ATTENTION: The fic is revised in lieu of an upcoming sequel following the events of this story as well as to tie in with elements of the iGot a Hot Room episode. Happy holidays to all!
Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly (and its characters). This fic will be in a slightly darker AU setting that uses the continuity of some episodes. Rated M for certain themes.
Chapter 1
THE ONE YOU LOVE
It was a cold December night. The pavement was shrouded by a thin layer of snow and tiny white flakes as they continued falling down all around. Amongst the sounds of vehicles zooming on the streets, blaring sirens from police cruisers could be heard in the distance, sending out jets of blue and scarlet against the night sky.
A lad in his late teens walked alone on the streets of Seattle. He was covered in his leather jacket, a slightly visible rip along the right sleeve. Ignoring the numbness that crawled across his skin, the boy quickly strode across sidewalks and alleyways. Being streetwise made him quite adept in trekking through these intricate labyrinths.
Finding refuge in one dark alley, he lurked behind the shadows of a dumpster as he heard the insistent ring of his Pear Phone from his pocket. Seeing the caller ID, he quickly drew it to his cheek and answered the call, keeping himself camouflaged in the darkness.
"Kato, I apologize for not meeting up with you guys after that. Look, I'm not breaking up with the group!"
The voice on the other line seemed to be threatening, causing Griffin to raise his voice.
"The money is safe with me! I just need to meet up with someone tonight, and then I'll meet up with the group at dawn, same place as planned. Goddammit, Kato, why the hell do you think I'd betray the group to them?"
Another warning on the other end made Griffin's voice fall into silence. He took a deep breath. For that moment onward, there was no other face he would want to see but this girl.
"I got to go. I promise to show up later, same place. Goodbye."
After he ended the call, he began to type in a quick text message to the person he was hoping to visit. After he sent it, he shut the phone off and placed it back in his pocket. He pulled out a slender metal rod and stuffed it into the bonnet he was holding. He silently placed the now-heavier bonnet into a nook behind the dumpster. Avoiding the stinging sensation on his right arm, he patted a lump inside his jacket before going on his way out of the alley into Kennedy Square.
Griffin entered the doors of Bushwell Plaza, where he was met by the building's obnoxiously irate doorman, Lewbert. The man shrieked at him, pointing accusing fingers as Griffin walked into the lobby.
"Oy, you! Why are you still outside? Don't you know about curfew?"
"I'm nineteen, douche bag. I'm already outside the boundaries of curfew."
"Gyaaaaah! Look at what you've done on the floor! You've filled it with pesky mud and snow! I've just made my final mop for the night!"
"Whatevs, Wartman."
"Punk! GET OUT OF MY SIIIIIIGHT!"
Griffin walked past the doorman, smirking as he ascended the staircase of the building. For every step he made, he remembered his girlfriend's face, filling his mind with thoughts about how she had fallen into his arms again. It had been about a year now and they were back in a relationship again.
Some two years ago, rumors had spread like wildfire within the apartment and even in Ridgeway that the girl's male best friend had saved her in a life-threatening accident. And within the week, Griffin learned that the girl had fallen madly in love with her best friend because of this. But because of some unknown reason, they had broken up just as quickly as they had begun dating. Griffin scoffed at how pathetic it was for the male best friend to let go of the girl when he already had her. Taking the entire situation under consideration, Griffin had hoped for a chance to get her back.
And that time finally came.
She had been walking alone in the dark streets of Seattle for a quick errand without her two usual companions. Unfortunately, a female traveling in solitude always attracted a pack of nocturnal predators. A group of tattooed goons approached and moved in on their prey. The girl, sensing danger, tried to run as fast as she could from the four teenaged assailants. After a long pursuit, the thugs managed to trap her in a dark dead end of a murky alley. Tears began to fall from the helpless girl's eyes as she sank down onto the ground, leaning against the filthy brick wall.
