Carly anxiously paced her bedroom, the back of her dress unzipped still, and Sam was there, watching from the chair at her desk.
"Can't you throw a jean jacket over it?" Sam suggests.
Carly stopped mid pace, snapping around.
"That's not the point!" Her eyes were filled with tears. "We couldn't make last minute alterations and all the other dresses just didn't work. I hated them all. This is all my fault."
She threw herself down on the bed, sobbing into her pillow. Her dad would be there in an hour and her hair was tangled in a rats nest, her mascara was running in black streams down her cheeks and she was nauseous as heck.
"Carls, unexpected things happen all the time, we just have to learn to make accommodations. That's why there's a plan B."
"If there had been a plan B, I wouldn't be pregnant." She retorts and Sam snickers a bit.
Sam walks over to Carly, sitting beside her and rubbing her back in circles. Carly turns her head to the side, wiping her face with the corner of her blanket.
"This isn't how my senior year was supposed to be. iCarly is over, I'm pregnant, and my opportunity to go to Italy is gone. The only thing I have left was this dance, and being pregnant kinda ruined that too."
"You haven't ruined your life, kid. You're just starting a new chapter after the last one closed a little quicker than you thought. And sitting here, moping in an unzipped dress is taking away from the time you could be spending looking forward to the dance. This is one set back. It doesn't mean the whole night is over."
Spencer knocked on the door, startling them both. They hadn't expected him home so soon, he was supposed to be picking up their dad. Was he there already? Had the flight landed sooner?
"Hey kiddo, I know you're having a bit of a tough time, but dad would like to know if you'll be ready soon?"
Carly felt a lump in her throat and panic bubbled up inside her. She was nowhere near ready and they would need to work miracles to pull it off. But before she could speak she heard more footsteps, and Freddie stood in the door.
"Hey Sam, Colonel Shay has some fried chicken buckets downstairs, if Spencer hasn't mentioned that already."
Sam perked up, as if she was a dog smelling a steak. Sam was loyal as heck but the idea of a bucket of chicken right now would probably help restore her emotional exhaustion. She loved Carly but had been feeling drained, not knowing how to help, and just being there instead.
Spencer moved to the side as Sam dashed out, surprised by her speed. Then he glanced at Freddie, confused.
"Dad and I didn't-" he began before Freddie cut him off.
"Can I have a sec with Carly?" He insisted and Spencer nodded, catching on.
Carly wiped her nose, sitting up and making room for Freddie on the bed. He smiled at her, gently placing his hand over hers.
"You look beautiful." His eyes gleamed with admiration.
"Shut up." She snapped, slightly annoyed.
Freddie knew it wasn't directed towards him, but rather the morning she was having.
"No, for real. You were beautiful before, but I think pregnancy gives you a glow. I can't wait to see our daughter if this is what her mom looks like, tears and all."
Carly blushed a bit but was still bitter at the circumstances. She knew she couldn't just sit here and pity herself, that it wasn't gonna change anything. But she couldn't help but still feel angry.
She knew things could only change if she wanted to make the effort, but she was scared to take the initiative when all she felt like doing lately was puking and crying. The thought of moving forward and embracing the inevitable would only make the reality sink in more.
Pulling her body away from his, she crossed her arms over her chest. She feared another close moment again despite him seeing this side of her and them kissing earlier. She wanted to feel safe but she also feared vulnerability.
Right now she felt gross and ashamed, and he was still being so kind to her. She felt guilt for keeping him in the dark about the pregnancy at first because he had been so helpful. Also, she felt guilt at the thought of dumping him, the thoughts still lingering in the back of her mind.
Here she had a boy, trying to step up and prove that he was a man, and she pushed a little, afraid of making him feel the same way she did. Afraid that this would ruin their relationship and friendship because deep down she cared so much for him it hurt. And she didn't know how to say it. She was afraid it wouldn't be enough and she could measure up to the way he loved her and this baby.
Little did she know, Freddie loved her. He felt loved by her. He understood her and her love language and when she pushed away he knew that there was something else going on. He had emotional maturity that most didn't, and he hoped one day Carly wouldn't feel so afraid to be so open.
"What's going on in that intelligent head of yours?" He finally broke the ice.
"Same chiz." She muttered.
"Understandable. But you're not alone and I just know your dad is gonna want to make memories with you tonight and is looking forward to spending time with you, whether you're in a gorgeous gown or sweats and a spill stained shirt."
