"Code wet! Code wet!" Spencer shouted, launching himself down the staircase and into the living room. "Carly has just taken a chair into her shower!"
Chiz, Sam thought. It's all that Reichner dude's fault. If he hadn't gotten us to agree to do the promotion gig, Carly wouldn't be pulling a Crazy and spazzing out. All she has to do is sing a song or two, for crying out loud! Does she see me losing my mind over this? No.
"I got this, Spence. I know what she's going through, afraid she's going to make a fool of herself in front of who knows how many people. I'll go talk her off her metaphorical ledge." Sam raised herself from her comfortable position lounging on Freddie's lap while they were watching Sherlock Holmes (the good one, with Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr.) before Spencer went up to check on Carly.
She climbed the winding staircase to Carly's room, where she could hear the water pounding furiously against the white linoleum tiles of the shower floor and steam beginning to find its way into Carly's room through the crack underneath and above the bathroom door.
"Carly, are you a prune yet?" Sam shouted through the swirling steam.
"Not yet, but I'm getting there! Do you think that they'd still want a prune on stage, singing to a whole bunch of people?"
"Carly, you're going to do great. You have a wonderful voice, you know that. Remember when you sung to Gordon and Grody Jodi back in Wisconsin? You were awesome. Why is this making you spaz out now?"
"Because, Sam. It just is. Back in Wisconsin, there was nobody there that we knew personally. These people will likely be people we see every day. I don't know if I can do it. Nobody here has seen me sing before. They'll laugh at me, I know they will."
"If they laugh at you, they'll have to deal with the butter sock." Above the roar of the shower Sam could hear Carly's shaky laugh. The uncertain chuckles turned into high peals of laughter. Soon, the sound of the rushing water was completely obliviated by Sam and Carly's giggles.
As the raucous laughter subsided, so did the stream of water. Through the steamy fog Sam saw Carly's arm reach out from behind her shower curtain and grab her robe. Seconds later Carly emerged, robed up and holding her shower chair.
"All better, Shay?"
"All better, Puckett. I'm still nervous out of my mind, but I think I can do this."
"I know you can do this, Carls. The day you mess up on that stage is the day Spencer actually goes back to law school."
Carly laughed and hugged her best friend. "Thanks, Sam. You're the best juvenile best friend almost-sister that a girl could ever ask for."
"Well shucks, Miss Shay. That done warmed the cockles of my heart, that did." Sam said in her best Southern Belle voice.
"Why you're welcome, Miss Puckett. Would you bestow upon me the honor of informing me as to which two songs you will be singing for those wonderful fans in two days' time, on the wonderful Independence Day?" Carly replied in an impressive imitation of Sam's tone.
"Nah, those are state secrets. Not even Frednub knows what I'm going to sing. If I let everyone know beforehand and let them listen to me practice all the time, I'm going to drive myself insane. But thanks though. What about you, what teenybopper pop song will you be crooning?"
"I think I'm going to take a leaf out of your book for once in my life. I'm not going to tell anyone until the day of."
Sam hugged Carly tight. "Aww, look at my little girl. You grow up so fast! First you're keeping secrets, then you're going to start telling little white lies and before you know it, we're going to be going shoplifting together!"
Sam flinched as Carly smacked her in the arm.
000
Sam paced back and forth across the makeshift stage in the mall outside Build-a-Bra, picking at her nails.
"Princess, are you okay?" That was one of the times that Sam was grateful that Freddie had gotten quite a bit taller than she was, because she was eye level with his chest at the perfect height to be on the receiving end of one of his near bone-crushing hugs.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just nerves. Mentally I know I'll do fine, even good, but physically? There are at least 500 people out there, and my body is nervous. It's weird. I don't like it."
"Sam, you're going to do wonderful. I promise. They have a pretty good sound technician back there so I'm going to be right in the front row, where you can see me. If you get too terribly nervous, just look out there and find me."
Sam pulled him closer to her, and lifted her face up to find his lips. Before they had been kissing for a minute, Carly walked up and slid her arm between the intertwined duo.
