Hey iCarly peoples. This is KL21 bringing you the next chapter of my story.

Theis chapter is, basically, two relatively long flashbacks with very limited dialogue and a lot of introspection (I think that's a word). I suppose it is just a chapter full of back story. That means that this chapter is also a little slow. Sam's part flows pretty well, I think, but Freddie's part might be a little choppy. If it is, I offer my apologies now.

Just so there's no confusion, this story takes place during their senior year and the flash backs happen during their junior year. Freddie's flashback takes place a week after Sam's flashback.

I changed the title to War Games because I felt the previous title only spoke to Sam's view of the situation (A game). This titile illustrates that both sides will have an equal part in this story (at least that's the goal). It also show how both characters see the situation. Freddie = War while Sam = Game. that was for those of you who actually cared.

Without further ado (which really was about nothing) I present to you the fifth chapter of the newly titled War Games. Please Read Enjoy and Review Thank you.

Recap: Freddie is out at lunch with Wendy and Sam has found them. What action will she take? What reaction will Freddie have?

The Last Straw/Crossing the Rubicon

Sam's POV

I don't believe what I'm seeing. That looks like Freddie. That guy has the same brown hair, same dorky clothes, same dorky face, and the same dorky expression of sheer dorky terror upon the aforementioned face. Yep, that's definitely Freddie. But what's he doing with Wendy? When did he leave the school? What's he doing with Wendy? Why has he been ignoring me all day? Why is he with Wendy? What was that whole, IM chat about? WHY IS HE HERE WITH WENDY!?!

"What are you doing here Puckett?" There must be some other Puckett in here. Some different Puckett that he would work up the gall to talk to like that, because no one, and I mean NO ONE, speaks to this Puckett like that. Not unless they have a death wish… or an aneurism.

Look at Wendy. She's so afraid. She's trying her best to hide it but I can see through her shoddy façade. I see the sweat forming on her brow. I normally only get like this when I'm about to wail on someone. I have no such intentions but my heart is racing. My hands are starting to clench tighter, to form into my powerful fists. Tiny as they may be, they are more than enough for mama to use on her victims; unsuspecting and suspecting victims alike. After blinking my eyes, they are more focused and I can almost see the creases in their fear stricken faces regardless of how they try to hide them. My breaths become shallow as I prepare for the chase, for the excitement, for the thrill… but it'll never come. It all comes crashing down as I realize that the thrill I was anticipating would not be coming today and may never come again.

I look for it. I look for that gleam in Freddie's eye, the gleam that promises me my one true test. Just because I always win the argument doesn't mean that he doesn't put up a good fight. He always fights and he is the only one who can. I search his brown eyes for something, anything that gives me an opening. I'm desperate for that gleam; I'm hungry for that gleam; I crave that gleam in his eye. Why won't he give it up? Come on Freddie show me that gleam.

Wendy is giving me all kinds of invitations to rip her apart but she is not the prey I seek. She is nothing but a zebra but Freddie is the wildebeest. He's easier to catch but harder to kill. But He leaves me no opening. All of my senses are alert and all of them are trained on Freddie. He's reaching for something. Get ready Sam. He grabs…Wendy's hand. He's smiling at her? That used to be the smile he gave me. Wait is she… She's Smiling Back!!!

No fight's coming; but my senses don't gradually descend… no… they plummet as I come crashing back to reality. It all happens so fast I get a little dizzy. I close my eyes to regain my composure but when I open them back up… They're gone. He left.

I slowly make my way to the counter. "Ma'am? May I take your order?"

"Uhh…Ahh… Just a number six please."

How dare he just blow me off like that? If he's this serious then it's time for me to get serious too. This place was sacred to us; at least I always thought it was. Ever since that day last year…

The bell rings; signaling the beginning of my favorite part of the school day. Not that there were any other parts that I did like. Freddie had gotten his license earlier that year and had just got a car from his dad.

"Hey Fred-nub…" Maybe it was a risk insulting him when he just got his car but hey if I stopped at every risk I wouldn't be the Sam that stands here today. "Take me out to lunch." Yeah, like I'd actually ask for food. When have I ever asked for food? Exactly so why should I start now.

