Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Five - 2008

May

Freddie lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was only seven but Freddie was already in his pyjamas.

Why?

Because he stupidly bet Sam she couldn't finish 'The Penny Treasure' in a week and he lost. He should of known Sam wouldn't back down to a bet. It was an impossible bet. One he knew all along he would lose but yet he still bet her.

He only bet Sam because this was something they had done since they were nine. They would make little bets and the penalty for losing would always be the same, which is how it became known amongst the iCarly gang as 'The Ushe'.

'The Ushe' involved spraying a hose down one's pants to make it look like they've wet themselves. Although Carly had pointed out is was childish it didn't change Sam and Freddie's decisions on 'The Ushe'. It was their 'Ushe' not Carly's therefore only they could change it and they wouldn't because it was like tradition now.

October 27th 2003

"Ugh! This is so boring!" Sam groaned.

The blonde was sprawled out across the bleachers, her head on Freddie's lap and she was proding him with her fingers.

"Yeah, I know. But we promised Carly we'd stay and cheer her on," Freddie pointed out, whilst trying to ignore the fingers that were now jabbing at his cheeks.

"Ugh! But she won't be on for another half hour! We could always sneek out and then get back just in time to watch her try out," Sam said hopefully.

"Well, I guess we - Would you quit doing that?" Freddie hissed as he batted her hands away. He waited for Sam to stop giggling before he continued. "I guess we could. But we gotta be back in half an hour or Carly will never forgive us."

"Pshh, whatever you say Fredlumps," Sam said getting off of her friend and standing up. "Follow me."

Taking one last glance down at the field towards all the aspiring cheerleaders, Freddie got up and followed Sam.

The pair soon found themselves walking under the shade of the school building. Though it was October the sun was out and blazing down on the world below.

"Sam where are we going?" Freddie asked as he walked beside her.

She didn't answer, only shrugged.

"Well that helps," Freddie said sarcastically.

Sam rolled her eyes, not even bothering to retort.

Neither spoke as they continued walking aimlessly around the school, whihc is why Freddie had a mini heart-attack when Sam stopped suddenly. "Sam? What... What's wrong?" He said, his voice full of worry and concern.

Sam looked at him, her eyes shinning and a mischievous smirk spreading slowly across her face. "Freddie..."

"What?" He said slowly.

"Wanna make a bet?"

"But Mom says bets are for men with lots of money and no sense," Freddie said his nose scrunching up ever so slightly.

"We wouldn't bet money you dork," Sam pointed out.

"Well, what would we bet?"

"How about... loser has to..." Sam's eyes caught sight of a hose connected to the side of a nearby house. "To put a hose down their pants and turn it on?"

"But... then we'd look llike we'd wet ourselves."

"That's the point nub."

Freddie's mind was working quickly to work out a way to convince her this was a bad idea. "Besides we don't even have a hose."

"There's one right over there," Sam said pointing to the house across the street.

"But Sam... isn't that illegal?"

"It's only illegal if you get caught."

Freddie was shocked. Sure Sam had always been rebellious but she'd never mentioned breaking the law. "But..."

"C'mon Freddie. It'll be fun."

Freddie's Mom had always told him that if someone ever tried to force him to do something he didn't want to do then he wasn't to do it. She'd called it peer pressure. Freddie had obeyed her no matter what, but to every single one of Freddie's rules and laws there was always one exception. And that exception was Sam Puckett.

Freddie hesitated for a moment, before sighing, "Fine."

"Yes!" Sam grinned manically.

"Okay so what exactly are we betting on?"

"Um..."

"Please don't make it to hard," Freddie asked nicely, hoping Sam would take pity on him.

"Fine, for your sake, I'll be nice," She smiled.

"Thanks."

"Mhmm. Okay, I bet you can't run all the way around the school carrying me without falling over," Sam challenged.

"How is that even fair?"

"It's not," She smirked.

"Well, then - " But Freddie was cut off by Sam jumping on his back.

"Run Freddie! Run!" She yelled, laughing like a loonatic.

"Ugh! When did you get so heavy?" Freddie groaned.

"Moma ain't heavy, your just weak."

"Agh!"

"Take it like a man!"

They were almost at 'the finish line' when Freddie stumbled slightly.

"Finally!" Freddie said as Sam hopped off of him and he fell to the ground. "You do realise that almost killed me?"

"And do you realise that you fell which means you lose?"

"I didn't fall I stumbled."

"Same thing."

"No there not."

"Yes they are."

"No there not, you lost."

The pair crossed the road towards the house. They snuck up the drive-way and to the side of the house where the hose pipe was situated. Sam picked up the pipe and walked towards Freddie.

"Come 'ere Frednub."

"Sam no. I won you lost."

"No, I won you lost."

The two began fighting over the pipe and were begining to make quite a bit of noise when realisation hit Freddie.

"Fine," Freddie snatched the hose out of Sam's small hands and rammed it down his pants. He turned the the tap and water soon appeared on the front of his pants.

"Why did you give in so quickly?" Sam frowned, clearly confused.

"'Cause I don't wanna get caught!" He hissed, pulling the pipe out of his trousers. "Now, let's get back before Carly realises we're gone."

Whilst Freddie began walking away, Sam stayed where she was. She took one look at the hose pipe and sighed in defeat. Grumbling to herself quietly she grabbed the hose pipe and stuck it in her pants.

"Sam are you coming?" Freddie said turning to look at his friend.

What Freddie saw was not exactly what he was expecting to see. Sure, he saw his best friend. But what he was not expecting to see was his best friend with a large wet stain on the front of her pants.

"W-What?" Freddie said, stiffling a laugh.

"Shut it," Sam growled as she grabbed his hand and walked across the street with him.

That bet had been the start of many. Of course the bets had become harder and a lot less childish but it had been a bet of significance.

It brought a smile to Freddie's face.

Lately Sam and Freddie's friendship had been one that appeared to be on the rocks. They weren't the way they used to be. Though maybe they hadn't been for a long time and Freddie just hadn't noticed it. He's been so caught up with Carly that he'd kinda been neglecting Sam for the past couple of months. Their friendship used to be one that could withstand anything but now it appeared even the slightest wind would set them off.

Sam wasn't who she used to be either. Sure, she'd always been rebellious, viscous, a little bit violent, and she was always stealing his food but she also had moments when she was nice and sweet and kind. Now those moment were incredibly rare. They barely even showed up on his birthday. Sam had always been happy. Ever since he could remember, every memory was filled with Sam smiling or happiness radianting off of her. Okay so there were times where she was sad. Like when Melanie left, she was a wreck. Or when her dad left, she was a mess.

But now the happiness doesn't radiate off of her. She still smiles but sometimes it doesn't reach her eyes. On iCarly she's happy she's beaming and he can see that through the camera. When she's with Spencer or Carly she's grinning, he's seen pictures, videos, there all proof. But sometimes when she;s with him she looks down almost sad. Disappointed. Hurt.

But there are other times when their together and her smile is wide, her eyes are glittering and her laugh is contagious.

Maybe he should make more time for her. Hang out with her more...

But what about Carly?

Ugh!

Life was so much easier when he was younger.