A/N:
It's been 2.5 years since I started this story (Nov. 2009). I don't like the way I wrote these early chapters, so I'm going to re-write them, change a few details, maybe even add a new chapter here and there if needed. I'll still be writing the new chapters, but this'll be a second little project.
Hope you enjoy the ride as much as I have writing it,
Darth Zexar.
Aaron Renelle was no stranger to moving town within his home country, but moving to America was totally new to him. The only consolation was that Seattle was to be his new home; hopefully for more than a few months. Part of the glamor of Seattle was that his favorite internet celebrities lived there: Sam Puckett, Carly Shay, and Freddie Benson. Pushing the front doors of 'Ridgeway High' open he stepped in to the school the trio attended, and felt a wave of new-beginnings flush through him. He was wearing a pair of skin-tight black jeans with a placid V-neck shirt, over-the-ankle purple 'Converse' and a studded belt through only one ring of his jeans. He'd spent too long getting ready that morning, but he wanted to make a good initial impression on his peers. His hair, what he referred to as his pride and joy, was carefully styled over his right eye and stuck out at random on the sides and back, a style he'd grown to love. No-one looked at him with judging eyes; good start.
"Who has meat?", a blonde bomb-shell shouted out from around the corner.
She bore down on him with only one intention, but found her lunge for the chicken wing blocked by the strangers forearm. Aaron watched as a flush of color flashed through her cheeks, and he even thought he caught the glimpse of a smile.
"Sam!", a familiar sounding voice called out, rounding around the corner after Sam, "Quit doing that when I'm in mid- Oh, hey", Carly caught his eye and smiled, always enthusiastic to meet new people.
Before he could reply Freddie appeared at the base of the stairs and strode towards them, looking at Aaron curiously.
"Renelle?"
"Yeah, Aaron", he smiled, holding his hand out to shake Freddie's.
"I've been told to be your guide, we're in most of the same classes", he shook his hand.
"Music first, right?"
"There's an exception", Sam grunted loudly and stormed off, "She's in your class, she hates music the most", Freddie explained as they followed the direction she'd gone.
It was only a few minutes later when Freddie had left Aaron outside with the promise of meeting him after class. There was an empty space next to Sam so he flung his bag under the table and sat down next to her, barely being acknowledged. A few of his new classmates turned his direction with hushed whispers, quickly looking away when he made eye contact.
"Heard he's from England", he heard a girl say from behind him.
"Bet he had tea and crumpets for breakfast", another chuckled.
"Suppose I've met the queen as well?", he remarked, turning around to face them.
The two of them shut up immediately so he turned back towards the front of the class, hearing Sam laughing beside him. The teacher, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a depressed-looking expression, walked in and took his place at the front of the class.
"Welcome to Mr. Renelle", he spoke in a monotonous voice, "Now everyone, we have two hours today, I want to hear a song from all of you by the end. Usual pairs. Renelle, see if you can get Miss. Puckett to do some work"
"You like school, don't you?", Sam asked Aaron, who looked in his element.
"I hate it", he replied instantly, "But I love music. You play anything?"
"No, it's too much effort", she shrugged her shoulders and turned to face him, "You do I presume?"
"Guitar and piano"
"You and Freddie will get along… he's a nub too"
"Ouch", he feigned an injury, before chuckling and rising to his feet, "Come on, you'll enjoy it"
After five minutes he'd managed to convince her to join him in one of the side rooms with a piano, but she just stood there leaning against the wall, sighing every few seconds. He envied the carefree way she did absolutely everything; at least it seemed carefree. He started to play the first song that came into his head, 'The Taste of Regret', and Sam looked at him with a slight interest.
"How about this?"
He then started playing 'A Thousand Miles', a song that Sam actually loved although she'd never admitted it to anyone. With no viable reason she could think of, Sam Puckett actually felt some motivation to do some school work. Taking a seat next to Aaron, he didn't look surprised she'd joined in. She thought he seemed a little arrogant, just enough that it came across as confident in what he was doing.
Almost 90 minutes later the two of them had managed to record the full song with no hiccups, be it an error with his piano playing or one of them messing up the lyrics. She still didn't know why she'd joined in at all, let alone sung it with him, but she felt a sense of achievement as they played the recording through. Feeling very much out of her comfort zone, she fidgeted for the whole few minutes, before getting to her feet.
"Sounds good, your voice is lovely", Aaron complimented her, looking at ease.
She was jealous of that: the almost smug look that he knew they were going to have the best song in the class. In retrospect she knew it wasn't smug, she just felt angry with him. How dare he make me contribute in a class.
Their teacher, whose name was Mr. Bracken according to Sam, came and collected them both and bid them return to their seats. Taking a CD from each pair or group he sat down at the front and placed a random one in the disc player. As the song started playing laughter erupted all through the classroom; the crude lyrics and ridiculous accents had caught everyone off guard.
"Jonathon, Markus, both of you are to remain her after class", he spoke in the same tone as always, switching discs.
Sam's face flushed crimson as she realized it was her and Aaron's rendition of Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles'. As the piano introduction played, Bracken actually looked as if he was fighting off a smile, something he was seldom known to do. Gasps broke out when Sam's voice was heard, and she felt a mixture of embarrassment – which was very unusual for her – and pride. Looking to her right she saw Aaron's hard exterior and wondered what he was thinking; whether he was embarrassed as she was, or if he was so used to this sort of situation. It wasn't until the song ended that she realized she was still staring at him after over two minutes, but even worse, everyone else- thankfully except for him – had realized too.
"Puckett, Renelle", he addressed them both, snapping Sam out of her trance, "A+, very good. Class dismissed"
"Come on, let's get some food", Sam suggested, heading off towards the cafeteria.
"Freddie said to meet him here"
"See you later then", he watched her walk off, before a hand clamped on his shoulder and lead him forward.
"How was your first class?", Freddie asked him.
"Awesome, got an A+"
"Sam probably thinks you're a right dork", he laughed, feeling grateful he may not receive all her 'angst'.
"Yeah but so did she, we paired up"
Freddie was still laughing when they reached the cafeteria, and a fresh wave hit him when he saw Sam sitting with Carly at an otherwise empty table.
"What's wrong with Fred-bag?", Sam asked Aaron as he sat down opposite her.
"Told him about the grade"
Sam blushed as heavily as when the song had actually played, but Carly saved her from actually having to say anything in response.
"You know, Aaron, we've been trying to find someone to do a song on iCarly"
"You should get Sam to sing", he suggested, smirking at the blonde.
It was strange, he felt as though he'd known Sam for years and not just a few hours. He supposed that some people just 'clicked' like that.
"I meant you"
"Wait a second, me? On iCarly?", he asked her in disbelief.
"Sure, why not?"
"I'd love to"
Aaron was full of hope for Seattle; not only had he settled into a new school relatively easily, but he'd also gained three good friends in Carly, Freddie, and Sam. And to top it all off: he was going to be on iCarly.