"Break it up, love birds. Sam, I'm going on first. Freddie and Spencer need to get out there for moral support." Even though Carly sounded calm and collected, confident even, Sam knew that beneath her facade she was just as nervous as Sam was.
Freddie and Spencer obeyed Carly's instructions and followed a burly security guard into the audience. They sat in two seats directly in the girls' line of sight, literally directly in front of the stage.
Sam turned away from the masses of fans sitting in the mall and faced her best friend, who out of the view of her brother and other best friend was now shaking slightly.
"Hey, Carly, relax. I know you can do this. If all else fails, know that it's only two songs. Go out there and imagine everyone naked."
"Everyone?"
"Everyone."
"Even Spencer?"
"Spencer is under the category of everyone, yes."
"Even Freddie?"
"...Okay, not everyone. Everyone but Freddie."
Carly laughed, gave Sam a huge hug, and then ran out on stage where some wannabe DJ was announcing her. The dude handed Carly a stool and a microphone. She sat delicately on the stool and crossed her knees at the ankle, and suddenly Sam knew exactly which song Carly would sing before she even opened her mouth.
"Suddenly I am in front of the lights.
Everything I'm feeling,
Scary and beautiful at the same time
And every day I try just to breathe,
I want to show the whole world
The truth inside of me.
Suddenly people know my name.
Suddenly everything has changed.
Suddenly I feel so alive.
In the blink of an eye,
My dreams begin to rain.
Suddenly time, feels like the wind.
It changes everywhere I go,
I'm just trying to fit in.
Now here I stand,
And I'm still just that girl.
I'm following my heart
In this amazing, crazy world.
Suddenly people know my name.
Suddenly everything has changed.
Suddenly I feel so alive.
In the blink of an eye,
Suddenly I am center stage.
Suddenly I am not afraid.
Suddenly I believe again
In a blink of an eye, it's happening now
As my dreams begin to rain.
I want to say, to love me for me.
What's inside
I'm gonna be positive, not run away, so much for you.
This is my life.
Suddenly I am center stage.
Suddenly I am not afraid.
Suddenly I believe again.
In the blink of an eye,
My dreams begin to rain."
The crowd jumped to their feet as Carly finished her last poignant note, applause and screams thundering over Sam's ears like the most violent storm. Freddie and Spencer were the loudest. Freddie actually had to forcibly restrain Spencer from jumping up on stage and hugging his sister. Carly took it all in stride, curtsying and waving to her fans before handing the wooden stool to a stagehand. The same stagehand also took her microphone, handing her a headset so Carly's hands would be free.
She's going to dance, Sam thought. And again, Sam knew what song Carly was going to do even though Carly hadn't told her. They just knew each other that well. Sam wondered if their positions would be reversed in just a few short minutes, with Carly back here being able to guess what songs Sam would be about to perform seconds before she did them.
Wendy and another couple of girls that Sam didn't know the names of from a dance class that Carly took got up on stage with her, and Sam was sure of her guess. She had seen Carly practicing the moves in the iCarly studio fora recital about six months ago. Carly didn't know that Sam had seen her rehearsing, so she had no idea that Sam knew what song she was going to do.
"Hey! Hey! You! You!
I don't like your girlfriend!
No way! No way!
I think you need a new one.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I could be your girlfriend.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I know that you like me.
No way! No way!
I know it's not a secret.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I want to be your girlfriend!
You're so fine,
I want you mine,
You're so delicious.
I think about you all the time,
You're so addictive.
Don't you know what I could do to make you feel alright?
Don't pretend, I think you know I'm damn precious.
And hell yeah,
I'm the motherfucking princess.
I can tell you like me too, and you know I'm right.
She's like, so whatever.
You could do so much better.
I think we should get together now.
And that's what everyone's talking about!
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I don't like your girlfriend!
No way! No way!
I think you need a new one.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I could be your girlfriend.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I know that you like me.
No way! No way!
I know it's not a secret.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I want to be your girlfriend!
I can see the way, I see the way you look at me.
And even when you look away, I know you think of me.
