You know what's whos by now.
Carly's POV
Freddie and Melanie arrive at my apartment, we had this first day of school tradition. We all wear 'iCarly' Tee shirts; mine's red, Freddie's is blue and Sam's was yellow. I hand Melanie the yellow one, "This was Sam's, would you wear it today?"
She smiles as she pulls the shirt over her regular shirt, "Sure, you okay?"
"Yeah, I just wish Sam was wearing that shirt." I know that I'll be answering questions all day. Freddie walks over and hugs me. I wrap my arms around Freddie, "Just tell me it'll be okay." He does.
Spencer bounces in, "Ready to get learned?" He's starting to get back to the Spencer we know and love. He was too late to enroll in the fall semester, but will start Washington State in the winter.
"Just let me get my bag." I grab it and we head for the door. Freddie's driving us to school.
"Good luck and have fun." Spencer calls to us.
"It's school, how much fun can we have?" Sam answers. When did she get here? The drive was easy enough; we talked about anything that we could think of. As we pulled into the student parking lot, I got quiet.
"What's the matter?" Melanie asks.
"There's some of Sam's skater friends. I hope they don't kill me."
"They won't. Nobody blames you, but you." Sam said. Freddie and I walk into the school, Melanie sees one of her friends from her old school. She says she'll see us at lunch. We head for our lockers and find Principal Franklin waiting there.
"How are you two doing?" He asks.
"Good, I had a great time on the cruise, learned a lot about marine life and shuffle board." Freddie answers; we both know that's not what he means.
I look Franklin in the eyes, "I'm doing okay. I just found out last week. Sam usually goes to her aunt's for the summer and I didn't know until Freddie told me. It's been a big shock." I keep my tears in check. "On the plus side, Melanie transferred to Ridgeway, she's Sam's twin sister, at least she doesn't blame me for Sam's death."
"Who's blaming you?"
"I am, I pushed her away when she needed me."
"Do you need to see the counselor?"
"I'm seeing a Psychologist already, I just need some time. But thank you for the offer."
"Let me know if there's anything you need."
"Thank you Principal Franklin. I will." He leaves us; I'm about to say something to Freddie when I hear another voice, and this one I really don't want to hear.
"How you doing KILLER?" Missy yells, a few of the other snooty girls gather around us.
"Hi Missy, I see your nose is straight." I think back to when Sam broke it and grin. "How you doing?"
"Hi Missy." Freddie chimes in.
"Shut it Benson." She snapped. I get the feeling this is going to get real fighty, real fast. "Whatcha gonna do now that you don't have Puckett backing you up?"
"Who said she doesn't?" We hear Melanie as she walks in; she sounds just like Sam. There are jaws on the ground. Missy is ready to freak out.
"You're dead! I saw your grave."
"No, you saw my twin sister's grave." Melanie leans in towards Missy's ear, but doesn't whisper, "I may the good sister; but I'm still a Puckett."
"Let me pain her!" I hear Sam next to me. She's been going off on her own more and more today. I know what I need to do, but I'm not quite ready.
"NO!" I whisper. "You have to let us handle this." The first bell rings and the crowd slowly heads off, realizing there's not going to be any fight. I grab my books and head for class. I hope I can make it to lunch without further problems.
Freddie's POV
I head for my first class, English with Briggs. I pull out my books and get ready to the tirade when I get smacked in the back of the head by a book bag.
"Sorry dude." The jock says, not really meaning it. I don't know who he is, but I did see him with Missy this morning. This could be a long year. Fortunately, the rest of the class goes without incident. My remaining morning classes are uneventful. As I head for the cafeteria, I spot Carly and Melanie at 'our' table. I walk over and sit down, across from the ladies. Things are almost normal, I wish Sam was here.
"How's your classes been?" I pull out my lunch and start on the sandwich. Mom finally let me start packing my own lunches; I know she loves me, but I'm almost 18.
Carly looks up, I see her one eye is puffy. "One of Missy's cronies thought it would be funny to hit me with their satchel."
"You too?" Me and Melanie ask at the same time.
"I got it in the back of the head."
"Me too." Melanie looks over at the table Missy and her crew has commandeered. Missy sees us looking her way and says something to the group. They all turn towards us and give us the evil eye. I just shake my head and turn back to my lunch. Suddenly, Shane, one of the basketball players, grabs my sandwich. He's only with Missy's crew because he's trying to get in Tara's pants; Tara replaced Carly as Missy's BFF. I swear, if he ever had an original thought, it would die of loneliness.
"Can I have that back."
"Whatcha gonna do?" He mocks, turning his head to get his clique's approval. I make my move. I ram my elbow into his crotch, doubling him over. I recover my sandwich and throw in a "Thank you" to keep the image of politeness.
I see the whole group rise and head our way; this is going to get very ugly. "If they start something, just run, I'll hold them off as long as I can."
"We're not leaving you to these wolves." Carly says, she's looking to finish things with Missy.
"You got a lotta nerve Benson, but no brains. We got the numbers. The three of you can't beat us." Missy is almost screaming.
I start to say something to try to defuse the situation, but get cut off. "Enough of this talking bullshit." Shane charges me, ramming his shoulder into my stomach. I get the wind knocked outta me. As I hit the ground, I manage to flip Shane over and land an elbow to his face, but two more of Shane's buddy's jump me, I curl up in a ball as one kicks me in the stomach, trying to protect myself as they both start kicking me.
I hear an amplified voice, "Break it up!" Someone must of gotten Principal Franklin. Orlando, one of Shane's buddy's, gets one last quick kick to my head before the school staff could get to the middle of the group. My vision swims and I almost black out; he must have known where to kick me.