Her attackers slowly moved in towards her, some of them holding switchblades and laughing as one of them gave the order to "rip up her clothes." All was lost for the girl until a familiar male suddenly emerged behind her assailants and distracted them. All four thugs ganged up on him, but he was just too fast for them. His street smart skills and agility enabled him to defeat his attackers without much effort and only suffered very minor gashes from their weapons. The thugs, soundly beaten, retreated out of sight. In sheer gratitude, the teary-eyed girl recognized her savior and flung her arms around him as he brought her back to her apartment.
The girl became rather torn between the two males, both of whom she was now indebted to. Because her best friends were the supportive ones, they were quite alright with the fact that she began dating Griffin again despite the shallow reason for their former break-up. Her male best friend tried to hide his heartache once again due to this reunion, but his love and loyalty towards the love of his life prevailed in the end over his misgivings.
Being in a higher level, Griffin still managed to miraculously graduate from Ridgeway, even with dwindling grades and landing a "business" job, though he was still not sure when or where he would go to college. The three best friends were now in their senior year and were taking their time enjoying the remaining months together in doing their ever popular web show, which they would have to cease producing after graduation as they went their separate ways for college.
Griffin had treated his "job" as confidential and never confided in anyone about it, not even his girlfriend. Since he was just getting started in his new occupation, he and his girlfriend hadn't really bonded that much, save for once or twice a month which barely time in Bushwell Plaza at all. However, in those short spans of time they were together, he had slowly influenced her with his bad boy persona. His girlfriend retained her sweet attitude, yet developed more of a rebellious air which worried her big brother and her male best friend, though her blonde best friend was rather ecstatic about her "new" side.
Things went well until Griffin learned that his girlfriend's male friend had also developed an obsession about finding out what exactly his new job was. Luckily for him, his girlfriend trusted him completely and dismissed her friend's accusations as mere jealousy. More time passed as her best friend tried to expose Griffin's secret until one day, he finally decided to drop the bomb on all of them. Even Griffin himself had been alarmed when he said it in front of him and his girlfriend. Then all of a sudden, her hand flew across her friend's face.
Despite the girl's apologies, that incident started a considerable rift between the two. The male friend still remained her technical producer, but their friendship had been compromised. He might have the abilities of being a Devil's Advocate, but their friendship is not as strong as it seems, Griffin laughed to himself at the thought.
Little did he know that his girlfriend's best friend still had a trick up in his sleeve.
Griffin finally reached the 8th floor and approached the door of apartment 8-C. He knocked on the hard wooden door. A few seconds later, the door swung open slowly and a female brunette stood before him, wearing a sweater, pajamas and slippers.
"Griffin!" Carly Shay greeted, hugging him in a tight embrace. "What brought you here?"
"I missed you of course." He grinned. "Is your oddball of a brother still awake?"
"No, he was already asleep in his room when you sent your message. Where are you coming from this late at night?"
"Well, some sort of serious business."
"Like what?" Carly asked playfully, "An auction at a late night Pee Wee Baby Convention?"
Griffin raised an eye at this with a dirty look on his face.
"I'm just kidding." Carly said, punching him lightly on his arm. Griffin hid a groan as the pain came back in full force.
She asked in concern, "Are you alright?" When Griffin nodded, she added, "How come you won't meet with your mom?"
Griffin scoffed, "Nah, I haven't spoken to my mom for some time now. I'm staying with one of my pals in the business. Anyway, since I missed you and we barely see each other, I wanted to dedicate this night to you."
Carly was puzzled, "What do you mean?"
He smiled. "I want you. I want to spend this night - with you."
Carly felt her heartbeat quicken. "Uh… okay. Come in quietly. I don't want to wake up Spencer." Griffin entered the dark living room and Carly slowly shut the door, popping the chain lock in place.
Griffin gave Carly another smile in the darkness as they made their way up to her room.
Song Title/Lyrics Reference: The One You Love - Glenn Frey
Author's Note: Well, my very first attempt for a fic. The potential triangles in the show are quite interesting, one of which is the Freddie-Carly-Griffin triangle: a mix of emotions between love and infatuation. Besides, I want some tension between Carly and Freddie first. There might be some terminologies that I deliberately made vague, which I will clear up by the time this short fic ends. Comments and critiques are quite welcome!
