AN-This is a sequel to ch392, where Carly finds out Freddie is still in love with Sam after she reads his journal.
…
Ability
It had been one week since Carly had read Freddie's journal and caused Freddie to confess his lingering feelings for Sam. And ever since, Freddie had been more distant than Carly had ever seen him. He only came over to the apartment when they needed to do iCarly stuff, and even then, he wasn't the same Freddie who would constantly make Galaxy Wars references or drone on and on about tech news neither her nor Sam cared about.
Freddie had told her he would be fine, but Carly knew that he was far from that.
That afternoon, the three teens were up in the iCarly studio, working on planning for their upcoming show the next week.
"Okay, I think we should practice the alien cruise bit first," Carly said as Freddie fiddled on his laptop and Sam played on her phone. "And then work on finishing up that pet luau skit and our piece where Gibby has the ability to read minds."
She looked from Sam to Carly, neither responding.
"Um…guys?"
"Huh, oh, sure," Freddie nodded, still not meeting her gaze as he grabbed his camera. "I'm ready when you two are."
"You ready Sam?" Carly asked, turning to her best friend. "Sam?"
"Huh? I didn't do it!" Sam said, snapping her neck up.
"We have to rehearse," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "So if you could please put your phone down for two seconds that would be great. Who have you been texting all this time anyway?"
"You know that guy on the wrestling team? Joshua Hunter?" Sam asked, getting to her feet.
"Yeah…" Carly nodded. "What about him?"
"Today him and I had to work together during biology," Sam said, grinning. "And while we were supposed to be dissecting a frog or something, we were talking and he kept making all these really funny jokes. At the end of class we wound up swapping numbers and he seems like a pretty cool guy."
Carly could see Freddie stiffen up out of the corner of her eye.
Oh man, Carly thought to herself. Poor Freddie…
"Wow," Carly said, plastering on a fake smile. "That-That's really nice."
"Yeah, I thought he would be just another jerky jock, but he's so sweet too," Sam continued. "And since he's on the wrestling team, he's actually a decent opponent to have at arm wrestling! Guess how long it took me to beat him? Almost ten seconds! No one's ever lasted that long against me!"
Carly looked over her shoulder at Freddie, who was staring at his shoes. Suddenly, taking a deep breath, he walked back over to his tech cart and set his camera back down.
"Freddie?" Carly asked gently. "You-You okay?"
"Fine," Freddie mumbled. "I-I just remembered I left a casserole in the oven at home…I need to go check on it."
"Dude, you have to film us!" Sam said, but Freddie was already out of the studio.
"Okay, what's been up his butt lately?" Sam asked. "He's been all mopey for the past week. It's getting annoying."
Don't say anything, Carly told herself firmly. You promised Freddie!
"He, just, um, might have a lot on his plate," Carly said lamely.
"Whatever," Sam shrugged. "Anyway, since it looks like we're not doing any iCarly stuff without Fredwad, you care if I head out too? I want to send Josh a picture of Frothy, since he said that his cat was way more disgusting than mine. Once he gets a look at Frothy's weird growth and three legs, he's not going to have any argument."
"I-Sure," Carly nodded. "But, um, Sam?"
"Yeah?" Sam asked, grabbing her bag.
Carly sighed. "Just…Please try not to talk about Joshua in front of Freddie too much, okay?"
Sam frowned. "Why?"
"It's just…please just try not to," Carly said. "Please."
"Does Freddie not like Josh or something?" Sam asked. "I didn't know they even knew each other."
"I don't know if they do or not," Carly said. "But-But-Look, I can't say anything more."
"Carls, what's going on?" Sam asked. "Wait, is that why Freddie left? Because I was talking about Josh?"
"It may have been a factor," Carly said sheepishly.
"But that's ridiculous!" Sam said. "Why would Freddie get all wazzed off about that?"
Please just use your head, Sam, Carly begged internally. Figure it out so I don't have to tell you.
"Well, he's being stupid," Sam scoffed. "Josh never did anything to him! Fredlump is probably just upset because Josh talked Principal Franklin into giving him that good locker by the water fountain that Freddie's been trying to switch into for years. How dumb can that nub-"
"It's not about the dang locker!" Carly exclaimed, catching herself by surprise.
Sam gave Carly a strange look. "Um, okay. Then what is it?"
"Sam…think," Carly said. "How would you feel if Freddie was suddenly all flirty with some new girl?"
"I'm not following," Sam said, confused.
Keep your mouth shut, Carly, Carly told herself. Don't say it. Don't say-
"Freddie's still in love with you!" Carly blurted out.
Sam blinked, staring back at Carly, astounded.
"What?"
"I-I wasn't supposed to say anything to you," Carly slowly admitted. "Freddie made me promise. I found out by accident last week."
