Thanks for the nice reviews, everyone! I worked really hard to get this chapter up! A couple of people gave me some good advice, which I most certainly used. ;)

Carly's POV

I hopped down the stairs Saturday morning, dying of thirst. Saturday is my favorite day, because I can sleep in and do whatever. I was still in my pajamas, a simple gray T-shirt and black sweatpants. I opened the fridge, spied the iced tea, and smiled. I love iced tea. It's sweet and refreshing. I got some lemon out too, so I could give my tea a hint of tartness. I then heard an urgent knock on the door. "Come in!" I called. In burst Freddie, with a crying Gibby behind him.

"Oh my gosh Gibby, are you okay?" I asked, rushing over to the boys.

"Tasha dumped him." Freddie whispered. "She met some skinny 'normal' boy that she apparently liked better." Gibby started to cry harder.

"Aw, it's okay, Gib." I said, concerned. "If she dumped you, that just means she's not smart enough to see how great you are." He nodded a little, still sniffling. I handed him a tissue, silently cursing Tasha. How could she be so mean? Yeah, Sam, Freddie, and I kept betting on when she'd dump him, but I didn't expect him to be so distraught. When Gibby's sad, it makes me sad. He's like the life of the party, the energy of iCarly. I care about Gibby. He's a little strange, but that doesn't mean he's not fun to be around.

"Would you like something to drink?" I asked. Gibby nodded. I smiled. "Any preferences?" "Do you have any corn juice?" "Let me go check." I checked the fridge, but of course Spencer forgot to juice more corn. I pulled out the juicer, ready to make Gibby corn juice from scratch. When I checked around the kitchen for corn, we were all out. All I found were some potatoes.

"Um, Gibby, we're all out of corn juice, but I can make you some potato juice if you'd like." I offered.

"That would be swell, Carly." He mumbled. Freddie turned towards me. Swell? he mouthed. I shrugged, then went back to the juicer to juice some potatoes. As I was feeding the potatoes to the juicer, Freddie walked over.

"Do you have any idea how Sam's been? I haven't heard from her since she left yesterday."

"No, I haven't. She usually texts me the deets."

"Do you think her and her mom are in a fight?"

"I don't think so, she usually tells me about those." I was silently pleased that he cared so much about Sam. I have to admit that I was upset when they broke up. I keep secretly hoping that one day they'll realize that they're perfect for each other. They told me that a friend of theirs gave them an awakening, so they agreed to end it. Gibby already denied it. I'd love to give whoever put that thought in their minds a thorough talkin' to. What a terrible friend.

After I juiced the potatoes, I dipped my finger in the brownish-white liquid, just to taste it. I was curious. As soon as the drop touched my tongue, I did a huge gag. Freddie instantly came to my rescue.

"Carly, are you okay?" he asked urgently.

"Yep, just choking on potato juice." I grumbled. I waved Freddie away when he came over to help. I'm a big girl, now, even if him and Spencer still treat me like a child.

"How's that potato juice coming?" Freddie asked, obviously trying not to laugh. "It's done." I replied. Freddie peeked into the cup I had just poured for Gibby. "How is it?" "Terrible." I muttered, silently hoping that Gibby didn't hear. He was still crying his eyes out on the couch. I walked over, then gently tapped his shoulder.

"I have your potato juice, Gib." I said quietly, handing him the cup. He grabbed it, then took a sip. "Ahhh." he murmured. I shuddered at the thought of drinking more than a drop of that gut wrenching juice. Freddie and I sat down on each side of him, ready to do our job as friends.

I was the first to speak. "Do you want to talk about it? You know, tell us what happened?" Gibby sighed, but told his story anyway.

"There's not much to tell. We weren't exclusive, sniff, but I at least wanted to know who she was involved with. She got all mad at me, sniff, then just ended it. It was all so sudden!" He then sobbed, louder than ever, gulping his potato juice ferociously.

I felt so terrible for him. "Gibby, you're gonna get over her, you just-" The door flew open, and in walked Pam Puckett. She looked atrocious, her hair messier than usual, her makeup smudged like she rushed getting it on. We all just stared at her, too shocked to say anything. She smirked at our faces.

"You little nubs surprised to see me? Well, ya shouldn't be!"

"What are you doing in my house?" I managed, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. Spencer chose that moment to come out of his room. All heads turned towards him, and I raised my eyebrows at his outfit. He looked like your average fisherman, except for the plastic fish on his head. Him and Socko were going fishing, so of course he went all out. He turned towards Sam's mom.

"Can I help you with something, Pam?"

"Yeah, ya'll can help me with something. You can tell me where you're hidin' Sam!" All of us looked at each other. We weren't hiding Sam. What was going on? Sam's mom is officially crazy.

"Don't deny it!" she screamed. "Ever since my talk with Sam yesterday, she ran right over here! It's her favorite hiding place!"

Freddie was the only one who kept his cool. "What do you mean, Ms. Puckett? We don't have any idea where Sam is."

Pam glared at him. "Of course you don't have any idea. Miss Shay over here does!" She pointed a wrinkly finger at me.

