Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly.
Upset did not even begin to describe what Freddie was feeling. Did Sam really disrespect him enough to spill his secrets on the internet? Again? She'd promised him no one would ever know. It wasn't the fact that their kiss was out in the open that bothered him, it was that Sam evidently didn't consider him important enough to remain silent.
As the seconds ticked by, though, Freddie realized more and more that this was not the case.
"You guys, this is gonna sound really mean..."
Freddie and Sam did not want to hear it. They slipped deeper into their beanbags.
"But look at how much more popular iCarly got just because people thought you were dating."
"You want us to date just to get more people to watch iCarly?" Freddie assumed incredulously.
"No! Not at all. I was just thinking...why don't you guys go out?"
"It's Freddie. I still have some dignity."
"It's Sam. I don't have a death wish."
Carly rolled her eyes. "Fine. Then I want you to look each other in the eye and say 'I will never, ever, ever date you."
Sam and Freddie pointedly looked away, clearing their throats, running their hands through their hair, and otherwise stalling.
"Ha! I told you--"
"CARLY! CARLY, HELP!" Spencer yelled from downstairs. "MY HAIR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE!"
"Oh gosh..." Carly grabbed her handy-dandy fire extinguisher (you always needed one with Spencer around) and rushed to the stairs. "I'll be right back!"
"How did he...?" Freddie wondered.
"Hairdryer. Bet you twenty bucks."
"No way, you're probably right."
Sam sauntered over to the door. She hated his voice too much to stay. It used to be squeaky and girlish and easy to make fun of but now it was just one more thing that made her think very stupid thoughts whenever she was near him. "See you later, Freddork. I've got hot dogs calling my name."
"But Carly's coming right back up. We've still got to discuss ideas for the next show. I'm busy all week."
"Like we need you."
Freddie rolled his eyes. Sam sat as far from him as the room would allow, which didn't escape his attention. He inched closer to test her, and Sam casually stepped back, cursing when she found herself pressed up against a wall. Why was the studio so small?
"So...you wouldn't never, ever, ever date me, huh?"
Sam narrowed her eyes. "No. But I'd definitely never, ever date you."
"Is there a difference?"
"Mine takes less time to say." And it was laced with hope for Freddie.
He edged closer to her. "What's your problem?"
"Why do you always ask that when you know what the answer is gonna be?"
"If it's me, then how come you won't beat me up anymore? What's it been, like two weeks now?"
"You wanna get beaten up, then keep coming over here. No problem."
Freddie took inched nearer. "You look nervous." He could barely hide a grin.
"One more step and I swear I'll punch your face in, Benson."
He wasn't even a foot away from her now, probably close enough to hear her thumping heart, which had suddenly decided to beat a zillion times faster. She hoped he couldn't see the heat that had risen to her face.
"You weren't very convincing," he whispered as he leaned towards her. Her throat was too clogged up for her to ask what the heck he was talking about. "You don't really hate me, do you? I didn't think so then, either."
Closer...closer...the feeling was unbelievable. Later, Sam would have liked to say she kept her cool, that when his lips came close enough to brush hers, she didn't have to lean back on the wall because her knees had decided to turn to Jell-o. But she would've been lying.
Closer...closer...
"Is there a towel in here? Carly over did the extinguish--Freddie?"
The two snapped out of it and whipped around. Spencer was staring at them confusedly. It would take him a little bit to get over the unexpectedness of it all, but he'd figure it out. Sam went with her first instinct and punched Freddie in the gut.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"I told you I'd hit you!"
"Yeah, but in the face!"
"I can do that too, just hold still--don't you dare run, Benson!"
Sam attempted to follow Freddie out the door, but Spencer caught the back of her shirt. The artist was still shell-shocked. "Sam...I can't believe I'm asking this, but...was I interrupting something?"
"No." Sam's tone was so forceful that Spencer couldn't believe or question her.
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