Disclaimer: {Insert reason I don't own iCarly here}

A/N: Today has been insane. My brother left for overseas (I won't say where for security reasons) today, so I'm missing him something terrible right now.

On the bright side I finally got my mom to read one of my stories. Granted it was 'Numb', but it's something...

Chapter 37

Spencer's POV

I wasn't avoiding Sam and Carly. I wasn't avoiding the apartment. I wasn't avoiding anything. Honestly. There was this super hot girl that I met at the Armenian bakery. Yeah, it seems I meet girls there all the time, but this one…this one had to be the one. She was an artist and crazy and beautiful and oh my god, I think I'm falling for her.

Either that or the food I ate wasn't agreeing with my stomach.

No, this feeling was too good to be food poisoning or anything along those lines. This was why I was barely home, although I should be since Carly is only sixteen and…Nah, she's fine without me. She has Sam, and Melanie and Freddie seemed to be over quite a bit, so there was no need for me to be there.

Jamie and I finished our drinks and were heading out, when I saw a familiar blonde walking alone across the street. Squinting, I realized it was Sam. She was headed for the Groovy Smoothie, or I hoped she was. I told Jamie I'd be right back and ran across the road, thankful no one decided to hit me just for being stupid for not looking both ways. At least I wasn't wearing roller blades like that one time…

Sam stopped walking and looked at me, confusion in her expression. She looked at where I had come from. "Do you seriously spend all your time there now?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Just around this time. Where are you going and why are you alone?" I questioned, trying to prove that I could be responsible. She was a teenage girl, and she shouldn't be walking around alone. Which made me wonder… "Did you and Carly have a fight?"

She rolled her eyes. "Sort of, but she definitely forgives me now," she replied with a smirk. I did not want to know. "And I'm going to the Groovy Smoothie to meet up with someone. Didn't you get my text?"

I shook my head and looked at my phone. "Oh…oops. So Carly's alone in the apartment?"

She laughed. "Yeah, as if I'd leave her alone. Melanie's covering for me." She paused. "By the way, Shelby's in town. That's what started mine and Carly's fight, so if you see her around, we already know."

I nodded and smiled. "You'll be okay then?" She didn't even need to answer. I knew she would be. If anyone tried to jump her, it would probably be their last move. I watched her until she disappeared into the Groovy Smoothie before returning to Jamie across the street.

I wonder just how much damage Shelby Marx caused.

Sam's POV

The nub was sitting at the usual table with the usual smoothies, waiting for my arrival. Seems like I'm always the one meeting people to talk here, doesn't it? I took my seat across from him and start on my smoothie, waiting for him to speak. He waited until I stopped drinking.

"Your friend Carl's been busy," he said, his hands folded on the table. I raised my brow. "He's been watching Bushwell Plaza, and no doubt he's watching you right now while we're here talking."

I looked at him. "He doesn't…"

"I'm not sloppy, Puckett. He's only watching you because you're still a suspect. Which means he saw you meet with Shelby, and he's watching you meet with me. But to him, it's not suspicious."

"How do you know?"

He feigned offense. "I'm insulted that you would ask that." He smirked. "You asked me to watch every piece of evidence that was recorded, and I am. Including reports. Whether or not things are officially reported, you never specified."

I crossed my arms. "You know how to do business. I'm definitely going to spare you some injury," I laughed. This was serious, though. "So what's he thinking?"

"He's thinking you're telling the truth, but he's being 'cautious' from what he's been reporting." He took a sip of his smoothie. "Keep your eye out and answer your phone when I text next time. Wouldn't want you doing something stupid and getting arrested."

I finished my smoothie. "What would you care?" I asked.

"Honestly, I don't. But like you said, I owe you a favor, and I'm trying to keep you out and about so you can be with your precious girlfriend." I raised my brow. "Please, Puckett. I've been watching."

"What, jealous that Carly would rather kiss me over you?"

He shook his head. "I'm over that. Not into girls."

"Oh, so you finally came out?" I chuckled. He nodded slowly, looking confused. "Oh please, Papperman. It was a little obvious, you know."

He shrugged. "Just heed my warning."

I watched him stand and throw his smoothie away. Remembering that I had finished my own smoothie, I threw the cup away and headed back to Bushwell Plaza, suddenly feeling watchful eyes. Now knowing that it was only Carl, I ignored the feeling in my gut to go beat up the nosy ass and went through the lobby, yelling back snide comments at Lewbert until I was far enough up the stairs that I didn't hear him.

I walked into Carly's apartment and found my twin and my girlfriend sitting as close as they could get on the couch. Crossing my arms, I raised a brow and cleared my throat. Both of them looked at me. "Oh, hey, Sam. Where'd you go?" Carly asked.

"I had to go and tell Spencer something. He was down at the Armenian bakery. What have you been doing?" I glanced pointedly at Melanie, and she moved away from Carly.

"We've just been sitting here, watching TV, since you disappeared." Oh, Carly Shay, you are a smartass. I dropped onto the couch between them and wrapped my arm around Carly's thin waist, kissing her slowly. Much to my satisfaction, Melanie groaned next to me, and I threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh come on, Mel. We have to watch you kiss the dork all the time…"

Melanie slapped my shoulder. "He's not a dork."

"Okay, okay, he's a nerd." I laughed when she slapped me again and pinched Carly's butt, earning a smack from her.

"You know, Sam, I think you like getting hit," Carly said. Maybe I did. I shifted so my head was in Carly's lap and my feet were in Melanie's. She pushed them away, but I just put them right back.

"Sam, really, don't you have any manners?" Melanie scolded.

I shrugged, looking up at Carly. "I live here, Mel, not you. So I'm getting comfortable." Carly pinched my nose, and I sighed, sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the couch. "Fine, I'll go eat some ham and just let you guys take up the couch."

I stood up and went to the kitchen, grabbing the bowl of ham from the fridge. Arms wrapped around my waist from behind as I shoved a piece of ham in my mouth, and Carly's cheek rested between my shoulder blades. "What's wrong, Sam? You're acting weird."

I shrugged and turned in her arms. She kissed me, stealing the ham out of my mouth. What a bitch. "I was eating that…" I whined. She plucked a piece from behind me and shoved it into my mouth.

"Is that better?" she asked, smiling.

God, I love this girl.

A/N: I wrote this chapter 6 different times before it finally came out like this. The other 6 times involved 4 different ways the conversation between Sam and Nevel went, 1 other way Sam found Melanie and Carly, and another conversation between Spencer and Sam. And due to lack of control of my brain, I honestly can't remember them so...you're stuck with this end product.

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