Ch.2 Unexpected Surprises
"So what did you do to Miss Briggs?" Freddie asked as the iCarly trio walked home from school. By now, he'd heard rumors. Sam smiled. "Oh, I got her good," she replied. Carly looked at her sternly. "It's not funny, Sam," she lectured. Sam ignored her. "It was hilarious!" she replied, trying in vain to stifle laughter. Carly tried to bring her back down to earth. "You heard Principal Franklin! How funny do you think it'll be if you get expelled?" Carly asked. Freddie chose this moment to intervene. "Whoa, whoa, wait, what, expelled? Sam, what did you do?" he asked.
Sam found Freddie's shock even more hilarious, and exploded in a fit of laughter. "She rigged Miss Briggs' desk with a slime bomb," Carly answered. Freddie wasn't surprised. "Miss Briggs was furious, and Sam's attitude didn't help the situation," she continued. Sam finally stopped laughing. "Carls, what are you talking about?" Sam demanded. "What was wrong with my attitude?" Freddie took a step back. The last time Carly and Sam fought, iCarly almost ended. "You should have seen the way she talked to Principal Franklin," Carly said. "It was like it was all one big joke to her."
"Duh," Sam defended. "It was." Carly looked her right in the eye. "Well, Principal Franklin didn't sound like he was joking when he said he'd expell you if you pranked another teacher," Carly scolded. Sam rolled her eyes. "Look," Sam scoffed. "We both know he was just bluffing about that," Sam said. The tone in her voice said she wasn't so sure. "Oh, really, Sam? I saw you nearly go catatonic in there when he mentioned suspension," Carly replied. Sam went silent at this observation. "Look, will it make you feel better if I promise to lay low for a while?" Sam finally asked. Carly stared directly into her eyes. "You can't just lay low for a while. You have to go the rest of the year without pranking," Carly reminded her.
Now it was Freddie's turn to laugh. "Sam? Sam Puckett? Has to go almost an entire year without pranking?" Sam cut him off with a sharp elbow to his ribs. "You're not getting past that concept any time soon, are you?" she asked, slightly annoyed. "It's just..." he found himself unable to finish his sentence. The laughter was too much. "Just what, Fredlumps?" Sam demanded, her tone changing from annoyed to borderline angry. Freddie hesitated, realizing he'd struck a nerve. "You've never been able to resist an opportunity to prank anyone you don't like," Freddie finally finished. It was clear he was speaking from experience.
Carly opened the door, and the three stepped into Bushwell Plaza. Sam realized Freddie was right. Anyone who annoyed her was considered fair game, and outside of Carly that pretty much meant everyone. "This is gonna be a long year," Sam said slowly. Carly placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Yes it is," she replied. "But Freddie and I are here to keep you on track." Before the moment could last, the trio was interrupted by Lewbert's angry shouting. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY LOBBY?" he angrily demanded, causing Carly and Freddie to jump. They quickly made their way upstairs to Carly's apartment.
Carly opened the door to her apartment, and her jaw immediately dropped in surprise. "Dad?" she asked. "When did you get home?" Colonel Steven Shay embraced his only daughter in a hug. "I'm off on leave for a while," he replied. Carly smiled. It felt good to finally see her father. But unfortunately, it was rehearsal night for the next iCarly. "Look, Dad, I can't wait to spend time with you, but we have to rehearse for the next iCarly. At hearing this, Sam and Freddie thought quickly.
"No, we don't," Sam interjected. "But it's tomorrow," Carly said insistently. "It's cool," Freddie added. "iCarly will be fine. You should spend time with your father," he reasoned. Sam nodded her agreement. "Yeah, and Freddie and I will get out of your hair. See you in school tomorrow, Carls," Sam said with a smile. She left the apartment with Freddie with no further delay. "So what do you wanna do?" she asked Freddie as soon as the door closed. Freddie thought for a moment.
"How about Galini's Pie?" Freddie asked. Sam smiled. "Mama could use a good coconut cream pie," she replied. Before they could leave, they found themselves interrupted by Marissa Benson's demanding cry. "Freddie Benson!" she yelled as she threw the door to her apartment open. "You get in here this instant," she ordered. Freddie suddenly remembered what day of the week it was. "Ah, mom, do I really need another tick bath?" Freddie groaned. His protest was ignored. "Get in here right now!" she demanded. Freddie sighed. "Rain check?" he asked. Sam nodded in the affirmative. "I'll hold you to it," she said brightly. Freddie begrudgingly went inside to face the indignity of another tick bath. Sam decided to head home as well, not even thinking about what the next day could bring.