"Sam, can I at least enjoy my car before you ruin it with your unbridled evil?" Awww. I should hit him for saying that but he looked like he was trying so hard. I guess I could let it slide… just this once. However, I still want my lunch so the stare-down commences. We lock eyes for another round of Sam v Freddie: staring edition. He furrows his brow and I furrow mine in response. He pulls a sneak attack and tries rising his eyebrows. Just because that works on some of those weak girls he's dated, doesn't mean that they'll throw me. (I've spent the greater part of middle school and all of high school around those dorky eyebrows so I am immune to them.). His brow creases with frustration as he realizes that his tactic is failing. He quickly tries to correct his expression, but it's too late, nothing gets past me when food is at stake. I've seen a chink in his armor and now it's all over but the crying. I narrow my eyes and increase the intensity and my stare turns into a glare. He tries valiantly to regain his former stare but he has lost. I know it, and now… "Fine let's go," …so does he. No one keeps mama from her food.

Maybe I could lure him into another stare-down and try to end all of this mess. Although this time, between you and me, the eyebrows might actually work this time. I wonder if that's how he got Wendy to come to lunch with him. It had to be. Blasted eyebrows.

The ride to the first fast food joint we went to was uneventful. We went to some new place. The food was so bad that I didn't even commit the place to memory. Of course Freddie loved it. He did this to get back at me. Well played Benson, but I can't allow myself to be outplayed by a dork… not ever. Freddie smirks at me and hit him on the shoulder. While it was a little harder than a playful punch in the shoulder, it wasn't as bad as he made it out to be. He's such a baby. After a few more of those "more than playful" punches to the arm he finally agreed to take me to inside-out burger. When we get to the burger joint he takes his sweet time sittin down. I'm hungry so I kick him and he falls into his seat.

"You know, Sam, if you continue to abuse me like this, I'm gonna disappear."

"No you won't, Fred-lib." Who's he think he's kidding?

I guess the joke's on me.

"You're probably right."

"What're you talkin about Nub-son" I was not expecting that answer. Here I am all set to make a scene (Which, by the way, would've officially christened this as our spot since any scene we cause seems to keep others away. We, once, cleared out a whole aisle in Sir-Foods-a-Lot.) and he gives me the answer I wanted right away.

"Well, despite all of the trauma you've caused me over the time I've known you…" There's that smirk again. I don't care who you are that smirk can charm anyone… almost anyone. Not Carly, and certainly not me. But I'd be lying if I told you that my attention was never grabbed by that smirk. The only person immune to that effect seems to be Carly. Sucks for you, nub. What's with the long dramatic pause? I hate when people start a sentence before they're actually ready to finish the sentence. Or have I just not been paying attention? Crap, "Sam... Are you even listening to me?"

Oh crap. Come on Sam give me an excuse… Ah-ha, "Sorry… I was just lost in this burger." Whew... the smirks back crisis averted.

I wonder why that excuse always works.

"Oh. Well allow me to repeat myself." Normally I wouldn't but I was actually interested in this answer. "Despite all of the trauma you've caused me over the years, I consider you to be one of my closest friends." Oh my God. I think I'm actually touched. "Heck, you and Carly are my best friends. Besides all of the girly places I go to with you guys, I love hangin out with you." What did he say? His eyes widened so he probably realizes what he just said, "The…the both of you." Awww, he's stammering. (Between me and you I thought it was kind of cute… in a way puppy chasing his tail sort of way.). I'll just keep this one deep in my pocket for a rainy day.

That was the first time he acknowledged me as his best friend, or anything other than his sworn enemy, for that matter. I thought that meant something to him. I thought that I meant something to him. I thought that he would realize what happened in this place on that day. I thought that he would think that this burger joint was a special place… our place. Again, I suppose the jokes on me.

I never paid much attention to the conversation that we had. I just hung on to the overall tone of the conversation 'I'll never disappear'. Throughout the entire conversation, that's what he said. I suppose that I always was a little bit more confident because I always knew that I had someone to go to if I went too far and Carly got too mad at me or didn't understand. I mean, she was pretty upset at the hair incident and she didn't talk to me or Freddie for three days. He was there and he convinced me that I had to at least try to look at it from her point of view. I guess I sorta owe my friendship with Carly to the dork. While thinking about that conversation something else stood out. He said that he loved hanging out with… me.

