iEnyoyed the kiss

by Princesa de Jesus

Sam and Carly go to the dentist and it goes as well as expected, until Carly has to leave Sam to take care of her brother injured by the prisoners. Freddie agrees to go take care of Sam without knowing how much it would affect him to talk to a Sam out of her senses. • Seddie •

8. iThink she knows

・ Notes ・

The events in this chapter take place during what happens in iSpeed Date. In this fanfic, there will be many modified details, so I recommend rewatching the episode to catch all the differences. And don't worry, the entire chapter will be 100% Seddie!

Songs I listened to while writing / Spotify Playlist:

Upbeat Christian Dance:

https/open./playlist/27rPmVyNvNbgV0yoGcPttq?si=AROQo7DKQfCJlahhPRI1Vg =LwOyg14rRkOku

Playlist iETK-8:

https/open./playlist/5KG43LeEd0UIFcu7N0U3tB?si=bLhIUJplQriGteMsO8wOBw

2 Hour Beautiful Piano Music for Studying and Sleeping 【BGM】Channel: Sound of the Wind.

Blessings! I hope you enjoy your reading! ૮₍ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ₎ა

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[ - iThink she knows - ]

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"You can't be serious," Freddie said, stirring the straw in his juice while looking at his girlfriend with a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"I know it sounds weird, but it's true," Sam replied, taking a sip of her drink before continuing. "At least I think so. My mom told me that's what happened when she went to the wedding of her friend's brother's cousin. She lies to me about a lot of things, sure, but not about something like that."

"If you say so." Although he wasn't entirely convinced, Freddie decided to leave the topic there.

They both moved on and focused on their food. The silence that followed wasn't awkward but rather pleasant and necessary. At least, that's how Freddie felt. He'd had a stressful day, and being there, in that small spot at the mall with Sam, had made him forget why he'd been worried and anxious in the first place. And how could it not? For better or worse, being around her was never boring. She always had brilliant ideas and wild stories—ones he might not believe if he didn't spend so much time with her—she was funny, competitive, and so much more. With her, it was easy to set worries aside and relax a bit.

Freddie set his glass, now only filled with ice, down on the table. A sweet smile formed on his lips as a warm feeling filled his chest. Who would've thought that loving someone could feel this nice? He'd made the right choice, asking her out that day in the nurse's office, hadn't he?

Definitely, he answered himself, grabbing his hand sanitizer to clean up. At that moment, he heard Sam trying to say something to him, but he couldn't make out her words since her mouth was full of her third—and final—sandwich. It disgusted him a little, but he didn't mention it. After all, she had tried to eat the first two neatly, and arguing over the last one wouldn't get him anywhere. So, he let her be.

"I didn't understand anything you said," he informed her when she tried to speak again.

Sam swallowed with the help of her juice and, apparently, remembered that napkins existed because she then grabbed one to clean her face. She was about to continue talking, but Freddie noticed that she still had a bit of ketchup on her cheek, so he decided to help her. Normally, he wouldn't dare, because Sam might swat his hand away, but he thought it was worth a try.

"You've got something right... here," he murmured, taking a napkin from the pile to wipe her cheek.

To his surprise, she stayed still while Freddie finished, looking at him with a "neutral" expression. And yes, in quotes, because Freddie could see just how much she wanted to smile in the same way he was at that moment. She looked so cute that he wanted to kiss her cheek right then and there, but he wasn't as brave as she was to do that in public. When he was done, he checked to make sure there was no trace of ketchup left and, satisfied, sat back down.

"All done. There's nothing left."

"Finally. I thought you'd never finish," she complained, taking the napkin Freddie had used and throwing it at his face. But he caught it just in time and tossed it into a nearby trash can. He usually missed, but this time he nailed it. "Nice shot."

Freddie looked at her suspiciously. Sam complimenting him for something like that? Yeah, sure. As if that was going to happen so easily. She'd probably throw the challenge back at him in three, two...

"But you still need practice."

And there she was, the Sam he knew and loved.

"You think you can do better?" Freddie asked, leaning in toward her.

"I don't think so; I know I can do better, farther, and with my eyes closed," she said with a confident smile.

Always so sure of herself... He loved that about her.

"I've got a handkerchief. Wanna give it a shot, Puckett?"

"Depends, Benson. What do I get when I make it?"

"You don't mean 'if I make it'?"

"Nope, because I always play to win."

Freddie rolled his eyes, smiling.

"Whatever you say. So, what do you want?"

"Lemme think… It's been a while since I've been to the movies, so when I make it, you take me. And in the almost impossible case that I don't, then I'll take you."

"Sounds fair. Do we have a deal?" He said, offering his hand. She shook it.

.

.

.

When Sam made the perfect shot, Freddie didn't feel bad about having to pay. In fact, he was amazed that she had nailed it, especially after moving to a spot where the trash can was like seven meters away. Insane. (Although, to be honest, he loved the insanity when it came to her).

Sam took off the handkerchief and, with a victorious smile, asked how she did. Freddie smiled and told her she was amazing, as always. Sam gave him a light tap on the shoulder, claiming he was exaggerating, but Freddie knew she liked the compliment by the way she was smiling.

They walked around the mall, chatting and joking. They weren't holding hands, but their shoulders brushed against each other occasionally. Everything was going great until, suddenly, Sam stopped and looked at him expectantly, as if she were waiting for him to say something in particular.

"Is something wrong?"

"That's what I wanna know," Sam replied. "I thought we were going to go into the stores while we talked, but all we're doing is walking around."

"Yeah, that was the plan. Do you wanna do something else?"

Oh, no. What if Sam was getting bored hanging out with him? But that couldn't be the case because she had been smiling during their date. Had he messed up? Said something strange? Was he too nerdy? What if…?

"Well, yeah. Weren't we here to buy clothes? Don't tell me you already forgot."

Oh, right. Clothes for the dance. That's why they were there, of course.

"Uh…"

"I'll take that as a yes," she concluded, looking at him with amusement and a playful smile. "I can't believe you forgot so easily when you were all stressed about it yesterday."

"It's not my fault that…"

"Being with you is so much fun," was what he didn't finish saying out loud because... Didn't he want to sound that cheesy? Did he feel shy all of a sudden? Well, he didn't have a specific reason. He just didn't want to say it. End of story.

Sam seemed to realize what he was about to say, as her cheeks turned slightly pink, which made him smile without meaning to. He thought about finishing the sentence, but before he could decide, she firmly took his hand.

"Let's start looking now; the sooner we finish this, the better."

Freddie didn't have time to process the suggestion or respond properly, because she started walking, leading him toward the first store on the list she had given him the day before. Though he felt a bit embarrassed because some people were eyeing them, he couldn't help feeling happy. So much so that, once again, he forgot they really shouldn't be seen so close like that in the first place.

---

Fifteen minutes into their search, they entered a spacious store filled with options that seemed to promise the perfect solution. However, nothing seemed to convince them. What one liked didn't match the other's style. After browsing almost every aisle, they picked out a few items they deemed "decent enough" and headed toward the fitting rooms.

Sam tried on two dresses, while Freddie did the same with a couple of blazers. Each of them took a moment in front of the mirror, examining their reflection with a critical eye, looking for reasons to love or hate their choices—pros and cons. Then they would leave the fitting rooms to share their opinions, but they always ended up saying almost in unison, "Yeah, not this," with a grimace of frustration before going back to find something better.

After a while, Sam got tired and told him she was going to the bathroom. He nodded, replying that he'd keep looking in the meantime. Freddie stood in front of the shirts, but after a while, he lost interest and wandered over to a sale on sneakers. He figured maybe a new pair would do him good—something casual and comfortable for a change.

As he examined the quality of the shoes, he heard someone humming a song. The voice sounded oddly familiar, so he turned his gaze to his left. It was a girl with wavy blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She seemed to be checking out the offers as well. Freddie was about to move closer to see if he recognized her, but it wasn't necessary. The girl turned to look at other products, giving him a better view—and, in the process, a lot of confusion. Because it turned out to be the same Sam, just with different clothes, accessories, and a different hairstyle.

Questions began to arise in his mind, one by one. Was that why she went to the bathroom? To change clothes? If so, where did she get the clothes from if they hadn't bought anything yet? Or wait—did she come back from the bathroom, try on some clothes, and then start looking at shoes because... Wait a second, why would she be checking out discounted shoes? Now wait two seconds and scratch that—why was he still standing there asking himself stupid questions when he could just ask her directly?

Feeling silly for overthinking it, Freddie walked over to her confidently.

"You know, Sam, I'm seriously impressed by how fast you change, but I'm pretty sure the store doesn't offer a 'try it on and keep it free' offer," he commented, smirking as he crossed his arms, expecting her to complain about how terrible his joke was.

Sam turned toward him at the sound of his voice, and to Freddie's surprise, a look of confusion crossed her face… quickly followed by a big, joyful smile that left him even more puzzled.

"Freddie! Long time no see!" she exclaimed, reaching out to shake his hand with a friendly grip, as if they hadn't seen each other in weeks or months.

Freddie just stared at her, completely silent. "Long time?" What was she talking about? They had just seen each other!

"How have you been? Everything good with the web show?" She inquired with genuine warmth, like there was nothing weird about the situation, completely unaware (or maybe ignoring) the confusion on his face. "I've heard that iCarly is getting more popular every day."

"What are you saying, Sam? We were just together not long ago," he reminded her, frowning. "Don't tell me you lost your mind in those five minutes you were gone."

Even though sarcasm dripped from his words, a small sense of worry started to grow inside Freddie. He'd heard of people losing their memory after a knock to the head, but she seemed fine. Could Sam be one of those rare exceptions who just... forgets for no reason at all? He really didn't even want to entertain the thought.

"Oh, so you were here with her," she said, nodding slightly, as if everything made more sense just by saying that. "But I'm not Sam, Freddie. I'm Melanie, her twin sister."

"Melanie?" he repeated, incredulous.

He never thought he'd hear that name again. He clearly remembered what had happened the last time Sam mentioned a supposed twin sister. Likewise, he'd been convinced she was just messing with him, and Sam had admitted it. So why was she pulling that prank again? Look, he cared about her a lot, but sometimes he just didn't get this girl.

