Don't really have much to say this time. It occurred to me during editing that while this chapter has a scene a lot of you are looking forward to I don't think I went about it the way you all were expecting. But its still good I think. And there is a little twist at the end of the chapter that I bet you all didn't see coming. Or maybe you did. I hope you'll enjoy this either way.

iAm Not Okay

Chapter Twenty Six

Carly walked into her apartment to find Sam sitting on the couch. She looked better but not much. On the table in front of her was a gallon jug of orange juice that was half empty next to a completely drained bowl of what smelled like chicken noodle soup.

"You're here?"

"iCarly's tonight," Sam replied coolly. "I know we didn't rehearse anything this week but I figured we could improvise most of it."

"Freddie and I talked about just using some videos; we didn't want you getting out of bed if you're still sick." Carly dropped her bag on the floor and stepped over to get to Sam. She placed her palm on her friend's forehead. She was still warm.

"You both worry too much, besides I slept almost the entire day." Sam picked up her jug of orange juice and chugged some more of it down.

"You should drink some water too."

"Hmm, I want a smoothie," Sam replied. "I'm gonna text Freddie and have him bring me one, did you want one too?"

"Uh," Carly was surprised the girl couldn't hear her stomach growling. She hadn't eaten anything except for a few saltines and water since she threw up in the girls' bathroom. She was afraid of having it all make another appearance in her toilet. She was aware that she couldn't eat like that for the rest of her life but knew she wouldn't be able to do anything about it until after exams when her stomach wasn't flipping with nerves. Maybe she could try some dry cereal.

"I'm good, make sure you tell him you're here though I think he said he was going to come see you after school." Changing the subject before it's even brought up. She mentally patted herself on the back. Carly took note of Sam's smile when she was texting. It was like someone had given her a whole ham. "Sam you really should be resting and I was planning on studying, I think we should just let Freddie run some videos and the prerecorded stuff."

"Can we at least do an intro or something?" Sam really did enjoy doing iCarly every week. Carly liked that the girl actually put some effort into it. She looked back at her bag lying on the floor and was torn over wanting to not get behind on her study schedule and jumping at the chance at Sam willingly doing work.

"Let's work something quick up, I can study when Freddie gets here and you can help him pick the videos for tonight's show."

Freddie was halfway to Sam's house when he got a text saying she was at Carly's and that she wanted a smoothie. He turned abruptly and was nearly running back in the other direction. He wanted so badly to tell Sam that Ronan had been busted and that the videos were confiscated. Principal Franklin even came back to confirm it with him. The boys wouldn't face any consequences until there bags had been thoroughly searched and the security footage viewed but they'd be reprimanded on Monday for sure; or sooner depending on how much trouble they were in. He had almost called her but he wanted to tell her in person. He wanted to be able to reassure her that the video was no longer a problem. Then she could either hit him or hug him or whatever other actions she may feel compelled to act on.

He dropped into the Groovie Smoothie to get Sam's drink and was just stepping back outside when he froze. Ronan, Joey and a few other boys were sitting around one of the tables set up outside. Had they been there when he walked in? Was he in such a rush he hadn't even noticed them? Maybe they had shown up when he was inside. Not that any of this actually mattered; he was just paranoid. He didn't go with Principal Franklin to bust Ronan because he didn't want to be on the receiving end of his anger. He was hoping to get away unseen then too but luck was not on his side.

"Benson," he turned to find that Ronan was on his feet. "I need to ask you something, come here."

Just the sound of his voice put Freddie on edge. It hadn't changed and his tone didn't suggest he knew Freddie was the one who got his bag confiscated but that didn't matter. Everything about him was suddenly irritating and the only explanation Freddie had was it was just now sinking in what this narcissistic, womanizing jerk had done to Sam. He stepped forward, setting down the smoothie on a nearby table. Now his fists hung at his sides, nails digging into his palms to keep them from shaking again. "What?"

"Did you tell anyone?"

"Excuse me?" He couldn't know.

"Did you tell anyone, about the pills I gave to Joey?"

"What?" Freddie was completely thrown off. He had forgotten almost entirely about the conversation so long ago. He had since then seen a few exchanges of the bottle of steroids in the locker room but never paid it much attention.

"Look Benson I know you're all out of it 'cause your little girlfriend's been missing school but focus long enough to answer me, did you tell anyone?"

Freddie shook his head. "No."

"All I needed to know," he started to move back to the table but Freddie stopped him. He'd almost managed to make it through the conversation until he mentioned Sam. He didn't even mention her by name but it was still enough to push him to breaking point. "What Benson?"