She smiled, leaning her head into his and grabbing his hand again.
"You're gonna make a great dad Freddie, you always seem to know what to say, you're patient and well spoken. I know you're right, I'm just stubborn and focusing on all the things that are going wrong. But if anything, I know that you being her dad is the one thing I did right."
Freddie hoped it wasn't just the hormones talking. He felt the same exact way, and he smirked, finally hearing those words felt like a victory. From the dorky little boy peering in her peephole to now, there were no regrets. His dreams were coming true, even if being teen parents wasn't necessarily a part of that plan. But they had each other.
"You too. Does this imply that we're gonna proceed with the birth to becoming parents?" He insinuâtes.
"I've been thinking a lot about it. And as scary as this is, I have to start thinking about it. I can't keep putting it off. And everytime I think about what I wanna do, I picture us as parents, not because it's taking responsibility, because so would be looking into adoption. It's because it is what I want and can see so clearly."
She turns her body slightly, lifting her head and just staring at him. He looked so cute, the way he pursed his lips in a nervous smile. And the way his tongue grazed his lips a bit as it peeled out of his lips in the slightest, insinuating the fact that he really wanted to kiss her. And she felt it too.
He placed his hand on the side of her head just under her ear, spreading his fingers so that there were split on each side of it. He ran his hand up until it tangled in her brown waves, and pulled her in. It felt so right, the tension leaving as a new, pleasurable kind of tension built. Their lips danced and a small sigh escaped from Carly.
When they finally broke apart, they saw Sam standing there, looking like her chicken was going to make another appearance.
"I don't know how a nauseating kiss like that would have ever turned into a baby, but here we are." She finally remarks sarcastically.
Freddie rolls his eyes and Carly blushes, wiping her lips across her sleeve. It hadn't been meant as an insult to Freddie's kissing, but Sam's remark had made her a bit uncomfortable.
"We'll be downstairs in a sec. Tell Dad I'm finishing up my hair or something."
"I gotcha." Sam smirks, and Carly wonders what on earth she was gonna tell them.
"Here, let me help you." Freddie insists as Carly walks over to her makeup table.
Carly pulls open the drawer, sighing as she plugs in her curling iron and begins brushing through her hair. Freddie takes the brush from her, combing her hair for her so that she can wipe her face.
"I think my mom always secretly hoped for a daughter because when I was three, I had long hair that she always styled." Freddie began conversationally.
Carly laughed, humorously mocking him.
"You're lying." She teased accusingly.
"True chiz. I learned to do a ponytail and a braid but I've gotten rusty over the years because she cut it all off by the time I went to kindergarten because she was afraid I'd get lice and she couldn't protect me anymore."
"I can't believe she even let you grow it out." She scuffed.
"Yeah, well it's been a while. So I guess I should practice in case our daughter asks me to do it someday."
Carly smiles as she melts a bit, and she hands him detangling spray, showing him how to spritz it in her hair to get the matte out. Baby and toddler hair would be a lot different.
She'd probably squirm around, and her hair would be much more fine fluffy than Carly's. But if he could do the big guns first with Carly's hair, he would definitely have the patience for a toddler's someday. He'd make it a game, chasing her around and playing catch in order to captivate her to sit still while also helping her get the fidgets out.
"You look amazing." He boasted when he thought they were done.
"I look like Sasquatch." She laughs.
"You're not done? You already look great." He was playfully astonished.
"Thank you for the compliment, but no. I've gotta section my hair and do the top and bottom layer." She laughed gently.
Freddie had no idea what that meant and she shows him. He then flips her hair so that he can work on another section. He smiles at her, moving her hair behind her shoulder and kissing her neck gently, taking her by surprise but making her cheeks grow even redder.
"I don't care if you looked like Sasquatch or the queen. I'd choose you to be my girls over and over again. I fell in love with you, not your looks."
He replaces the hair at her neck, brushing it gentle but firmly enough to get through. When he's done he hands her the brush and she shoves it back in her drawer. She begins to work with the iron, her eyebrows holding deep concentration.
"So, I was thinking." Carly began and Freddie adjusted himself to looking attentive.
"Right now everything feels so unreal, and I don't think it will until she gets here and we settle in. There's not much we can do to control the feeling. So why don't we give her a name to make her feel more human. Maybe then it will sink in."
Freddie had a name picked out. He knew what he wanted to name her from the minute he knew it was a girl. He felt like the reasoning was a bit cheesy but it honored them both. He was afraid it'd be tacky though and he hesitated telling her.
