It had been just the quickest of kisses. A peck. Nothing more. Well, a peck four or five times, but nothing more. And yet, she was still reeling. She could still feel her soft lips. She could still taste the molten tip of her tongue. She was drowning in the sensation. Fireworks went off behind her eyes. What was the big deal? It was just a simple kiss: god knew how much further she'd gone than that. But there was something special about this girl. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Or maybe it was something she could pinpoint. This girl of girls had only been her best friend for how many years? Helped her create the most popular variety show on the web. Been there for her when no one else was, even Spencer. This amazing girl that had only kissed her for some guy.

They had been through a lot together over the years. From the web show, to new friends, to new boyfriends, to new classes, to high school, through thick and thin. Ideas, classes, exams, lockers, styles, and food. One thing had always remained constant: their relationship.

But tenth grade was turning into a major changing point. A scary changing point. After spending the summer with her grandfather, she hadn't recognized Sam when she had returned to school in the fall. The Sam she'd left had been short and skinny with her long, curly blonde hair and skater style. The Sam she had returned to looked less middle school and more adult. Quiet and reserved, yet still opinionated and obnoxious. Thoughtful and wise, but immature and outspoken. She was still Sam, just older and… something else. Something she couldn't describe that gave her a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.

It was that night she recognized the feeling as attraction.

Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who had noticed. Sam had blossomed into a beauty and everyone knew it. That was how she had merited an invitation to this party. That was why she had been selected to hang out with the cooler kids in the downstairs finished basement. That was why Sam had kissed her when her current crush had dared her to.

Sam had sat back down, laughing along with the others and enjoying the attention "Tyler" was giving her. Carly, on the hand, couldn't seem to slow her heart back down. It felt like it would pound right on out of her chest.

Carly jumped to her feet and stammered out, "Bathroom?" before racing in the direction of the pointing finger. Back upstairs, down the hall, three doors and then silence. The music was so loud she couldn't even hear it anymore. The vibrations wretched through her bones and didn't help her condition. Her face was bright red and she was beginning to sweat.

What was she thinking? This was Sam. Her best friend. Her co-star. Her companion. NOT her love interest. Not her crush. Not someone she wanted to kiss again. But she did. She wanted it. Badly.

She splashed cold water on her face over and over. She couldn't stay. She could feel it. If she went back downstairs Sam would probably be hanging all over Tyler. She couldn't witness that. It would be too painful. Especially now.

Carly grabbed her jacket and sprinted out of the house into the cold October air. The Seattle streets were bustling despite the late hour and she felt very out of place in her own city. She fast-walked past several groups of people talking in hushed voices and one woman who was laughing hysterically. Most people only saw the beautiful sights of Seattle and skipped over the real city. Missed all of the problems that floated just above the surface and really made Seattle one of a kind. Down six blocks, over five and she was back at her apartment building.

The lights were off when she unlocked the front door. Spencer was already in bed, dreaming up his next sculpture. With a sigh, Carly dropped her keys on the table and slipped her jacket off. Up the stairs, stripping off more articles of clothing as she went, and into her bedroom. She was cold, naked, and heartbroken. How could Sam think her kiss would have no effect on her? It didn't matter.

But it did. Tears welled up behind her eyes, coming forward to slide down her cheeks. So this was what being a teenager was about. Crying your eyes out. She smiled at her own petty sarcasm and pulled on a long-sleeve shirt and sweatpants before falling into bed.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

She was not alone in her room.

The sky outside was dark grey and angrily dumping raining over Seattle. Her alarm clock blared 3:48 in highlighter green. A gentle ticking sound whispered from the clock downstairs.

And she was not alone in her room.

Gasping breaths drifted through the silence as someone struggled out of wet clothing and rummaged through her drawers for something warm. The panting continued followed by wet slaps on the floor and tiptoes. And then she wasn't alone in her bed.

"Carly," Hushed, breathy whisper. "Carly." A little louder with a shove at her shoulder.

The shove, despite lacking affection, sent shivers through her body. Shivers only Sam's touch seemed to evoke. She snuggled further into her covers and moaned a little. Sam wasn't here to touch her. So she would rather sleep. Maybe.

"What?" Mumbled through sheets and comforter. Mumbled as if half asleep when she was fully awake.

"You left without me." Sam hissed at her. "Danny said you ran out around one. What happened?"

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Sit up a little to meet Sam's azure eyes. They were dilated in the lack of light and lack of sleep. Her hair was pulled back from her face and dripping. She looked beautiful.

"Sam… what are you doing here? It's almost four in the morning." Carly responded, dropping back onto her pillow.

Sam stayed sitting up, but shoved her cold feet under the blankets. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted to go."

"I did." Carly sighed. "It was staying that was the problem. Can I go back to sleep now?"

"No." Sam snuggled down into her, pulling the blankets tight around them. Her hand slipped easily onto Carly's stomach, rolling her a little to face her. "Talk to me. What's up?"

Her brain was clouding. Sam wanted to have a conversation for once, but that hand, cold as it was, sent heat coursing through her veins. Down her spine. Down there. She covered Sam's hand with her own and felt her pulse in her skin.

She pulled Sam to her in what might have seemed like a friendly hug. She wrapped her arms around Sam's waist, resting her hands on her lower back. Sam seemed surprised at first but returned her hug. But then her lips were against her ear in a light kiss and she was whispering something. Carly couldn't focus on her words though. Her head spun, somersaulted. Learned acrobatics without her permission. Sam was so warm and soft and she smelled like rain and… It didn't mean anything to Sam.

With that sudden realization, Carly let go. Rolling away a little and trying to focus on the words coming out of her best friend's mouth.

"Carly?"

"What?"

"Did you miss me while you were at your grandpa's house?" Sam didn't smile or smirk. She didn't shift or jab. She stared straight at her, serious in a way Sam could never be.

"Of course." She replied, just as serious. And she meant it.

"I guess we haven't really hung out just you and me since you got back." Sam whispered, moving closer to take Carly's body heat in an attempt to warm up.

"Sure we have." Carly soothed, feeling an immediate jump in her pulse. "You're freezing!"

Sam chuckled. "I know. That's why you need to stop pulling away." And she pressed herself more firmly against Carly. "Despite being fun, iCarly does not count as hang out time."

"Well, you've been busy and I've been busy." She was heading back to fuzzy. The lean line of Sam was so close, so in reach it scared her. What would Sam do if she traced the feminine curve from her ribs to her hipbone? Would she freak out? Would she just wonder why? What about a kiss? Maybe not to her mouth. Her throat? Would she get mad? Would she leave? Or maybe one of those sexy guttural moans. Ones she only gave for Tyler.

"But you're my best friend. So no excuses work. Its settled then. You and I will spend tomorrow together." She could feel Sam's smile through the dark. "Why is your heart beating so fast? I thought I woke you up."

Her breath caught in her throat. "You, you did. Its nothing."

Sam giggled in her ear. "Why Carly Shay, am I turning you on?"

Carly could feel a blush working its way into her cheeks. "No… shut up."

Another laugh and then she was lost again. Sam pressed her mouth to Carly's. Only lightly, nothing that was going to go very far. But a kiss, a solid kiss. And then her lips were gone. "Don't worry, I'll find you a man. Tyler's friends are hot."

A crack began to form in her heart.