Disclaimer: I personally think that it should be implied that were not actually affiliated with Nick or iCarly as it is called FanFiction but whatever. Can't fight the man I guess. Lol ^_^
Teen Dream TV Studio
Sunday, 1:23 pm
" Dude this place is enormous!" Sam said, spinning around in an oddly girly way across the granite floor of the skyscraper of a building that was the studio. Seriously, the ceiling had to be at least twenty feet high and was supported by six tall, thick marble columns, three on each side of the carpeted path leading to the front desk. The whole place would have probably been the length of six of their schools, placed end to end and was at least six high.
" You said it!" Carly said, looking around. Spencer, who had driven them here, was admiring the artistry of one of the columns and Freddie was giving Sam an odd look for the amazed expression on her face.
Dragging the two of them forward Carly released them as they reached the front desk. The petite brunette took their names and pointed them to a shiny silver elevator on their left, instructing them to ride to the third floor and go in the fourth room on the right. Jane would be waiting there for them.
Carly, Sam and Freddie motioned for Spencer to come but he decided to wait for them in the lobby while he quizzed the woman at the desk about the columns.
Carly looked anxiously at Sam. " You think she'll like us?"
"She'll love you." Freddie said firmly, giving Carly a supportive smile. Sam smirked and opened her mouth but he beat her to it. "She'll love both of you."
Sam blinked in confusion and her expression was that of a child who had just been told for the first time that cookies before dinner where bad and couldn't understand the reasoning any less. Seeing the look Carly let out the breath she hadn't known she'd been holding and laughed aloud. Soon Freddie had joined in, and after a second Sam did too.
The ping of the elevator sounded, alerting the giggling teens they had arrived.
"Fourth room on the right, Fourth room on the right…" Carly repeated quietly and opened the door as soon as they reached it so that she wouldn't have time to back out.
"Carly Shay?" Asked a pretty blond with square dark glasses, a smile on her face. " Sam Puckett?"
Sam and Carly nodded and Carly tried not to be intimidated while Sam fought to ignore her hunger.
" Who's your friend!?!?" Jane Marcs exclaimed joyously as Freddie stepped into the room.
"Friend?" Sam asked, looking around and deliberately passing over Freddie. "What friend? Oh! You mean Freddork?" She said with exaggerated surprise.
Freddie glared.
"Freddork?" Jane asked, clearly confused.
"This is Freddie Benson. He's our technical producer." Carly introduced him.
"Well he's perfect!" Jane grinned.
"Perfect? Woman I am starting to seriously doubt your sanity." Sam rolled her eyes.
"Sam!" Carly hissed.
Jane chuckled. " No I mean he's perfect to read for Trey."
" You mean Freddie gets to audition too?" Carly asked excitedly.
Jane smiled. "Yes indeed. If he wants to that is."
Sam and Carly turned to him. "Well I don't know…I'm really used to being behind the camera…but…"
"But…" Carly probed gently, encouraging.
"But I couldn't hurt to try." Freddie said at last.
"Fabulous!" Jane clapped twice then handed them each two stapled pieces of paper. "This is a small portion of the script for the first episode. Freddie you will be reading for Trey. Sam you will be reading for Skye. Carly you're reading for Lyra. You can have a minute to look over the script but you'll be reading from it any way so I don't suppose it matters. I'll be right back." Jane said, ducking out of the room.
As one Carly, Sam and Freddie turned to the papers.
[Skye, Lyra and Trey are in detention.]
Skye: *sighs* I say we just leave this place. It's not like anyone's actually watching.
Lyra: How do you know? This school is so paranoid they probably have camera's everywhere. Especially in the detention rooms! After all, that's where the troublemakers go. *smirks*
[Skye & Lyra look at Trey]
Trey: What! Care to reexamine why we're here now! This is totally not my fault!
Skye: And what's your excuse for the hundred and fifty times our standing up for you, letting you copy our homework and bailing you out of fights has gotten us stuck in here?
