Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this writer chica fails to own iCarly.

iAm Dumbfounded - Chapter Six

"Sam, do you have feelings for Freddie? As more than a friend?"

"No." I reply too quickly without even giving myself- or her- the time to think. It was like a reflex that I'd been doing since Sophomore year at High School.

Marissa sighed in disbelief. "You're sure about that?"

"Positive." I once again reply too quickly; I didn't know how or what to reply to her sudden questions. I honestly didn't really want to deal with them all that much anyway.

"Alright. Good night, Sam." she left the room with a disappointed look planted on her face. Hey, was is my fault for not telling her what she wanted to hear?

Did I love Freddie? I mean, yeah, I decided I'd finish up his work jumbo he had going on while he was in the hospital and I'm still going to continue to take care of his work like I had for the past month, but just because I was helping him with stuff didn't mean I was in love with him. Marissa is crazy! She doesn't know what she's yaking about. I have a boyfriend for crying out loud... But then again, I know I'm lying to myself; I do love Freddie, with all my heart. I'm just not ready to come out with it yet. Especially not when he's in this critical position... Is that so bad?

"Sam?" I was interrupted yet again. But this time, unless if it would have been Marissa again, I didn't mind who it was.

"Hey, Freddie." I reply looking at him. "I thought you were sleeping?"

"I was." he sighed heavily. "But I can't anymore." he rubbed the back of his head and chuckled nervously before taking his seat next to mine. We were facing each other now. "How are you?" he asks me. There he goes again, asking if I'm alright when it should be the other way around.

"I'm the same." I reply sarcastically. "And I should be asking you that question. Not the other way around." I stated the obvious.

"Honestly, Sam, I'm more concerned for you than I am for myself or anyone else for that matter."

"But why?"

He ignores my question and asks me one of his own. A question that I swear I saw coming. Maybe not from him, but later on from either Melanie or Carly. Possibly even Marissa, but not so much from Freddie. Especially concerning his condition of memory loss, I didn't think he'd care much for my drama.

"Why are you with Mark?"

I didn't know how to reply to him. What was I to say? Tell him that I loved Mark when really, I hated him? So instead, I reply to him the obvious statement a monkey could've known. Not to mention, it was a statement far from the explanation Freddie had expected to receive.

"He's my boyfriend."

"I see that, but why, Sam?" he asked, his voice filled with sorrow. "You don't seem to be very fond of him."

"How can you say that?" I snap. He had no right to interfere on my personal life like that, especially not knowing me-

"I saw the way he treated you at the hospital and how you constantly pushed him away."

"It's just our way of-"

"Not expressing your fondness towards each other?" he questioned, finishing the sentence I wasn't about to say.

"No." I say, annoyance clear in my voice. "Why are you even asking me this anyway? It's not really any of your business." He was really starting to let anger get the best of me. But I didn't want to explode on him; I knew what it led to last time.

"Maybe I'm a fool to care about the only person who's there for me after my clearly big accident." He scoffed to himself. "Maybe I thought you'd tell me... Naw; you'd never tell me that."

What was that supposed to mean?

"What would I not tell you?"

"It's not important. Good night, Sam." He rose from his chair across mine and headed back to his room before I had the chance to reply to him.

Thinking about what Marissa and Freddie had said to me, I eventually fell asleep trying to figure out a related answer to either of their statements and/or somewhat accusations. I was woken by the strong smell of bacon coming from the kitchen. However, when I opened my eyes and took in the surroundings around me, I'd noticed I wasn't sitting on the couch I'd fallen asleep on downstairs. Instead, I was lying on a comfortable bed in a similar room. This room belonged to Freddie. How had I gotten here? I don't quite remember getting up and walking towards a room, especially Freddie's?

"Good Morning," the same voice that had left me dumbfounded in his living room, greeted me just now. I turned my head to see him walking out of his washroom. He had his clothes on, but his hair was damp. I guess he'd just gotten out of the shower before I woke up. I couldn't help but smile at his image. Before the accident, upon seeing the same Freddie walk out of the washroom just minutes after taking a shower- although, then, the only thing he was wearing was a towel- reminded me when I told him I loved him in dampened, unbrushed hair. Just like that, how he stood before me with his gorgeous face. "What're you smiling at?" He asked, pulling on a smirk of his own.

"Oh! Nothing!" I shook my head and replaced the foolish grin with a small smile.

He kept smiling. "How did you sleep?"

"Pretty good," I said. "How about you?"

He nodded, "Me too."

"How did I get here? In your bed..."

"I was coming downstairs to apologize to you for my rude behavior, but you were asleep and looked uncomfortable. I carried you in here since I don't really know my way around my own house very well." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "I hope that was alright with you."

"That's fine." I smiled. I'd already slept with him, just being put beside him on the bed didn't make much of a difference.

"Listen, Sam," he said slowly and sat down on the bed beside me. Grabbing my hand in his, he continued in his soft voice. "I am really sorry for last night. I was just... mad at that Mark guy; I don't like the way he treats or looks at you. It's like he's an animal. I just wanted to know why you were with such a lunatic. I'm sorry for my words, but I really wish you'd make a better choice than picking him. He doesn't keep you happy, and-"

I cut him off by placing my other hand over his mouth and smiled at him. "It's my fault too. I took it way too seriously." Letting go of his face, I moved my hand back to my hair and twirled a random piece of curl and sighed before I went on, "I don't know why I'm still with him. Honestly," I look at him in the eyes, meaning every word I say, "I hate him. The Mark that I first started going out with wasn't at all like this. I don't understand what happened..."

He squeezed my hand I forgot he was still holding. That's all he did. He didn't comment on what I said and instead, all he did was gaze deeply in my eyes which spoke more than words could. I loved that about Freddie, previously before everything happened; even back when we were little teenagers. Him and I shared a power by communicating through eye contact or just expressions. It was like a different language for us. I knew that he liked it too.

We pulled apart when a knock was heard on Freddie's door, and Mrs. Benson walked inside, smiling. "If you both are up, breakfast is almost ready. I made Bacon and Eggs."

I'm sure everyone knows what I did upon hearing that... Maybe you could say that I.. Oh, I don't know: "Pulled a Sam" ?

Author's Notes:

Ello guys! How's everyone doing? :D

So... Over the last two chapters, I've lost reviewers, but gained viewers... If that makes any sense? LOL! Well, see, most of you have stopped reviewing, but the hits and amounts of alerts and favorites I've gotten shows that many still read the story. It's all fine with me... But a little written support won't hurt. However, even with no reviews, I still plan on writing till the very end of this project! :)

I'm really really really sorry for the late update! I've finally landed on a job that would help support me in the senior year (which starts in two weeks! OMG!) and further on into University next year. So... I'm psyched about the job! And I really love it! This does mean I have less time, BUT... I am still continuing on a regular basis unless/otherwise notified. That's all for this news!

OHH! If you guys haven't already... PLEASE check out my newest fiction of iCarly, "Mark My Words" . The response has been good so far and I can't wait to continue it! And, while you're at it... My first one-shot "Second Chances" could be checked out as well, if you'd like; It got a good response according to me. Five reviews but many hits and favorites!

Anyway, I'll stop rambling now and let you guys go! Until the next update! ;)

Thanks,

xo ` e s c r i t u r a . c h i c a