"Let me guess... You got bored and went to the bathroom just to mess with me again with the whole twin sister thing, right?" He guessed, raising an eyebrow. He didn't think it was funny to repeat that joke.

To his surprise, Sam didn't push back or interrupt him like she usually would. Instead, she looked at him amused and let out a soft laugh that Freddie automatically joined in on, sure that this was just part of one of her usual pranks. But then her expression shifted. The playful spark in her eyes faded, replaced by a seriousness that Freddie didn't expect. That sudden change gave him an odd feeling of déjà vu.

"Do you still think it's a prank?" She asked, tilting her head as if she genuinely wanted to know the answer, and this wasn't just another of her pranks.

"Uh... obviously, yeah. Because you yourself told me that you were just trying to prove how gullible I am. But since it didn't work, you'd stop trying to trick me with the whole 'Melanie' thing," he reminded her, stressing the word "Melanie" as he made air quotes.

Freddie studied her more closely, looking for something, any detail, that would confirm she was, in fact, Sam. But there was something in her relaxed posture, in the nonchalant tone of her voice… something that didn't add up. It wasn't just the way she looked at him; it was the absence of that spark of constant challenge she usually radiated. That need Sam had to mess with him sporadically just to make him lose his patience. Instead, there was a calmness that felt deeply off.

What if he was actually standing in front of Melanie, not Sam? Or was Sam just stepping up her acting skills to confuse him even more?

Sam? Well, the girl laughed as if he had told a joke (weird), shaking her head with a somewhat dreamy expression.

"Oh, I see... so that's what she told you. Oh, that's so Sam. Since I'm different from her, she always tries to pretend I don't exist, but I know deep down she cares about me. Very deep down," she added with a nostalgic smile, which Freddie wasn't sure if he should call genuine or just way too convincing. "But that doesn't matter right now. Tell me, she's not causing you too much trouble, is she?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder as if the gesture was supposed to comfort him in some way.

Freddie sighed, feeling his patience start to wear thin. Sam (or Melanie?) wasn't going to give up this easily, right?

"No, you're not causing me trouble, Sam," he said firmly, using her name to make it clear he wasn't falling for the game. He gently took her hand, hoping things would return to normal soon. "Can you save the 'Melanie' act for later? We still need to find what we need for the dance, and we can't waste time on…"

"You and Sam are going to a dance together?" She interrupted, her smile wide and her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Alright. Freddie was getting tired of this game.

"Yes, and you already know that, Sam. So please stop—"

"Sorry for taking so long; were you calling me?" came a voice from behind them, too familiar to not recognize.

Freddie turned around, and then he saw Sam—his Sam—wearing the same clothes, the same look, and the same bored attitude she had before she left. But as soon as she saw the other Sam standing next to him, that calmness evaporated as if it were smoke.

"Melanie? What are you doing here?"

Freddie alternated his gaze between the two of them, completely dumbfounded, unsure how to process what he was seeing.

"And why are you holding her hand?" Sam demanded, her annoyance cutting through her voice this time.

Freddie dropped the hand of the fake Sam like it was on fire, then looked at his Sam. He tried to say something, but the words didn't come out right.

"Well, I, uh, thought you and she... How is it possible that…?" He stammered, shifting his gaze from one twin to the other. Finally, he focused on the Sam he knew. "Do you really have a twin sister?" Immediately, he felt like an idiot because the answer was so obvious.

"Yes," Sam answered, with palpable annoyance, as if the whole thing were as obvious as the sun in the sky. (And indeed it was.) "I tried to tell you, but since you were so bent on being right, I decided to let you think whatever you wanted."

"Now everything makes sense," Melanie commented, smiling calmly.

Upon hearing Melanie, Freddie felt the shame engulf him completely. He remembered everything he had thought about her and how he had treated her without knowing the truth, and the guilt crushed him instantly.

"I'm really sorry, Melanie. All this time I thought you were a lie, and I treated you horribly."

"It's okay." Melanie replied with a compassionate look. "I know Sam can be a bit heavy with her jokes. I would've had my doubts too."

"I would've had my doubts too," Sam repeated, mocking her in an exaggerated, childish tone. Melanie, far from getting annoyed, simply laughed, which made Sam even more exasperated. "Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought you were at your nerd school, doing charity or something."

"Yeah, but the school gave us a few weeks off, so I took the chance to visit. I already talked to mom on the phone and was planning to go home after buying her and you a gift."

Hearing this, Freddie blinked, surprised. Melanie was so sweet, considerate, and so different from Sam that he could hardly believe they were sisters. It wasn't just her way of talking, but how her kindness seemed so genuine, like it wasn't forced or with any ulterior motive—and that confused him a little, given that most of Sam's family were criminals or on the fast track to being one.

"That's very thoughtful of you," Freddie said, searching for something to contribute to the conversation and feeling awkward in the process.

"And totally unnecessary. We didn't ask for anything," Sam replied, more bluntly than he'd expected. Was she always like this with her sister, or was she mad about something else?

Also, why wasn't Melanie responding? He expected her to show some sign of annoyance or discomfort with her sister's attitude, but she remained just as calm and smiley.

"I know, but I wanted to get you both something anyway," Melanie explained sweetly. Despite her calm demeanor, Freddie noticed a slight change in her expression. Then, Melanie leaned slightly toward them with a conspiratorial smile, as if she were about to share a secret. "So, what about you guys? Are you looking for something special for some special occasion?"

That smile… Freddie recognized it immediately. It was the same one she'd worn the time she kissed him to show him she wasn't Sam. Oh, dear. Freddie suddenly remembered. He had kissed Melanie. Not Sam. His sister-in-law. Well, technically, she wasn't his sister-in-law back then, but... it was still weird to remember.

"It's none of your business, so go on and keep looking for whatever lame gifts you want," Sam stated sharply, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Sam!" Freddie protested, reproach in his voice. Sam looked at him wearily, showing no signs of taking back what she had said. Freddie turned to Melanie to steer the conversation back on track. "We're here because there's going to be a dance at our school soon, and we're looking for clothes for the occasion. But it's a little complicated because..."

"Neither of you are really into fashion, I guess?" Melanie deduced, quickly understanding the situation.

"You noticed, huh? What a clever little girl," Sam teased.

"Samantha…" Freddie cautioned, giving her a disapproving look.

She responded by sticking her tongue out. And, being the mature person he was, Freddie did the same.

Sam shifted her gaze to Melanie, who was watching her with a calmness that only increased the tension. Freddie, intrigued, realized that the two of them seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation through their glances. Finally, Melanie raised an eyebrow, as if asking a silent question, and Sam let out an exasperated sigh.

"No way, forget it. It's a terrible idea."

"Come on, it'll be fun," Melanie urged with a reassuring smile.

"No chance! I refuse."

"What are you two talking about?" Freddie asked, now more confused than ever.

"Don't tell him, Melanie," Sam quickly warned, shooting a fiery glance at her sister.

"I'd be happy to help you two pick something out," Melanie offered, unaffected by Sam's warning and directing her proposal straight to Freddie.

Was that all? It seemed like a harmless offer, even helpful.

"Sounds good to me," Freddie agreed, without giving it much thought.

"You can't be serious!" Sam objected, turning to him with disbelief, as if Freddie had made the biggest mistake imaginable. "Fine, do whatever you want, but don't count on me, Fredderina."

Freddie counted to five in his head, fighting to keep his cool and avoid letting his frustration lead to an argument. He was used to Sam's biting remarks, but even for her, this stubbornness was starting to get really exasperating. Plus, he didn't understand why she was reacting this way when Melanie clearly had good intentions.

Determined, he gave her a firm look that, of course, didn't intimidate her in the slightest.

"What, do you need a smack to make sure you heard me right?" Sam added, raising an eyebrow with a challenging look.

He took a deep breath, deciding it wasn't worth falling into Sam's provocation. Instead of responding, he turned his attention to Melanie, who was quietly watching the scene unfold with a soft, understanding smile, as if she had already expected something like this to happen.

"Could you excuse us for a second?" Freddie asked, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Sure, take your time."

Before Sam could object, he grabbed her hand firmly and guided her toward a more secluded part of the store.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Sam demanded, trying to break free.

"It'll only be a moment," Freddie replied, not giving in to his girlfriend's superhuman strength.

Fortunately, Sam stopped struggling and allowed herself to be guided until they both stopped at a point far from Melanie and the other people in the store. As soon as he loosened his grip, she yanked her hand away. She glared at him with irritation, as if she wanted to throw something at him. But he didn't flinch and met her gaze with equal intensity.

"Fine, now that we're here..." Sam began, crossing her arms with a defiant air. "Why don't you, instead of looking at me like that, tell me what screw got loose in your head to think it's a good idea to let her help us?"

"There is nothing wrong with me, Sam, because it's actually a good idea," he replied calmly, making an effort not to start an argument. "Neither you nor I are sure what we could wear to match. Letting Melanie help us is a good opportunity to…"

"To what? To have her dress us up like living dolls, just like her? No, thanks. I'd rather go dressed as a hot dog than look like a fragile doll," Sam argued. Before Freddie could respond, she added with a mocking smile, "Though I don't think she'll have to try too hard with you to pull that off."

He was about to make a comment about it but stopped when he noticed that she, with her defiant smile and her eyes fixed on him, clearly thought her remark would change the course of the conversation. So he smiled calmly, gently squeezing Sam's injured hand between his.

"I don't know, Sammy. I think you're exaggerating just a little."

"Never tell a girl she's exaggerating," Sam grumbled, though she didn't pull her hand away, which gave him enough confidence to continue.

"Look, it'll only be for a little while. Besides, Melanie is trying really hard to get on your good side. Give her a chance, and if you won't do it for her, then do it for me, Sammy. Please," he urged softly, looking at her with that sweet, silly expression he knew Sam found hard to resist.

Sam looked at him in silence, as if weighing his words and the options they had. After a long sigh, she finally gave in.

"Alright, fine... But for the record, if this goes sideways, I warned you."

Freddie was so relieved that, without thinking, he kissed her forehead as a thank-you.

"Thanks, princess. You're—" he began, but she cut him off with a grimace.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I'm amazing," she replied, trying to hide a smile, but her lips curled up involuntarily, betraying her attempt to look annoyed. "Let's just get this over with already."

