeled boots. She smiled at her friends and sat down.
"Where's Gibby?" She asked, looking nervous, as if she dressed up for nothing.
"On his…there he is." Freddie pointed to where Gibby was walking in with a girl draped over his arm.
The girl was really pretty with white blond hair that she wore in ringlets down her to lower back. She had bright blue eyes and wore just enough makeup to bring out her high cheekbones. Her dress was a deep midnight blue with a flattering tiered skirt. Immediately Carly felt self-conscious and silly. Gibby had brought a date.
"Hey, everyone! This is Lola Kingsley." He smiled and indicated the girl. "She is from London, England and is studying neuroscience with a minor biology at Argosy University. And she is the president of the class of 2016."
"Hello! Nice to meet you all." Lola said in her British accent, and took her seat.
As if Carly hadn't felt nervous before. If this gorgeous genius was what Gibby was into, she'd never stand a chance. She received good grades but still didn't make the honor roll last semester, and wasn't very good in science at all.
Freddie noticed that Carly already looked down. He had never expected Gibby to find such an amazing date. He'd thought he bring some mediocre girl, not the next Nobel Peace Prize and Miss Universe pageant winner.
"Hey, Freddie-weddie...we should order the escargot." Sam said, pointing at the menu.
"Snails? Are you sure, sweetie?"
"It's meat." Sam said with a shrug. "I've tried it before. It's good, babe."
On the other side of the table, Gibby was snuggling up with Lola. The girl was babbling incessantly about how behavioral neuroscience was going to be the next big thing and that was why she was switching her minor to psychology. Carly rolled her eyes. Lola seemed nice enough but Carly found her irritating nonetheless, especially as the couple giggled and scooted closer to one another. Who could find that shirtless potato so appealing that they'd practically sit on his lap in public? Carly shook her head at the thought.
"So what do you all plan to study in college?" Lola asked the table in general, smiling genuinely. Carly hated that smile.
She opened her mouth to say that she intended to study physical therapy but Freddie cut in almost immediately. "I plan to study film with a minor in technology, and Sam wants to study culinary arts."
Carly opened her mouth again.
"I'll be studying theatre." Gibby cut in. "Always thought I was too pretty not to be on tv."
Carly once against was about to speak when Lola cut her off this time.
"So how did you two meet? You are the cutest couple."
Carly sat back in her chair, a scowl on her face. This was getting annoying.
"Well, we met years ago through Carly actually." Carly sat forward. Was she finally in the conversation? Freddie simply continued. "And we hated each other. Sam would torture me aaaaaaall the time…relentlessly. Then, Sam told the world I never had my first kiss, and she revealed that she hadn't had hers either. So finally, we kissed. Three years later, here we are."
"Wow. That's a long time." Lola said, and Sam and Freddie shared a meaningful look.
"How'd you meet the Gibster?" Sam asked through a mouthful of bread. Freddie elbowed her and she smiled, her mouth still full of bread.
"We met at the beach strangely enough. I was there studying evening tides. I have no clue why he was there." Lola shrugged and giggled. "Anyway, he asked me out for some ice cream, and I told him no. But he was persistent."
"That's Gibby for you." Freddie said, and everyone laughed, except Carly.
His plan was coming along swimmingly as Carly excused herself, quite irritably, to the restroom. As soon as she was gone, Sam and Freddie let out a huge breath of air.
"I had to stab a fork in my le to keep from mocking you, Benson." Sam snapped. "Freddie-weddie? More like Freddie-idiot."
"Love you too." Freddie rolled his eyes.
"I am confused." Lola said. "And I'm a neuroscience student."
"It's all an act to get back at Carly."
"Why would you want to get back at Carly? She seems so nice." Lola asked, blinking her bright blue eyes.
"She has a point, guys." Gibby said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Shhhh…she's back."
The table lapsed into silence, almost awkward silence, so Freddie nailed Sam in the shin with his foot, which launched into a game of footsie—though with Sam it was more like Foot Wars. Just as she smashed his pinky toe twice, Lola launched into a story of the time that Gibby fell on her sister's wedding cake shirtless.
Carly crossed her arms and sulked in her chair.
By the time their meals came, Carly was ready to leave. She tried to act hospitable when Lola tried to draw her into the conversation, but each and every time, Freddie and Sam—mostly Freddie though—would cut in and draw her out of the conversation once more. They were lost in couple world and without a date, Carly was woefully on the outside looking in.
Freddie and Sam were feeding each other…weird, and Gibby and Lola were discussing neuroscience. How did Gibby know so much about the brain? It was scary actually. Carly just frowned and stabbed at her pasta.
"Sam and I were going to go to the movies afterwards." Freddie said suddenly. "Would you and Lola care to join us?"
"What about me?" Carly interjected.
"It's couple's night at the theatre." Freddie said, matter-of-factly.
"THAT'S IT!" Carly screamed, standing up and slamming her hands on the table. Lola jumped in surprise. Gibby just looked at her, his eyes wide. Sam and Freddie seemed braced for what was about to happen. "I don't know what's going on but you are purposely keeping me out of the conservation. You two are not a lovey-dovey couple so cut the chiz out and stop with the secrets. You promised. And Gibby, don't bother showing up for rehearsal next week."
Then she stormed from the restaurant, tears running down her face.
Everyone looked at each other a moment before Gibby and Sam stood to run after her.
Once they were gone, Lola looked across the table. "What just happened?"
"I really messed up…" Freddie said, looking down at his hands. "Sorry about your date."
"Oh…it wasn't really a date. I don't like Gibby like that…he likes that Carly girl. I can see why, she's feisty."
"Yeah…" Freddie said, wondering if the brunette would ever forgive him.
Freddie realized that he should have been surprised when Sam hunted him down as he walked home from the restaurant. She just walked up behind him and kicked him in the back of the knee. He groaned and turned, expecting a mugger, but wasn't particularly surprised to come face to face with an angry Sam.
"We need to talk." She snarled, grabbing his arm and dragging him across the street to a bench. She forced him to sit and then paced in front of the bench.
"How's Carly?"
"Not talking to us." Sam snapped. "Gibby's comforting her."
"Did you tell her the truth?" Freddie asked.
"Is that all you care about, Freddie? Your stupid plan?" When Freddie said nothing, Sam sighed and slumped onto the bench beside him. "This is all my fault isn't it?"
Freddie turned to her in surprise. "W-why would you say that?"
"Because I manipulated you for years, Freddie." Sam said. "And now that Carly has done it, you're freaking out. She was the safe one, the one you could always trust to be honest."
"Sam…Sam…don't blame yourself."
"It's true, Freddie, and you know it." She shouted, standing. "Don't bullshit me."
"Sam…"
"No…shut up. Call me when you get over whatever the hell this is that is making you lash out at your friends and act like a general ass." Sam turned on her heel and stomped off, leaving Freddie all alone on the bench.
He really screwed up this time.
A/N - Aww...poor Freddie. Don't feel bad for him, he brought this upon himself.