Author's Note: Hello, my fellow iCarly peers! I hope you're all revved up for 'iStart A Fanwar', which is airing soon or has already aired (I really can't remember, time is such an arbitrary thing to me). The story traffic on this fic has been crazy since the start of the month: 679 hits and 276 visitors, the highest stats of my stories. So a big thank you for that to all of you out there. I've been busy writing like a crazy person lately: for this story, my Suite Life espionage story, a Suite Life holiday collection and for Nanowrimo too - I'm a writing maniac! Anyhoo, enough of my craziness. I hope you all like this new chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly in any way that counts, so no royalties for me I'm afraid.
The first game of the basketball season at Ridgeway was in full swing. The auditorium was packed to the brim with eager high school students, die-hard adult fans and the occasional college scout looking for new talent. The cheerleaders had already begun their routine, their faces alight and flushed with excitement while they danced.
Freddie's mood and general enthusiasm for the game was tempered in light of what had transpired recently with both Carly and Corrie. He wasn't angry with either woman in his life for their complete disregard of his feelings; in many ways, he felt like he deserved it. But it still hurt that both his wife and daughter were taking great strides to get away from him and move on with their lives. As a result, he was somewhat distracted when the game began.
"Gibson! Get your head out of your ass and in the game!" Coach Lennox roared from the sidelines.
Freddie shook himself mentally and focused his attention on the game at hand. But he still managed a casual glimpse at Carly, who had come to watch Matt's first game. She wasn't alone either; she had brought Paul along too.
"Wow, this is some turn-out," Paul marvelled in awe, his eyes darting eagerly around him at his surroundings.
Carly gave him a wan smile which didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Is everything ok, Carly? You look a little uncomfortable. Was it something I said?" Paul asked in concern.
"No, it's not you, Paul. I'm just a little distracted today. This is actually the first time that I've been back in this gym after 17 years." Carly admitted meekly.
"17 years? Wow, that's a long time. What happened the last time you were here?" Paul questioned curiously.
"My husband asked me to marry him," Carly confessed seriously, her eyes drawn momentarily to Felix's form while he sped across the court with basketball in hand.
"Oh. That's tough to compete with on a second date." Paul joked feebly, feeling distinctly awkward.
After passing the ball to one of his team mates, Freddie chanced another glance at the bleachers and laid eyes on his daughter instead, who was sitting just above the team bench. Seeing Carly talking animatedly to her date and Corrie's adoring eyes staring at Reed, who was currently guarding an opponent, spurred Freddie on to play even better than before. He got his opportunity three seconds later when he managed to steal the ball back from an idle opponent, making a mad dash for the hoop with the other opponents hot on his tail. He made it to the hoop a second later, executing a perfect lay-up and earning his team an additional two points for Ridgeway, who was currently in the lead. The crowd roared its approval, lightening Freddie's mood momentarily while he revelled in their cheering.
Then disaster struck when one of Freddie's team-mates named Alex was knocked purposely onto his stomach by an opponent who tried to stop the former from getting to the basket. The away team cheered openly while the Ridgeway crowd booed loudly at the deliberate foul. The referee called for a time-out and Coach Lennox came rushing onto the court, followed by the rest of the team who came to inspect Alex, who was clutching his stomach in agony.
"It looks like you're winded, Alex. You'd better sit out for the rest of the last quarter. Benson, you're up!" Coach Lennox barked unexpectedly.
Matt, who had been sitting on the bench for most of the game, looked up at Coach Lennox in alarm.
"What are you doing? Waiting for a second invitation? Get in the game!" Coach Lennox shouted impatiently at his newest player.
"Yes, sir!" Matt squeaked and began hurriedly pulling off his team tracksuit, wearing his basketball uniform underneath.