Sam started walking, but suddenly stopped after a few steps, spinning around to face him with a look that practically dared him to argue.

"But if we don't find anything, we're showing up at the dance in sweatpants. Period."

Freddie stared at her, confused, unsure if she was serious or just messing with him.

"Sweatpants?"

"Uh, yeah. Or what, you think I'm putting on some fancy outfit just to throw fat cakes at the people dancing?"

"Wait, what? Why'd you do that?"

"Because I'd be really annoyed about wasting my time in this dumb place. Duh."

Freddie watched her, surprised, because he knew she could actually do something like that at a school dance. For some reason, he pictured her in such a scenario: Sam in sportswear, with a bag full of Fat Cakes, throwing them left and right at the people dancing. He'd be by her side as her accomplice, and it would all be laughs until they both ran off when a teacher or the principal came to scold them. The idea, as absurd as it was simple, made him laugh, easing the tension he'd built up just seconds earlier.

Sam looked at him like he'd grown a second head, clearly baffled by his sudden laughter, but he didn't give her a chance to comment on it.

"You're such a sweetheart, you know that?" He said with a smile, leaning his face closer to hers.

"And yet you love me," she replied, brushing off her confusion about his earlier behavior.

"Do I?" Freddie asked, gently brushing his nose against hers.

Sam gave him a look that clearly said, "Seriously?" but Freddie just smiled charmingly.

"Yes, I do."

"Aw. That's my polite little nub."

Sam smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the nose, a sweet little gesture that made Freddie blush. But instead of dwelling on his embarrassment, he leaned in to kiss her. It was brief, just a soft touch, but enough to leave a warm, lingering feeling between them. They slowly pulled apart, looking at each other in silence, not in a hurry to break the connection that had formed.

"What are we even doing?" Freddie asked, chuckling softly.

"I don't know. You're the one who makes me say silly things."

"It's nice to hear that. You sound so adorable when you say them," he whispered, half-joking, half-serious, as he traced soft circles with his thumb on Sam's hand, as if trying to convey everything he felt.

"Really?" Sam raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

"Really," he confirmed, smiling in a way that left no doubt he meant every word. "So, should we head back to Melanie?"

Sam looked at him for a moment, her expression softening before letting out a resigned sigh.

"Yeah. And... sorry for being so annoying earlier, when all you were trying to do was help."

"Apology accepted."

They began walking back to where Melanie was waiting, but before they got too far, Freddie couldn't resist asking one last question.

"Would you really throw food at people at the dance?"

"Nah. A month ago, Principal Franklin told me I should try to cut down my detention time to five times every two weeks, so I can't get into that much trouble anymore."

"And how's that going?"

"I've only been twice in three weeks," she said with a proud smile.

"No way. For real?"

"Yep. I guess your goody-two-shoes behavior is rubbing off on me."

"Oh, so... you're openly admitting that—" Freddie started, raising his eyebrows and smiling flirtatiously, "my charms distract you so much that you don't have time to get into trouble?"

Sam stared at him for a few seconds with a serious expression, probably weighing how awful his "flirty line" was. A line that, just to be clear, Freddie had said purely to annoy her.

"One: if I hear something like that again, I'm going to burn that little book of yours." Though she tried to remain just as serious and 'threatening', Freddie noticed the effort she was making to keep from smiling at such nonsense. "And two: if you're going to use it, at least try to make the phrases shorter."

"Oh, come on. You love it when I use those lines. Long or not."

"Only to emphasize how silly they are. Though, thinking about it, they suit well a silly nerd like you."

"Don't you mean my silly nerd?" —Freddie joked, moving closer to her with the intention of making her lose her patience.

Seconds later, he got exactly what he wanted. Sam tried to pinch him, muttering, "I warned you." Freddie quickly stepped back to avoid her, and the moment turned into a mini-tickle fight. They were both laughing, trying to make the other give in. When Sam finally won, Freddie looked at her fondly.

He stood in front of her, close enough that if he wanted to, he could lean in and kiss her. But he didn't. He wanted her to take the initiative.

"Come on, admit it. With all my cheesiness, you still like me."

"Do I?" Sam questioned, tilting her head slightly, aware that Freddie was waiting for her response.

Without wasting a second, Freddie took her good hand again and kissed the back of it, winking at her with "charm." Sam couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked.

"Nah, I still hate you," Sam replied to herself, though her reddening cheeks betrayed her true feelings.

"That sounds like a yes to me." Freddie grinned triumphantly before pulling her into a hug, pressing his cheek against hers. He showered her with affection and sweet words, while Sam protested, laughing about how cheesy he was being. Still, she made no effort to pull away.

[ - -]

When they got back, they found Melanie eyeing a blonde wig with interest.

"What's the deal with that? Isn't the one on your head enough for you?" Sam teased.

Freddie rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept onto his lips. Yep, some things would never change.

Melanie chuckled softly, unbothered by the comment, shaking her head as she carefully held the wig.

"I like the pink tips. I was thinking about dyeing mine like that after I graduate. What do you think? Too bold?"

"Not at all. I bet it'd look great on you," Freddie chimed in, cutting off whatever sharp remark Sam was undoubtedly cooking up.

"Thanks." Melanie placed the wig back and turned her full attention to them. "So? Did you two work things out?"

"We agreed a little help wouldn't hurt," Freddie answered. "Of course, if you're still up for helping us."

"I'd be happy to help. Just tell me what kind of outfits you're looking for, and I'll come up with some ideas."

Freddie smiled, relieved by her willingness. Sam, on the other hand, kept quiet, clearly not sharing his enthusiasm, and he figured that was for the best. The silver lining, at least, was that they'd save a lot of time.

Or so he thought.

Turns out, to Melanie, "a few questions" actually meant "a full-blown interrogation disguised as helpful advice"—or so Freddie humbly observed.

"Any materials that bother you? Do you have a theme in mind, or are you going for something classic? What are your exact sizes? Any allergies to specific fabrics?"

The questions just kept coming, rapid-fire, with no end in sight. Freddie tried to stay calm and answer everything, but by the fifth question, he finally understood why Sam always looked exhausted after talking to Melanie. It was like being under a relentless, blinding ray of sunshine—warm but overwhelming.

Freddie exchanged a look with Sam, hoping she'd answer at least one of the questions. But she simply shrugged and whispered in his ear, "You insisted, so you answer." So, Freddie had no choice but to endure the interrogation alone.

After five minutes that felt like half an hour, Melanie delivered her final question with a smile Freddie couldn't decide was genuinely kind or calculating.

"So, are you two going to the dance together, or do you each have separate dates?"

This time, Freddie wasn't sure what to say, but he didn't have to, because Sam answered for him.

"We're going together."

Freddie braced himself for a barrage of follow-up questions or at least a comment, but Melanie simply nodded absentmindedly, still typing something on her phone. A minute later, she looked up with renewed energy.

"Alright! I've got an idea of what you both need. But I need to know if either of you have a specific color in mind, or are you planning to match?"

"We haven't decided that yet," Freddie acknowledged, curious about whatever Melanie had come up with.

"As long as it's not pastel, brown, blue, purple, or yellow, we're good," Sam said suddenly, catching him off guard.

Since when had she decided that? As far as he remembered, they hadn't discussed it over text—or at all.

"Wait, when did you...?"

"Perfect!" Melanie cut him off, beaming with excitement. "I think I know the perfect color for you two! If you don't mind, wait for me by the fitting rooms. It might take me a few minutes to gather everything. See ya!" she said, vanishing down the aisles before either of them could say anything else.

"So much energy," Freddie muttered to himself.

When he turned, Sam was already heading toward the fitting rooms, so he hurried to catch up.

"Hey, how'd you come up with that conclusion about the colors? I don't think we ever talked about it over text."

"I didn't have to think too hard. Pastels would make it look like we're going to a wedding. Brown would be weird. You wear a lot of blue, so that's out. And yellow? We'd look like a couple of daisies."

"What about purple? You mentioned it earlier, right? Why can't we use it?"

"Because Carly sent me a picture of what she's wearing, and it's purple. So…"

"We'd be repeating, got it," Freddie sighed, rubbing his neck. "Who knew this stuff would be so complicated?"

"I know, and that's why..." Sam lowered her voice and motioned for him to lean in. Freddie got closer, curious. "I might kind of admire Carly and Melanie for always looking good."

"Really?"

"Yeah, well… Usually, I just grab whatever I can find and go with it." Sam glanced down for a moment, looking a little embarrassed by the confession. That didn't sit well with Freddie at all. "Sometimes I let Carly help me with my hair, so I don't look like I just rolled out of bed. Not that I'm obsessed or anything, but I like it to look good."

"I see," he whispered, now really looking at her hair. "You know, I've never said it, but I've always thought your hair's really pretty."

Sam looked up, surprised by the compliment.

"Don't say that just to make me feel better."

"I mean it. The blonde tone is nice, and I like how the waves look like little waterfalls when it's down," he explained in detail, gently tugging a lock of her hair to appreciate it better before meeting her eyes again. "I also like your bangs. It just... looks perfect on you."

"What if I decided to dye it someday?"

"I think you'd look different, but still just as pretty."

"Even with neon?" she asked, grinning.

Freddie grinned back, then pinched her nose.

"I know you wouldn't dare, so don't be Pinocchio. "

"Hey, stop that!" she exclaimed, pulling his hand away. "What do you mean, Pinocchio? It was a question, not a statement. And who says…"

"No, Sam. You're not dyeing your hair just to prove me wrong."

"But…"

"No."

"Agh, how boring."

Freddie shrugged, until he straightened up in his spot when an idea popped into his head.

"Hey, what if I..."

"No."

"But you didn't even let me finish!"

"If I get a no, you'll also get a 'no,' Fredward."

"Would you ever let me comb your hair?" Freddie asked anyway.

"What? No."

"Come on, Sammy. I'd at least like to brush it."

"If you want to brush something so badly, get a wig and a mannequin."

"And if I buy a pack of meatballs?"

"I already said no."

"What if I buy two?"

"… I'm not sure."

"Two and a pack of fat cakes." He made his final offer, tapping her shoulder playfully with his index finger.