I know you talk about me all the time, again and again.
So come over here, tell me what I want to hear.
Better yet, make your girlfriend disappear.
I don't want to hear you say her name ever again!
She's like, so whatever.
You could do so much better.
I think we should get together now.
And that's what everyone's talking about!
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I don't like your girlfriend!
No way! No way!
I think you need a new one.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I could be your girlfriend.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I know that you like me.
No way! No way!
You know it's not a secret.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I want to be your girlfriend.
In a second you'll be wrapped around my finger,
'Cause I can, 'cause I can do it better.
There's no other,
So when's it gonna sink in?
She's so stupid,
What the hell were you thinking?
In a second you'll be wrapped around my finger,
'Cause I can, 'cause I can do it better.
There's no other,
So when's it gonna sink in?
She's so stupid,
What the hell were you thinking?
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I don't like your girlfriend!
No way! No way!
I think you need a new one.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I could be your girlfriend.
No way! No way!
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I know that you like me.
No way! No way!
You know it's not a secret.
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I want to be your girlfriend.
No way! No way!
Hey! Hey!"
If Sam thought that the cheers for Carly's performance were loud before, they had nothing on how the audience was reacting now. The noise was ear-shattering. Sam would cover her ears, but that would mean that she couldn't applaud Carly's completely awesome performance. It was such an unusual choice for Carly, but with the influence of her best friends and brothers Carly had grown to say a few choice swear words. She was starting to shed her prissy image, bit by bit.
Carly ran off stage right into Sam's arms.
"Holy chiz, Sam! That was the most amazing feeling ever! They loved it, even the cussing! Ahhhhh!" Carly was jubilant.
"You did absotively posilutely amazing, Shay. Even I was impressed."
Sam didn't have a chance to compliment Carly more, because suddenly the DJ man was calling and gesturing her onto the stage. She ran out, excited at first. Sam grabbed the headset from the DJ and jammed it on her head earnestly.
She was ready to go, until she saw the crowd.
There they were, looking at her expectantly. She immediately felt rather foolish. How could she compare to Carly's performance? How could she follow that?
Just as Sam felt like she was going to run off the stage, she caught Freddie's gaze. He smiled at her, that crooked little smirk she loved so much, challenging her to stay on that stage and give these people the show of their lives.
Challenge accepted, Benson.
Sam heard the opening guitar riff of her song, and opened her mouth to sing.
"She's a caged animal,
London by night,
Crashing lights and cymbals,
Queens of Twilight,
And if I was you,
I'd use the loo before the long drive.
We compliment each other
Just like Satan and Christ.
Baby, when I am laid to rest.
May my laughter remain
Like your kiss blew me away.
I see you spirit.
I gotta know right now.
I see you before me.
Won't you show me how?
I wear my hair frizzy,
I don't copy no style.
But kissin' and a scrubbin'
It has consequences.
You're on the bus again past Big Ben,
With your rip off Oyster card .
Tell your A.S.B.O. friend
To sling his hook and go make your girl smile.
Cause baby, when I am laid in earth,
May my laughter remain
Like your kiss blew me away.
Left your scent on my pillow,
Sister Rosetta was playin'
The congregation insane,
Drinkin' in the house with no name.
Capture the spirit!
I gotta know right now.
I see you before me.
And won't you show me how?
Cause I am the landlord.
You'll be my troubadour.
Better before me,
Won't you show me how, how?
You gotta capture the spirit!
Cause I gotta know right now!
I see you before me,
Won't you show me how?
I am the landlord,
And you'll be my troubadour.
Was it better before me?
You just don't know how!
Capture the spirit,
And let it all hang out!
I see you before me,
Darlin', show me now.
I am the landlord,
And you'll be my troubadour!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Won't you show me how, how?"
The crowd went wild. Sam's song was so unlike Carly's, but in the best way. While Carly's songs captured her essence, one a sweet ballad and the other a rebellious song highlighting her boy crazy ways, Sam's was more indie rock and showcased her free spirit.