Then Matt ran onto the basketball court and got into position. The referee blew his whistle and the game began in full swing. Their opponents were slowly gaining the upper hand, levelling the scores with 5 minutes left on the clock. Both teams played hard during the final quarter, Ridgeway fuelled by the foul on their player as they sprinted forward each time. Freddie left his position up front and went to help at the back as the away team's shooting guard made a break for the basket. He was stopped in his tracks by Matt, who dove majestically between the player trying to aim off a pass to his team mate. As the ball sprang free, Freddie grabbed the ball and sped forward.
Freddie tried his best to shake off the two defenders, who were currently double-teaming him. As he glanced around the court, he realised that his only option was to pass to Reed, who was open upfront and nearest to the basket. But then he caught sight of Matt, who had shrugged off one of his opponents and had sprinted off to his left. Freddie glanced momentarily at his daughter before making his decision. He side-stepped both his opponents and passed the ball behind his back to Matt, who had a clear shot behind the three-point line.
"Shoot, Benson!" Coach Lennox shrieked hysterically.
With only a split second of hesitation, Matt lifted off the ground and fired a powerful shot with a flick of his wrist. Everyone watched with baited breath as the orange ball soared through the air. Then it made contact with the basket, swishing comfortably through the net. The Ridgeway crowd was on their feet in the auditorium, screaming wildly in celebration at the victory. But no one was jumping higher or screaming louder than Carly, happy unshed tears in her eyes while she cheered like crazy for her youngest son. The Ridgeway basketball team were all huddled together, hugging each other and shouting in exhilaration as they all crowded around Matt Benson, who looked confused by all the attention, but happy nevertheless. The only one who didn't seem that thrilled was Reed, who stood a few inches away with his hands on his hips, looking positively disgruntled.
"You did it, Matt! That was incredible!" Freddie roared in delight while hugging his son.
"Nah, dude. I couldn't have knocked down the shot if you hadn't passed me the ball." Matt responded modestly.
"Uh uh, that was all you, bro." Freddie praised sincerely while clapping Matt affectionately on the back.
Another one of their team players suddenly drew Freddie into a bear hug, leaving Matt standing by himself momentarily. But then he watched as the cheerleaders flooded the basketball court too, Nicole running towards him with a big smile on her face.
"Matt, that was an incredible shot!" she gushed admiringly before enveloping Matt in a warm embrace.
"Oh um, yeah. Uh, thanks, Nicole." Matt murmured feebly, enjoying a hug from the girl of his dreams.
When the hug continued for longer than necessary, both of them eventually pulled away with evident blushes on their cheeks.
"Sorry, I'm all sweaty and stuff," Matt mumbled sheepishly.
"It's ok. Um…I should probably go congratulate the rest of the team so that no one thinks I'm showing any favouritism." Nicole replied abashedly, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Uh, yeah. I wouldn't want anyone accusing you of nepotism…or something similar." Matt remarked lamely, inwardly cursing himself.
"Yeah, sure. I guess I'll see you around." Nicole concluded simply.
"Yeah, see ya. Great dance," Matt greeted back with a wave of his hand.
Nicole bit her bottom lip before turning away and going over to the rest of the basketball team. Matt watched her go, a swooping sensation forming in his stomach. Then he shook his head and jogged back to the rest of his team mates, who continued congratulating him on a job well done.
"…Yeah, that's good. August sounds perfect…" Tasha concurred, talking to a member of her teaching staff while she walked.
Students and parents alike were bustling all around her as they made their way out of Ridgeway High at the end of the game that Friday afternoon, sunset slowly approaching in the distance.
After saying goodbye to the teacher in question, Tasha began strolling swiftly towards the stairs leading to the parking lot. She groaned audibly when she spotted Gibby standing at the bottom of the stairs, wearing jeans, a white dress shirt and a motley coloured brown jacket.
As the doting fake father of an equally fake son, Gibby too had gone to Freddie's first basketball game of the season. But he really hadn't been watching the game that much, his attention completely focused on Principal Baxter, who was seated somewhere in the middle of the school gym. So far, he'd gotten no indication from her that she was interested in him in any way. But Gibby was a patient man. Tasha Baxter was easily the most captivating woman he had ever met in his life and he wasn't about to give up just yet. So he had left a minute before the end of the game to give himself some time to prepare.
