'AND THAT IS THE QUESTION'
Chapter Eight: Missing You
"I can't believe that Freddie's mom is forbidding you two to see each other." Carly comments.
"Eh. It's not that big of a deal." Sam replies quietly.
The label had been peeled off of the water bottle she was holding. A sign that she was clearly in a state of sadness and concern. She actually missed having Freddie around her. Despite all the arguing and fighting, she still was in love with him. Nothing could change that. Not yelling, not his "crush" on their best friend, not even the psychotic Mrs Benson.
The brunette nudged the blonde slightly, and smirked knowingly.
"You miss Freddie. Don't you?"
"Of course I miss the nub. He is my boyfriend, you know."
"Aww that's so-"
"No, Carls. Don't get all 'aww' and cutesy. Seriously, I will have to hurt you if you do."
"Whatever. You want some special lemonade?"
"Eww, gross."
As Carly went to pour herself a drink, Sam sat on the couch and leant back, closing her eyes and sighing.
The sound of the opening front door startled the girl from her little daydream, and she sat up suddenly, opening her eyes again, partially thinking it was Freddie. Her shoulders slumped. It was only Spencer Shay, carrying what looked like bucket of fish. The smell gave it away too.
His little sister came running into the living room, with a small frown on her face. Her brother held up the bucket and she demanded he put it somewhere that was not in the house.
"It's dinner," he whined.
"I don't care if it's going to feed the kids in Ethiopia! It has to go!" Carly replied, with a tone of finality.
With Spencer muttering and mumbling something about 'sending Carly to Ethiopia', he shuffled toward the door and closed it behind him. When he was gone, Sam burst out laughing and Carly looked at her strangely.
In his room, Freddie was alone. He hated being alone. More than he hated fighting with his girlfriend.
He missed Sam. Something he never thought possible. Something he thought would never happen, but it did. It was happening. And it was unavoidable too. She was a small part of him, and without that small part, he seemed almost…. Lost.
Actually, he'd prefer to be beaten up by Sam, then stay locked in his bedroom all day, under the watchful eye of his own crazy mother.
It was today. Today it has been exactly one whole month since he and Sam had been 'officially' dating. He remembered it, like it was yesterday. Even though it wasn't.
Walking into the studio, Carly was due to walk in at any moment. Freddie looked over to Sam, who was sleeping peacefully, spread across all three beanbags. She was in love with him, she kissed him to prove it.
Sam stirred slowly. Yawning and stretching and finding Freddie glancing at her. Staring.
"Whatchya doing here dork?" questioned to blonde.
"It's almost time to rehearse for iCarly. Carly's going to be here soon." he replied.
"Were you watching me sleep?"
"No!"
The girl gave him a look that plainly said 'I don't believe you'. Freddie shuffled his feet and looked down.
"Yes…"
"Whoa. Creepy much?"
A silence and then…
"I'm taking you out on a date." Freddie blurts out suddenly.
Sam looks taken aback. Cue: Carly Shay entering the room and obliviously interrupting their 'moment'.
Throughout the web show, or at least their rehearsal, Sam wasn't paying attention at all, and continuously snuck glances at the guy holding he camera. Fortunately, their best friend picked up on the vibes and didn't ask why her blonde friend was so 'out of it' or why her brunette guy friend was so pale and sweaty.
Before Carly left the two, to it, she gave Freddie a wink and she gave Sam an understanding smile.
"So…" Freddie says, cutting into the awkward moment.
"I guess you're taking me on our first date." Sam responds, standing up and walking to the door. "Pick me up here, at seven. Dress nice."
He grinned. Sam was always so… straight forward with him. Or anyone, for that matter. Like he had once said to his best friend, Carly Shay. 'She's not like other girls'. He was definitely right about that. For some unforeseen reason and an unknown circumstance, he had fallen in love with this blonde haired demon.
Now though, it seemed like he was in prison. Never to see her again. Ever.
"Chicken soup," sang his mother, coming into his room yet again. "I took out the noodles, so you wouldn't choke on them."
"Mom-"
"Now, you must stay in here. There's no way I'm letting you see that…. Delinquent… again."
"Why?"
"Freddie, she's bad news!"
"I don't care! I love her!"
"You're too young to know what 'love' is! Fredward Benson, I forbid you to see, speak or associate yourself with that Samantha Puckett!"
"But Mom!"
"End of discussion."
As Marissa Benson left the room, she knew that he wouldn't listen to her, and do what he wanted anyway.
After all, that's how she became pregnant with Freddie. Running off with her high school sweetheart, running away from her over protective parents and home and starting her own life. On her own. He left her. But that was only because she told him she was pregnant. If she didn't tell him, maybe things would be different now.
They weren't of course. Because, like her father had always said she did the right thing. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and it stung. Her father died a year ago. She never went back to apologize to him or her mother.
She didn't want to lose her son for some silly thing like 'true love'. Yet, her motherly instincts told her that Freddie could not remain forever locked in a cage. And he wouldn't. Knowing how smart her son was and is, he'd find a way to escape the prison she'd set up. Somehow. There was a way. He'd find it.
Because love always prevailed. No matter what.