"I've got a few ideas, but I'd love to hear yours."
She drops a curl from the iron, and Freddie watches as it bounces on her shoulder. She uses her finger to twirl it a bit to give it more definition, and then shakes it, and it loosens. Freddie never understood why she combed through it after all that work, but somehow it looked right.
If his daughter was into hair and makeup, he would learn the same way he would teach her about sports if she was interested. There were expected gender roles on interests. He would support his daughter through whatever passions she had.
"I was thinking we could have something for the both of us. You, being not only an Internet star but someone who's personality shines brightly, and something for my lesser known roots."
Carly passes him the necklace she was holding and lifts her hair as he helps her clip it on. She smiles gratefully at him.
"What were you thinking?" She wondered.
"Promise you won't laugh." He asks, taking the curling wand from Carly after she shows him how to do the last curl in the back she had missed.
The last strand of hair flopped lifelessly when he released it and she laughed. She told him to try again but to hold it longer and he did.
"Not if this name means a lot to you." She promises.
He released the strand again, happily punching the air when it held itself. Carly held out her hand backwards and he high fived it as she cheered.
Before Freddie could finish his thought, the sound of Carly's dad's shoes filled the air. She could hear them clamoring up the stairs with each heavy step he took.
"Love bug?" His voice booms down the hall, meeting the door.
Carly watches humorously as he stops in the doorway, his eyes covered with his hands.
"I'm ready dad." She gently laughs, amused.
She stands, turning to face the tall brunette and he beams the second his eyes open. His beautiful baby girl was standing in front of him, glowing in the beautiful baby pink dress with black belt trim along the waist. That was where his eyes settled for a second, before glancing at his daughter.
"You've really grown up to be a wonderful young lady." His smile stretched in awe. "You are beautiful."
Freddie takes a step behind her, reaching for her phone on her desk.
"Colonel." He smiles congenially.
"Young man." He nods.
"If you don't mind Sir, I'd be happy to take a picture of you two."
He holds up the phone, watching Carly wrap her arm around her dad and he does the same. He swears that even in her tired eyes she looks like she was truly happy. He wasn't even sure he could ever make her happy like her dad did. He longed to be half the dude Steven was.
"Alright Love Bug, shall we go?" He holds out his crooked arm, and she loops hers inside.
"Uh Carly, wait!"
Freddie snatches her jacket off the back of her chair, tossing it to her.
"You might need this so you don't get cold." He reminds her.
He did not want to embarrass her as her bare back exploded out the back, pinched slightly in the half raised zipper. But she remembered and groaned.
"Oh! Dad, my zipper won't latch all the way! I can't go like this." She withdrew a bit.
Her temporary euphoria was wearing off as reality set in once again.
"What's wrong with the jacket Freddie gave you?"
"That looks stupid." She replied flatly. "I can't go out."
Colonel Shay looked taken back a bit, surprised by the sudden shift in her mood. Freddie was used to it though and jumped in.
"Carls, you look great no matter what, and I'm sure your dad doesn't give a beavcoons butt about what you look like. He just wants to spend time with you."
Colonel Shay nodded.
"You can go like that if you'd like. Or, I know you spent a lot of time getting ready but if you want, you could throw on sweats too and we could go get ice cream and walk the riverfront like we used to do. It's up to you, I'm just happy to see you again."
Carly smiled sheepishly. She felt safe again in her dad's presence, happy that he was here again. She didn't know how long this trip was, but she'd soak in every moment. But it was her last dance and she wouldn't miss it for the world. Not even for a busted zipper or eye sore of a jean jacket.
"Okay, I'm ready Dad." She finally surrenders.
Carly and her dad walked downstairs, Spencer smiling proudly as his sister walked downstairs. Despite the few months of worry and angst she overcame her fears and was now on her way to the dance she had so badly wanted to go to.
"Have fun tonight, kid." Spencer smiled, hugging her before she and Colonel Shay got on the elevator.
They sent her off with smiles, all of them proud of her for overcoming this hiccup. Of course over the span of the next few months things would be tough but here she was living her dream of being a teenager for just a little longer.
-XXX-
"Are you having fun, Love Bug?"
The Colonel noted the paleness and tiredness on his daughter's face and had chalked it up to pregnancy. He didn't expect to stay all night and had offered to take her to ice cream. He still imagined that little girl that lit up at the thought of the old ice cream shop but now she was grown. She had bigger things on her mind, one of them being Ruthie.