"Me?" I sputtered. "I don't know where she is, and we haven't been in contact! Look, check my texts!" I shoved my pear phone in her face. As she read, the only sound that could be heard was everybody's anxious breathing.

She finally finished reading Sam's texts, which were all about ham and iCarly. I didn't let her see all of our texts, just the most recent ones. My heart was beating extremely fast. Things were not looking good for Sam. Where was she? Why did she run away?

Pam grunted. "Humph, so maybe you weren't in contact by texts. Big whoop. I know she's here!" Sam definitely gets her stubbornness from her mom.

"Um, Pam?" Spencer cautiously addressed her. "Don't you think Sam's smart enough not to come here? I mean, if this is her usual hideout, wouldn't that be too obvious? She is your daughter, so she had to inherit your smarts." Pam looked pleased with him. I gave him a warning look. Spencer of all people should know how desperate for guys Sam's mom is.

Pam crossed her arms, obviously thinking about what Spencer said. Ping! I got a text from none other than Sam. It said: Meet me in the alley between Chili My Bowl and Gallini's.

"What was that? A text? From who, may I ask, Carly?" Pam screeched. She gave me a mischievous smile. I quickly got my texts from Wendy out, to serve as a decoy.

"Not Sam, Wendy. Look." I said, showing her my phone once again. She read it, obviously disappointed. Then, she smirked deviously.

"You really don't know why she ran away, do you? Well, I can't wait to see your faces when you find out! Ha!" And with that happy note, she stalked away.

Gibby blubbered. "She's a loon."

I managed a weak smile. "Yeah, she is." I was getting seriously worried. What wasn't Sam telling me? I had to go find out.

"Well, I'm off to fish for fishies!" Spencer called. As soon as the door closed, I showed Freddie and Gibby my text.

"Are we gonna go meet her?" Freddie asked.

"Heck yeah we are." I said. "Let's go."

Freddie's POV

Carly, Gibby, and I ran through the city, each of us desperately worried about Sam. I was terrified at the possibilities of the things that could have happened to her. Was she hurt? Worse, did a guy hurt her? No one hurts my Sam. No one. Honestly, I miss her. We both agreed that a breakup would be the best option, but that doesn't mean I don't care. Yeah, I still dream about her, yeah, I long for her kisses. But that was the past. A breakup was good for us. Right?

We rounded the corner, spotting Chili My Bowl and Gallini's. Sure enough, there was a small, dark alley right in between them. All of us crept into the alley, the smell of trash in our noses. The alley was pretty long, so it took longer than expected to get to Sam. She sat at the end, next to a dumpster, eating a piece of pie someone must have thrown out. When Sam raised her head, her eyes were red and puffy. If someone hurt her, they are so going to get it from me.

"Sam!" Carly whisper-cried, rushing to hug the blonde headed wreck. "Are you okay?"

Sam smiled weakly. "Yeah, I'm okay... aw, why'd you have to bring Gibby?"

Gibby's face fell immediately. "Well, excuse me for living!" She raised her eyebrows at him.

"He broke up with Tasha." I blurted. Gibby started to cry again.

I expected Sam to punch his arm and tell him to "man up!". But instead, she got up, and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry, Gib. I had no idea. You want me to beat her up for you?"

He gave her a small smile. "That's okay, Sam. Thanks, though." Sam beamed at him.

"So, what's this secret that your hiding from, huh?" Carly asked, with a little bit of anger. Sam's face fell.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Please, Sam." I asked, staring into her beautiful blue eyes. "If it's a guy, I can beat him up." Sam snickered. "If it was a guy, I'd of already taken care of him. No, it's not that."

"Then what?"

She sighed, then looked at all of us. "I met my dad for the first time yesterday. Turns out he left us to join the navy."

"Really? That's great!" Carly cried. "What's the problem?"

"I have to move to Florida with him." She told us the whole story, about everything that happened at the Groovy Smoothie, and the reasons her Dad was taking her away.

All of our mouths fell open.

"He can't do that!" I yelled, surprising myself.

"He's my father, I have to do what he says."

I kicked a nearby can away in my anger. I don't want Sam to leave! I love her! She's one of my best friends!

Gibby started crying all over again. Carly had a fragile look on her face, like a crack that if you so much as touched it, it would break.

"What are you gonna do?" Carly asked.

Sam shrugged. "Run away, hide. As long as I don't have to leave Seattle, I'll be fine."

"You can't run forever, Sam." Carly whispered. Gibby and I forced ourselves to nod.

"What do you think I should do?" Sam asked Carly.

"I think you should go back to them."

"What! No way am I-"

"Think Sam! The whole reason your Dad is taking you away is to bond with you and turn you into a 'good girl'! If you go back to him, bond, and prove you can be good, maybe he'll change his mind." We were all quiet. Carly had a point.

Sam groaned. "This is the last time you're talking me into one of you plans, Shay."

Carly looped her arm through Sam's, and led her out of the alley. Gibby followed, but I lagged behind them. If Carly's plan doesn't work, I'll make sure Sam stays in Seattle. I'm not losing her that easily.

I hope everyone liked it! Chapter 3 coming soon!

$Pepper1622$