A/N - This just popped in my head. Hope you like. :P
Dislclaimer: I don't own iCarly, The Dark Knight, or the pants I'm currently wearing. Sorry to disappoint.
"I hate you, Carly Shay." I said louder than I intended, earning strange looks from those gathered around me. Yet, what girl angrily muttering to herself wouldn't be stared at? I'm no crazy, of course—if anyone was, it was my perky best friend who not only forced me in this white, puffy dress but also made me come with my ex, Pete. We might have broken up on good terms, but that didn't mean I wanted to come to this dance with him.
What dance, you may ask. The annual masquerade ball, which wasn't annual yet because this was the first year that Ridgeway High held this specific dance. And this dance was only made up to get kids to dress up and dance appropriately for once. In my opinion, it was just to keep us out of trouble.
And trouble was what I intended to make this night.
I reached into the matching purse that Carly bought for me, and fingered the small, round cherry bomb. Also in that bag was a small bottle of ipecac, which was going in the punch bowl, and a match booklet. While Pete brought me back our drinks, I stole another glance at the clock. It would go down at exactly midnight.
"Thanks." I muttered dejectedly, feeling impatient and trapped by the dress.
Not only that but I didn't know who anyone was. I probably new the girl laughing to my left, and the kid who just bumped into my side might have been Gibby or Jonah. Did you forget it was masquerade? Yep, everyone—including myself—wore masks. Some were shaped like animals, while other sported long, curled feathers. My own was silvery-white and had a nose like a beak. Two black feathers jutted from the corner. Pete wore a small like Batman's sidekick, Robin.
"Are you okay, babe?" He asked, draping an arm around me. I resisted the urge to pull away or duck out of his grasp, but I held steady when I caught Carly watching us again. She knew I was up to something and thus kept Trevor—her new boyfriend of the week—and herself nearby to keep an eye on me.
"Yeah…whatever." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I looked at the clock again. 26 minutes.
Too. Long.
I wondered if I should abandon this idea I had and just do it now. It made no difference if kids were throwing up at midnight or twenty minutes before. Yet, I still made no move to set my plan in action.
And don't think I'm chickening out.
This is the only time where I can do this with my face hidden like this. I wouldn't squander it.
"Hey, baby, I need to use the bathroom. Stay here." Pete drawled, planting a kiss on my cheek. I had to clench my fist to keep from ripping his lips off. Next time Carly tried to blackmail myself into something, I would punch her in her pretty little nose—which is a lie, of course.
As I waited, I fished out the cherry bomb and matches, and tuck it into my bra. It made me slightly lumpy but I didn't care. I didn't want to give myself away later.
"I saw that."
The voice made me jump and I whirled to come face to face with an odd mask. It was a zebra mask with mesh over the eyeholes to completely hide the person except for his lips. He was taller than me and his hair was hidden beneath the mask. I frowned, trying to place the voice but it was gruff and deep. It slightly reminded me of the voice that Batman used in The Dark Knight.
"Saw what?"
The stranger leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. "Nothing." He hissed, his breath tickling me. Then he pulled back, leaving me in stunned confusion. "And by the way, you look absolutely gorgeous."
Then he turned to walk away, shoving his hand into his pockets and walking away. "Wait—" I yelled but he was already gone, swallowed by the crowd.
Just then, Pete returned. "Miss me, baby?" He asked huskily, brushing my hair off my neck and placed his lips there. I pushed him off me. "What's the matter, babe?"
I felt my blood boiling which caused my face to turn red. "Stop calling me babe and baby, Pete." He looked confused. "I didn't even want to come here with you. The only reason I did was for Carly!"
"Don't be that way, b—"
"If you call me what I think you were about to call me, I will give you a wedgie so bad that you'll be going to the hospital like that one time we put Jonah in the wedgie-bounce." At the mention of my cheating ex, Pete paled. He knew what crossing me meant that one time he saw the video on —in fact, I had emailed him the link to that video. "Now, I suggest you leave."
"Uh…" Pete looked at me in surprise before disappearing into the crowd.
"Finally." I muttered, picking up a brownie from the table of food. As I took a bit, I pulled out the small, clear bottle. Leaning over the punch bowl, I let the liquid dribble out. A few kids stood nearby but none saw me. It was all about slight of hand, which no one knew I was good at.
I stood, straightened my dress and grabbed a cup, filling it with the poisoned substance. No one could blame me if I drank it too. I put the cup to my lips but kept them firmly pressed together and never even let the punch near my mouth.