She wasn't the only one going through some things, and she wished she knew more about Ruthie's situation so that she could support her. She believed her, she believed she was a victim of Nevel and she hoped that she wouldn't be wrong.
After all she thought Nevel was just a little boy with a stupid crush, or that Mandy was just a sweet fan. She had been wrong both times and she hoped the third time was a charm. Though deep down, she couldn't help but shake the feeling she was being spied on.
"Yeah, I'm just a little nauseated is all." Carly answered in a daze.
Her lips puckered and her mouth soured, feeling the waves creep in and rush over her. The music, the people, everything was too much. Despite being a terrible dancer she was light on her feet when it came to hustling to the restroom.
The stall door flew open and she hurled over the toilet. Everything else went silent around her as her heart rallied in her ears. She felt horrible, morning sickness ruining the night as she had thought she was certainly in the clear.
She sunk down against the door, praying for this feeling to pass. She didn't want to cry, her makeup would run. But she already had puke dribbling from her chin so she figured tears couldn't be what made her break.
When the room stopped spinning she finally mustered up the strength to stumble out of the stall and to the sink. But when she glanced up from splashing water she was startled, nearly hitting her head on the sink faucet.
"Hey Carly." The chipper voice announced despite the obvious surprise on Carly's face.
A small figure with curly brown hair stood behind her, smiling with one hand on her stomach and another in the air, waving warmly. Carly began to feel a flash of heat sweep over her and felt disoriented. Her mouth watered and she couldn't speak. The whole thing felt like a fever dream.
She was underdressed in comparison to the other girls. She had been wearing a casual, long sleeved dress and flats accompanied by a lightweight shawl. Her natural curls were pinned with a claw clip. She was a natural beauty nonetheless. Tonight wasn't about the looks. It was all in good fun, still Carly wondered how she got there.
"I can't believe this." Carly can't mask the shock in her voice. "What the hay are you doing in this dance?"
Her voice sounded shrill, like she was a little taken back by her presence here and surprised. She almost felt protective, despite admitting she believed in Ruthie's innocence. But could you blame Carly for feeling like she was being stalked when Ruthie arrived at a private event with no mention of ever knowing of her having a family member in the Air Force?
"My uncle was in the Air Force." Ruthie seemed unphased, inadvertently answering Carly's houghts.
"I thought your Aunt was unmarried?" Carly recalled, challengingly.
"Divorced. But we were close. I even have a secret cell phone that he pays for to stay in touch since even he was a little afraid of his son and how he could ruin his career if he knew about his secret scandals."
That didn't make sense. Carly hadn't texted her for months, afraid of causing harm and jeopardizing everything. Why hadn't she just given her the other cell phone number when they put it in each other's phones? Did she want Nevel to see?
Carly felt a switch of defensiveness and betrayal grow. She wasn't sure why, she thought she'd be relieved. Maybe it was the circumstances of the situation, the strangeness of her just being here. What should have been relief turned to caution and hesitating to greet her back at first. She felt a little hurt and it stung.
She didn't know why she never reached out and she would figure out what Ruthie was doing there if it wasn't to spy. Maybe it would all just be a misunderstanding. A glimmer of hope inside her that still believed in the good of people lingered.
"Why didn't you give me the other number then? And why would you sneak up in here on me?!" Carly finally demanded to know.
"I don't know." She admits. "I guess I didn't think of it but I wish I would have sooner." She sadly admitted.
"I've been worried sick for weeks. And all this time you had another phone."
"To be honest, I guess I decided I didn't wanna drag you into this until I knew I could reach you safely."
"Yeah, and now Nevel's devised some kind of plan and it's unclear who to trust. We couldn't exactly contact you either. For your safety and our own." Carly sounded a little cross.
It wasn't fair to blame Ruthie, especially since Carly had defended her innocence earlier. She should at least give her a chance, and hear her out.
She was a little angry. Ruthie was still here, nothing bad happened, but she had been around the entire time. If they had talked it out it could have been avoided. Unless, she either didn't know or she was still working for Nevel.
She decided she was apprehensive but would listen long enough to hear Ruthie out and she shifted her anger.
Carly had figured she had been projecting her long stand battle with Nevel on Ruthie anyways. It was not fair for her to immediately lump her under the same category as Nevel. She was her own person.