As Tasha made to walk down the stairs with her dignity still intact, Gibby cut her off by stepping in front of her at the bottom. As Tasha made to cross over to the other side of the stairwell, Gibby did the exact same thing, making her increasingly irritated. Was the man incapable of taking no for an answer? Hadn't the portrait, the purchase of a brand new school bus, the purchase of a brand new car for her, an array of flowers and imported chocolates and two airline tickets for a weekend in Paris been enough humiliation for her?
Then when Tasha had finally decided that she was just going to ignore him, Gibby hopped over the metal railing right before her eyes, till he was standing in front of her.
"Oh hi, Principal Baxter. Fancy meeting you here! What are the odds?" Gibby exclaimed facetiously.
"What's it gonna be this time, Gibby? Are you planning on buying me the Statue of Liberty next?" Tasha demanded waspishly.
"Oh, it's 'Gibby' now, is it? Look at that, we've finally progressed to a 'first-name basis'. That's growth right there." Gibby teased lightly.
When Tasha didn't crack a smile, Gibby decided to stop beating about the bush.
"Ok, I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I like you, Tasha, and I wanna ask you on out a date, like a grown-up. Just think of it as two friends having dinner. And if it turns into anything more, we'll cross that bridge when we get there." Gibby declared seriously.
"No. Good night." Tasha responded assuredly, moving past Gibby and walking down the stairs.
"I'll buy every student at Ridgeway a laptop!" Gibby called out spontaneously, trying everything in the book to get Tasha to hear him out.
Tasha ignored him and continued walking.
"You would really deny the children of laptops? Ms. Baxter, I never expected this of you!" Gibby exclaimed dramatically.
"Ms. Baxter! Think of the children!" he proclaimed in a ringing tone, getting a few people to turn their heads and stare at him.
That got Tasha's attention as she marched a few paces back towards Gibby while he shamelessly tried to make her guilty on account of her students.
"Ok, ok! Fine, fine! But this is not a date!" Tasha hissed, her faces inches away from Gibby's.
"Fine, this is in no way a date at all." Gibby agreed rapidly.
"And if I do this, you will stop with the inappropriate behaviour and gifts." Tasha continued in a no-nonsense tone.
"Yes." Gibby answered swiftly.
"And we're just gonna drive to this restaurant. We're not gonna fly there in a space shuttle that you loaned from NASA. And I don't wanna be carted around in some ridiculously extravagant gaudy, tacky limo either." Tasha concluded wearily.
"That's fine. We'll take your car then." Gibby suggested reasonably as a compromise.
Tasha sized Gibby up for a few seconds more before finally relenting.
"This way," she conceded in a small voice before walking rapidly to her car.
Gibby waited till Tasha was well out of hearing distance when he began speaking rapidly into a tiny microphone attached to the cuff link on his shirt.
"Gibby to driver, abort the mission right away. I repeat: abort right away!" he hissed hurriedly.
Then he began waving wildly to a large gold-coloured vehicle that was shaped both like a Hummer and a stretch limousine, gesturing to the driver to leave the parking lot.
"Move it out right now," Gibby hissed one last time into his hand before sprinting to catch up with Tasha.
"I totally blew it, Felix."
"What are you talking about, Matt?"
"Nicole came right up to me and hugged me, hugged me! I should've kissed her right then and there, but I froze! I freakin' choked!" Matt exclaimed dramatically.
"Don't worry about it, dude. I'll get you another chance." Freddie promised confidently.
"How are you gonna do that?" Matt questioned sceptically.
Freddie saw Gibby walking towards Tasha's car in the middle of the parking lot. Gibby caught sight of Freddie and pumped his fists eagerly in the air before getting in. Freddie grinned mischievously to himself. So Gibby's plan to take Tasha on a date had gone off without a hitch after all. That made the next course of action much simpler.