Sam raised an eyebrow at him, smiling amused.

"Get that on the same day we're going to the movies, and we have a deal, pretty baby."

Freddie raised an eyebrow when he heard the nickname.

"Pretty baby? I like the way it sounds."

"Obviously. I always come up with good nicknames."

"I won't argue, but you have to admit that most of the ones you give me are a kind of hurtful, don't you think?"

"Oh, but Fredweird, nub, Fredalupe, and nerd really suit you."

"Ha, ha, very funny, Sammy," Freddie replied, retaliating by tickling her again.

Sam burst into a soft laugh, trying to pull away. When he finally stopped, she settled back into her spot and looked at him with a shy smile.

"You know, I also like some of your nicknames, too," she confessed.

"Like 'Princess Puckett'?"

"That one's really good, yes, but I'm talking about the more recent ones, like just 'princess,' 'cuteness,' or 'Sammy,'" she explained. "Usually I hate when my mom calls me Sammy, but hearing you call me that, somehow, it's… I don't know. Cute, I guess."

Freddie felt something warm and comforting spread in his chest. It was that same soft, but constant fire that grew every time he spent more time with Sam. He liked knowing he was doing things right. Plus, that afternoon, Sam had shown that her heart was opening up to him a little more, and that touched him more than he could have imagined.

Calmly, he pulled her toward him into a half hug, gently tracing circles on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you feel that way."

Sam, initially surprised, settled next to him and allowed herself to be hugged. The embrace was brief, but the warmth and connection between them were enough to lift their spirits. When they separated, they both stayed silent for a few seconds, holding hands and enjoying the peace of the moment.

…

"Did you know I have a ton of things to tell you?" Sam said, breaking the silence without letting go of his hand. It was her way of changing the subject without letting the intimacy of the moment fade too quickly.

"I'm here to listen."

They continued talking about something completely different, their hands still intertwined.

---

Ten minutes later, Melanie showed up carrying several baskets full of clothes. Both Freddie and Sam were stunned by how quickly she'd returned, when they had spent half an hour wandering around without finding anything that felt right.

"Check if you like these before trying them on," Melanie requested. "That way, I can make any necessary swaps, and you'll save time."

Freddie thanked her as she handed him a basket filled with shirts, blazers, and other pieces. The first thing that caught his eye—and surprised him a bit—was the color Melanie had chosen. It was quite fitting for an evening party, though a bit flashy for his taste. The second thing he noticed was the inclusion of formal vests and shirts that paired well with them. Not exactly what he'd had in mind, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to try something new—after all, he usually stuck to shirts and blazers.

Pleased with the selection, Freddie told Melanie she'd done a great job. She smiled, satisfied, and suggested he try everything on to ensure it all fit well. Freddie nodded but glanced over at Sam before heading to the fitting rooms. He found her eyeing her basket with apparent disinterest.

"Don't you see anything you like?" Freddie asked.

"I don't know. The color's not bad, and at least it matches yours, but the dress feels kinda short and chilly. Plus, I'm not even sure if I have shoes that go with it."

"I knew you'd say something like that," Melanie interjected from behind them, making both turn to face her. "That's why I went ahead and picked out a pair of black leggings made of good fabric for you to wear underneath, along with a jacket that complements the dress. As for the shoes, I can lend you these babies I brought in my luggage." Proudly, Melanie showed them a photo of the shoes on her phone.

Seeing Sam's look of amazement and happiness, Freddie figured the shoes must be impressive. Relieved to know she'd be more comfortable, he headed to the men's fitting rooms to try on his outfit. He wasn't sure if he'd end up buying everything, but he planned to choose at least one of the two options.

Before leaving, he glanced back at the twins. While it was still hard for him to process that they were two separate people, seeing the contrast between them made it a little easier to get it.

When Freddie finished dressing, he was so pleased with how he looked that he couldn't resist snapping a photo of his reflection in the mirror. Then he walked out of the dressing room like that. He knew he shouldn't get too close to the women's changing area, so he decided to wait in the hallway.

About three minutes passed before some commotion caught his attention.

First, an annoyed voice exclaimed, "Miss, you can't walk out like that!" Then, another voice, Melanie's, said, "Sam, you can't let him see you yet!" to which Sam's familiar voice responded, "It's just a dumb dance, not my wedding!"

Seconds later, Sam emerged from the women's dressing area, looking slightly disheveled but fully dressed. When he saw her, Freddie was stunned; the outfit really suited her perfectly. It was feminine, yet it held onto the strong, genuine essence of Sam—something he truly appreciated.

Sam also seemed surprised to see him. From a distance, she smiled.

"Hey."

Freddie smiled back.

"Hey to you too."

She stepped a little closer, looking at him curiously.

"I thought you were going to wear a blazer."

"That was the plan, but Melanie suggested this, and honestly, I like how it looks."

"I do too. You almost seem like a decent human being."

"I'm going to assume that in Sam-speak, that means 'you look incredibly handsome'," he joked, mimicking the tone she'd used when they talked with Carly by the lockers.

"Ha. Ha. So funny. Want me to clap for you?"

"Thanks, sweetheart, but that's not necessary. I do my best to be funny without expecting anything in return."

"Then you'd better give up, 'cause it's clearly not your thing."

"Wow, so inspiring of you," he said, earning a light shove from her. Freddie took the opportunity to shift the conversation. "Anyway, setting aside my magnificent sense of humor—"

"Terrible sense of humor," she corrected.

"You look beautiful," he continued, ignoring her remark. "I mean, you always do, but—"

"This really brings out my natural charm? I know, dork," she cut him off confidently, spinning around to show off her outfit. She seemed genuinely happy with how she looked, which made Freddie feel even better. He wouldn't have wanted her to feel uncomfortable all night. "I didn't think it would fit on the first try, but somehow Melanie nailed it with what she picked for both of us. I hate to admit it, but she's got an eye for this stuff."

"Definitely," he agreed. "Hey, where is she anyway? Wasn't she with you?"

"Oh, right. She's probably convincing the store employee that I'm not planning to steal anything."

"And why would she..." Freddie started, but before he could finish, the sound of footsteps approached them.

"Young lady, you can't be walking around dressed like that!" The employee scolded, glaring at Sam disapprovingly.

Melanie watched them from behind her, silently mouthing, "Sorry, I did what I could to hold her back."

"And you shouldn't be walking around with that hairstyle, but here we are," Sam shot back. The woman gave her an offended look.

"Alright, no need to make a scene," Freddie intervened, stepping in to defuse the situation. "She's with me, and we were just checking if we matched."

"I understand, but next time, maybe compare photos or something. It's not appropriate for a young lady to be near the men's dressing rooms, especially if she's your girlfriend, young man."

Both of them quickly tried to clarify that they weren't a couple, but she barely paid attention. She just told them to change and put any clothes they intended to buy back in the basket.

Freddie wasn't too bothered by her scolding; it was part of her job. However, he did feel a little uneasy about her assuming they were a couple just from seeing them together. If she noticed in those few seconds, wouldn't Melanie think the same? Although his sister-in-law hadn't asked or commented about them going to the dance together, that didn't mean the idea hadn't crossed her mind. And if not, then possibly she still believed they were just stuck in their usual friendly rivalry, right? Perhaps it would be a good idea to find out later, in a very subtle way.

---

When they were at the checkout and it came time to pay, Freddie noticed that the total was beyond his budget. It threw him off a bit, since he had told Melanie how much money he had to spend. Sam also seemed to realize this, as she looked at her sister with a mix of confusion and reproach.

"Why did you even ask about the money if you were just going to pick something more expensive anyway?" Sam asked, crossing her arms.

"It's fine, Sam. Don't worry about it," Freddie said, glancing at the cashier with a bit of embarrassment. "I'll just take the shirt and leave the vest," he said, pointing to the item, which the cashier barely acknowledged with a nod.

"Wait, don't leave the vest," Melanie whispered, pulling out a few bills from her flower-patterned pink wallet. "Tell me how much more we need so I can cover it," she said to the cashier.

"You really don't have to do that," Freddie told her, but Melanie had already handed over the money and completed the payment. "I promise I'll pay you back later."

"Oh, no way," Melanie replied, taking the receipt and handing it to Freddie. "Keep it in a safe place, in case you need to make a last-minute exchange."

"I will, but..."

"I'm hungry," Sam suddenly interrupted, clearly bored with the conversation.

"I could go for something sweet," Melanie suggested. "How about we get ice cream?"

---

"You know…" Freddie began as he settled into one of the chairs in the ice cream shop, "We could've just said no."

"Why'd we do that?" Sam looked at him as if he had said something absurd. "She's the one who offered."

"I don't know, maybe modesty?"

"Well, you're still in time to go and tell her you don't want any. But I want my ice cream." Sam jumped up and, with a carefree shrug, added, "I'll be right back."

Then she left the ice cream shop without giving any further explanation.

Resigned, Freddie pulled out his phone to kill time while both sisters were gone. He ignored his mom's persistent texts and quickly responded to a few from Carly. Then, almost without realizing it, he ended up reading his recent messages with Sam. It was curious how their interactions had changed since they got together.

Just then, Melanie returned with their ice creams. Freddie took his, mumbling a thank you before quickly digging into it, eager to finish it before Sam came back. He loved her and all, but he knew she would probably try to "try" his ice cream, only to end up stealing it.

"Wow, you're really hungry," Melanie chuckled, watching him eat in a hurry.

"It's not that," Freddie replied, a little embarrassed, pushing his cup away. "It's just that when Sam comes back, she'll probably…"

"Steal your ice cream?" Melanie finished for him. "I know. Don't worry. I'll either get her another one or give her mine when the time comes. So just try to relax a bit."

"Okay."

Freddie kept eating. He hadn't thought about it before, but now he realized that the last few times they had been alone, he had been thinking of Melanie as Sam, not as Melanie as a separate person. That felt a little off. However, it didn't seem to bother Melanie. She kept smiling as always, calm and carefree, as if nothing had changed. Freddie forced himself to think that if it didn't bother her, then it shouldn't concern him either.

That's when he remembered the favor she'd done for him at the checkout.

"Hey, about the money... I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I can. How long are you staying in Seattle?"