"Wait, you said your uncle was in the Air Force, that's past tense. How did you get here and know we were here tonight? Oh my gosh, you are spying on us! You didn't want me to have your number!" Carly rambled, slight accusation in her raising voice.
"It also was, for your safety. When I thought of it I decided against it almost immediately. Just trust me please when I tell you I have no malicious intentions." Ruthie pleaded.
Carly wasn't sure she believed her. She thought that maybe the radio silence had been Nevel plotting something bigger. She expected Ruthie to text and she never did despite having a back up and Carly was expected to believe it was for her safety and not because she had been caught?
Why was Carly doubting herself now? Was she just weary of her because this whole event had been so out of left field tonight? Or did she believe her but she didn't want to be too trusting because of her history with Nevel?
However, if Carly did trust her and she was wrong, would ending iCarly have been for nothing? No, Ruthie was innocent. She had to hear her out. These last few months have not been wasted.
Ruthie was quiet and thoughtful. She didn't even try to deny it. Instead she kind of laughed, not really in a maniacal way but it felt like she was mocking her.
"Carly no. Of course not." Her soothing and calm accent finally spoke.
"I did it because I needed your help, but I didn't wanna risk texting you and Nevel finding this phone. But when I got the email from the air force about the dance I remembered that you said you loved when your dad took you there as a little girl. I figured this was my chance to catch you."
"How'd you get here?" Carly cross examined her.
"My Aunt thinks that my private school is having a mathematics meeting in this building tonight. I even printed a fake flyer while I said I was doing my homework and put it in my after school folder that she checks. I basically baited her into making me go for 'extra credit' since pregnancy has caused me to miss a lot of school."
"Well, where's your uncle then? Doesn't she wonder?" Carly challenged, longing to trust her but was weary.
"My aunt has been estranged from him for forever now. She doesn't care as long as he still sends checks for child support. He couldn't make the dance tonight but my aunt would have never let me go even if she knew. She hates him. That's part of the reason he can't have custody either. She would make his life miserable."
It kind of made sense she guessed. But it just felt weird knowing for months that Ruthie had remembered this, and that email was her way of finding her. Was she sure she even had an uncle? How did she get in?
"Show me the email. They have a secure network so not just anyone would get one. I wanna know you were just stalking me."
Ruthie scrolls through her phone, Carly noting it was actually better than the decoy. Ruthie finally paused, facing her phone to show Ruthie the personalized email, showing her Uncle, Roger Papperman in photo.
Carly wondered if he was real, or if it was really good photoshop. But she believed it. And she could always have Freddie find a way to trace the IP address back to see if it was fraudulent. If he couldn't find anything, it was probably the real secure network.
Another thing bothered her that she couldn't put her finger on. The name of her uncle sounded familiar suddenly. Would her dad happen to know him? He's worked with lots of people and had lots of connections. Would her dad help her?
"Ruthie, I'm sorry." Carly finally apologized. "I've been so on edge I'm just afraid of trusting you when Nevel's already taken so much from us."
"Understandable. He's like the CEO of blackmail." Ruthie gently laughs.
"I just feel like this one is one whole weird coincidence and instead of believing that this could have happened, I wanted to blame Nevel."
"How so?" Ruthie wonders.
"Like what's the odds we both met at the office and I felt something telling me to talk to you. What's the odds that you were there that day? I just wondered if you were spying after I found out that Nevel was related to you."
"Trust me Carly, it would have been awfully elaborate of me to get pregnant just to spy on you." Ruthie laughed gently and Carly agreed, knowing it was a stretch.
"You have to admit it was a little shocking."
"I don't believe in coincidence. I believe everything comes full circle. I believe God did this. As morbid as everything is, it's in our best interest because I've been wanting to take Nevel down since I moved in I just worried no one would believe me he was so bad because he's weird but so charismatic and charming."
She rests her hand on her stomach, noticing that it was a little larger than when she had seen Ruthie last. Ruthie was at least two months ahead of her and if Carly could know the sex of her baby Ruthie might finally know. She missed out on a lot of getting to know her. And she wondered if Nevel had also made her change doctors or if their appointments never aligned.
"Is that why you're here, Ruthie? Since it's not on Nevels behalf and your uncle isn't even here?" Carly finally implied.
"I need your help. And when I found out that your dad was in the Air Force I spent a lot of time hoping you'd be here. Messaging you would have been too risky. But this to me is a sign, and I'm thankful to have a friend like you."
