Chapter 7

Freddie was now finally heading out of school and on his way home.

He had gotten his homework in his school bag and closed his locker. He had reached Jeremy's locker when he saw Sam slam her locker shut after yelling at Carly. He then had watched Sam pretty much sprint out of the building with Carly calling after her. Jeremy was ready to go at this point, so Freddie and his friend headed out.

Freddie and Jeremy talked about their day while on their walk. They talked about their homework, and then Jeremy had brought up something about some new hardware he had read about for his computer that would make your system run with more high definition than what he currently has on his computer.

Freddie was trying to listen to his friend, but his mind was on his two female friends. It had been kinda of a weird last 24 hours. And to top it off, he was thinking more about Sam than he was about Carly.

Jeremy had finished his computer tech conversation and for a little while, the two walked in silence. It was then that Freddie realized that Jeremy was silent and that meant without sneezing!

"Boy, that new medication you're taking sure has taken care of that cold," Freddie said finally.

"Yeah," Jeremy answered without even sounding nasally, "My mom found this medication on the internet, and decided to take a chance. This stuff wasn't cheap though. I just started taking it for the first time today."

"Well, it sure seems like it's making a big difference," Freddie replied, then added, "you don't even sound like you're sick."

"I know," Jeremy replied grinning, "and I'm feeling good, and the weather isn't all that nice today either."

Freddie briefly looked up. The skies were once again overcast on this brisk September day. It looked as though it was going to rain sometime soon. Freddie then looked ahead at the upcoming street corner. It was at this corner that he and Jeremy would separate and go down different paths to their homes.

"I'm hoping that if this medicine continues to work, that people will stop calling me 'Germy'." Jeremy said still grinning.

Freddie smiled, "I hope so too, we've got to find a new nickname for you."

"That would be great." Jeremy replied, "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow Freddie."

"Yep buddy, I'll see you then," Freddie answered as he saw his friend turn the corner to head to his house, while Freddie continued walking straight towards Bushwell Plaza.

Now that Freddie was walking alone, his thoughts returned to Sam. She's really had a bad day. I've never seen her so upset before. I wish there was something I could do to cheer her up. He was closing in on his apartment building when his thoughts concluded. I wonder where she is right now.

And just as he was asking himself that question, he approached a place where he thought she might go. He was standing at the front door to Groovy Smoothies. "I wonder…" he said to himself as he opened the door, and entered the establishment.

The place was very busy as it usually was when school let out. When he, Sam, and Carly were there yesterday, it was a little closer to dinner time, and therefore a lot quieter. For now though, almost all the tables were full of students who were stopping in to relax or talk to mates about their day.

Freddie moved to the middle of the shop and quickly started to scan the tables in hope of catching Sam. He could see most of the tables from the point at which he was standing, but there were still a couple of tables in the back that were out of view. Freddie began walking towards the back just to be sure. When he got back there, he saw a few little tables tucked away in a corner. At one of those tables was a certain blonde-haired girl sitting by herself, and was staring at the wall.

He started to walk over to her table when he noticed her bending down for something in her school bag. Freddie stopped in surprise. He noted that she didn't have a smoothie or anything to drink. Boy, she must really be upset not to be eating or drinking, he thought.

Freddie turned around, and went up to the counter. He decided he would treat Sam to a smoothie. He ordered two 32oz blueberry smoothies. After he paid for them, he grabbed them and some straws and walked over to the small table where Sam was sitting.

Sam was now just sitting staring down at the tabletop when, all of a sudden, a 32oz smoothie was set in front of her. Startled by this sight, she looked up to see Freddie standing at her table holding a smoothie.

"Oh hey Freddie," she said softly, kinda out of it, "if you don't mind, I'd kinda like to be alone."

"Oh," Freddie said disappointed, "sure, that's cool." And he began to walk around her to head for the door.

Sam was surprised that Freddie gave up that easily. He's had a hard day too, she thought, I can't believe he bought me a smoothie though. "Wait, Freddie…" Sam called reaching out her hand to grab his to stop him, "…please stay."