"A couple of weeks, but you really don't need to pay me back. I offered because I wanted to."

"I know, but I still don't feel right about owing you. Are you sure there's no favor or anything I can do for you in return?"

"Nope, I'm good. In fact, if you keep insisting, I might get mad," she assured him calmly, but there was a warning in her tone that Freddie decided not to test.

"You win; I won't bring it up again. But seriously, thanks for your help," he expressed, hoping to convey his gratitude properly. "By the way, how'd you manage to find everything so fast?"

Melanie grinned proudly as she pulled out her phone.

"When I got an idea of what you might need, I checked the store's website to see if they had the items in stock and created an online board," she explained enthusiastically, showing Freddie her phone.

"Looks good."

"Thanks."

She tucked her phone away with a calm motion, but her expression turned more serious.

"Look, Freddie, I want us to be friends or at least get along," Melanie said frankly. "That's why I'm not charging you anything. As your sister-in-law, I want you to trust me, especially when it comes to Sam. She never tells me who she likes or if she has a boyfriend. In fact, this is the first time I've been able to talk to someone who actually means something to her besides Carly, and I want to make the most of this opportunity. You get what I mean?"

Freddie, distracted, nodded slowly.

"Definitely. I know Sam can be a kind of private when it comes to..." he began to say, but then something clicked in his mind. "Wait—did you just call yourself my sister-in-law?"

"Uh, yes? If you're my sister's boyfriend, that makes me your sister-in-law," she pointed out matter-of-factly.

Freddie frowned, trying to process what he had just heard. Was she serious? Was it a joke? Why was Sam taking so long to show up? She would've probably made some sarcastic comment by now or, who knows, maybe even thrown her ice cream in their faces. At Melanie for asking and at him to back up her point with some excuse like, "I'd rather check myself into a mental hospital than date this dork," or something similar. But he wasn't Sam, and there was no way he'd do that to Melanie, who had been so nice to him.

"No, no, I think you're confused," he managed to say, forcing a tense smile. "We're going to the dance together because... well, we didn't have another choice. But we're not a couple or anything like that."

To buy himself some time and avoid saying something ridiculous, Freddie took a spoonful of his ice cream, hoping Melanie would drop the subject. However, Melanie chuckled softly, making it clear she didn't believe a word he said.

"Aw, Freddie, you're hilarious," Melanie commented as she went back to her ice cream, clearly not taking him seriously.

"I'm serious," he lied, his confidence waning as his discomfort and nerves grew.

"Come on, I'm not blind. There's clearly something going on between you two." Freddie was about to respond, but Melanie didn't give him the chance. "Look, if you're saying that because we went on a date some time ago, please don't worry. I'm not upset or anything. Honestly, I just want you both to be happy. That's all."

"It's not like that, Melanie," Freddie mumbled, trying to come up with a believable excuse, but his mind went blank. Feeling cornered, he looked away. "We're not dating. End of story. There's nothing more to explain."

Melanie didn't say anything at first. She tilted her head slightly, studying him like he was an open book she could easily read. Then she leaned a little closer, reducing the space between them and setting off all kinds of red alarms in Freddie's brain.

"So, you're not dating, but you like her, don't you?"

Freddie knew the easiest thing to do would be to deny everything, keep enjoying his ice cream—which was already starting to melt—and act like this conversation had never happened. He could laugh it off, claim their deal to go to the dance together was purely out of convenience, and even insist he wasn't into tough girls like Sam. But just imagining himself lying so blatantly made his chest tighten uncomfortably. So, he simply nodded, silently agreeing with her.

At his silent confirmation, Melanie squealed in excitement so loudly that several customers turned to look at them. She quickly apologized to them before turning her full attention back to him.

"I knew it!" Melanie whispered, barely containing her excitement. "So, spill—when did you start liking her? The last time we talked, you were horrified at the idea of going on a date with her. Oh! But you did mention you two kissed once. Did that kiss change the way you feel? Come on, give me the details, future brother-in-law!" She punctuated her words with a series of pats on Freddie's arm, nearly making him drop his ice cream.

"Watch it!" Freddie exclaimed, quickly pulling the cup away to avoid a disaster.

"Oops, sorry," Melanie apologized, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle. "I just can't help it. I've never talked to a brother-in-law before, and it's kinda thrilling!"

"But I'm not your brother-in-law, because Sam and I aren't dating."

"Correction: You're not dating yet. I'm sure you will be soon. It's pretty obvious that she likes you too."

"I'm not sure. She'd rather eat glass than go out with me, and… You really think so?" He asked, curious about how obvious Sam's feelings were to others.

"Yup. Or at least, she seems to tolerate you a lot more now. I've watched iCarly, and normally she's all over you with those sharp jokes and snarky comments. But today? I haven't heard a single negative word about you. Not to mention, she's going to the dance with you. Sam would never go with someone she doesn't like, unless they're her last option, or she lost a bet."

"Maybe it's 'cause I bribed her with bacon to…"

"And when I came back with the clothes, I saw you two joking and laughing together. It's pretty obvious she enjoys being around you," Melanie said, brushing off his excuses. "So I think you've got a chance with her. You should use the dance as a chance to make a move and…"

"Thanks, but for now, I'd prefer to keep things as they are," Freddie stated, thinking about his secret relationship with Sam. "I mean, sure, I want her to be my girlfriend eventually, but I don't want to rush things with her."

"I see," she replied, also thoughtful. "Plus, you two will probably need some time to adjust to the pressure from other people."

Freddie looked at her confused. He didn't understand what she meant. Melanie saw the doubtful expression on his face and decided to explain further.

"You two are on iCarly, a popular show. Somehow, your audience is going to react when they find out about your relationship, especially since you two 'hated' each other at first," she said, making air quotes with her fingers. "So, you'll probably hear comments about your relationship, both good and bad. But as long as you two keep loving each other and stay strong, everything will be fine."

"Yeah, you're right," Freddie murmured, reflecting on her words. He'd never stopped to consider how people who watched the show might react. Could that be another reason Sam had insisted on keeping their relationship a secret? Maybe he should ask her later. "Thanks for telling me. I'll keep it in mind... if she ever decides to accept me, of course," he added, trying to sound casual.

"She will. Trust me," Melanie proclaimed confidently. She pulled a straw out of her bag and stuck it into her melting ice cream, sipping it like a milkshake.

Freddie blinked, puzzled. "You carry straws in your bag?"

"Yes, don't you?" Melanie replied, completely naturally, as if it were the most logical thing in the world, before continuing to enjoy her improvised drink.

Freddie watched her for a few seconds, a small smile appearing on his face, before refocusing on his ice cream. Perhaps Melanie and Sam weren't so different after all.

---

It had barely been five minutes when Sam returned.

"You won't believe what just happened!"

She didn't even greet them; she just sat down next to them and began telling them in great detail how a couple in one of the stores had had an epic argument with shouting, accusations, and even chairs involved.

Freddie was trying to keep up—he really did—but he couldn't fully concentrate. Every time his eyes met Sam's for more than a few seconds, he felt like Melanie was watching him with amusement. Once, when Freddie spoke to Sam, he made the fatal mistake of glancing at Melanie. Why was that a mistake? Because in that instant, she noticed, and with a mischievous smile, raised her eyebrows up and down suggestively. Sam didn't notice a thing, but that didn't make Freddie's nerves ease up one bit. So, he decided to keep quiet and focus solely on the color patterns of the table instead.

However, the distraction didn't last long. His mind kept circling back to the same question: should he tell Sam that Melanie knew something? Did it even matter? After all, in... what? A week? Two? Freddie couldn't remember. He had lost track of how much time was left. The point is that soon their relationship would be public if everything went well. Thinking about Melanie only knowing part of the story didn't seem so bad. But, on the other hand... What if Sam got mad for not telling her sooner?

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even realize Sam had stopped talking.

"Hey, nerd, what's up with you?"

"Nothing," he answered automatically, shaking his head. He didn't want to keep talking and make things worse than he already had. "Keep talking."

Sam eyed him suspiciously. But instead of pushing, she continued with her story, with Melanie adding her two cents here and there. As they kept talking, Freddie let out a relieved sigh, but the feeling of unease and tension persisted, preventing him from fully relaxing. The best thing would be to tell Sam what had happened—just not now. Maybe later, through a message.

Yeah, that's what he would do.

---

About twenty minutes ago, Sam had left the ice cream shop with a secret purpose: to find a gift for Freddie.

It wasn't common for her to think of doing something like that, but after so many little things he always did for her, she thought he deserved it. However, she didn't want Freddie to know she was planning something, so she simply announced that she'd be back soon.

She passed through different stores, some familiar, and others new, but none seemed to have what she was looking for or fit within her budget. The money she had set aside was exclusively for the gift, but in the tech stores, everything was absurdly expensive.

Just as she was about to give up when she saw a notions shop. As she looked at the items, an idea came to mind. It was a bit silly and simple, but she thought Freddie would like it because of the intention behind the gift—or however that phrase goes. So she made her purchase and left feeling satisfied.

On her way back, a promotion from a nearby pizzeria caught her attention, and being Sam, she couldn't pass by without at least taking a glance. That's when, at one of the tables, she saw a scene that looked like it came straight out of a telenovela.

A man was kneeling in front of a woman, holding an open ring box in his hands. Sam rolled her eyes. Public marriage proposals were so cliché and predictable, in her opinion. She was sure she'd say yes, and they'd twirl around, receiving applause from the crowd.

Bored, Sam was about to leave when she heard a noise from inside the restaurant. She looked through the glass and saw that the woman was already standing, with her chair fallen behind her; it seemed like she had stood up indignantly. Then, to the surprise of the man, the hopeful onlookers, and Sam, she slapped him, throwing the ring to the floor.

"Did you seriously think this would work after what you did!?" She shouted, pushing the man angrily.

"What's wrong with you, woman? I didn't do anything!" he replied, getting up quickly to dodge another shove.

"You didn't do anything!?" The woman pulled out her phone and started showing him pictures. "So this means 'anything'? You're hugging my best friend 'cause you're cold or what?"

"That doesn't mean anything!" the man insisted. "I was just comforting her because she lost her pet, and I wasn't even hugging her! That picture was taken at a weird angle!"