Carly was quiet for a second, contemplating if this was a trick but there was nothing she could think of that made her reconsider. Maybe Ruthie was a victim and she was still willing to hear her out.
"Okay, but you have to promise me that this is legit. That I'm not gonna help you with whatever it is you need and then you're gonna turn around and help Nevel with something."
"I don't even know what it is that Nevel has against you. I'd need to know first." She laughed and Carly relaxed.
"I'm sorry I'm just on edge. And if you really wanna know, he kissed me and I smeared tapenade on face." Carly smirked.
"Ew! He probably deserved that then!" Ruthie exclaimed and Carly laughed before they both grew quiet again.
Ruthie rubbed her stomach, pausing her hand over one spot when her baby had gently kicked her. She grimaced a bit, not that it was uncomfortable but the sensation had been weird, followed by an intrusive thought.
"Is he blackmailing you too?" Carly finally asked.
Ruthie was quiet. She looked scared suddenly as if she was being watched. There was no one there. It was a two stall bathroom that was quite tiny and Carly had no idea that Ruthie had put up a sign that said "Closed for maintenance" that she had found.
"He says if I don't put the baby up for adoption he'll ruin my life."
"Why does he care?"
"He wants me gone. I took over his old man cave and at first when I was there, all his mom's attention. At first he seemed jealous but I think he's got something over my aunt's head too. I don't know if I'm a threat or if he knows I talk to his dad or what. But he said if I give the baby up so he can have his space he won't ruin your life or my life."
"So he has no clear incentive? He just wants his nerd space?"
"I mean I guess so. Maybe he had nothing on my aunt, he's just jealous because he's not the special little star anymore. I mean she doesn't really pay much attention to me either other than appointments as stuff."
Nevel was still the bitter little brat that didn't get a kiss from his Internet crush and probably didn't feel important anymore. It was kind of sad he had to fight for his mom, but it didn't excuse the fact that he was miserable so he had to ruin everyone else's lives and steal away their joy. Maybe he was just pure evil with no incentive, Carly had to stop looking for the good in everybody.
"I think he's just a bitter Betty and if he can't have something he wants to take things away from everyone else. But we will not let him steal away your life Ruthie. You get to make choices for your life, not him. And we will help you. We just have to keep him off your trail while doing it."
"I'm afraid that's the hard part." Ruthie sighs.
Carly grabs Ruthie's hands in hers, forcing her to look her in the eyes. Carly was no longer self conscious as her mind was preoccupied when Ruthie redirected her focus upon her entrance.
"Nevel wants to take us both down, but we're not gonna allow him to do that."
"How? You already canceled iCarly."
"How did you know that?" Carly checked.
"Nevel boasted about it, and warned me that he always gets his way."
Carly felt her blood boil a bit. She hadn't ended the show for Nevels gain, but to throw his scent off to make him think that he had won so that they could help Ruthie while he was distracted. But all that time they couldn't find anything, Ruthie had been knowing helplessly all along, trying to find them too.
"Well as long as he lets his guard down thinking that we've given up and surrendered to his demands, we're able to help you. I just wish we could have sooner. I'm sorry I doubted you, Ruthie."
Ruthie smiled at her, pulling Carly in for a hug. She could tell that the older brunette girl needed it. Her cousin had put more than his family through the wringer and it would end now. She was thankful for Carly and would do anything to prove she wasn't like him.
"I guess I'm not the only one who needs someone." Ruthie remarked gently, and Carly teared up.
"I guess we both need to take the nub down a notch." Carly sniffles.
"How are we going to do that? Sure, I snuck out tonight, but how can we consistently meet up? Nevel watches me. I usually only leave for appointments. I had to lie about this and convince Aunt Jeanie that I was coming to this 'math meeting' for extra credit."
"Wait, Nevel said you got suspended from Ridgeway," Carly began on a side note, "I thought you weren't doing any schooling?"
"He lied. He offered me an ultimatum; I left so that he would leave you alone. He didn't want you to help me." Ruthie sheepishly admits.
"Yeah, we haven't heard from him in months, but we figured as much that he wasn't gonna leave you alone no matter what. We had no choice but to shut down iCarly either way anyway. It was one thing we could take away from his power."
"Carly, I'm so sorry I messed everything up." Ruthie apologizes.
"It's not your fault you're related to such an evil little nub. And I approached you. I can't help but feel like we were meant to help you. But we felt so helpless because we didn't know what his game was for sure."
