DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN iCarly!

chapter | fourteen

When we got home from the store, I didn't know what I was doing. It came to mind from what happened. When the stranger's hand was on my arm, I felt his disgusting touch on them, his brutal – painful touch.

A man I've never seen before just happened to find interest in me and wanted to get with me. I felt so disgusted that he wanted some "fun". I'm the type of girl who acts tough and doesn't let anything bring her down that quickly, but this man suddenly made my confidence boost disappear and brought my timid, scared gesture in.

It's like I can't trust a man outside this house anymore. The last time I was a depressed was when Jonah broke up with me because he was having sex with other girls behind my back. He broke my heart. Then the latest was the old man at the store who tried to rape me.

The only boy who I can trust around me is Freddie.
He's the only one who makes me feel safe...

I felt bad that I ruined our time at the store and left the groceries there because of my episode. We were supposed to have a peaceful night but of course, something had to happen.

I'm lying on the couch thinking about what happened a few hours ago. The terrifying moment between the stranger at the store and me. It all happened so fast... his cold hand roughly takes my arm, and it scared me for dear life. I was going to get kidnapped if Freddie hadn't come to my rescue.

All of the sudden, I started to feel tears pour down my cheeks. I shouldn't be crying like this because the man is not around me anymore but this scene scared me to death, I really thought I was going to be taken.

Footsteps appear in the room and I see legs in front of me. I look up and see Freddie staring down at me with a sympathetic look on his face.

"Hey...how are you feeling?" He asked softly.

"Not good," I said truthfully, wiping tears from my eyes.

He sits down next to my legs and puts his hand on my hair stroking it softly. His touch feels comfortable; I was able to close my eyes.

I need Freddie more than ever right now.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you earlier..." he sighed. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I start to feel fresh new tears pour out of my eyes as I sniffed. "I've just...I've been thinking about some things." I murmured.

"Thinking about what?" He asks while he's still comforting me with his hand on my hair.

And that's where it hit me.

I start to sob into tears not having the control to stop them. I'm such a baby in this situation; I feel pathetic! But I can't help it. "Freddie, I..."

"Shh, shh, Sam come here." He says as he helps me sit up and I put my head on his shoulder crying my eyes out. "It'll be okay..." he whispered.

It's funny how he said "it'll be okay" because I don't know if I'm ever going to be okay about this. I just feel weak right now...it's like my body was drained and it can't get the energy I had again.

"God..." I cried, "Why do I feel this way, Freddie? I-I-I shouldn't be feeling this way because he's gone, but he scared me." I whimpered, now wrapping my arms around his neck. "I shouldn't be crying right now but I can't help it. I feel like every man I interact with will hurt me in some way and it hurts..."

He kisses the side of my head. "I'm so sorry, Sammy. I swear no guy will ever hurt you again, okay? Not on my watch." He whispered, rubbing my shoulder softly.

I want to believe what Freddie is saying, but I'm scared it's going to happen again, I just can't take that risk...What is wrong with me?

"Now, let me see your arm." He says pulling away from the hug and grabs the arm, which the man gripped on, gently. I let him roll the long sleeve up for him to see the possible bruise I have.

After he rolled up the sleeve, there's a red bruise forming in a shape of a hand print and I start to cry more. He did hurt me...

"Sam, look at me." Freddie brings his hand and takes my chin, lifting it up to his face. "It's okay, don't look at it, just look at me. You're going to be okay. We'll have this fixed in no time." He tries to give me a smile but there's sadness in his eyes.

I tried to obey his words, not looking at the bruise on my arm and looked at his eyes.

"I'm gonna get some ointment and be right back, okay?" He stands up before I could answer and walks to the bathroom.

I'm surprised that Freddie is keeping me calm and is not annoyed that I'm a crying baby here. He really is a true friend...

Moments later, Freddie comes back in the room holding a white tube of ointment and sits next to me. "Okay, this should help with the swelling a little bit." He opens the cap and squeezes a pinch of cream on the palm of his finger and dips the cold cream on my arm. He rubs the white substance on my arm slowly and massages the arm to make the pain stop a little.

I look at Freddie as he's doing this and his eyes are concentrating on my arm and I see how intense his eyes are. He looks furious... I wonder what's on his mind right now; it must've been hard for him to see me in that cruel situation.

After he was done with rubbing my arm, he stares back at me while he puts the cap back on the tube. "Is the stuff helping a little bit?" He asks generously.

I nodded my head slowly and tried to bring a grin to my face to lighten the mood. "Thank you...I'm sorry you had to see that," I muttered.

"No, you don't need to apologize. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you earlier when that guy came to you." He said sadly and I look at him confused. "You're safe now. He won't come back, alright?" He caresses my cheek with his soft hand and I lean my head on it, fond of his touch.

He never seems to disappoint me when he tries to make me feel better. I will always love him for that...

He grinned heartedly, and I show him a small smile. He brought his fingers to my face and wiped tears that have fallen on my cheeks. "You need some rest, and please...don't stress out about anything, okay?"

I stare at him still overwhelmed from tonight. "I don't know if I can," I chuckled sadly. "But I'll try," I sniffled and wiped the stained tears away from my cheeks.

He looks at me as if he's nervous about something and he parted his lips, "do you want me to sleep with you tonight?" He whispered. "Not to have sex, but...just to help you feel safe."

I look at him surprised he would ask that question, but I was contented that he would help me stay safe for a little while. I nodded my head at his answer and said, "if you don't mind."

"Of course not," he grinned, and I smiled, giving him a real smile, at my weird but generous best friend.

"Can we sleep here, I don't feel like getting up," I grumbled and he chuckled while shaking his head.

"Yeah, sure."

We lie on the couch as he lays right next to me. I rest my head on his broad chest, putting my arm around his waist. Then I feel his hands come around my shoulders gripping me tightly. We're practically cuddling in a comforting way, and I can't be happier with him being by my side right now.

"You're going to be okay." He whispered in my ear and I just nodded at the nape of his neck.

That's all I want is to be okay...