Freddie felt goose bumps when Sam grabbed his hand. He released her hand, and walked back over to the opposite side of the table and sat down.

"Can we just be silent for a little while?" Sam asked him gently. She really wasn't planning on talking to anyone tonight, but Freddie had been surprisingly a good friend for her today. She saw he was trying to be nice to her today after her ordeal in school. She was always gonna see him as a dork, but today he was probably the most real person to her.

"Yeah," Freddie answered quietly, "we can just sit awhile and enjoy our smoothies."

Freddie sat back in silence, reaching forward every so often to take a slurp from his smoothie. He couldn't help but stare at Sam every now and again. His thoughts began to wonder, I can't believe how nice she's been to me today. I really believe that she's not setting me up for something. I think our friendship might actually be getting better. I'm still not sure if she likes me or not, but I'm pretty sure she don't hate me.

He really enjoyed watching her. I've been so blinded by what I thought of Carly, that I never really looked at Sam before. I always thought that she was some kind of monster. Sam caught him gazing at her, so he closed his eyes for a moment. But Sam's not a monster, she's actually rather beautiful. I guess when she acts the way she does towards me I just don't see it. I don't know why guys don't ask her out more, she's a fine catch. Heck, if I got to know her better, I'd ask her out…

Freddie opened his eyes with a start. Did I just think about asking Sam out? He wondered to himself.

While all this was going on with Freddie, Sam was also deep in thought. I can't believe Fredward actually bought me a smoothie, and my favorite flavor! I guess he really is a nice guy, of course I already knew that after he told me that I didn't deserve to be anyone's second choice. Sam had been only looking at her smoothie, but now she stared up at the ceiling momentarily, and he told me this while suffering from a broken heart. As much as I like to pick on him and punch him at times, I don't ever want to see him hurt.

She looked down to find him staring at her. When he realized this, he had closed his eyes. For such a dork, he sure is cute. He's gotten a lot better looking since last year. If I ever was given a clue that he might have feelings for me, I'd gladly date…

Sam had taken too big of a gulp on her drink and started coughing for a second. Am I really having these feelings about Freddie? She thought amazed.

"Are you okay?" Freddie asked when he saw she was coughing. (This had happened right after he snapped his eyes opened thinking about the same thing Sam was thinking about him.)

"Uh...Yeah," Sam answered clearing her throat.

"So, did Carly ever understand why you were mad at her?" Freddie asked trying to get away from his thoughts for a little while.

"No," she answered irritated, "I guess I'm gonna have to sit down with her tomorrow and explain it to her." Sam went back to slurping her smoothie.

"So, you're not going to go over there tonight, then?" Freddie asked a little concerned about the state of the two girls' friendship.

"Nah," Sam replied moodily, "I just assume not talking to anyone tonight. I really didn't want to see your ugly mug either," she smiled at him, "but I know you're not having the greatest of days either, and you and I are both sharing the same problem with the same person."

Freddie rolled his eyes when Sam called him an "ugly mug". But he realized she was kidding, and he wanted to continue conversing with her. "Even when you're having one of your worst days, you still find it necessary to call me names, don't you?"

Her smile broaden, "Why Freddo, did you really think I'd let you off the hook that easily? How long have you known me anyway?"

"Too long," he smirked and couldn't help but laugh, "at least that's what it seems like to me anyway. I never know what to expect from you, Sam Puckett."

Sam, too, started to laugh. "That's why I like being friends with you, nerd," she said playfully, reaching across the table to mess up Freddie's hair, "I can almost always count on you to make me laugh for whatever reason."

They were both giggling at each other. The shop was starting to clear out now, as most of the young customers already had their drinks and conversations, and were heading home.

When Freddie's laughing had died down, he looked at Sam, and asked, "Seriously though Sam, why do you call me names and make fun of me, and hurt me? Did some guy do something to you, or do you just hate guys in general?"