"He- He still loves me?"
"Yes," Carly sighed. "He never got over you. But he was afraid to tell you; he was afraid you'd laugh at him and reject him. That's why he didn't tell you. And I guess today, hearing that you had apparently moved on…that was all he could take."
Sam was silent.
"Don't tease him," Carly said. "He's really upset about this. I haven't seen him so sad since…ever."
"Do you think he went back to his apartment?" Sam asked after a moment.
"Huh?"
"Freddie," Sam said. "Think that's where he is?"
"Well, yeah, probably," Carly nodded. "But why do you-"
Sam didn't hear her, though, as she ran out of the studio.
…
Freddie lay alone in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the panging feeling in his gut.
Why'd Sam have to go and flaunt her new boy around like that? Didn't she know how that made him want to punch something?
No, of course she wouldn't know that. Because he had never said anything to her, had he?
Maybe he should've listened to Carly and said something. Maybe then he wouldn't feel so defeated.
Suddenly, there was a knock on his bedroom door and a second later Sam stepped in.
Freddie jolted up. "What are you doing here?"
Sam shrugged, walking slowly over to his shelf of Galaxy Wars collectables. "Thought you had a casserole in the oven."
"I…ate it," Freddie lied miserably. "Now why are you here? Don't you have John or Joshua or somebody to text?"
Sam turned around, leaning against the wall across from his bed. "I don't like Joshua."
Freddie frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean I like him, sure," Sam shrugged. "But I'd never be able to see myself actually with him."
"Oh…" Freddie said, a little confused as to why she was suddenly telling him all this. "Well, um, okay. I-I didn't care or anything, but-"
Sam sat down slowly on the edge of his bed, raising an eyebrow.
Freddie sighed. "Carly told you, didn't she?"
"Yeah," Sam said softly. "That you were still in-"
"Great," Freddie mumbled.
"Don't be mad at her, she's Carly, she tried as hard as she could not to tell me," Sam said. "She practically exploded when she finally couldn't hold it in anymore."
"I figured it was only a matter of time," Freddie said, trying hard to avoid her eyes.
Sam was silent for a moment, before finally opening her mouth. "Did you really think I would make fun of you for it?"
Freddie shrugged. "I thought that's what we did. We torment each other. It's our thing."
"Yeah, about stupid things," Sam said. "Like your crazy mom, your nerdy Galaxy Wars chiz, your hair-"
"Not helping!"
"But not about serious chiz," Sam continued. "I mean, after all, you could've embarrassed me live on iCarly last year at the mental hospital. But you didn't."
Freddie didn't reply.
"I wouldn't have teased you or anything," Sam said softly. "Believe me, I know what it feels like to like a person and be afraid to tell them."
"I just…we said we were over each other," Freddie said.
"We never said that," Sam said simply.
"Huh?"
"When we broke up," Sam said. "We said we weren't ready yet, that we wanted to eventually give each other another shot, and that we loved each other. Not that we were over each other."
She's right, Freddie realized.
"I just-I didn't know-" Freddie muttered.
Sam gently set her hand down on top of his, causing him to finally look up at her blue eyes.
"You know," she said softly. "Maybe if you were to tell me what you told Carly…you'd be surprised at the response you get."
Freddie could hardly believe his ears. Sam wasn't flat-out rejecting him? Maybe Carly telling her wasn't a horrible thing after all.
Swallowing, Freddie slowly opened his mouth. "I-I still love you, Sam," he said shakily. "I really do. I-I want us to be together again. It's been killing me not having you with me as my girlfriend."
Sam gave him a small smile. "See? Was that so hard?"
"Well?" Freddie asked.
"Hmmm," Sam said thoughtfully. "You want us to get back together again? I dunno…I'll have to think about that."
"What? You said-"
"Calm down, Fredifer, I was kidding," Sam chuckled, squeezing his hand. "Yes. I want to get back together too."
"You-You're really saying yes to me this time?"
"Did I not just say that?" Sam asked, rolling her eyes. "I thought you were the smart one in this relationship."
Freddie laughed, suddenly feeling more elated than he had been in weeks.
"Wow," Freddie said, hardly daring to believe his luck. "I-You-Thank you."
"Thank you?" Sam repeated. "Wow, you're a little rusty at this. You and I just got back together, we're alone in your room, and all you're doing is thanking me?"
"Oh, right," Freddie said, leaning over to her, slowly pressing his lips to hers, feeling the electricity surge within his body. Her lips felt so familiar, it was as though he had never left. His hands wrapped around her, knowing just wear to fall, and he felt the amazing sensation of her wrapping her own arms around his neck, just like she used to.
He'd have to remember to thank Carly.
Later, of course. Right now, he had more important things to do.