"All I know is now I'm stuck at some stupid school for pregnant girls with a nap time and a strict eating schedule and a daycare which I find ironic considering I'm not keeping the baby."
"You're not for sure?"
"No, I can't." Ruthie admits, defeated. "Anyway, I don't know what else we can do. The easiest option is to give in. Give the baby a better home and hopefully move out. I don't know if you can help, maybe this was foolish. There's no way I'll be able to sneak out or stay in contact for long."
Ruthie was right. Other than her secret phone, how would she help them? Carly supposed if Nevels mom was willing to let her out for the night for educational purposes, she would have to follow that track.
"You said you are supposed to be at a math thing right now, right? Can you somehow make it believable that it's a recurring thing? Or maybe tell your aunt you joined a parenting class at the rec center?"
"I suppose. And then we could meet there." Ruthie enthused, liking the idea.
"Okay, we just have to think of a way to not get caught and lie low in order not to tip Nevel off."
"I think Nevel is already tipped off to the fact that you're pregnant. It's just a matter of when he does something and what." Ruthie reminds her.
"How did he find out?" Carly wonders, carefully not to sound accusing.
"He found my ultrasound in the van and started asking questions about my friend I met at the clinic that told my Aunt Jeanie about. He sort of put two and two together."
"How did he know I was the friend though?"
"I was telling them about you before I knew you two had beef and before he found the ultrasound. I'm really sorry Carly. I hope you're not too mad." Ruthie apologizes and Carly smiles.
"It wasn't done out of malicious intent. And in some twisted way it's good, because now we can pull off a plan to stop him from hurting both of us. I don't believe this was a coincidence, Ruthie."
Ruthie blushed and nodded, agreeing with Carly that God had pushed them together. It was a weird thing to be bonded over but it had created a bittersweet friendship.
Carly didn't know how they'd pull this off. She thought maybe Ruthie could create a password protected email to communicate with them. But would Ruthie's aunt be suspicious of her suddenly wanting to engage in after school activities?
Especially since she attended a small private school where word for around fast. How the heck did Nevel even pull strings on getting her to transfer out of Ridgeway after a few days?
"What if once we get a plan devised you tell your aunt that your school or the library or something does a lock in, where you stay overnight to catch up on work and projects? Then you can stay overnight at my place. Just bring whatever you can dig up on Nevel that we haven't found and that will be the final stage."
Carly was sure that could work. They would stay up all night if they had to to make sure she was safe. But she wasn't gonna stand for Nevel pushing them around or causing Ruthie to walk on eggshells.
Ruthie didn't respond, seeming kind of nervous. Carly looked at her reassuringly, silently promising it would be okay.
"You thought I was spying and you still wanted to take a chance and help me." Ruthie finally spoke in disbelief.
"I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt and help you but it's been a little hard to find you." Carly admitted and Ruthie laughed apologetically.
"I mean, it would be extra elaborate to show up to the doctors office the same day you did to spy on you. Especially since Nevel didn't even know I was pregnant at first until he found my ultrasound."
"Yeah," Carly scratches her neck, "I guess it is a stretch that Nevel would have found out about my pregnancy and sent you to the time and place. He's got a lot of connections, but we've got more."
Suddenly Carly remembered her dad's friend. The one that had helped them hang Nevel in the living room and make him promise he would stop messing with them. Maybe he knew Ruthie. Or could at least help them. And they have a video. Carly began to excitedly explain to Ruthie her new idea.
"You dangled him?!" Ruthie laughed, half horrified.
"Yes! Twice if you count over the side of a building."
"Okay, I definitely missed a few chapters." Ruthie laughed incredulously.
"Trust me, it sounds like you got your own family issues with him. These were just the so called fun times."
"I would say! Do you have any videos?" Ruthie laughed.
Ruthie longed to know so she could live as part of the moment even after it passed and see that there was some fun times in all the heck he caused. But as Ruthie mentioned a video a light bulb went off in Carly's head and she once again grew cautiously optimistic.
"Yes! We took a video of him admitting he would stop!"
"And you still have it saved?" Ruthie implied hopefully.
"Yes! I think Freddie backed it up." Carly remembers.
"This is great! As long as the video is still there we've got at least one thing in our favor."
"And he also stole our web address, if we find proof of that. But imagine; His big brain would shrink in a courtroom if some guy from the US army showed him engaging in blackmail after promising not to. We could get him for harassment charges. Sue for defamation from all the viral videos he photoshopped."