I decided to take a psychology class this year, because the stupid guidance counselor says that I should start to focus on my post- High School life and education. But, anyway, in the class we talked about something called a Freudian slip. It's when your unconscious mind makes you say something without meaning to say it. Apparently it is supposed to reveal your true desires that you have repressed. I can't say for sure whether or not he is repressing anything. But when I think of his response it certainly seemed like he had tread into uncomfortable territory. I'll probably keep this in my pocket for further observation. Not that I actually care or anything. I just have this general curiosity about… stuff.

The fact is he said he liked hangin out with me. If were the case, then why would he throw it all away? OK I know why, but how could he do it so flippantly. It was like he never really cared in the first place. Well if he's willing to throw it all away then so be it. He can have Wendy. For that matter, he can have the Valeries and the Shannons and even… even the Carlys. But, mark my words: he will be back and, this time, I don't even know if I'll be able to forgive him for this.

Freddie's POV

What have I done?

"Freddie, are you ok?" Wendy's voice registers as nothing more than white noise.

I can't feign ignorance. I know why she was so mad.

"Freddie what was that about?" My ears receive the words, but my mind can't process their meaning. Again it is nothing more than the din of chatter in a full cafeteria.

I honestly didn't think about where I was going, or what I was doing, or who I was doing it with. I think I just unleashed the unbridled wrath of Sam Puckett. The total range of her anger is unknown. However, I do know the immediate targets. The worst part is that Wendy is now a part of this and she didn't know a thing. The poor unsuspecting victim; a role she has been forced to play due to my short-sightedness and all around stupidity.

The more I admit that to myself the more I die on the inside. I hate having to say she's right. Saying she's right is the same thing as saying that I'm wrong. If I'm wrong then I can't be right, and I love to right. I'm a guy and all guys love to be right.

"Freddie," how do I even begin to explain it, "Freddie?" I mean, I barely understand it myself. "Freddie the light's green." Oh. That was a long light.

"Sorry." Wendy'll never want to hang out with me again. I can't blame her, and in all honesty, it's probably the best thing for her. I am Sam's number 1 enemy. That means that myself and anyone associated with me is in extreme and immediate danger.

"Freddie, what was that about?" I wanna avoid this conversation but I know that it is a necessary one. "Was it just me or was that scene a lot more intense than it needed to be?" it was and I know why. I just hope you don't hate me when I find out why.

"Yeah, it was intense." well here goes nothing. "Listen, that place used to be… is a special place to me and Sam. I shouldn't have taken you there and if I had been thinking clearly I wouldn't have. That has nothing to do with you. You are a very nice person and I appreciate you listening to me." Well the hard part is over, "but I think it'd be best if we don't hang out. As much as I need help, it isn't right of me to pull anyone else into this mess that I'm in." Why does she look so dejected?

"Ok…" is her voice shaking, "I understand." Why is she staring at the floor? "Maybe I could…" I know where this is going.

"Promise me you won't talk to Sam." This is for her safety. "If you are going to talk to Sam just apologize for being out with me. Tell her the whole thing was my fault and bring her a peace offering of jerky or Fatcakes. Or ham, ham is always the safe bet." I can't help but smile at this. "And, if you can work it in, call me a dork or a nerd. She likes that. You don't want to be pulled into the end of the year prank."

I look over at her. I don't think she's moved at all since I've started talking. "Freddie…" She looks up at me. I was worried that she may have been crying but looks like there was nothing to worry about. "You really are a sweet boy." She leans over and gives me a peck on the cheek. I pull up to her house and she gets out of her car. I decided to walk her to the door. I know it's not dark out but it's a habit. "Thanks again for the ride home, Freddie. And you're wrong." Wrong again? What am I wrong about this time? "I think that you should've taken me there." She was officially insane. My Sam induced insanity has corrupted Wendy's mind. "Sam may have been unhappy about it but she isn't completely innocent. I've seen what she does to you and honestly she is lucky to have a friend who is as sweet as you." She pauses although I'm pretty sure it was just for some sort of dramatic effect. "Any girl would be lucky to have a guy a sweet as you." She places a hand on my shoulder and looks at me sweetly for a while. I try to read her expression but before I can discern anything from them she enters her house.

