Ch.4 iPack
Carly entered the apartment she called home without a word. "Carly, your school called," Spencer said as she ran up stairs. "What happened?" he asked. Carly paused to answer him, but before she could utter a word, her father answered for her. "Carly can't talk now," Colonel Shay replied. "She has to go pack."
"Pack?" Spencer asked. "What for?" A sad thought suddenly came to him. "You're not making her move in with Grand Dad are you?" he asked slowly. Before their father could answer, Carly did. "He's making me go to military school."
"Military school?" Spencer demanded. "Did she really do something that serious?" Their father was undettered. "Yes," he replied. "In fact, she's lucky I gave her the option, given what happened. Now, I have to make the arrangements. Carly, I expect you to be ready to leave when I get back." Carly nodded. "Yes, sir," she replied. Colonel Shay left without saying another word.
Carly turned to head upstairs, but Spencer stopped her. "Carly, what happened? I've never seen Dad this mad." Carly bit her lip. She knew she had to tell him. She had tried to tell her father on the way home from school, but he had made it clear he didn't want to hear any excuses for her "inexcusable" behavior.
"Sam set up a prank on Mr. Howard," she said slowly. Spencer didn't even pretend to look surprised. "What did she do?" he asked. Carly looked at her feet. "She set the ceiling above his desk to drop manure and...something else on him," she replied. Spencer recoiled in shock. "Wow," he said. "That's a little overboard, even for Sam." Carly nodded her agreement. "So, if Sam did it, why don't you tell Dad and Principal Franklin?" Spencer asked.
Carly shook her head. "I can't tell Principal Franklin," she answered. "He called me into his office yesterday. Sam pranked Miss Briggs," she explained. "And how did that go?" Spencer asked. "Well, you know how Sam acts around most authority figures, right?" she replied. Spencer nodded. "I do," he said.
"Well, I think she went too far with it. Principal Franklin told her that if she gets caught pranking another teacher this year she'll be expelled." Spencer immediately made the connection. "So, you're covering her so she doesn't," he stated. Carly nodded.
"I tried to tell Dad, but he didn't want to hear it," she explained. "That doesn't surprise me," Spencer replied. Carly nodded. "He gave me the choice between military school for a semester or living with Grand Dad," she said. Spencer nodded in understanding. "And you chose military school," he replied. Carly nodded in response.
"Look, I'm gonna go upstairs and pack," Carly said. "I really don't want to make Dad any madder." Spencer nodded. "Look, it'll be fine. Once he's had a chance to calm down, I'll try to talk to him," he replied.
With that, Carly headed upstairs to pack. As she stepped in her room, she felt a shiver of sadness. It looked like for the immediate future, iCarly was cancelled. She retrieved a suitcase from her closet, and began filling it. She seemed to be numb to the world as she packed. She had covered for Sam before. In fact, it was well known between the trio that her covering for Sam was what led to iCarly's start.
She didn't even hear Sam and Freddie coming up the stairs. A knock at the open door startled her. "We heard," Freddie said softly. "Can we come in?" Carly nodded, and they entered. "So, how'd it go with your dad?" Freddie asked.
"Not good," she replied, continuing to pack. Freddie and Sam eyed the suitcase. "Wait, why are you packing?" Sam asked. "Your dad's not making you move is he?" Carly shook her head. "No he's not," she replied. The two eyed their friend expectantly. "He's making me go to military school," she said.
Freddie stared at Carly in shock. Sam seemed to think it over. "No you're not," she said. Her mind was made up. "I'll talk to Principal Franklin in school, I'll tell him I did it-" Carly cut her off. "Don't you dare!" she said.
"Why not?" Sam demanded. "You shouldn't take this much heat for something I did," she reasoned. Carly was unfazed. "And let you get expelled? It's too late. What's done is done," Carly replied. Freddie was unconvinced. "Are you sure?" he asked. "And what about iCarly?"
Carly nodded, her mind made up. "Look, it won't be so bad," she said. "Dad said that if my behavior improves, he'll let me return to Ridgeway to finish the year," she explained. "And I guess iCarly will be taking a short break," she added. She thought for a moment. "But as long as you guys are here, you can help me pack," she said. "I have to be done by the time Dad gets back."
Colonel Steven Shay returned to Spencer's apartment a short time later. "Carly!" he called. "Are you ready to go?" In answer, the elevator door opened, revealing Carly, Sam and Freddie. "They're just here to say goodbye," Carly said, before her father could say anything. "Fair enough," he replied. "Let's go, we have to get you settled in at George Washingon Academy," he said.
Carly nodded, and dutifully followed her father, stopping only to hug Spencer on her way out. "I'll miss you," she said, trying to stifle her tears. "Me too, Kiddo. Me too," he replied. Freddie helped Carly with her luggage as they made their way to Bushwell's lobby. Sam brought up the rear, a silent look of contemplation on her face. She could feel guilt eating her up as they got to the door.
"I'll miss you guys," Carly said before following her father. "We'll miss you too," Freddie said sadly. They didn't go back upstairs until the car containing Carly was out of sight.