Trey: I don't have to have one. That's the beauty of the whole this-time-its-not- my-fault thing. And besides that never would have happened if you guys just hadn't done all that stuff.
Lyra: How can we not? You're our friend. Friend's help each other.
Trey: Please tell me you are not going to go all inspirational bumper sticker on me Ly.
Lyra: *indignant* I'm not.
Skye: He's right you know. Life would be a whole lot easier if we just stopped being his friend.
Trey: So why don't you? Can't stay away?
Skye: *rolls eyes* As if. It's just that Ly. has a conscience and somehow it seems to be against just dropping you on your worthless butt. * giggle*
Lyra: *laughs* Of course it is! Look at him! He'd be hopeless without us.
Skye: He's hopeless with us.
Trey: He is right here!
Skye: That's the point! *laughs*
Trey: You guys are retarded. * laughing sigh*
Carly and Sam and Freddie looked up and grinned. Even if the small part revealed less then nothing about the stories plot it still amused them and it'd be fun to play.
Sam chuckled at Carly. " Hah. You have to play the one with a conscience! It's just like real life! And Freddie…" She laughed aloud. " Freddie's playing someone cool! He's like a bad boy! Don't strain yourself getting into character!" She mocked.
" That's just hurtful!" Freddie retorted angrily.
" That's nothing." Carly said.
"Huh?" Sam and Freddie chorused then glared at each other.
"Read into it a little bit. I could be wrong but it looks like Skye likes Trey." Carly laughed.
"WHAT!?!?" Sam and Freddie chorused again each consulting their scripts furiously while Carly watched in amusement. This would either be immeasurably good for their relationship or it would rip them apart beyond repair.
Furious Sam looked up again and sputtered. " No. No way, I refuse! So not gonna happen! No!" She shook her head back and forth vigorously. " How did something so good go to being so bad!?" She moaned.
"You think you have it bad! This is a disaster!" Freddie groaned, the very thought of having to pretend to 'like like' Sam gave him a headache and he almost felt sick.
"Something wrong?" Jane asked as she came in the room, leaving the door to slam behind her.
" Yeah something's wrong!" Sam yelled. "In fact something's awful! I can't read for someone who actually likes Freddie! No one can act that well, let alone me!" She snapped.
"And I could never play someone who could tolerate her abrasive behavior!" Freddie chimed in.
Jane looked back and forth from one angry face to the other, her lips quivering. She held it together for about five seconds before she burst out laughing. " You…you kids…" she said breathlessly. After a moment Carly joined in softly and Sam and Freddie just glared, although Freddie's was aimed only at Jane though he was a bit hurt Carly would laugh at his distress.
"I'm…teh…I'm sorry…" Jane said, trying to catch her breath. "But if you two could have seen your faces! I'm sorry to tell you this but I don't know what Skye and Trey's relationship is. That's for the writers to decide but as of now it seems platonic. But really it wouldn't be as if you actually liked each other! I mean you would be acting! And while I can appreciate actors that throw themselves into their work I'd never expect it from you." She chuckled.
"So you're saying I don't have to be nice to Fredweird?" Sam stressed.
" Yes and no. You have to act like your friendly in the show but you can go back to however you act normally as soon as the camera's stop rolling." Jane said. "But enough discussing this. After all you haven't got the parts yet. I still need to hear you read for them."
So for the next ten minutes Carly, Sam and Freddie read through the script twice for Jane who stopped them each once or twice to give them hints and helpful criticism. But finally it came time for the decision. After pretending to deliberate an extra minute Jane finally gave them each blinding grins and said. " You've all got the part!"
Sam and Carly looked at each other with big smiles on their faces then screamed and hugged. Carly even turned and gave Freddie a hug too though he held on a bit too long and she had to shake him off. Sam and Freddie just looked at each other but Freddie gave a tentative smile and, for once, instead of hitting him Sam smiled back. This was a happy moment.