That was nice of her to say but I know better. That place isn't just special to Sam. It's special to me too. That was where I realized that I liked Sam. It wasn't a matter of Carly being unavailable. It was my conscious decision to say 'I would rather be with Sam'. It was a matter of my heart and mind battling it out. My mind wanted Carly. Carly was the logical choice. I could get together with her and nothing would change. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and it rarely knows why it wants what it wants. My heart finally won that day in the burger joint.

Last week I told Sam that I loved hanging out with her. When I saw the look on her face I quickly reviewed my choice of words and realized what I said. I think I covered myself pretty well but I have to avoid that type of thing from now on.

I don't even know where that came from. One moment I'm eating lunch with Sam because Carly had something else to do. The next thing you know I'm practically telling her that I love her. Ok so maybe that is a bit of an over statement, but give me a break, this is very traumatizing. She is my sworn enemy even if she is my best friend… one of my best friends. Great it's lunch time again that means… "Hey Fred-stain. Where're we goin for lunch today?" You know, if I'm going to be driving her around and wasting my gas that I know she won't replace the least she could do is use my real name.

"when did I become your designated driver?"

I knew when it happened. It happened when I gave in and gave her a ride the week before. I knew it and she knew it but it didn't matter. While the outcome isn't set in stone it is the most likely outcome.

"Do you really wanna go through this again Benson?" at least she used my real name this time.

My only response is a glare directed at her. Let the game begin. Our eyes meet and the preliminary reading begins. She stares into my eyes. All I can hope for is that she doesn't see my resignation. Her look hasn't changed so that's a good thing. I search for anything I can use against her. Her eyes give nothing away. I swear that one day I will be able to look past that poker face she wears so well. Just out of curiosity I want to know what lies behind it. I want to know what is going on in the recesses of her mind or maybe even into her soul. I just hope that I don't get consumed by the darkness that I may find there. I haven't been paying attention to the staring match that is currently taking place. When I focus back on her eyes I am overwhelmed by her eyes. That's never happened to me before. I don't know what happened but I'm seeing something other than boredom. I'm not sure what it was or even if she was doing it on purpose. All I know is that something in her eyes were actually compelling me to give in.

"Fine… Uhh… let's go." the acknowledgement of my unavoidable defeat doesn't come out with the hint of annoyance that it usually is accompanied by. This time it sounds more like confusion. She is already well on her way to the car so I can't be sure if she heard it or even cared about it. But something in her eyes made my mind give in before it was ready. I hadn't been defeated, I wasn't broken down. I just resigned the match to Sam. "Shouldn't we wait for Carly?" She wasn't able to come with us last time.

"No she has some project due on Monday so she is gonna be in the library."

This lunch goes pretty well. There are a lot less jabs to my shoulder because I didn't go to that awful place I took her to the week before. It was a joke that I played because… well basically I felt like it. It was some vegetarian place that I'm sure Sam has blocked from her memory. "You think that we should get something for Carly?"

"Nah, I'm sure one of the many lonely library geeks or struggling jocks has gotten her something." She looks like she's thinking about something. "Why do you keep trying Nub?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you keep going after Carly? You know she'll never love you… not the way you apparently love her."

I keep trying because…" I don't really have an answer, "Why does it bug you so much that I'm still trying?" let's see if you have an answer for that.

"It just bugs me, that's all."Is that a slight hesitation I hear?

Let's test the waters, "I think you might be a little jealous."

"Let me get this straight," This is about to be brutal. "You think I'm jealous of Carly because she has you whipped like a kid who just took money outta his mom's purse?" Ouch.

"I'm not whipped!" This staring competition that we've entered into is more brutal than the first one because it is accompanied by an actual dialogue.

"Oh yeah? Does this sound familiar? 'Please? For me?'… Stupid little mushy nub" That was eerily similar to Carly's voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I knew what it meant.

"Whenever she says that and puts on that obviously fake pouty expression you turn into goo."

"You're just mad because no one falls for your pouty expression which only ends up looking like an over exaggerated puppy dog face." I'm holding up pretty good in this argument.