"Victory party at my house!" Freddie yelled suddenly with his hands in the air.
The students milling around him and Matt began cheering loudly at the prospect. Then most of them grabbed their cellphones and began texting their friends who weren't in the vicinity to let them know about the party at Felix Gibson's house later that night.
"See? No problem. Nicole's bound to show up for the party. See you at my place in an hour." Freddie greeted cleverly before hitting Matt affectionately on the cheek.
"Good game, man."
Freddie smirked with satisfaction, slapping high-fives with a classmate who had just approached him to offer congratulations. It felt good to be playing basketball after all this time. But more importantly, the look of unadulterated happiness on Matt's face when he had scored the winning shot had easily been his favourite moment in the game.
As Freddie made to take a walk around the bleachers and just savour the moment, he caught sight of a familiar head of black hair sitting within the stands of the school football field. Frowning, he began jogging quickly to reach his destination. He came across a forlorn-looking Corrie, sitting in the stands while hugging her legs tightly to her chest, her eyes red and distinctly puffy-looking while she cried.
"Corrie?" Freddie asked in alarm the closer he got to his daughter.
"Go away." Corrie instructed tersely, turning away from Felix.
"Hey, Corrie. What's going on? What's wrong?" Freddie pressed anxiously.
Corrie made no movement except to continue staring straight ahead of her while sniffling softly.
"What do you want, Felix? Did you come to rub it in my face and say, 'I told you so'?" she asked stiffly after a long while.
"I just came to see if you're ok."
"Well I'm not."
"What happened?" Freddie questioned in concern.
"Reed dumped me." Corrie lamented, a fresh batch of tears escaping her eyes as she began sobbing.
"What? Why?" Freddie queried in surprise, not expecting this to be the source of his daughter's misery.
"What did he do?" he questioned in alarm.
"After the game…he took me aside and said that he wanted to be with me, that he wanted to take our relationship to the next level. So we went behind the quad and we started kissing and then…" Corrie began slowly.
Freddie had already placed his hands over his eyes as he contemplated in advance what Corrie was about to say to him.
"Corrie, you didn't? Oh God, please tell me you didn't." Freddie pleaded in an anguished voice.
And then he felt his heart break from deep within him. All of his daughter's dreams and ambitions, every chance of happiness, all possibility was lost. People could tell him that sex didn't change anything between two people, but he knew better than anyone that it changed everything. As much as he had loved Carly with all of his heart, those few seconds of first finding out that he was about to become a father had felt more like a death sentence; the ending of his youth and innocence. Only a few select could truly appreciate how hard he and Carly had fought to make things work between them for as long as they had: two teenagers trying to make a life for themselves and for a new family suddenly thrust upon them. And he had never wanted either of his children to have to go through that.
And then another startling possibility occurred to him: what if Corrie had been pressurised into consummating her relationship with Reed? Her daughter's ex-boyfriend seemed like just the type to turn nasty if he didn't get his way. What if he had hurt Corrie physically in any way? Or worse, assaulted her? The only thing in Freddie's mind that was worse than Reed taking advantage of his daughter that way was that creep just taking what he wanted from his daughter and then discarding her like a piece of trash afterwards. Freddie was suddenly nauseated at the prospect, thoughts of obliterating Reed from the face of the earth at the forefront of his mind.
"Nothing happened, Felix. I didn't…I couldn't do it. That's why he dumped me." Corrie admitted morosely.
A wave of blissful glee swept over Freddie and he almost cried with relief. He suddenly felt young again instead of the old decrepit man he had turned into in a matter of minutes at the prospect of his daughter suffering through something terrible at the hands of her psychotic ex-boyfriend.
"I thought he really loved me, Felix. And now as it turns out, all Reed ever wanted from me was sex. I feel so awful right now; I just wanna die." Corrie admitted painstakingly, turning her tear-stained face to face Freddie.
"No, don't say that. It's gonna be ok," Freddie chided soothingly, instinctively taking Corrie into his arms and cupping the back of her head while he tried his best to calm her down.