"Ah, sure, you always have a reasonable-sounding explanation." The woman crossed her arms, fuming. "You never want to take responsibility when it's your fault!"

"My fault? My fault for what? I didn't do anything!" The man began to lose his patience. "Maybe if you weren't so paranoid and trusted me, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Sam stifled a laugh. Freddie and Melanie would have to wait a little longer. This drama was too good to miss.

"Paranoid? For real?" The woman stepped forward, practically jabbing her finger into his chest. "I've seen the way you look at her! Every time we're together, it seems like you'd rather be with her. And now this?!"

"I just told you the truth and proposed! What's wrong with that? Nothing!" he retorted, raising his arms in exasperation. "Meanwhile, you're always looking for excuses to attack me!"

At that moment, a waitress came over, clearly uncomfortable.

"Excuse me, but you can't keep arguing here. Please calm down or you'll have to leave."

"No one tells me what to do!" the woman snapped, now angry at the waitress.

Sam thought this was the perfect moment to enter the restaurant. And she was right, as the situation escalated quickly. Security guards tried to separate the couple, but somehow they both managed to break free. In an unexpected twist, the woman grabbed a chair and raised it like a weapon against the others.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed, using it to keep the guards at bay.

"You're crazy!" said the boyfriend, though he also grabbed another chair to defend himself from the guards.

"You called your girlfriend crazy! That's not love!" shouted one of the customers who had already received his pizza and was enjoying the show.

Sam glanced at the pizza; it had ham and double cheese. Without thinking twice, she walked over and grabbed a slice, taking advantage of the distraction. Still, he noticed.

"If you want, you can have another slice. I was getting full anyway," the stranger said. Sam took a good look at him. He was wearing a uniform and seemed like a guy her age. If he'd been older, she would have declined the offer, but since he was young, she shrugged and sat down, refocusing on the couple.

"It's not my fault you don't trust me!" the boyfriend yelled.

They went on like this for a few minutes, and just when Sam was starting to get bored, something unexpected happened: after an intense discussion, the woman dropped the chair, walked up to him, and with a sudden movement, grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him.

"What…?" Sam muttered, stunned, as she watched how the security, the public, and even herself, were frozen by the scene.

"I hate you so much," she confessed after the kiss, staring at him intensely.

"I hate you too." He smiled before kissing her again.

As if that wasn't enough, some people started clapping as if they were watching a play. Sam stared at them in disbelief.

"Both of you need therapy!" someone from another table shouted. Sam couldn't agree more.

When the chaos finally ended and people started dispersing, something shiny on the floor caught Sam's eye. It was the engagement ring, lying near her feet. The couple noticed it too. He asked her if she wanted it back, but she shook her head.

"I don't want it." She sighed, looking at the man with eyes still filled with emotion. "I don't need a ring to know I hate you with all my heart."

"Aw. That's the least hurtful thing you've said to me in days."

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave, please," another employee spoke, while the fiancé gazed at his girlfriend with affection.

Seizing the opportunity, Sam grabbed the ring with a smile.

"So, no problem if I keep it?"

They both shook their heads.

"Perfect."

Now she'd definitely have enough money to buy ham, bacon, fat cakes... and some gifts to Freddie occasionally. And speaking of Freddie, she hoped they'd never reach the level of craziness this couple had.

Finishing the last slice of pizza, Sam decided it was time to leave. She stood up, but just as she was about to head out, the guy next to her, who had been quiet until then, followed her with a shy smile.

"You're one of those girls from that webshow, right? Sam from iCarly?"

"Yep, that's me," she answered with a hint of indifference.

Now that she looked at him closely, he wasn't bad-looking. He seemed like the calm, studious type—the type Carly liked. But she already had a date, and soon she'd probably have a boyfriend. So she saw no point in talking to him if he wasn't going to ask for her number, thus Carly could meet him.

"Cool. My brother loves your show. Could you give me your autograph for him, please? Or let me take a picture with you?" He asked, smiling kindly.

"No, I don't think so." Sam responded without thinking. She wasn't in the mood for that, didn't have a pen, and didn't have time for autographs. "Bye. And thanks for the free pizza," she added as she made her way to the exit, remembering Carly's advice about being nice to strangers.

Whether the guy replied or not, Sam didn't know. She was already outside the pizzeria, wondering when it would be the right moment to give Freddie his gift.

. . .

Melanie and Freddie looked up when Sam entered the ice cream shop.

"You won't believe what just happened!" Sam exclaimed, skipping the greetings.

With excitement, Sam started recounting every detail of the fight she had witnessed—from the dramatic slap to the absurd chair battle. Melanie, fascinated, couldn't hold back her laughs at some parts, clearly entertained, while Freddie remained quiet, occasionally making a comment but otherwise staring off into space.

At first, Sam thought maybe he was just tired or didn't care about stuff like that. But when he stayed quiet for too long, she started getting worried.

"Hey, nerd, what's up with you?"

"Nothing," Freddie quickly answered, shaking his head. "Keep talking."

Even though he said that, something about his attitude didn't seem right. Sam considered asking him again, but with Melanie there, she decided to let it slide. A bit more time passed, and Freddie was still acting off, which started bugging Sam. Tired, she turned to Melanie.

"Where's my ice cream?" she asked, changing the topic.

Melanie explained that it had melted, but Sam could get whatever she wanted, handing her some cash. Sam came back shortly after with a huge bowl of ice cream. That finally caught Freddie's attention. He looked up at her, surprised.

"You really going to eat all that?"

"No, I'm gonna throw it. Of course, I'm eating it."

"That's insane. That's too much, even for you."

"And? Not your problem to solve, Fredward Benson."

"I am aware of that, Samantha Puckett. I just wanted to give my opinion. It's up to you if you take it personally," he debated, turning his gaze away again.

Sam didn't like that because it felt like Freddie was shutting down again way too soon. So, she did the first thing that came to get his attention: she took one of the spoons, scooped up some vanilla ice cream, and smeared it on his face. First, she got his left cheek, then used her hand to catch the drips and spread them on his other cheek and a little on his nose.

"This is how much I care about your opinion."

Sam knew that was super cliché, but it was the first and only thing she could come up with to justify her action when Melanie stared at her, clearly confused.

However, when Freddie frowned, Sam immediately regretted it, feeling nervous about how he'd react. Why was she always so impulsive? They were supposed to resolve their problems by talking now! But nope, there she was, ruining everything like always. He was probably really mad now, and they'd have another argument...

Or so she thought.

The argument never started because, unexpectedly, Freddie's frown relaxed, and a smile curled his lips. A smile that didn't last long, though, as it soon morphed into a soft, amused laugh.

Sam blinked, surprised.

He was actually laughing. He wasn't mad at all.

But why?

"What's so funny?" Sam questioned, bringing another spoonful of ice cream to her mouth. Freddie just laughed harder as the ice cream kept dripping down his face. "Don't tell me you've lost it now."

"Maybe," Freddie whispered, wiping some ice cream off his face with his hand… only to smear it on her cheek and nose. "Now we're even."

"Oh, no..." Melanie grumbled from her spot at the table, cautiously getting up.

Smart move, sis. Sam thought as she wiped the ice cream off her face with a finger. She licked it, savoring the vanilla, while keeping her gaze fixed on Freddie, her expression clearly saying she wasn't going to let him get away with it so easily.

"I thought you knew me by now, but just in case you forgot…" Sam grabbed Freddie by the collar of his shirt. Even though her wrist, the one she had twisted the other day, hurt a bit, she ignored the discomfort. "Mama doesn't play to get even."

She pulled him so close, their noses almost touched. This time, there wasn't a hint of fear in Freddie's expression. If anything, he looked excited—and, honestly, far too kissable for his own good. Still, Sam decided to hold back and save that desire for another time.

"Mama plays to win," she declared, releasing him abruptly. She took a step back, had another spoon of her ice cream, and without warning, threw more at Freddie, starting a Cold War between the two.

In a matter of seconds, the ice cream shop turned into a chaotic battlefield. Sam and Freddie hurled ice cream at each other without holding back, and soon, a group of younger customers, recognizing two people from iCarly, eagerly joined the fight. One particularly enthusiastic fan even climbed onto a table, shouting "Seddie!" before being promptly knocked off by someone else. Of course, the "Seddie" in question didn't notice or hear any of this, too focused on competing with each other.

---

Melanie watched the whole thing with amusement. At some point, she pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures for the memory, thinking how cute it'd be to show them to her future nieces and nephews if Sam and Freddie ever formalized their relationship.

Unfortunately, other customers started imitating her, taking photos and recording videos for reasons very different from Melanie's.

---

As expected, the three of them were kicked out and banned from the place. Luckily, Melanie managed to convince the staff not to call the cops, but they did warn them never to return. To which Sam really humbly replied that she'd had better ice cream than the stuff they served in that dump. Freddie and Melanie had to intervene quickly to prevent Sam from getting into a confrontation with an employee who had wanted to pick a fight with her over her "humble opinion."

When all the drama was over, Freddie and Sam headed to the bathroom to clean up a bit. Even though they couldn't do much about their clothes, at least they managed to get the ice cream off their faces.

They chatted for a while, until it was time to say goodbye to Freddie. Sam didn't think she would miss giving him a kiss on the cheek or a hug when saying goodbye, but she had to settle for a colder farewell since Melanie was present.

As for the gift, Sam considered giving it to him the next day, right before the dance, but quickly dismissed the idea. It seemed better to save it for another occasion. She even thought about exchanging the ring for cash and buying Freddie something less silly, though she wasn't entirely convinced.

Well, that would be a decision for future Sam to make.

---

When they finally got home, the first thing Sam did was drop her bags on the dining table and collapse onto the couch. She knew she should take a shower and change, but she was too exhausted after all the walking.

Melanie entered behind her, eyeing the mess she had left.

"You shouldn't leave your things lying around like that. They could get ruined."

"Uh-huh," Sam mumbled, not even bothering to open her eyes.

"You also shouldn't flop on the couch in dirty clothes."

"And you're not my mother to tell me what to do, but here we are."

Melanie sighed and walked over to the table, carefully picking up the bags with care.

"I'll take them to my room so nothing gets dirty."

"Do whatever you want. I don't care."