Unlike Carly, Sam wasn't singing a ballad. They just weren't her. Oh yeah, she was going to sing a love song. It was her own shout-out to Freddie. But there's no way she would be caught dead sitting on a stool pouring her heart out to the audience. No freaking way. So she went with a more upbeat song, something that both represented how she felt about Freddie and how she felt about herself.
"The day I first met you,
You told me you'd never fall in love.
But now that I get you,
I know fear is what it really was.
Now here we are,
So close, yet so far.
How did I pass the test?
When will you realise
Baby, I'm not like the rest.
Don't wanna break your heart,
Wanna give your heart a break.
I know you're scared it's wrong,
Like you might make a mistake.
There's just one life to live,
And there's no time to wait, to waste.
So let me give your heart a break, give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break, your heart a break.
Oh yeah, yeah
On Sunday you went home alone.
There were tears in your eyes.
I called your cell phone, my love.
But you did not reply.
The world is ours if you want it,
We can take it if you just take my hand.
There's no turning back now.
Baby, try and understand.
Don't wanna break your heart,
Wanna give your heart a break.
I know you're scared it's wrong,
Like you might make a mistake.
There's just one life to live,
And there's no time to wait, to waste.
So let me give your heart a break, give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break, your heart a break.
There's just so much you can take,
Give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break, your heart a break,
Oh yeah, yeah
When your lips are on my lips,
And our hearts beat as one,
But you slip out of my fingertips,
Every time you run, whoa oh whoa oh oh!
Don't wanna break your heart,
Wanna give your heart a break.
I know you're scared it's wrong,
Like you might make a mistake.
There's just one life to live,
And there's no time to wait, to waste.
So let me give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break.
'Cause you've been hurt before,
I can see it in your eyes.
You try to smile it away, some things you can't disguise.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Baby, I can ease the ache, the ache.
So let me give your heart a break, give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break, your heart a break.
There's just so much you can take,
Give your heart a break.
Let me give your heart a break, your heart a break.
Oh babe
Oh yeah, yeah
The day I first met you,
You told me you'd never fall in love."
Everyone was silent again, but then the applause came down on Sam like rain. Carly ran out on stage and put Sam in the tightest hug she had ever received, shouting words of approval in Sam's ear. Between the audience and Carly's shrieks, Sam thought she'd go deaf.
"Ohmygosh, Sam! That was amazing! Like, I'm flabbergasted over here!"
Sam was enveloped into the arms of Freddie and Spencer as well, a giant group hug up on stage. Truthfully, Sam had never felt more at home.
A/N: Hey, guys. Happy General Winter Holiday, since I don't know who celebrates what! The songs were, in order: 'Suddenly' by Ashley Tisdale, 'Girlfriend' by Avril Lavigne, 'Sister Rosetta (2011 version)' by The Noisettes, and 'Give Your Heart a Break' by Demi Lovato. I tried to choose songs that both Sam and Carly themselves would listen too. Either way, I was incorporating 'Sister Rosetta' in because I LOVE that song.
Mike2101: Aww, thank you! It's nice to see a review from you that's complete compliments. Not that I don't avidly appreciate the criticism, because you are NEVER mean about it and it truly helps. But I like hearing that you like what I'm doing.
LyshaLuvsSeddie: Right? I would love to hear Sam sing on the show. It would blow my mind.
Arocksprpl2, Seddielove, notsodamneasy, DannySamLover20, SpaghEDDIEtacos: Thank you so much, you all! Really, I love all of your reviews. :D
g: I feel the exact same way. The very first fanfic I ever read got me hooked on Relient K, and I've loved them ever since. That was like 3 years ago too...
.epic.73: That ravished line was my favorite line in the whole chapter. I use it so often in real life :) Someone IS planning ahead...bwahahahahah. I understand how you feel about the whole exams thing, because so often I have to come on my laptop to either write these or do something important for school and I find myself getting sucked into a really good fanfic.
Review, or Santa (aka my parents) will take back all my awesome Christmas presents I got this morning and leave me with only a Justin Bieber and the butter sock (wait...that might not be so bad). Anyway, as a special holiday present to me, review!