"Alright, clear everyone else out of here. Get these students over there." Franklin is barking out orders to his staff. The football coach, a former NFL player himself, herds Missy and her friends to one side of the Cafeteria. Then Franklin sees me on the floor.
"Are you okay, Freddie?"
Looking up at him, his words are distorted and I answer the most logical question I can think of. "Three fingers." I hope he's holding three fingers up.
"What?" Carly and Melanie look at me like I'm crazy.
"Someone get the nurse down here." He looks at the two ladies. "What happened?"
"Shane tried to take Freddie's lunch, then bull rushed him." Melanie answers. I'm getting my bearings and try to sit up. I manage to get to my hands and knees, but my arm gives out and I fall flat on my face. I can hear Missy's crew laughing; there must be 7 or 8 of them. Carly tries to help me sit up but I'm too messed up to sit and almost pass out again. He must of kicked me harder then I thought. I lay on the floor; my head is going to explode. Carly and Melanie give their statements to Principal Franklin; who then gets Missy's side. Big surprise, she says I stated the fight. The para…oh man, not parachutes, um, paramedics! That's what those guys are, they show up and check me over. The one is pretty sure I have a concussion. Well, Duh; I can't even remember…I'll think of it later. They get me on the gurney, Franklin asks if I would like him to call my mom.
"Where we going?" I sound loopy.
The taller one answers, "U Dub Medical Center. It's only a few blocks away." He looks at me, "You want someone to go with you?"
I look to my right, "Carrie, no Car…Carly." I look at her face; she has a tear on her cheek. "I'm sorry. My brain's…broken." Thinking is too hard right now: I just wanna sleep. I close my eyes as they roll me outta there, Hell of a first day.
Carly's POV
Freddie looks so sad, he knows my name, but with the beating he just endured. I wipe the tear from my cheek. He drifts off to sleep, knowing that me and Melanie are safe. I want to go over there and beat Missy up for this, but I know that she has more people than me, so for now, I have to be patient and on guard. I know Melanie will be okay while I'm at the hospital with Freddie. Principal Franklin said he would keep Melanie in his office until Spencer could pick her up. Freddie groans in pain; I wish I could do more to help.
"Run Carly run." He mumbles; he must be having a nightmare. I take his hand, and wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"I'm right here Freddie." I whisper, "You saved us." He passed out again. "Is this normal?"
"Until the swelling or whatever else is going on in his brain stops, yes." The one medic says. I don't feel any better. I follow them into the hospital and watch as the staff strip Freddie and hook up a bunch of machines to him. The one doctor pulls Freddie's eyes open and shine a light into them. Freddie moans and says something about 5 more minutes.
"Your boyfriend should be fine. We're gonna keep him overnight for observations and release him tomorrow afternoon. I'm gonna have an MRI done, just to make sure there's no bleeding into his brain. Do you have any questions?"
I stand there for a moment, "Is he gonna have brain damage or anything? He's really smart and…" I start to have an asthma attack. I pull my inhaler outta my purse. Good thing I started to carry it. The doctor helps me to the chair. I look at the doctor; he's in his forty's, but his eyes are soft and caring.
"Just breath normal." He exaggerates some breaths for me to follow.
"I'm sorry. I thought I had this under control, haven't had an attack since May."
He sits with me for a minute, "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, Thank you." I glance at Freddie; he looks so peaceful. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"I'll know more after the MRI, but I don't think there's any permanent damage."
Freddie's POV
I know I'm in a hospital, they have that alcohol smell. My head is killing me, so is about every other part of me. I do a self-inventory, nothing feels broken. I decide to risk moving; I try to sit up, but I have no strength.
Carly helps me up, "Welcome back." She puts an another pillow behind me. My ribs ache and I'm seeing double. Seeing two Carlys is scary, but nice in a way.
"How long was I out?" I motion for the cup of water on the table. Carly hands it to me, and holds it while I sip. The ice water is the best tasting thing I've had all day.
"About six hours, Your mom was here then had to leave. Something about going to work."
"She's a great nurse, but can't stand me being in here. She'll probably have aunt Olivia pick me up."
The doctor walks in and pulls up a chair. "How you feeling?"
"Like I got hit by a truck."
"Well, the MRI is clean and there are no broken bones or anything else, so we're gonna keep you overnight for observations. You'll be home by this time tomorrow. Any questions?"
"Can I get some Advil or something?" I feel my stomach rumble. "Maybe something to eat too"
"We're going to start you on some broth and then to some more solid foods, just because of the concussion." He writes the orders down, "Any problems, beside the headache? Blurry or double vision? Nausea?"
"A little double vision, but not too bad. And some aches and pains."
"I'm not surprised, you got beaten pretty good. I'm gonna have another MRI done tomorrow morning, and if the double vision clears up, you'll go home in the afternoon."
"Sounds good." He leaves, but not before telling Carly that she'll have to leave in a few minutes. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Get my car from the school." She gets my keys outta my pants. "Be careful, and call me when you get home."
"I will, you get some rest okay."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Carly's POV
I got off the bus and walk around to the side of the school. Freddie's car is parked near one of the lights, but the sun's still up this time of year. I put the keys in the lock, as I'm opening the door something slams me in to the car. I try to stay up, but someone punches me in the kidney. I fall backwards and hit my head on the parking lot. I can see someone standing there, but I pass out before I can make out their face.
A/N: This is turning a little darker than I had originally planned. Please read and review.