After just a bit more celebrating Jane snapped her fingers once to get their attention. " Well you'll have to sign contracts with our network and fill out a bunch of paper work. But don't worry, your young so most of it will have to be done by your parents a-"
Sam burst out laughing. " Oh my god!" she laughed, looking at Carly. " You really think Fred's Mom will let him do this?"
"Crap! Sam's right! She doesn't even know I'm here! I didn't think it was important to tell her cause I didn't know I was auditioning…oh man this is bad…this is so bad…she's going to flip!" Freddie said, sort of freaking out.
Jane chuckled. "Well I hope your mom agree's. She's probably more reasonable then you think," Sam snorted as Jane continued. "It's a great opportunity. Now, as for pay…"
Sam perked up and this and Carly and Freddie listened closely as well.
"As of now the network is planning on about 40 episodes for the first season. There may or may not be a second season depending on viewer response but…"
(Okay I have less then no idea what actors make so I'm making up a number. I don't know if its too low or too high but let me be clear…I don't wanna hear a bunch of 'That's not enough' and crap. If that happens I will be very sad. And then I'll dress you up like a ham and feed you to a hungry Sam. Hey that rhymes!)
"But you'll probably be paid about 3,000 per episode, though that doesn't count overtime and I'll have to get you a list of your benefits. Also all traveling to locations for the show will be covered by the network." Jane said proudly. " You and your two co-stars will each get your own dressing room and there will be a room where you guys can just hang out and stuff. If you have any particular requests, within reason of course, like for a certain kind of food we have people who will try their best to fulfill those requests." She finished.
" Oh. My. God." Sam said. "This is like a dream! Can I request ham and turkey bacon!?"
Jane nodded and made a note of it on a clipboard. "Done."
"I love the world." Sam said with a satisfied, dreamy look on her face.
" You'll have to get the papers signed and brought back as soon as possible though." Jane said. " Filming starts in two weeks."
"No problem." Carly said. "But my brother will have to sign for me. My dad's away right now."
"That's fine so long as he's your guardian." Jane said.
Carly looked a little more relaxed at this but Freddie was still freaking out. " My mom will never agree to this! And I really want to do this with you guys!" He said sadly.
Sam rolled her eyes. "Come on Freddork enough with the pity party. Will get your freakish neurotic mother to agree so just chill."
"Oh yeah, and how do you plan to do that?" Freddie challenged, he couldn't let himself hope that Carly and Sam's support would help and knowing Sam her support probably wouldn't be support at all.
Sam smirked. " I'm gonna tell her they just invented fail-proof cloud block and you can only get it by being famous and paying them tons of money."
"I-" Freddie opened and closed his mouth…did Sam have a point? Was his mom really that crazy? Was it bad that he didn't immediately know she wasn't?
While the two of them debated the merits of this course of argument Carly was handed the papers that needed signed by Jane who was watching Sam and Freddie with a smile on her face.
Carly rolled her eyes at them and smiled at Jane. "Thanks so much Ms. Marcs. We'll try to get these forms back as soon as possible but we have to get going. My brothers probably driven the desk lady crazy by now." She said as she grabbed Sam and Freddie's arms. "Come on you guys. Let's go."
Once safely in the elevator Sam and Carly each let out one more squeal and Freddie sighed but his grin was wide. As soon as they stepped out an overly energetic Spencer who was holding a bottle of Super Moca-Cola, the new kind, now with more caffeine, greeted them. " So whats up you guys! Did you get the parts!? Are you gonna be famous TV stars now? What happened? Come on don't keep me waiting!" Spencer said, all in one breath then stared at them impatiently.
"We would if you'd just take a breath!" Carly laughed.
Spencer paused for an exaggerated second then he was all hyper again. " So?"
"We both got the part!" Carly squealed after playfully waiting another second to tease him.
"I knew you would! Awww! My little sis is gonna be famous!" Spencer said, wrapping her up in a hug and practically picking her up clear off the ground.