The next day came soon enough. Carly and Freddie went to school that morning together, as per the usual routine. "I bet you ten bucks Sam doesn't show till at least second period," Freddie said jokingly. At hearing his prediction, he noticed a gleam in Carly's eye. "I'll bet ten bucks she's on time," Carly replied with a laugh. Freddie hesitated for a moment. He thought how nice it was to bet something as simple as money for once. Every time he made a bet with Sam, the stakes were always embarrassing.
"You're on," he said, shaking her hand. Ten minutes later, and they were standing in front of Carly's locker. "Is it too much to hope Mr. Howard is sick today?" Sam's voice cut in, to Freddie's chagrin. Carly had a face as wide as the grand canyon on her face. "Pay up, Freddie," she said with a laugh. Sam eyed her friends suspiciously. "Pay up?" she asked. Freddie pulled out his wallet, and retrieved a ten dollar bill, which he handed to Carly. "Did you guys make a bet on weather or not I'd show up?" Sam asked in mock anger.
"Hey, Freddie's the one who said you wouldn't be here til second period," Carly answered. "I said you'd be on time. And you were." Sam and Carly exchanged a high-five. "That's my girl," Sam said with a laugh. Carly retrieved her text book just in time for the bell to ring, signalling the beginning of first period. It was a class the three of them shared. And also a class they dreaded. Mr. Howard, Social Studies. Along with Miss Briggs, he seemed to have it out for the trio, making the three of them sit at the very front of the class so that they couldn't "plot against him," as he put it.
As they took their seats, Sam had a sudden moment of rememberance. "Oh, shiz," she said under her breath. She hadn't thought of her meeting with Principal Franklin till just now. "What is it?" Carly asked, suddenly concerned. Sam's face changed from happy to worried in the blink of an eye. "I completely forgot about something," she replied. Carly took note of the urgency in Sam's tone. "Your homework?" Freddie asked, trying to sound helpful. Carly however, suspected it was something else, as she too had a brief flashback to Principal Franklin's office.
"Please tell me you didn't set up a prank," Carly whispered. Sam just stared at the floor. Carly fought the urge to scream. But it was too late. Mr. Howard had entered the classroom, and was rapidly approaching his desk. The plan Sam had set in motion was about to be unveiled. She pulled three umbrellas from her backpack. She handed one each to Carly and Freddie, and kept the third for herself. "Do we even want to know what these are for?" Freddie asked as quietly as he could.
"Let's just say it's about to get messy," Sam replied in an equally quiet whisper. She opened the umbrella and pointed it toward the teacher's desk like a shield. Carly and Freddie were quick to do the same. It was clear she had thought this through. "Why do you three have umbrellas?" Mr. Howard demanded as he sat down. "It's not raining," he continued ranting. 'It's about to,' Sam thought. Right on cue, a mixture of dog crap and cow manure rained down from the ceiling. Mr. Howard was completely covered in it, and the iCarly trio would have been in the splash zone if it weren't for Sam's preparedness.
The smell was horrible. Mr. Howard seemed to be in shock. He finally found his voice however. "Who? Who DID this?" he angrily demanded. Sam looked resigned. She was prepared to fess up. As she began to stand, Carly stopped her. "It was me," Carly said, rising from her desk. Mr. Howard glared at her. "YOU?" he repeated. Carly tried to make it convincing. After all, everyone who knew her knew she followed the rules too much to ever do something like this. "Pretty funny, huh?" Carly asked with a laugh. Freddie eyed his friend and neighbor. "What are you doing?" he mouthed. Sam remained silent. She hadn't asked Carly to take the bullet for her. She only hoped Carly didn't get in too much trouble.
"PRETTY FUNNY?" Mr. Howard roared. Carly stopped her halfhearted laughter immediately. "Principal's office. NOW!" he ordered. Carly swiftly gathered her things and began her trek to Principal Franklin's office. She glared at Sam on the way out. She walked to the office as though she were headed to the Gallows. She hadn't even thought of the fact that her father was in town til now, and there was no way he was gonna like this.