Sam yawned and made herself comfortable on the couch to take a nap.

"Fine," Melanie replied, not before throwing a glance at her. "Remember to text Freddie and let him know you made it home okay."

"Why should I bother?"

"Because now that he's your boyfriend, he'll be more worried about you. He's probably wondering if you got home safe," Melanie explained before heading to her room.

Melanie's comment lingered in Sam's mind. Maybe she was right; she should text Freddie. After all, their goodbye had been different today, and he'd seemed kinda distant at the ice cream shop. Sam reached into her pocket for her phone, but suddenly something made her stop dead in her tracks.

Did Melanie just refer to Freddie as her boyfriend? How did she know they were together?

Without thinking twice, Sam jumped up and quickly went to her sister's room. She slammed the door open with such force that it hit the wall, echoing through the house. Yet Melanie didn't even flinch; she just kept organizing her closet with the same calmness as always.

"Hey, you!" Sam shouted from the doorway, annoyed.

"I have a name, you know?" Melanie replied without looking at her, clearing space in her closet. "Or you could call me Lannie, like when we were kids."

"That doesn't matter right now!" Sam growled, frustrated. "How did you find out that Freddie is my boyfriend? Who told you that?"

Melanie turned around, looking at Sam with a triumphant smile.

"Well, you did, just now," she answered, placing her hands on her hips.

Sam stood speechless for a moment, staring incredulously at her sister, before pointing at herself.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You see, the truth is that... it wasn't purely by chance that we met in the store. Well, not entirely. "

"You were following us?"

"No. I saw you two earlier, when you were on your date, eating sandwiches. I didn't go near you because I knew it would bother you, so I went somewhere else. Then I remembered the sales at a store I like, and that's where I saw you again. This time, I decided to approach, pretending I was looking at some shoes on sale."

Melanie paused, waiting for Sam to say something. When she didn't get a response, she continued her explanation.

"At first, I doubted you two were a couple, because I didn't see you acting like one in the store. But when you tried to be alone, I started to suspect. So, when you weren't at the ice cream shop, I took the opportunity to ask Freddie. He denied you two were a couple, but it was very obvious he was lying. I thought maybe he didn't want me to know because of our 'date,' but he told me it wasn't because of that."

As she spoke, Melanie paced back and forth in the room, as if reliving the moment.

"In the end, he admitted he likes you. We also talked about whether you liked him. He played dumb, like he didn't know, but I still told him that it's pretty obvious you like him too. I mean, if you didn't, you would've twisted his arm the moment he grabbed your hand or something. Plus, you said very few hurtful things to him when you usually love teasing him. Not to mention how determined you were to show him how amazing you looked in that dress. It's clear you like him a lot, sis."

Melanie smiled tenderly, and Sam tensed, feeling her face flush with embarrassment.

"Get to the point."

"With that information, and considering that you two were trying not to act too romantic in front of me, the store employee, or anyone else, I figured you had a secret relationship. Or am I wrong?"

Sam fell silent, not knowing what to say. She could deny it and tell Melanie she was being paranoid, but she knew her sister was clever enough not to fall for a simple lie. And in the end, what would be the point of lying? The truth was right there, in front of both of them. Lying would just be a waste of time.

"You know, you're annoying and way too nosy," Sam criticized, feeling defeated and strangely drained for some reason. "But, just this once, you're totally right."

Melanie couldn't contain her excitement. She clapped her hands and jumped with joy.

"I knew it!" she yelled, grabbing Sam's hands with enthusiasm. "Tell me, how did you two get together? I thought you were frenemies. You know, those friends who fight all the time but would give their lives for each other. I know something must've happened for things to change between you two, so please tell me. I'm so curious."

Sam, horrified, immediately pulled her hands away. Her eyes widened, as if Melanie had just proposed something utterly outrageous.

"What? No way! It's bad enough you found out I have a boyfriend. I'm not having a girl talk with you to spill my feelings. Gross."

"Right. That's what your boyfriend is for, isn't he?"

"One more word, and I'll silence you with a pillow." Sam raised her index finger as a warning, challenging her sister.

"Sam got a boyfriend! And she loves him! And his name is Freddie!" Melanie shouted, not stopping. Sam, irritated, grabbed a pillow and tried to hit her with it.

Melanie dodged the blow and ran out of the room, with Sam hot on her heels. They chased each other around the house until Melanie, exhausted, admitted defeat.

"You win! I won't say anything else."

"Good. But I warn you, if you bring this up again, I'll make sure you don't leave your room for a week."

"Alright, but I swear, someday I'll hear all about your 'enemies to lovers' story... whether you like it or not. "

"Do whatever you want, but just leave me alone."

"Okay." Melanie got up from the floor, fixing her clothes. "Hey, I was thinking of ordering something for dinner. Is there anything you want in particular?"

"Just don't order anything dietetic," Sam replied, letting herself fall on the couch, feeling the tension start to fade away.

Melanie nodded and walked away, leaving Sam in peace. Sam took out her phone and settled back on the couch, ready to rest. It was then that she saw the messages from Freddie. He had said the same thing Melanie had told her earlier. Sam replied briefly, sending several messages, until she felt someone approaching.

It was Melanie trying to spy on her. Sam gave her a deadly look, but, being the weird sister she was, Melanie just laughed and went back to her room. Now alone, Sam went back to checking her messages. She really couldn't understand how they could look so alike physically when they were so different on the inside.

---

When Freddie got home, the first thing he did was send a message to Sam telling her about what happened at the ice cream shop with Melanie. Then, Freddie carefully inspected the bags he had brought, considering where he could hide them. His closet was an option, but he didn't trust that his mom wouldn't check it. Besides, he had to wash the clothes before wearing them, but he feared that if his mom found him washing them, she would decide to do a deep cleaning and possibly make "adjustments," which was the last thing he wanted.

Freddie reviewed his options. He could temporarily hide them in a drawer and then prepare them later, or he could take them to Shay's apartment, specifically Spencer's room.

He didn't think about it too much and grabbed his stuff, heading over there. Freddie entered without knocking, as usual, and found Spencer on the couch, maneuvering a long cane with a mechanical hand on the tip. Spencer was trying to reach a glass on the kitchen table.

"Hey, Alfredo," Spencer greeted casually, focused on his task.

Freddie opened his mouth to ask about it but decided to focus on what was important.

"Can I use your washer, dryer, iron, and, by the way, your closet for two days?"

Spencer smiled, using his makeshift cane to grab the juice glass.

"Sure, at this point, our house is your house."

"Thanks. I'll be right back."

"Wait! Don't you want to hear how my invention works?" Spencer asked. Freddie was about to decline, but he kept talking. "It's my latest creation: the 'Extending Arm.' Perfect for reaching things without leaving the couch. I'm testing its precision right now."

"It sounds useful, though it seems a bit dangerous."

"Nah! Once you get the hang of it, it's really helpful."

At that moment, he took a sip of juice, only to spit it back into the glass.

"A piece fell inside," he complained, looking at the device.

Freddie grimaced.

"Too bad. I hope you can fix it."

With that, he headed to Spencer's room to prepare his stuff.

. . .

Once he finished, Freddie returned home. His mom greeted him with her usual avalanche of questions: where he had been, what he had done that day, and if he had followed his hygiene checklist. He responded with the usual before heading to his room.

While checking his phone, he noticed that Sam had already replied.

Sam: I know. Melanie told me the same.

Sam: She also knows about us.

Sam: It turns out she saw us on the sandwich date. Also in the store, and assumed we were a couple for reasons I'm too lazy to detail.

Sam: So when she said that, she was probably testing you to see if you were a good boyfriend or something.

Sam: Let me ask her.

A minute later, another message popped up.

Sam: She told me she only pretended to believe you because it was funny seeing you confused and cornered.

Sam: She also says you're terrible at lying.

Sam: The only two things we agree on HAHAHA.

Freddie let out a dry "ha, ha" aloud, with no trace of humor. He couldn't believe Melanie had tricked him like that.

Freddie: Ha, ha, ha, so hilarious (note the sarcasm).

Freddie: So, it doesn't bother you that she knows about us?

Freddie: Did you tell her about the contract?

Sam replied quickly.

Sam: It bothers me a bit because it wasn't part of the plan, but if she already found out, there's not much we can do.

Sam: Nah, I won't tell her about the plan. She knows we're dating secretly; that's enough. I'll tell her Carly doesn't know, so she doesn't accidentally blurt something out.

Freddie was about to type something when, accidentally, he pressed the call button. Sam answered almost immediately.

"I pressed the call button by mistake, sorry," Freddie apologized.

"No problem," Sam replied, with a strange sound coming from the phone.

"Are you eating?"

"Yeah. Pizza," she clarified, swallowing before continuing. "So, you don't want to tell me anything else?"

"No, not really, but I think I don't want to hang up anymore."

"Oh, you wanna keep talking? Fine."

"Thanks."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"I don't know."

Lie. He did know. He was thanking her for letting him hear her voice for a little while longer, but that was a thought he preferred to keep to himself for now.

"So, you thank me but don't even know why, but you also laugh by yourself when someone throws ice cream at you."

Freddie laughed at the memory. In the ice cream shop, he found it really funny that Sam had done that because it had been the exact situation he imagined when Melanie said she was his sister-in-law. That was definitely a sign that he really knew Sam well.

"And now you're laughing by yourself again," Sam continued, amused. "You're weird, Benson. You know that?""

"Yeah. My girlfriend always reminds me of that, but between us, I don't think she fits within the standards of what's considered normal either."

"Obviously. To be your girlfriend, she must be crazy."

"Yeah, I guess we're both insane."

Suddenly, a female voice called for Sam.

"Agh. My mom just got here."

"It's okay. We can talk later."

"Nah, she's probably gonna be super happy talking to her favorite daughter right now."

"Don't say that. I'm sure she loves you both equally."

"I doubt it, but thanks."

"Thanks for what?" Freddie asked, smiling as he heard a faint squeak through the phone. Sam must have been lying on her bed now.

"I don't know, for the thought, the support…"

"That's a weird answer, you know?"

"And you're a copycat."

"Nope. I said the answer was weird, not that you're weird," Freddie argued, getting up from his chair to sit on his bed as well. "So technically, it's not the same."