Sam's mood changed drastically, "I don't hate guys, and I don't even hate you," she replied somewhat angrily, "Maybe it's just…"

Freddie stared at her, waiting patiently for her to complete her thought. "Sam…" he said softly.

Sam had paused thoughtfully. But then she looked Freddie straight in the eye with a serious look. "If you expect me to open up about myself, and know things that I don't share with anyone," she stated, "you better promise me right now that you keep these things to yourself. If I ever find out that you said something…"

"Sam!" Freddie interrupted gently, but forcefully, "I think I understand the concept of a secret. And I'm not gonna tell anyone."

Sam stared at him seriously for a couple of seconds, then began, "Okay. My dad is the reason I act the way I do to guys. He was a guy that thought that possessions were more important than people. He gave my mom pretty much anything she wanted, but love." Her face began to turn red, but she bravely continued, "I think he was only really with her until he found Ms. Right, and when he did find her, he bolted out of our lives. We never heard from him again, no phone calls, no nothing."

Freddie felt awful inside as he watched Sam pour her thoughts out to him. He wanted to touch her hand, or go over and hold her, but he decided he better just give Sam his attention.

"My mother acts the way she does because of him, which is why she really doesn't care where I am, or whether or not I do well in school. Sometimes I am the way I am because I'm afraid I might end up the same way." Sam concluded her conversation nearly breaking down.

"I'm sorry, Sam." Freddie responded deeply saddened. "I don't think I've ever talked to you about my father either. Mine is in prison for domestic reasons. He treated my mother horribly, physically and psychologically abusing her."

Sam was trying to get her composure back while Freddie was speaking, but hearing Freddie talk about his dad got her all depressed again.

"I guess that's why my mom is the way she is. That's why she's so darn protective of me, and she gives me them stupid tick baths and stuff." He said this last part to try to brighten Sam's mood, and he smiled when he saw that it worked.

"Wow," she smiled softly, "I can't believe that you and I never talked about our dads before."

"Yeah, me either," he grinned at her. He felt happy that they were connecting with one another.

Sam's mood had brightened, "I guess you and I have more things in common than we thought." But then she retorted, "At least you have a mom that cares about you though, even if it is overbearing. Once in a while, I wished my mom would care about me like that."

"Well, at least you've got Carly and Spencer that care very much for you…" Freddie stated, then smiled at her softly, "…and I do, too."

"That's my Freddork!" Sam smiled as she began to stand up from her seat to throw away her empty smoothie cup. Freddie also rose and walked with her to the garbage can at the front of the store to dispose of his cup.

They threw their cups away, then walked they walked out the front doors of the shop to the sidewalk.

"Well Freddie, thank you," Sam said as they were getting ready to part ways.

"For what?" Freddie asked surprised.

"For the smoothie…" she said at first, then she grinned and said, "…and also for hanging out with me." Sam then put her arms out and wrapped Freddie with them in a hug.

Freddie smiled and returned her hug. Wow, this is nice, I could get use to this, he thought. But then he remembered a certain other time that Sam tried to give him a hug and he wound up getting a wedgie. She wouldn't do it again, would she?

Indeed, Sam had brought her hands down to the waistband of his boxers. She gave a little tug that made him jump, and then she whispered in his ear, "I'll let you off the hook, but only today." Sam then let go of his boxers and completed the hug to her friend. She let go of him, and turned to start walking home.

"See ya tomorrow, Fredward." Sam called out as she walked down the street peacefully.

Freddie just stood for a few minutes watching her walk down the street. Then he walked to Bushwell Plaza daydreaming about his friend. 24 hours had passed now since the three of them had entered Groovie Smoothies to talk about the next iCarly. What a weird day, he thought.

Author's Note: Another of my favorite chapters. I could never remember an episode from the first season that referred to either Freddie's dad or Sam's dad, so I made up stuff for the story. Some episodes from Season 1 I've seen several times while other episodes once or twice. If anybody knows an episode where either of their dads was mentioned, let me know so I can use it as a reference in another story. Thanks again for all the kind reviews! – kwags74