Ch. 11

Three days later, Sam and I's video had been submitted to the contest.

I had come really close to just telling Sam that the barbeque sauce might not even come, but if I had, I was sure Sam would have gotten socky.

So I didn't.

I knocked on the door to Carly's apartment.

"Come in!" I heard Spencer shout. That reassured me a little. I was here to talk to Spencer.

Stepping in to the apartment, I looked around.

"Carly not here?" I asked.

"She's upstairs." Spencer told me.

"Spencer? Can you help me with something?"

Spencer thought about it. "Does it involve Mexican trivia?"

"…No…" I answered, looking at him oddly.

"Then I'd be happy to." He said with a small smile. "Whatcha need, Freddo?"

"Well…you see, there's this girl that I like-"

"Sam?"

"Wait, how did you know it was-?"

Spencer sat down on the couch, and I took the chair.

"Come on, Freddie, I've known you two for a while. You chill here all the time. I can tell you like it when she yells t you or grabs you-"

"OK, I GET it." I cut him off, feeling my face grow hot again. "I wanted to ask you how to tell her that I like her WITHOUT her attacking me."

Spencer considered. "Well, you gotta be all mysterious and seem sort of…out of her reach. It makes girls go insane. If you talk all smooth and suave-like you should be able to just say-" his voice took on that smooth and suave tone he had suggested, " 'Hey, Sam, I love you.' And when you say it, hold both of her hands with both of yours. Stare into her eyes like I suggested before with Valerie. And if she doesn't get mad or try to kill you, just take one hand, put it on her shoulder, pull her towards you, lean down and kiss her."

I nodded, feeling sort of nervous. "Hey, would it be OK if I…practiced the talking and hand-holding part before I try it out on Sam?"

Spencer nodded and stood up. "Sure, why not?"

I stood and looked up at Spencer.

"Sam," I began, starting to feel a little more reassured, "there's something I need to say to you."

Doing my best to stare into Spencer's eyes, I took both of his hands in mine and said, trying to sound smooth and suave, "I love you, Sam."

At that moment, the door opened and Sam stepped in, her crutches making that familiar noise on the floor. She looked at me and Spencer holding hands and looked thoroughly shocked…and disgusted.

"Sam…" I jumped away from Spencer, realizing what she must be thinking she'd walked in on.

"Sam, it's…it's not what it looks like…"

She hopped away from us and headed up the stairs to the studio as fast as she could.

"CARLYYYY!"

There was an awkward silence after she left in a panic, and Spencer and I looked t eachother.

Then Spencer burst out laughing, falling back down onto the couch.

"Boy," he said, still laughing, "You got some 'splaining to do…"

I just rolled my eyes and headed upstairs.

As I stood outside the door, I could see Sam in the iCarly studio, shooting a foot with a rubber bow. Carly was there too, but she looked slightly disinterested.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I had to do.

Stepping inside, I waved slightly at my two friends.

"Buenos noches!" I said happily.

Carly stood up and looked down at Sam.

"I'm going downstairs."

"No, stay with me!" Sam complained. "I don't want to be alone here with the dork!"

I rolled my eyes.

"You promised, Sam." Carly said, glaring at her.

She cast me a pitying look before leaving me and Sam by ourselves.

Sam gestured for me to sit on the beanbag beside her.

I wasn't ready to say this to her.

But I knew this was one of my only opportunities to say it without Carly around.

So I had to.

Oh, Freddie…

Extreme cliffy here. Can Freddie do this? And what did Sam promise?

You'll find out, trust me…

But for now, I leave you with this cliffhanger.