AN-So this is a sequel to ch 201, where Sam comes back from a date with a jerky guy after the gang went to the Groovy Smoothie in iBalls, and Freddie begins his whole jerky act to try and win Sam back.
…..
Risking
"Maybe we could do a parody of all that new show on the Dingo channel, you know, the one with that boy who moved to the U.S. from Saturn?" Carly said to Sam. "And we can have Gibby be the alien."
"He is perfect for the part," Sam said, eating a container of yogurt.
"Hey, Carly, sorry I'm late," Freddie said, entering the iCarly studio. "I was just finishing up some homework." He glanced over at Sam. "So, contributed nothing as usual yet, Puckett?"
"Hey, I bring a lot more creative ideas to these meetings than you," Sam frowned.
"Um, here's the ideas we came up," Carly said, handing Freddie her pearpad as he sat down in the beanbag chair next to her.
Just then, Sam's phone went off.
"Oh, is that Mr. Smoothie Guy?" Carly grinned as Sam picked up her phone.
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "He wants to meet me at the mall tonight."
"Pfft, a mall trip with you?" Freddie said, rolling his eyes. "That poor guy's going to have nothing left in his wallet once you two walk past the food court."
"Freddie-" Carly started, but Sam cut her off.
"For your information, Benson," she said. "Ben happens to enjoy treating his chick to food."
"Yeah well, all I know is, ever since we broke up, my savings have really increased."
Carly frowned. "Um, Freddie, why are you-?"
"I think I'm going to get some fruit," Freddie said, getting to his feet.
"We don't need an update of your actions," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "Your life's not that interesting."
Freddie made a face at her as he headed out of the studio.
"So," Carly said, scooting her seat closer to Sam's. "You want to borrow an outfit for your mall date?"
"Nah, I'm not going," Sam said. "I just texted him back and said that I didn't want to go."
"He was really that bad the other night?" Carly asked.
"I told you, that date we went on the other night was totally suckish," Sam said. "Next time he asks me to do something with him, I'm telling him to hit the road."
"But you were just saying how awesome it was that he was willing to buy you all the food you wanted," Carly said.
"Believe it or not, Carls," Sam said. "I do want more from a guy than free food."
"I'm sorry, Sam, I didn't mean it like that," Carly said quickly.
"Nah, I know," Sam smiled.
"Sam?" Carly said thoughtfully. "Is there, you know, any possibility that you're trying to make Freddie jealous?"
"What?" Sam exclaimed. "No way!"
"It's just," Carly said. "Every time Ben comes up when we're with Freddie, you make him sound so great, and then the second he's gone, you say you don't really like him."
"No I don't," Sam mumbled.
Carly sighed. She knew pushing Sam right now would just get Sam upset.
"Alright, well, I need a snack," Carly stated, getting to her feet. "You want anything, Sam?"
"Just some iced tea," Sam said.
"'Kay," Carly said brightly. "Be right back!"
Sam watched as her best friend left the room. How was it that Carly could practically read her mind? She wondered.
She had been trying to make Freddie jealous, had it been that obvious? After the events that took place while Carly was in Yakima, Sam had thought, for one wild moment, that maybe her and Freddie were getting close, again. Close enough, maybe, for him to consider re-trying some things…For crying out loud, hadn't she been 'normal' enough this weekend? She was supportive of his lame 3-D idea, and she comforted him after his FredBott fiasco. What more could she do?
But from the way Freddie was acting today, it seemed like he was far from being jealous that she had apparently gotten together with another guy. In fact, from the way he talked about their relationship, she was starting to wonder whether he had even enjoyed that month when they were together.
Guess you didn't mean it, Benson, Sam thought miserably to herself, resting her chin on her knees. You didn't love me.
…..
Freddie stormed downstairs. He didn't think he could handle hearing anymore of how wonderful stupid Ben was. He angrily grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on the Shay's counter band began peeling it more forcefully than usual.
So Ben buys her all the food she wants, Freddie though hastily to himself. He did that, didn't he? But then again, maybe he had been stingy with his boy wallet.
He wondered if he was 'abnormal' enough out there. He had tried acting like he imagined Sam would've if he had a girlfriend a few years ago; insulting the relationship, making below-the-belt comments. Maybe if he kept this up, Sam would see that he really was becoming more abnormal and would dump that pathetic Ben and be willing to give him another chance.
"Hey, Freddie," Carly said, coming downstairs.
"Oh, hey," Freddie said, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Um, Freddie?" Carly asked, grabbing a pitcher of iced tea from the fridge. "Upstairs, don't you think you were being a little, you know, mean to Sam?"
"Me mean to her?" Freddie frowned.
"Yeah," Carly nodded. "I mean, sure, Sam's never exactly been an angel to you, but don't you think all those things you said about your relationship with her and her relationship with Ben were a little uncalled for?"
"What? Pfft, no," Freddie said.
Carly sighed. "Look, I don't know what is going on between you two, but just be careful, okay? I don't want you two risking your friendship over trying to get something that you both want that could be easily obtained if for once, in both your stubborn lives, you would just talk things out."
"Um, what?"
"Never mind," Carly said, shaking her head.
"Hey, I'm gonna run across the hall and grab my laptop so I can show you guys the edits I made to the Idiot Farm Girl bit, okay?" Freddie said.
"Okay," Carly nodded.
Once Freddie was out of the apartment, he leaned against the wall. He was beyond confused at this point.
Was Carly right? Was he actually being mean to Sam? He didn't know what he was supposed to do! He was trying to be abnormal, something he thought she'd like, but was he just screwing that up too?
How did Sam do it? She was always rough and aggressive, and had no problem saying whatever she wanted, but somehow, he realized, she never really came across as a jerk. Maybe he just needed more practice at this…Yes, that was it.