Ronan stumbled backwards when Freddie's fist slammed into the side of his face. He clutched his cheek while Freddie cradled his hand. It hurt more than he had expected. The look in Ronan's eyes shot rapidly through confusion, realization and anger within a few seconds. He got his footing back and sensing what was coming Freddie tried to back away; he had lost his advantage and the chance to take another swing. Ronan's friends were on their feet already and he didn't have time to register them holding him still when Ronan's fist collided with his face. And then again. If it wasn't for the other boys holding him up as a human punching bag he'd probably be lying on the ground. The bell above the door rang signaling the attention of the Groovie Smoothie patrons had been drawn. Nobody bothered to help him though. The next hit was to his stomach and knocked the wind out of him. Two more followed, he was released and shoved to the ground. He could distantly hear shouting; different than that of the nasty comments Ronan had yelled at him and louder than that of the crowd cheering 'fight, fight.'

Footsteps scattered and Freddie was being pulled off the ground and sat in a chair. After a few minutes his head stopped spinning and he was able see T-Bo and Gibby standing in front of him.

"Man, are you alright?" Gibby asked. "What possessed you to get into a fight with Ronan, are you trying to get messed up?"

He had to peer up at the boy through his eye that was quickly swelling. His whole face was throbbing. He reached up to feel how bad it was and pulled back his fingers when they came in contact with the warm, wet blood. He wasn't sure if that was from his mouth or nose.

T-Bo and Gibby talked for a moment before Gibby pulled him up on his feet and they started towards Bushwell Plaza. "Okay I don't care if you tell me why you were in a fight but you got to try and stay on your feet man." Gibby was doing his best to keep him from swaying and thankfully by the time they reached the lobby at Bushwell he was walking almost entirely on his own.

"I can't go to my apartment I don't know if my mom left for work yet and she can't see me like this," Freddie said as the got to the elevator, the glossy finish on the doors reflected a blurred version his appearance. He had completely lost track of what time it was, would his mom still be home. How late had it gotten.

"We'll go to Carly's, they can help you."

"Sam and Carly can't know either," Freddie said shaking his head. "Carly doesn't need any more stress and Sam just can't know I was in a fight with Ronan."

Gibby convinced him to come to the apartment. He entered first while Freddie waited in the hall. Thinking back, now that he could finally feel something aside from the pain he'd have to say it was worth it. Sure he was going to be a mess for a while but Ronan too was going to still be sporting a black eye on Monday; if he hadn't been reprimanded yet. Gibby appeared at the door again and pulled him inside.

Spencer who was working in the kitchen on putting together some Spaghetti Tacos dropped everything when he saw Freddie limping in. "Dude what happened?"

"It's nothing," Freddie insisted.

"Are you kidding, when your mom gets a look at you she's going to put you in a plastic bubble and then in a padded room." Spencer helped him to the chair and he slowly dropped down into it.

He didn't have a mirror to see himself more clearly but he must look pretty bad. Gibby went to retrieve a damp washcloth and an ice pack from the kitchen. He had just handed them to Freddie when stomping alerted them to Sam and Carly returning downstairs.

"Gibby we couldn't find your three headed stuffed bear anywhere, are you sure you didn't just dream the whole thing up." Carly and Sam just appeared on the upper landing of the stairs. Freddie wanted to disappear and Spencer who caught on tried to cause a distraction but it was too late. Carly caught sight of Freddie, gasped and ran over to him. Sam too noticed the damaged boy but stayed stuck on the final step of the stairs.

"What happened?" She went to touch him but stopped. He was so badly bruised she probably was afraid to touch him. He wasn't sure what to say at first. Then it hit him. If the girls could lie about their wellbeing while they obviously weren't okay then he could do the same.

"I'm okay."

"You are not okay!" She shouted back and he had to question why he had never done the same. Months of watching his two favorite people in complete disarray assuring him they were fine and only once did he refuse to accept "I'm okay" as an answer. And that one time he hadn't even been able to help. "Freddie Benson you tell what happened right now!"

"I got into a fight."

"Why?" the brunette demanded, "with who?" Freddie thought Carly was reacting a little over the top but she did tend to be dramatic. He was actually more concerned with Sam's reaction to the whole situation. She wasn't stupid and it was only a matter of time before she figured out who he was in a fight with. The blonde still stood at the foot of the steps looking like a statue.

"Does any of that really matter?"

Carly was stunned. "What do you mean it doesn't matter?" She spun around to Sam. "Make him answer me, he'll listen to you."

"I, uh," Sam couldn't get any real words out. Carly's concern turned to her seemingly mute friend and she took a step forward. Freddie wasn't sure if she had tripped over her own feet or just the air because suddenly she was on the ground. When she didn't make a noise or move to get up Spencer quickly dropped down beside her and Sam unfroze from her spot. Spencer pulled Carly into his arms and started shouting at one of them to call 911.

Sooo, probably not like you had originally in mind. But still good right? I hope. Let me know what you're thinking.