Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly.

Author's Note: Did you check out my fanpage for this story yet? No…? Oh.

"Sam!" Carly said as she saw me when she walked through the apartment, "Why are you here? Where were you in school?"

"I just wasn't feeling great." I lied. That's one of those lies, that people always know you're lying.

"Oh." Carly said, and walked to get a fruit from the counter.

It was silent.

"So… you know, I heard from my friend Kirsti, that Angela told her that Jakie and Mike told her that…." Her voice trailed off, nervously. She tried again, "I mean, news travels quick in school. Most of it is stupid gossip that's fake and made up… and I know this is one's fake. I'm positive, actually. But I heard one about you… and it was really dumb. Really dumb. But," She laughed, "It's funny how people make some things up… but I heard that, listen to this, I heard you were pregnant!" She laughed.

I laughed nervously with her. My palms were sweaty.

"Where did they pull this one out of?" Carly said between laughs.

I shrugged. My hands were shaking.

"You're not saying anything." She said, concerned, "Look, no one believes these things. I swear, and soon once the excitement blows over people will be smart enough to observe that you're not even."

I still didn't say anything, "Sam. Say something. Look, I'll fix it. I'll tell people it's stupid and fake. I knew it from the beginning."

I shut my eyes, and tilted my head back.

Carly went quiet.

"Talk to me." She said a few minutes later.

I opened my eyes, and looked at her. I leaned up, and took a breath.

"I'm not pregnant." I said, first off. Just so we were clear, "But-"

"But? But, what?"

"But… I slept with Freddie. And I took-"

"She slept with Fr-!"

I covered her mouth, "Look, I don't want Spencer or anyone hearing!"

Her eyes were wide, urging me to continue.

"I took the morning after pills the next morning. So it's fine. But, since I've been feeling off and throwing up, of course Freddie got nervous."

Carly was staring at nothing, but she was concentrating on what I was saying. And thinking.

"So, yesterday at school he stupidly gave me a bag of pregnancy tests, just to be sure. It was stupid, unnecessary, and humiliating, even though it was just . I told him I didn't want them. Carly, I really didn't want them. I know I'm not pregnant."

Carly's expression was worried, and it made me upset.

"I had a small breakdown then. But I got over it when I came to my senses and just though, 'Hey, this is dumb. I'm not pregnant so why should I be all dramatic. Just get it over with.' But then Heather, that girl I don't like, came up and started saying how me and Freddie just broke up, and trying to humiliate me. I told her we didn't break up. But she kept pushing it, and was saying 'What's in the bag? All your belongings you gave him? Your dumb CD, or a bracelet I bet right?' I told her no, and to get lost, but she grabbed the bag from my hands."

Carly was staring.

"So I pushed her down." I said, sort of grinning. It would have been more fun to do if it hadn't been so serious.

Carly looked down.

"The bag spilled. All over the floor, and the tests spilled out. And it was over. She told everyone."

Carly sighed, but didn't say anything at first.

"Look, I'm not pregnant." I told her again.

She nodded, "She shouldn't have done that. I mean, I knew she would spread that around." She was trying to find words to say. The right words to say to me.

I shook my head, and looked down. "I don't want to go back to school." My voice cracked, "I wouldn't be able to handle the looks I get." My lip quivered and I stood up to walk to the door. Carly stopped me, and quickly pulled me into a hug. The tears flowed down my face, and I shook my head. I sniffled as the tears poured, and Carly just squeezed me. "Sam, you are so tough. You know you are. You don't care what people think."

I took breaths. "I'm sorry."

"For crying? Sam, sometimes you break. It's good to break and just cry sometimes. We're human. Even the toughest people in the world, like you, break sometimes."

I looked up to her, and smiled. "Thanks, Carly."

She grinned.

I suddenly remember why she was my best friend again.

After a few moments, Carly asked, "So you did take the tests, right?"

I looked at her for a second, and glanced at my backpack.

She gasped at me, "Sam! Why- you. Look, you have the symptoms. Lightheaded, throwing up…Did you miss your period?"

"My period?" I looked up at the ceiling and counted the days with my fingers.

Carly waited, not so patiently, "Well?"

My body tensed up. My period should have been a while ago. I was never good with keeping track, I only noticed if I got cramps. Then I would remember.

I stared at my hands. I didn't want to tell her yes. I had to lie. I didn't want to be in this situation.

"No." I said. And reached for my bag and took a test out.

I felt like crying. I wasn't pregnant. I took those pills, they're effective. They work. I'm not pregnant, I'm not. But just to be sure…"

I waited, and waited, and waited, but only thirty seconds passed.

Carly knocked on the door, "Are you o.k.?"

"I'll be right out."

"Ok." She whispered, and I heard her pacing outside.

After leaning against the sink, and staring at the stick, and sitting against the shower, and laying on the floor, and wetting my face with cold water, the two minutes were finally up.

My hands were shaky. I couldn't get them to stop. It was stupid. I'm not pregnant, so why am I so nervous. I slowly stood up, and grabbed the stick.

My eyes were closed. My shaky grip made the stick completely slip from my hand, and fall to the floor.

I picked it up and looked at it.

Negative.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I flung open the door, and Carly stopped pacing.

"I knew it Carly. The whole time, it's negative. I'm not pregnant. I knew it. Let's go get pizza."

Carly laughed in relief, "Oh god. Good. Let's go."

There was a knock on the door, but Freddie just came in anyway.

"Is Sam here-?" Then he saw me, "Sam! Were you crying? Look, I heard what happened. I feel like it's my fault, I'm sorry I guess I should have given to you later." It's like he already knew the whole story. I didn't have to tell him much.

"Huh, that would've been better." I rolled my eyes, but smiled.

"You seem in a good mood."

"I'm fine." I grinned.

I'm Sam. I'm tough, and I don't care what people think.