"Well excuse me for not using emotional manipulation to get my way all of the time."

"Oh Yeah. That's right. You'd rather use violent manipulation."I think I'm winning. "I stand by my initial claim… You're jealous." Let's see you come back now Puckett.

"It bugs me because it is really pathetic and stupid for you to keep trying."She has a comeback… she always has a comeback. "Freddie, I'm telling you this for your own good; Carly will never feel the same way about you" That didn't sound like it usually sounds. That phrase is normally accompanied with some degree of hatred, annoyance, or intent to kill. This it actually sounded like friendly advice. Sam was being friendly… who knew? "I'm telling you this because I consider you a friend. No matter what I do to you, I do it because I like you… as a friend."It's happening again. I'm seeing something in her eyes other than her usual boredom or burning evil. I can't read it before she changes the look to one which consisted of her regular murderous intent. "If you ever tell anyone I said that I will personally see to it that you find a six foot hole to crawl into." I smile and as the mood lightens I can see it again. An actual look of acceptance and what seems to be a general happiness. Sam had, somehow, grown to accept me. I had, somehow, become able to make her happy.

How come I've never seen any of this in Carly's eyes? Well I suppose I've never looked into her eyes for any considerable period of time… let alone try to read them. Why haven't I tried to look into Carly's eyes? Why wasn't it ever that important that I know what Carly thinks. I suppose I've always known she was a friend, but then, why does it matter to me that Sam now sees me as a friend? To that effect why was I so happy when it happened? How long have I been hoping that she would see me the same way I saw her? Why do I care that I can now see through Sam's defenses at least some of the time? Why, all of a sudden, don't I care that I've never looked into Carly's eyes? Why do I care less and less about my ability, or lack thereof, to make Carly happy? Why do I find myself wondering how I made Sam happy and wondering how I can do it again? "Wake up Fredister, we gotta get to school." I'm snapped out of my reverie right before she socks me in the shoulder and all I do… all that I can do… is smile. Why was I so happy that she touched me? Why do I, now, wonder if liking Sam would be such a bad thing?

"I didn't know you cared." Maybe it's not such a bad thing.

"I don't, but I know you do."At least I hope it's not a bad thing.

The day I figured out that I could read Sam, was the day that my heart won. I don't know how long it had been fighting that battle but it won. That was why this place was special to me. It made Sam seem more human than she normally was. It made her seem likeable. This place was almost sacred and I managed to defile it without even thinking about it. I guess that with all of this drama I'm going through it didn't register. Nothing registered. It was just me thinking that I had to get away. Wendy was my escape and I shouldn't have done what I did. The biggest reason, however, is not that it put me in danger. It's not even that it put Wendy in danger. The biggest reason I shouldn't have taken Wendy to the fast food joint was that it was a direct act of betrayal.

Wendy couldn't see it in Sam's eyes but I did. That time I got a really good look into her eyes. Beyond the anger and confusion, I saw it. I saw the sign that I was looking for. I saw the sign that she cared at least a little bit. I saw the hurt in her eyes. I thought that the realization that she cared about our relationship even a little bit would lift a giant weight off of my shoulders or at least give me the brief satisfaction of victory that I so rarely get to taste. All it did was crush my heart to see her like that and knowing that I did that in that place only heightens the level of hatred that I currently have for myself.

The worst part is that despite knowing the outcome of this mess there is nothing I can do about it. From the moment she stepped into that place and saw me there with someone else I had traveled into territory which I should have avoided at all costs. A territory that I cannot return from… that I cannot escape from. This has to run its course now and there's no way around it.

Well there you have it. I hope that at least some of you were able to enjoy the story.

Now for a bit of a sad (or happy depending on your opinion of the story) announcement. As you are all aware it is now November. For me that means that it is now crunch time as far as school is concerned. Now for the sad (or happy) part. I won't even be able to work on this story until the beginning of December. Yes that means that my next update won't come until late December. I'm sorry but anyone who can consistently update while trying to keep a 3.5 in college should be considered a fan fiction (or time management) genius. I'm sorry to say that I deserve no such accolades.

Thank you guys for reading. Review if you like (I hope you do) if you don't thanks for reading my story anyway. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
until my next update or post,
Deuces
KL21