A/N – Includes real events from iCarly but with my own twists and changes. Please enjoy. All happens from the perspective of one Fredward Benson and will stay that way all throughout. I don't know how much of this I'll actually write but I'll start from the beginning and try to catch up to the present. Disclaimer: I am not Dan Schneider therefore I do not own.
I was always that kid that sat in the back of the classroom and didn't really talk. Everyone thought I was too much of a geek and it didn't really help that I pretty smart. Yet, all that changed when Casey Newman moved to town. She was an attractive blond with a gap in her front teeth where she lost a molar to a bike accident. In spite of her rough and tumble attitude, she took a liking to me.
Like a mother bear, she protected me though it wasn't always appreciated that she hurt others with her fists for me, as my dad had told me that violence was wrong, but for some reason I let it go with her. Then it didn't matter what Casey or my dad did because they both left. Casey left for some reform school in New York City and my dad…well, I don't really know where he went. I was only five and my life already seemed to be going down the tubes.
To add insult to injury, my mother lost her job and I came down with a variety of childhood illnesses. I'm talking massive ear infections, a slue of pinkeye breakouts, stomach bugs, colds and the flu once or twice. We always made fun of Germy, er Jeremy on iCarly but at one time I was worse than that poor boy. All that, on top of chronic asthma, put me in a weakened state, and caused my mother and I to spend years, moving from hospital to hospital. It also didn't help that since my mom didn't have a job, we had no health insurance and could never afford much treatment. We just couldn't catch a break.
Finally, we boarded a plane and flew from Arkansas to Seattle, Washington. I didn't like the large city at first as we moved in Bushwell Plaza but my mother got a job at the hospital there and with the health insurance, I improved greatly. Turned out that all I really needed were some antibiotics and an inhaler—I actually outgrew my asthma that same year but it was nice to have anyway. Things really were looking up, but I was still bedridden for at least a year, and my mother homeschooled me for that time.
Then, one day, a few weeks after we managed to get the last of a terrible cold out of my system, my mom went out to the story and I got to meet the most fantastic girl. I didn't even know for about a year, a short, preppy brunette lived across the hall with her eccentric brother. It was like being in a desert, dying, and not knowing there was water just over the next sand dune.
My mom told me not to leave the apartment and while I was always a well-behave kid, I left the second after she did. And I just ran. I ran to the elevator and rode it to the lobby, got yelled at Lewbert and ran back upstairs. I went out on a fire escape and vowed to come back every so often as I got a great view of the city. Then I ran down the hallway back to my apartment but right outside the door I collided with the corner of a box, and started to bleed.
"Sorry, kiddo." The man said, putting the box down hastily and peering at my head with a grimace. We stood right in front of my apartment and the Shay's. He motioned to his door. "If you'll come in, I can clean you and bandage that."
My mom always said that: "If you trust a stranger, you open yourself up to danger" but Spencer seemed odd, not harmful so I nodded and followed him into his apartment. He told me that his name was Spencer Shay and explained that he was an artist. I looked around his apartment with wonder as he put peroxide on my cut—it wasn't as clean as my house and I kind of liked it.
"I'm Freddie Benson." I offered my hand to shake as he offered me some blue tea. "I live right across the hall.
"Oh…Ms. Benson is your mom?" He asked kindly but I could hear the tone in his voice. Now I knew where I had heard about him before—my mom talked sometimes about how some people shouldn't allow to raise children and Spencer was constantly named. "She comes by often to check up on me and Carly," The resentment was clear in his voice.
"Is Carly your wife?" I smiled, but Spencer starting laughing. After having only my mom as company for so long, I thought he was laughing at me but after a moment I realized that wasn't the case and joined in.
"No, Freddie, she is my younger sister. In fact, she is just about your age." He said, smiling brightly. "And right now, she is…at school. Why aren't you in school?"
"I'm homeschooled but I'll be starting Ridgeway next fall."
"That is where Carly will be going." Spencer said, leaning on the counter and watching me for a moment. Just then I heard the door open and I turned to see a pretty brunette walk into the room. She had wide brown eyes, and wore a green skirt with a white blouse. Casey had been pretty but not in comparison to Carly. I returned the faint smile on her lips. "Speak of the devil," Spencer said with a smirk as he stepped forward to hug the girl.
"I'm not a devil, Spence." Carly leaned out of the hug and peered around Spencer at me. "Who's this?"
"This is Freddie, Ms. Benson's son." Spencer said, pushing Carly close to me. All I could hear was the blood pounding in my ears but even so I saw the grimace pass over Carly's face—she probably didn't like my mom and I was afraid that she would not like me as well.
So I threw in, "Yeah, and my mom is crazy." Everyone, including me, laughed. It felt good but kind of like I was betraying my own mother. I brushed it off as Carly looked at me with a small smile on her pale, pink lips.
"Hey, Freddie, want to watch some TV? I've got Girly Cow season 1 on DVD." Carly asked. "And stay for some spaghetti tacos?" She said, hopefully with a glance at Spencer.
"Of course, Freddie, you can stay." Spencer said as I was steered to the couch by the brunette. She was smaller than me but she was just as strong—you know, because I sick and all. And as she sat close to me, her leg touching mine causing heat to rush into my cheeks, I forgot all about my mother.
We were about an hour into our little marathon when someone started beating on the front door as if they attempted to tear it down. I heard a muffled shout but I didn't hear what the person yelled. Spencer looked confused as he crossed to the door. He glanced at Carly, "Sam?"
"I don't think so. You know Sam just walked in from day one." Carly said, looking just as lost as her brother.
"Who's Sam?" I interjected. Was this another friend? Friend. Did that really mean I had a friend already? And as I glanced at Carly, I was sure of it. She was so nice and sweet that I knew that we could really become close.
"Oh, just my friend but I'd watch out if I were you, Sam Is kind of abrasive. We meet when Sam tried to steal my tuna fish sandwich and I retaliated." Carly said with a distant smile. I suddenly resented this Sam fellow—he sounded mean but Carly seemed rather fond of him. Another reason to dislike him. "And once-."
"Fredward Benson!" My mother screamed from the doorway and approached me like a hawk descending on its prey. "I told you to stay in our apartment, and oh god, what happened to your forehead! I knew this would happen if I didn't make you wear that helmet. I just can't believe that this could have-."
"Ms. Benson, it's my fault." Spencer suddenly interrupted to stand up for me. "I asked him over for some TV and spaghetti tacos. How could the poor boy resist? It was a chance to get out for once. And the cut was an accident but it is all cleaned up. No harm, no foul. Can Freddie stay? I already started dinner and well, it'd be rude to make him leave now."
My mother looked contemplated telling Spencer off but I saw her give in. "Well…I suppose." Then she turned to me. "Okay, you can stay for dinner but you are in trouble when you get home, young man." With that she turned and stormed out.
"Thanks, guys."
"That's what friends are for." Carly and Spencer said in unison before yelling, "Jinx", and bursting into laughter. I joined in with a great big smile on my face. It was a nice day.
A/N – Chapter 2 is up now. Go and read! :)