Disclaimer: iDon't own iCarly.

Can I just say how completely and utterly JANK it is that I completed two projects for Green Week and STILL managed to get stuck with the Root and Berry trip while Sam jammed her thumb in an orange and got an A? Where's the justice? She should be the one wandering around the woods hunting down various bushes, not me! I'm tired, I'm bored, the mosquitoes have turned me into an All-You-Can-Eat buffet, and while I don't smell an odor, I feel like it stink.

SMACK!

Ah, just great! Another bite on the arm to add to the myriad of insect bites I've managed to collect in the short time out here. Damn you, Sam!

Oh, who am I kidding? I shouldn't be resentful of my best friend. It's not her fault Mr. Henning is a loon. If I had known that sticking a finger in some fruit and tossing it out the window would have gotten me out of this lame expedition, I would have done that to begin with. She was just a little quicker on her feet than I was. For once, her laziness worked in her favor and I really have no room to be a hater. Besides, at least Freddie's here to commiserate with me.

Well, there certainly isn't a point in dwelling on it now. I'm here in the woods spending my Saturday identifying flowers and wild fruit. I don't want to drift too far from the class's site, but the shallow outskirts of the woods don't seem to house any of the plants on this pamphlet. I look around. Everyone else seems to be willing to walk a little deeper into forest. Maybe I should just put on my brave face and go just a little farther in, right? What's the harm?

Hmmm…I distinctly remember seeing a few horror movies where the cute girl died just like this. Stop that, Carly! Don't think of that right now, just walk.

I think I've been walking for almost ten minutes now. Looking up at the sky, there's no inclination that the sun's going to come out any time soon. On the bright side (or not so bright side…get it? Admit it, that was good!), at least it's not too hot. Even without the sun, the green leaves in the trees were still vibrant and the flowers blooming from the surrounding plants added a certain beauty to the scene around me. Being out here reminded me of the times my dad, Spencer, and I would go camping when I was little. My dad would hold my hand and point out some of the different birds to us. It was always so peaceful amongst the trees and the animals. Before I realize it, I'm sitting on the nearest log, completely at ease with the nature around me. Even the earthy smell of the dirt brings about great memories and I feel so much more serene then I did a few minutes ago.

I wish Freddie were here with me.

…I have no idea where that came from.

You know, that's been happening a lot lately! It seems like whenever I'm in the middle of a happy moment or when I find I'm at peace the most, my mind wanders to Freddie somehow. I don't know when it started and I can't figure out why I'd necessarily want him around above anyone else. Maybe it's because whenever I'm happiest I want my best friends around me. But if that were true, then shouldn't I be wishing for Freddie and Sam to be here? I mean, I miss Sam, too, but not in the same why, I don't think…

…This is getting too confusing. And it shouldn't because Freddie is just my friend! The only reason I miss him differently than Sam is because they're two different people. Sam brings out the crazy and impulsive side of me. She's fun, spontaneous, daring, and so brave. She's always around when I'm laughing the hardest and, of course, whenever I'm in the most trouble.

Freddie's different, though. He's sweet and down to earth and always wants the best for me; for all of us, really. We laugh together, too, but he's the friend that I can have around when I just feel like sitting in silence. It's never awkward or forced, it's just…

…Peaceful.

I wonder what part of the woods he's in right now. A part of me wants to go look for him. Maybe he's having more luck finding some of these plants than I am.

Maybe I'd have a little more luck if I wasn't sitting on this log, thinking about my best friend. And he's just that. He's just my best friend. Right? It's natural to want your best friend around you.

And sure, he's gotten a little cuter. Puberty does that to all of us! Nothing to write home about, right?

Right?

I'm jogged out of my train of thought with the sound of crunchy leaves beneath heavy footsteps from a distance.

"CAAAAAAARRRRLLYYYYY?"

I turn around to find Freddie walking in my direction, but not noticing me on the log just a few yards ahead of him.

"OVER HEEEERE!" I stand and wave my arms, even though it probably isn't necessary. I'm sure my electric pink top stands out against the earthy backdrop. He smirks and makes his way toward me. The rolled up pamphlet in Freddie's hand makes me think he's had just about as much luck finding some of the foliage as I did.

"I see you're hard at work there, Carly," he jokes. "C'mon. We should get back to the tent. It looks like it's about to rain pretty badly."

I look up at the sky again. I don't know how I missed the looming gray clouds that have appeared during my time out here, but he's right. It looks pretty bad. I get up, wipe the back of my jeans, and join Freddie as we trek back to the site.

"So, what were you doing out here all this time?" Freddie asked.

I don't know how to answer that. I very well can't say 'Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how much I've been thinking about you lately.' No, that won't be good.

"Nothing," I shrug. "Just getting a little lost."