"Touché."

There was a brief pause, but it didn't bother Freddie. He knew the conversation was simple, even a little silly, but he still couldn't help feeling happy talking to her on the phone. Hearing her so close... it felt like she was right there with him.

He thought about saying something silly and ending the call, but just then he heard, "Still alive, Freddison?"

"Yeah."

"By any chance, are you keeping track of the days for making 'us' public and all that?"

"Uh, I think so?" Freddie tried to recall. "At first, I was marking the days off on a calendar, but after a week and a half, I stopped. But I think we only have about a week and a few days left, maybe less."

"I see..."

"Why do you ask? Are you nervous?"

Then there was silence, and Freddie remembered his conversation with Melanie and the doubts he had about Sam. He waited patiently for her to say something, but when all he heard was silence, he started to worry.

"Sam?"

"No, I... well, yes, but just a little. It's no big deal."

"Sam..."

"Seriously. It's nothing."

"If you say so," Freddie sighed. He didn't like it when Sam shut herself off like that. "I'm not nervous or anything, but while talking with Melanie at the ice cream shop, a question came to mind. I'd thought about how Carly might react, but I hadn't really considered what the people who watch the show will say."

"Are you worried the audience might drop?"

"I hadn't considered that, but now that you mention it, it could be a possibility. But that wasn't what I meant. I meant that they'll have opinions about us too, and..."

"Just say it, Freddie."

"Is that why you wanted to keep things between us a secret?" Freddie asked. "You said you wanted what happens between us to stay just between us, without anyone meddling. Are you nervous about what people might think of our relationship?"

"Something like that," Sam admitted after a pause. "I mean, think about it. Since we met, we've always said we 'hate' each other, and now it turns out we're together. It's weird, don't you think?" Freddie didn't really see it that way, but he kept quiet so she could finish expressing herself. "I didn't want to hear people calling us an odd pair while I was trying to figure out how I feel about you. It would've been really annoying."

Freddie nodded, feeling like he understood her better now. Although they'd talked about something similar when they made the contract, it felt clearer to him now.

"Makes sense."

"And you?"

"Me what?"

"Did you only start thinking about this because of what Melanie said, or was it already on your mind?"

"Because of Melanie. As I said, I was only wondering about Carly's reaction, since she's our closest friend. But I think what really matters is that as long as we're good and happy, other people's opinions shouldn't affect us," he said, recalling Melanie's words. After a moment of thought, he added, "You... you don't regret this, do you?"

"Of course not. I like being with you, dummy," Sam replied, slightly offended. Freddie smiled.

"I know. But I like it when you admit it out loud."

"Keep it up, and I'll hang up."

"Okay, I admit that was out of line. I'll tone it down."

"You'd better."

"Though what I said before is true. We shouldn't worry so much about what other people think."

"I know, Freddie. You don't have to keep repeating it," she complained.

She didn't say anything else, but Freddie couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"So, there's nothing else bothering you?"

"No."

"Sam."

"What?"

"There's something else bothering you, right? Tell me."

"It's kind of dumb."

"Good thing you're talking to the King of Dummies right now. The perfect person to listen to you."

"Idiot." She didn't laugh, but Freddie was sure he'd at least made her smile a little. "It's just... I feel like Carly is going to be really mad at us."

"Do you think she'll disapprove of our relationship?"

"What? No. She's a cinnamon roll; she'll accept us for sure. What worries me is that she'll get mad 'cause we lied to her face, not just once, but several times."

"Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh,'" Sam mocked. "She's really understanding, but also sensitive when it comes to trust. So, I'm afraid that if she finds out we've been dating practically behind her back, she…"

"May think we don't trust her," Freddie finished, "or that we were somehow making fun of her with the lies about my 'mystery girl' or the guy you made up."

"Exactly."

Freddie leaned back against the headboard of his bed, thinking for a moment.

"If you're up for it, we could drop her a few hints in the meantime. Like, I could tell her I like you and you're my mysterious girl. That way, she'll have an idea of us, and when the time's up, we tell her everything."

"Not a bad plan, but we'd still be lying to her," Sam sighed. "Maybe we should've made an exception for her from the start."

"Maybe," he repeated.

They both fell into an uncomfortable silence until Freddie spoke again.

"You know, I think, aside from that detail, it wasn't so bad keeping this a secret."

"Why?"

"Because with just us knowing, we didn't have any outside opinions affecting us," he said thoughtfully. "We also learned how to handle arguments. I mean, we still have disagreements, and we'll keep having them, but at least we know how to resolve them without killing each other in the process."

"Also, how to spend time together without clashing so much," Sam added.

"That too."

At that moment, a noise came from the other side of the phone.

"Sam!" called a voice Freddie immediately recognized as Melanie's. "Mom says she's going to eat the pizza you saved for tomorrow!"

"I can't believe it. You can't let your guard down for a second in this house," Sam grumbled to herself, but Freddie heard it clearly. "Hold her off until I get there!"

"I'll try, but hurry up!"

"Is it always like this at your house?" Freddie asked, smiling in amusement.

"No, sometimes it's worse."

Sam sighed, and a creaking sound on the other side of the phone indicated she was getting out of bed.

"Well, Pretty Baby, we'll have to finish this conversation later. Mama gotta go claim what's hers."

"Go ahead. I'll text you later to sort out the details, like where we're meeting and all that."

"An hour sounds good?"

"Yep. Say hi to Melanie for me."

"If I don't forget, sure."

"Bye, Sammy. Try to save Melanie some pizza."

"Yeah, not happening." And with that, Sam hung up the call.

Freddie stayed silent for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling of his room. On one hand, he was glad he'd cleared up those doubts with Sam. Lack of communication could cause misunderstandings, and he didn't want that between them. He just hoped Carly would be understanding when they told her the truth. After all, she was both of their best friend, and it wouldn't sit well with her if their friendship fractured because of his relationship with Sam—or more accurately, because of the lies.

On the other hand, he couldn't help but find it amusing to hear Sam interact with her family. Her relatives were definitely a bit peculiar, including Melanie, who, although being less "dangerous" than Sam and her mom, still stood out with her cleverness and cheerful personality.

Suddenly, his mom opened the door without knocking.

"Dinner's ready, Fredward."

Freddie considered reminding her to knock before entering but decided to let it go. He told her he'd wash his hands first, and that's what he did. He was washing them when he saw his mom in the mirror, looking at him with a focused expression. If it had been anyone else, he might have been startled, but he was used to it by now. He assumed she was just checking if he was "doing it right," so he kept going as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

When he finished and dried his hands, he noted that she was still there, but now she looked a little down. That look worried him.

"Is something wrong?"

"You're not singing the song."

"The song? What are you... Oh, come on, Mom. I've told you a thousand times, I'm too old for that!"

She started to argue back, and in seconds, they were once again in another never-ending argument.

On second thought, Freddie realized he had no right to think Sam's family was strange when his own wasn't exactly normal.

---

[ - End of the chapter -]

---

Hey there! It's been a while since I've been here, hasn't it? Sorry for keeping you waiting so long, but I've been swamped with university and work. On top of that, my laptop keyboard broke in November, so I had to write using my phone and my mom's laptop whenever she wasn't using it. But good news—I finally got my laptop repaired, and I've already written half of the next chapter! In fact, this chapter and the next were originally one, but I realized it was getting way too long, so I decided to split it. I won't promise it'll be out super soon, but I'll do my best to make the wait as short as possible.

I have to admit, writing this chapter was a lot of fun, though a bit tricky, because I'm a perfectionist and don't like leaving things halfway done. Add to that the fact that I have to translate it into English, and sometimes I'll see something in English and end up changing the Spanish text as well. So yeah, this took me a few weeks, but I'm really happy with the final result. I hope you like it too!

What I enjoyed writing the most (as usual) were Sam and Freddie's interactions. They're slowly opening up to each other, maybe even more than they expected. Because, as you can see, Sam and Freddie aren't doing the best job at keeping their secret. What do you think might happen based on what you've read so far?

Oh, and by the way! Did you expect Melanie to show up? She's the special character I mentioned last chapter.

I definitely did! I've had this chapter's draft ready since May, if I remember correctly, and I was so excited to include her. Not only that, but I just hope I wrote her character well. I admit I might've made her a bit more cheerful than expected, but I thought it would be fun to contrast her personality with Sam's.

As for the dance, don't worry: the next chapter will cover how the event unfolds, what Sam and Freddie wear, and other details. I'd like to read your guesses about the color they've chosen.

On another note, I noticed no one guessed the anime character I referenced at the end of the last chapter. It was Ryoga from Ranma ! I don't know why I added him, but it felt fun to throw in a little cameo.

I also want to thank everyone who's left comments on this story. You have no idea how surprised (and happy) I was when I'd be studying or working and a notification popped up in my email. If you're interested, I could recommend some Seddie fanfics I've really enjoyed.

Fun fact: The chapter was originally going to be titled iGo Shopping, but I changed it to iThink She Knows because I thought it was more fitting.

Fun fact #2: Although I have a specific plot in mind to wrap up this fanfic, I'm planning to write extra chapters based on episodes from the show. I think it'd be sweet to explore how Sam and Freddie's relationship progresses over time. I'm not making any promises about season six, though—honestly, I haven't been able to bring myself to watch more episodes after iLove You. I feel like there was so much potential they wasted by not continuing to develop Sam and Freddie's relationship, opting instead for the easy way out.

In fact, if you read between the lines, you might notice I've been gradually addressing the issues and differences that supposedly made them "too different" to stay together. I mean, if they broke up because of constant arguments, that would make sense. But I think their differences are what make Seddie so charming in the first place.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough with this note, haven't I? Let's get back to those extra chapters! Tell me, which episodes do you think I'll adapt? Here's a hint: check the list on Wikipedia after iWas a Pageant Girl. I'd love to read your guesses about which episodes I'll choose and what might happen in them!

Note: I love how Sam hopes that she and Freddie never reach that couple's level of craziness, only to end up starting an ice cream war right after. AHHAHAHHAH

I don't know about you, but since this is iCarly, I feel like something like that could totally happen.

That's all for now. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you an even better New Year! Blessings, and I hope you've had a great holiday season. Read you soon!

(づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