Carly laughed, almost maniacally. She finally felt a glimmer of hope in this dark situation and she was glad her instinct to trust Ruthie had been right and she followed. At least for the most part until she had spooked her in the bathroom earlier. But all seemed well again.
"I don't know what they would do for blackmail unless we had proof so we'd have to dig hard and be extra confident."
Carly sighed, bringing her down from the high she was on and back to being realistic. They had something and they could run with it, but what if it was a dead lead?
"I don't know, but I do know we have proof of him continuing to harass us and slander us. If we expose him then maybe finally your aunt will listen to you and help you."
Ruthie was contemplative and silent. She knew how risky it was to go against Nevel. He bragged about how he always got his way. But Carly had connections bigger than herself. Her brother was a lawyer too.
If they could get him to confess to being a direct result of iCarly shutting down and Ruthie's abuse, they could ruin his chances of his plan succeeding and possibly a career.
"I'm in. But promise me we won't pursue it unless we know our evidence is solid. And I'd like to contact my old case worker from foster care. She might have something they could help us out." Ruthie was finally in.
Carly smiled, thinking about how she was excited to tell her friends and Spencer when she got home. She wasn't sure what she was going to tell her dad yet, or if she'd tell him at all. But she was gonna contact his friend. They would all want to help Carly and Ruthie. Maybe they'd be able to negotiate and send Nevel into the Air Force, far, far away.
Ruthie was quiet, her hand resting on her stomach again until she jumped.
"Oh." She softly proclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Carly curiously surveyed her and couldn't tell if it had been a worry or surprise.
"Here," Ruthie demands, taking Carly's hand.
Carly had felt a small but firm kick, and she smiled. It was crazy she could feel that but it also felt foreign. Was it bad that she thought it was gross and cool at the same time? Either way, her suspicions were officially appeased that Ruthie was a spy when she had felt the baby kick.
"Amazing, isn't it? If I was spying, would a fake baby be able to do that?" Ruthie tears and Carly laughed.
"I can't wait to feel her start to kick."
"Her? Do you know or just a general feeling?"
Carly bit her tongue. She and Freddie vowed to not tell anyone until she was born, but here she was telling an almost stranger, an acquaintance, about her baby.
"Just a feeling." She finally spoke.
"Anyways, I've got to get back. I'm surprised my dad hasn't looked for me yet, but he probably figured it's my morning sickness."
Ruthie gave Carly one last hug before leaving. She didn't know how soon she'd see her again but she'd create the fake email like Carly had suggested.
"See you soon Carly." She shouted as she left.
"I promise it'll be sooner than later this time." Carly smiles back and Ruthie turns back one last time to smile before the bathroom door closes.
Carly cleaned up her face with the scratchy paper towel in the sink. She looked a mess and as much as she wanted to see Ruthie make her way back, she didn't wanna get caught. She considered instead, taking her dad up on his offer for ice cream.
The ice cream shop was closed but she would love nothing more than to watch movies in her sweats instead of this sweaty dress and eat a bucket of it instead with her dad and friends.
"Are you okay, Love Bug?" The Colonel looked concerned.
Carly looked flushed and that pregnancy glow was actually just pregnancy exhaustion. Growing another human was more work than she anticipated. The chicks she hatched were easy; they rested in an artificial incubator to do the growing, her daughter depended greatly on her. She was the incubator and it was draining being that source of energy, but rewarding.
"Do you mind if we leave? I'm kinda hoping that the offer for ice cream and PJ's still stands."
Colonel Shay smiles, brushing Carly's faded curls from her sweaty face, and her eyes dart to the floor. She felt guilty and tired, but her dad didn't mind. He just wanted to see his daughter and wanted her to enjoy the night. It didn't matter what they did together.
"Of course! I'm hoping the rocky road I put in the freezer is still your favorite." He smirked.
Carly hugged her dad, feeling his arms embrace her warmly back. She was thankful. Not every teen mom had a family as supportive as hers and she wanted to be that supportive friend for Ruthie.
Her dad kissed her on top of the head before handing her her flats she had in her pieee and carrying her heels for her. They walked out, Carly on his arm and for the first time in a long time Carly felt like his little girl again, and for a moment, she had stopped growing up.
She liked knowing that nothing had changed in their relationship. She hated however, how quickly she knew the night would end and her life would spiral on. But as for tonight, she would live in the moment.