Disclaimer: I do not own any series that will be mentioned in this story.
Author's note: This story is in response to a challenge by Challenge King himself. I was initially floored that I would even accept the challenge as I had seen Modern Family only a few times, but not enough to have known everything. Luckily, I have been researching the show and I know how I will approach this story. For anyone interested, this chapter will be the introduction for the story. I will be taking a page from my good friend OneHorseShay as the story will not start off linear. Also, the story itself will be an alternate universe from season four when Haley starts college. Anything after iCarly ended is completely my idea. So please sit back, relax and enjoy the first chapter of 'iHave Modern Problems'.
UCLA
Westwood Chateau
September 8th, 2012
Noise. That's what came to mind as she was beginning to wake up from a long night. But it wasn't just any regular noise. It was like the kind of noise that a television made whenever it settled on an unused station, as the screen was filled with snow. However, the noise she felt inside her brain was not only strangely quieter, it was also much more numbing with the accompanying silence. The result was her head feeling like it throbbed like her heart. She scanned her surroundings and noticed that she was in her bedroom in her campus apartment. The nightstand to the right side of her bed, a high-def television sitting before the foot of the bed, and finally was her bed. It was slightly bigger than an average twin bed used in most college dorms. She noticed that she still had on the clothes from the previous night and that her body had not felt physically different. She had heard stories about girls in similar, yet much worse, positions. She was grateful as she remembered who it was who had managed to bring her home safe and sound. The smell of eggs and sausage filled her nose as she realized that her savior was fixing breakfast.
Steeling herself as best as she could, she threw her legs over the left side of the bed and stood up. Unfortunately, her swift action caused the pain in her head to ebb slightly, making her wonder just how much she had the night before. She quickly righted herself and proceeded out of the door and into the common room of her apartment. To her immediate right, was a window that held a view of the campus and the surrounding city. A television sat on a stand in front of the window, courtesy of her roommate. A white couch sat in front of the television stand with a blue windbreaker splayed on the cushions. And across from her was her roommate's bedroom, with the door open. No doubt she had stayed at her boyfriend's for the night. She turned to her left to see the kitchen with a small nook, and past that the apartment door.
"Good morning Haley," came the voice of a young man. Haley turned to see her savior and smiled. The young man in question wore a blue, white, and black plaid shirt, black jeans, and black socks, as his converse shoes were by the door.
"Good morning to you," Haley responded in kind. She was surprised that he had stayed the night. She had half-expected him to have jumped her bones after the searing kiss she had planted on him after they reached her apartment. Fortunately, he had rejected her as he didn't want sully himself, but most importantly her as everyone who saw him at last night's party knew who he was.
"How are you feeling?" the young man asked, with concern lacing his voice.
"My brain feels fuzzy. But otherwise fine. I can't imagine what people are probably saying about us after we left," Haley said, fearing the worst.
"We aren't in high school anymore. College isn't a place to think about reputation. We're here because we want to learn more so we can succeed later. The only thing we need to think when it comes to reputation is whether or not people remember who we truly are," he had replied firmly yet kindly. Haley lowered her head for a second as she thought on his words. He snapped her out of her reverie as he set a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, and strawberries in front of her. She looked up at him to see him smiling back at her. He sat down across from her and they proceeded to eat their meal in silence.
After eating, the young man got up, cleared the table and washed the dishes. Haley looked at him and wondered how on earth a guy like this could exist and no one had snatched him up just yet. As he turned around to enter the common room, she quickly shifted her gaze as she realized she was staring. At the moment, she enjoyed staring as he was as handsome as any guy she had dated in high school. The young man stopped by the couch to grab his jacket, when Haley suddenly approached and stopped him. He looked into her eyes noticed something that he had seen, though relatively less in the previous girlfriends' eyes. Haley leaned in and softly pressed her lips to his and held them there for a few moments before pulling back.
"Thank you, for saving me last night," Haley said, smiling sweetly at the young man.
"Uh, just making sure you were safe," he said back, surprised by her action.
"No. I couldn't have asked anyone better to help me last night. Can you...I mean, if you aren't doing anything, just stay for a while longer?" Haley asked. She could rely on him. Even more than that, she knew she could trust him. But what would he think of her at this point. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.
"Sure. Whatever you want," he answered. She led him to the couch where they sat down. She turned the television on and let him flip through channels until they settled on one and just enjoyed each other's company. Haley leaned her head on his shoulder feeling comfortable with him.
"You're a great guy, Freddie Benson," Haley said.
"And you are an awesome girl, Haley Dunphy," Freddie responded. The two sat there after falling into a comfortable silence, both looking forward to another new start.