A/N: I said that I wasn't going to continue R-Rated Movies anymore, and that I would somewhat compensate for it with this ditty. I hope it lives up to some form of expectation. It's not going to be very long, but basically it goes over the brief aftermath after iGoodbye. I won't leave any more A/Ns from here on, because I think my thoughts speak for themselves through this short story.
He looks up at the confetti streaming down on him as his classmates throw their graduation caps up in the air, cheering and exchanging hugs and words of congratulations. He should be happy; he'd waited for this moment his entire life, when he would finally graduate as valedictorian and he'd be heading down to UCLA to pursue his dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
But he knew it didn't feel right. So much was missing, and he knew exactly what. He'd always pictured putting on a huge grin, and posing for a picture that his mother fussed over, his arms around his best friends. They'd celebrate with a crazy hat party and spaghetti tacos at Spencer's apartment, then bid a final farewell to their beloved webshow.
Yet here he was, alone, forcing a smile as his mother orders him to shift left and right in front of giant stone block at the school entrance that read "Ridgeway School". No sound of laughter coming from a preppy brunette, no crazy witty blonde pulling at the tassel on his cap, and no tall and confused oddball carrying a plastic replica of his head.
The former friend had left to Italy half a year ago to live with her father, parting with a kiss that had left him partially satisfied, but confused. He'd heard from her often, and she'd met a guy that she seemed to be really happy with. He now knew that there would never be anything but friendship between them, even if they tried. He just wished it hadn't complicated things in his head.
Gibby had been held back a year, so he wasn't graduating, but Freddie had always thought that he would be there anyway, making everyone laugh, but since the show had ended so abruptly, Gibby didn't really have a reason to be hanging around so much anymore, especially since he and Freddie didn't actually have much in common other than iCarly. He'd passed him in the hall earlier, and wished him congratulations.
And then there was Sam. About 4 months ago, she'd randomly disappeared overnight, leaving a note that said "Thanks for everything, Spencer. I'll call you when I get there." Spencer refused to tell him where she'd gone, but assured him that she was safe and sound. A part of him missed her the most of all. His life had become dull and far too routine for his liking, and he found himself itching to argue with someone, and scrunch his face up at her gorging on a bucket of chicken.
He remembered the month after Carly had left. They'd all said they would keep in touch, and keep each other company. Yet he never heard Sam break into apartment 8C anymore and rummaging through Spencer's fridge. The studio had once again become storage space for Spencer's sculptures.
Sam had more or less stopped trying to make conversation after a week or so, and in the most abrupt manner, too. He recalled seeing her talking to Carly on her computer while sitting cross-legged in front of her locker one day after school. As soon as he had approached her, she shut her laptop, gave him the most hurt look he had ever seen her have, and walked off. Things went fairly awkward after that, and they would no more than exchange glances in the hallways. He wondered what has happened, or what he had done to upset her. Then she left without a word, without explanation or a goodbye.
He begins to clear out what's left in his locker, which consists of old textbooks, some photos of the gang over the years, and a few loose papers. He flips over a picture from when they were at the diner along with Spencer's 'friends'. He didn't remember ever having this particular photo in his locker, but the messy scrawl on the back explained everything.
I thought about telling you that your fly was undone, but I've decided against it until now. Hope I wasn't too late. Cheers, Sam. 12-2-12
He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Where are you, Sam…?"