"You know Freddie got a part too." Carly said breathlessly, trying to get Spencer to put her down so she could inhale.
"What!" Spencer yelled as the group started walking toward the door when the front desk lady gave them a weird look. "That's awesome! But how did that happen!?"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Poor judgment and desperation."
Freddie glared at her for a second then just frowned. "Doesn't matter, Mom will probably never agree to it."
Spencer put his hand on Freddie's shoulder and frowned sternly. "Did someone forget to take his positive attitude pills this morning?"
Freddie shook Spencer off. "No! I just live in a little thing called reality."
Spencer shook his head. "Don't worry about it. This is too good of an opportunity to miss!" He said as they all piled into the car.
"Hey Carls, you got any Fat Cakes?" Sam asked.
Carly shrugged. "Don't know. Check the cupboard."
For the last hour the two of them had been waiting for Mrs. Benson's verdict. Spencer had gone with Freddie to help break the news to his mother. Freddie didn't really think this was a good idea but Spencer somehow didn't think he had a choice. Even with the door closed Sam and Carly had heard the first part of the argument, which mostly consisted of Mrs. Benson screaming at the top of her lungs. But they couldn't really do anything to help, so there they sat.
"Nope." Sam said sadly as she left the kitchen and flopped down on the couch beside her friend. "Why don't you have food?"
Carly chuckled and gestured to their half full trash can. " I don't know, you ate it all?" She teased.
Sam shrugged. "Whatever. Man, you'd think that woman would let up every now and then."
"Who? Mrs. Benson?" Carly asked.
Sam rolled her eyes. "Who else."
Carly smirked. "Does that mean your hoping Freddie will be allowed to act with us? How very un-Sam-ish of you."
Sam looked at her blankly. " Not really. But if he can't be with you the little nerd will be all depressed. If he can't be brought down any further into misery it defeats the purpose of bothering him and that'd just suck."
Carly laughed. " How sweet of you."
"Eh." Sam shrugged humbly.
"YES!" Spencer yelled as he burst through the door, a hugely triumphant look on his face. He then proceeded to dance around in the most ridiculous victory dance either of the girls had ever seen or could ever have imagined.
"Freddie's allowed to do it with us!?" Carly asked happily, getting up from the couch and smiling.
"You bet!" Freddie said, beaming as he walked through the door.
"Awesome!" Carly burst out happily.
"And guess what else?" Freddie smiled at Carly, ignoring Sam who just watched with an indifferent look on her face.
"What?" Carly asked.
"While Mom and Spencer and I were arguing I got an email from Jane. Well you know how next weekend is a three-day weekend? Well she wants to send us to a hotel! And our two co-stars will be there too. She thinks it will help build chemistry before we start filming. And guess what else? It's a five-star hotel and all expenses are paid. And its right here in Seattle, just like half an hour away!" Freddie smiled.
"Awesome!" This time Carly and Sam spoke together, with genuine happiness.
"I know right?" Freddie smiled.
"I have never been so eager for the school week to start in my entire life! The sooner it ends the better!" Sam cheered. "Ten points to Jane for the awesome vacation!"
"I hear ya!" Carly said. " But I guess we'll just have to suffer through it."
And so for the rest of the week that's what they did. Everyone went about their normal routines but it was strained. Until finally the weekend arrived…
Authors Note: This isn't much of a cliffhanger but I have such big plans for the next chapter theres no way I could start it right now. So we'll have to wait for the next chapter. Oh, and Heather and Zach finally make their debut! I'm hoping its worth the wait but they'll play a major part and the iCarly crew's relationships. Will Heather fit with the already tight Sam and Carly? And can Freddie, after all this time with Carly and Sam, even form a male friendship anymore? LOL. I'll try to have the next chapter up tomorrow and if not then than the day after that. Please R&R and thanks to my reviewers! Go ppl who read iCarly fanfics.
