Disclaimer: Please see prologue.
Summary: Sequel to iLove the Dark. How have Sam and Freddie's lives progressed since they got together?
iHave Everything: Chapter 10 - Not Going Back:
In the few days that Jade had spent with Sam's 'other family' as she thought of them, she had grown fond of them all.
There was Sam's father Nicolas Puckett and his wife Laurel, an affectionate woman with an ever-present smile and blonde hair that was beginning to turn grey. Laurel Puckett was about as different from Pam Puckett as she could be and Jade could easily understand Sam's fondness of her.
Sam's thirty-four-year-old half-brother Patrick and his wife and daughter, Grace and Aria respectively, also lived in the mansion and had done their best to make Jade feel at home.
Eleven-year-old Aria had taken a shine to Jade and followed her everywhere, which Jade was surprised to find didn't bother her in the slightest. The little girl's cheerfulness was a welcome contrast to Sam's mournful state.
Sam was currently lying on a sofa in the lounge, propped up by a large mound of velvet cushions and munching through a jumbo tub of marshmallows as she watched old episodes of iCarly on her half-brother's laptop, a growing pile of tissues on the floor beside her. She sniffled occasionally, rubbing at her eyes and mumbling under her breath.
Jade, lying on her stomach on the opposite couch with a thick paperback book in front of her; glanced at the tiny blonde and rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time. The girl was just so bloody stubborn.
It was crystal clear to everyone that Sam was miserable without Freddie, and yet she refused to even consider returning to him. Jade was determined to stay with her friend until she saw sense and they could both go home.
Jade's silent ranting was halted by Sam's phone vibrating.
Sam glanced at the screen and looked away, fixing her eyes determinedly on the laptop.
Jade cleared her throat pointedly and Sam flinched, "It's Carly," she supplied.
Jade huffed and stood up, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"If you don't answer it I will" she threatened, stepping forward purposefully.
"Fine," Sam hissed and snatched up the device.
"Hi Carls," she greeted cautiously, praying fervently that it was Carly.
"Sam where are you?" Carly exclaimed abruptly, obviously startled that Sam had actually answered.
Sam hesitated, wondering what she could tell Carly that wouldn't be a lie but wouldn't give anything away.
"He called you?" she settled on at last.
"No, Beck did."
"Oh,"
"Sam, I've never seen you so happy as the moment Freddie proposed to you, why would you walk away from that?"
"I... he sai... I just, I can't be related to that woman!" Sam knew it was a lame excuse but she hoped it would at least buy her some time to think.
"Don't blame this on his family, why did you run away?" Carly's reply was sharp and accusing and it made Sam squirm.
"Because he's just such a m-"
"Why Sam?"
"Because he chose her!" Sam blurted suddenly, and then drew in a shaky breath.
"...what?" Carly asked, and Sam could imagine her face scrunching up in confusion.
She sighed once more, considering just calling it quits and hanging up but she knew Carly and Jade would never forgive her; she couldn't lose them too. She chewed on her lip, picking her words.
"I know he loves me Carls, but part of him is always gonna see me the way his mother does. Every time I go near him he wonders whether I'm going to kiss him or hit him."
"That's total crap Sam and you know it. Freddie stopped being scared of you a long time ago; maybe you're scared of him."
"I'm not scared of anything." Sam bristled, annoyed by Carly's persistence. The brunette didn't even acknowledge the blatant lie.
"I have to go." Sam murmured.
"Don't you dare hang up on me!" Carly ordered and Sam huffed resignedly.
"I'm not coming back." She reiterated.
"At least tell me where you are." Sam could hear desperation seeping into her best friend's voice and her stomach churned guiltily.
"No, 'cause you'll come and try to talk me home."
"Of course I will. As your BFF it's my job to make sure you're happy, even if I have to make you unhappy to do it."
"Huh?" Sam chuckled, shaking her head at Carly's logic.
"When you realise how stupid you're being, call me with your location and I'll come and pick you up."
"Jade's with me, she has her car."
"I know. Tell her I want a word with her when you return."
Sam got no chance to say anything else as Carly hung up on her. The blonde stared down at her phone, a conflicted frown on her face.
"So?" Jade asked.
"She hung up; she says she wants words with you when we get back."
"We're going back?"
"I'm not."
"Sam," Jade groaned, barely resisting the urge to stomp her foot.
"For the last time, I. Am. Not. Going." With that she turned the volume of the laptop up and pointedly ignored Jade. The brunette growled, throwing her arms up in frustration before spinning around and striding out of the room.
Sam closed the laptop down; shoving it to one side and pulling a blanket off the back of the sofa. She hid herself completely beneath it as tears began streaming down her face.
To be continued...