7 minutes.
I stepped up to the wall and watched the dancers, looking for a good spot to set off my display. I absently held the cup in my hand. Eventually my mouth felt dry, so I brought the cup to my mouth.
Suddenly, the drink was snatched from me.
I looked at the zebra-masked boy in surprise. I felt a rush of anger before I realized what I had almost done. He looked at me a long minute before slipping back into the ground. Did I have my own goddamn stalker now?
I was so caught up in wondering about the mystery guy that I lost track of time.
12:03.
Shit.
I fumbled for the bomb, pulling it out and almost flashing half the dance floor. Looking around, I saw no one watching me. Not even Carly looked my way as she kissed Trevor in the middle of the crowd. I ducked towards the table of food, lighting it. No one, and I mean, no one, saw me toss it right under the punch bowl.
BOOM!
People were screaming when it went off. It wasn't a big explosion—it was a cherry bomb but it was enough to send the punch bowl's liquids all over anyone nearby. And like in most schools, the teachers panicked and forced everyone out of the gym.
I fought the crowd who was heading towards the parking lot, and forced my way into the other part of the school building. Here the halls were empty. I peeked through the door into the gym to see everyone was pretty much gone. Principle Franklin, himself, was staring at the small, burnt shell.
I smirked and headed down the hall, trying to get out of there before the police showed—or whoever else would be called for something like this.
Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind. Whoever it was, their arms snaked around my middle and pulled me into the storage closet. They slammed the door behind me, and even so I could make out the zebra-mask. "You again?" I asked as they watched me.
"I know it was you." He said in that voice again. It was almost familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. And I didn't try to argue or deny it like last time. He and I both knew what I did.
"Who are you?" I asked as they moved close to me. Their breath washed over me—cinnamon and vanilla. And arm was on either side of my head, trapping me, but I could have gotten out if I wanted. But I didn't.
His lips were hesitant at first, brushing against mine. It was soft and gentle but soon I was pressed up against the door, his body against my own. His lips trailed down my neck, brushing the visible parts of my chest. Sometimes a strap dress had its advantages.
Don't think I'm some kind of whore though. A whore sleeps around with everyone. One person doesn't make you a skunk-bag like Freddie's ex, Valerie who slept with every guy on the football team and their brother. I shook my head lightly as he cups my breast, clearing all thoughts of Fredwart from my head. This was not the time or place.
"Want me to stop?" The gruff voice asked through the darkness.
"No." I said headily, "But take off that mask. I'm not fucking no furry."
"It's any." The voice corrected but the mask was gone. I felt the boy's face underneath but nothing distinguishing. Then, "Watch out for my eye right there."
"Sorry." I said quickly as we resumed kissing. His hands found their way onto my ass and gave it a tiny squeeze. I jumped in surprise and he pulled away. "It's fine." I breathed. "You just startled me."
"Are you sure you want this, Sam?" He asked. I stopped.
"How do you know my name?" I asked into the ensuing silence. Was this someone I knew? I hoped it wasn't. Then fear gripped me—maybe this was some joke by Jonah or something. I felt the urge to run.
"Calm down, Sam." The voice growled softly. "I heard your date saying it when he wasn't calling you 'babe'."
"Yeah… what an ass." I said aloud, and I heard my mystery date chuckle. "But I don't want to talk about him."
He dipped his head to mind again and in the darkness I ran my fingers through his hair. My hands came back smelling like sweet vanilla-cinnamon. I would lie in bed later, pressing the dress to my nose and remembering him. At that moment though, as he planted kisses on my bare shoulder, he started hiking up my dress.
Then he was inside me.
It was a lot of things at once. It was hot, as in sweaty. It beaded down my face in the stuffy, cramped room. It was like an explosion, my back slammed up against the door and being slammed into again and again. Stars exploded behind my eyes.
You know, it probably wasn't the greatest nor the greatest I would ever have but you always remember your first time well, even if it sucked. And to say it sucked would be an understatement. It was all pleasure and heat and ferocity.
And as soon as it was over, he planted a small chaste kiss on my swollen lips and was gone. I slipped down to the floor, feeling drained and tired all of a sudden. I touched my sore lips, and later when I hobbled into the Shay's apartment to find Carly waiting up for me, I wondered if she could tell I had been with someone.
But all she said was, "Have fun tonight, Sam?"
"Mhmm."