For once, Corrie didn't try to fend Felix off, but sunk gratefully into his embrace, feeling strangely at ease in his arms.
"It won't always be this way," Freddie promised slowly in Corrie's ear.
"How do you know that?" Corrie asked hoarsely, her face still buried in Freddie's chest.
"I just know. I know it's hard when you're young and you feel like it's the end of the world when your heart gets broken. But it's not, I promise. You've got way too much goodness and strength in you to let a guy like Reed make you feel worthless. You're way too amazing to let something like this get the best of you, Corrie." Freddie declared earnestly, dislodging a few strands of Corrie's hair that had gotten stuck to her cheeks because of her dried tears.
"This isn't the end, it's just the beginning." He concluded gently.
"Really?" Corrie asked in awe, lifting her head to stare her brother's friend full in the face.
"Absolutely. You might have to meet a few more jerks along the way before you meet 'Mr. Right'. But one day, you're gonna find somebody even better than Reed, someone who loves you to distraction, someone who treats you the way you deserve to be treated. The sun rises and sets with you." Freddie pursued gently.
"You really think so?" Corrie asked in a small voice, venturing another gaze at Felix.
"I know so." Freddie confirmed with every ounce of sincerity in his body while rubbing her back comfortingly.
"Wow, that is so sweet. I think I've had you pegged wrong this whole time, Felix. I'm really sorry. Thank you." Corrie murmured sincerely, looking Freddie directly in the eye as she spoke.
"You're welcome." Freddie returned with a small smile on his face.
Corrie leant in and hugged him once more, her face cradled in the crook of Freddie's neck.
"You're the sweetest, Felix." Corrie gushed as she kissed him on the cheek.
"It's ok, don't worry about it," Freddie returned generously, starting to feel a little uncomfortable with his daughter's close proximity to his body.
And when Corrie began leaning even closer into Freddie till she was about to straddle him, Freddie got rapidly to his feet, leaving Corrie sprawled out on her stomach on the cement.
"Anyways," Freddie began with a nervous chuckle.
"The reason I was looking for you was because I uh…wanted to invite you to a party I'm throwing at my place tonight. I don't know if you'd wanna come…" Freddie added awkwardly.
"I'd love to!" Corrie exclaimed enthusiastically without hesitation.
"You would? Oh that's great, Corrie, I'm so glad." Freddie replied happily.
"Me too! Yay!" Corrie cheered, launching herself into Felix's arms with the intention of kissing him on the lips this time.
But Freddie anticipated this just in time and grabbed hold of Corrie's wrists, laughing and cheering right along with her to distract her from her mission.
"Thank you. I'm so excited for tonight." Corrie stated warmly.
"No problem, this is all really exciting. So exciting that I've uh got to um…go right now and…get everything ready for the party." Freddie stated rapidly, inventing it right on the spot.
"I'll see you tonight," he concluded with a small smile.
"Absolutely, see you then." Corrie replied with a tantalising smile on her face that Freddie didn't like one bit.
"Ok then." Freddie remarked before practically sprinting away.
Corrie watched him go with a wistful expression on her face, looking forward to the party and the opportunity to see Felix again.
"That was close," Freddie murmured to himself, idly wondering how much more weirdness would abound in the coming hours at his victory party.
Author's Note: Well, sockstar, I hope you're happy now. You got a supremely twisted scene with Young Freddie/Corrie with a dab of unwanted sexual tension thrown in the mix ; ) I hope you all liked this one, I really enjoyed writing Gibby and Tasha's scene, so funny in the movie. It is ironic how certain subplots in things tend to be funnier than the rest of the plot. Next chapter is Freddie's party, which I'm hoping will be a laugh a minute for all of you. I'd love to stay and ramble some more, but I'm off to the movies to go watch "Deathly Hallows Pt 1), which is gonna be sooo awesome. Harry Potter Forever! Snapplelinz out!