Chapter 7:
Hollywood Arts High School - Lane's Office
The former tech producer sat on the worn out leather couch in the guidance counselor's office as he awaited for Mr. Alexander. He was pulled out of math class for what he was told was a routine counselor check-up that every student had. The boy had enough on his plate already with his audition for Samuel Holt's play being just a few days away and the workload both at school and the Pear store increasing. He had been spending a lot of time at Tori's house practicing with her for his audition. She was kind enough to give him tips and even some secrets she used in the past to knock her previous auditions out of the park. As grateful as the boy was, he still wasn't sure that he even had a chance of making the play as an extra let alone the main character. According to his friends, the first selection was always the hardest to get and a lot of times more experienced students were selected even if the newcomers had better auditions. The boy was barely in front of the camera on iCarly so he didn't even have that to make up for his lack of experience.
"Ah, Freddie. Thanks for coming. I hope everything is good." Lane exclaimed as he closed the door behind him and took a seat. He opened the filing cabinet behind him and grabbed a folder which the boy assumed was his. The guidance counselor pulled out his notebook and pen from his drawer as he looked at the boy, "So first off. I just want to ask how you are adjusting to Hollywood Arts?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders, "Pretty good I guess. I've had a lot of help for sure, but I think I'm getting the hang of where everything is."
"And your courses? Are you experiencing any difficulties?"
"Actually, they've been going really well. I think my experience on iCarly has come in handy for most of the tech courses. Acting and playing instruments are still kind of foreign to me though, but Tori, Jade, and Andre have all been kind enough to give me a hand. I've got to say Andre could probably teach a dog how to play the piano." Freddie exclaimed. Andre had been teaching him how to play the guitar and the boy was actually getting pretty good. Andre was a laid back teacher that didn't get frustrated when he had to go over the same concepts repeatedly.
"That's good to hear. Did you decide on an instrument?"
"Yup, the guitar."
"Interesting, what made you choose the guitar?" The counselor asked.
Freddie shrugged, "I've always kind of been interested in learning. Ridgeway didn't really have a great music department like over here so I never got the chance to try playing back in Seattle."
Lane nodded as he continued, "So I hear you're also going to be auditioning for Samuel Holt's play?"
"Yep." The boy confirmed. It wasn't lost on him that Lane had yet to take a single note during their conversation thus far.
"Excited?"
"I guess so." The boy cleared his throat and asked, "Is it alright if I ask you something?"
The guidance counselor put down his pen and nodded, "Sure, Freddie."
"Why am I actually here Mr. Alexander?"
The man chuckled, "Lane is just fine." The boy nodded as the man continued, "And you're here for a regular check-up. I like listening to how everything is going with all the students every couple of weeks or so." Lane reached over his desk and squirted some lotion onto his hands. He gestured the bottle to Freddie who politely declined the offer.
"I just... find it kind of odd." Freddie noted.
"And why is that?" Lane questioned, resting his now moisturized hands back on the desk.
"Because I haven't heard anyone else say anything about regular check-ups. Andre, Beck, and Jade have been here for a long time and they've never had a 'check-up' appointment before." Freddie explained. The gang had done a good job on filling him in on just about every little detail related to Hollywood Arts and he figured something like this would have been brought up in conversation. The boy let out a small breath, "With that being said, I was hoping you wouldn't lie to me or pretend I'm stupid. I've already had enough issues in the past with people that do."
"Okay, Freddie." He sighed, lifting his hands in defeat, "I did want to check up on you, that part is true. I also wanted to see how you were after the whole announcement with Jade and the messages I'm seeing online from other students about you being a... well... - a cheater?" Freddie asked, finishing the sentence. Lane nodded, clearing his throat, "Yes, that. As a staff member here, I am concerned with what is being said."
"Well it's not true if that's what you're wondering." The boy stated, leaning back on the couch crossing his arms, "The cheating part I mean."
Lane jotted down a note as he looked back up, "So you and Jade are half-siblings?" The boy nodded, confirming the statement, "How has that been for you?"
"It's been great." The boy simply noted, shrugging his shoulders.
"You haven't experienced any problems or felt different since the secret came out? Maybe something your peers have said?"
The former tech producer paused for a moment, but instead shrugged his shoulder non-nonchalantly and shook his head. Lane put down the pen and let out a breath as he looked at the student, "Freddie if you're expecting honesty from me then I would appreciate the same kind of honesty in return. I understand if you're not willing to share your feelings, but just tell me that instead of shrugging it off. My job here is to help."
Freddie eyed him for a moment with a slight hint of annoyance and sighed, "Fine... Well our friends were all pretty hell-bent on wanting us to know the relationship Jade and I have doesn't change anything. I'm still Freddie and she's still Jade." He had recalled them saying.
"But you think it does?"
"It's just a big change of direction in my life." He affirmed, "Moving to Los Angeles was a big deal and something I still at times believe is crazy. I think realizing that I have a half-sister in my life now is something I still might not have gotten used to yet. I mean yes I had come to L.A. to find Jade, but it was never initially my plan to stay here." The brunette boy admitted, "Now don't get me wrong, I think Jade is a great person and all, but I've spent the majority of my life believing I was an only child. So suddenly finding out that not only do I have a half-sister, but that we were left behind so that the man who spurned my mother and I could start a new family is... a lot to take in. I think what I'm trying to say is I don't think we can still be just Freddie and Jade when so much has changed in our lives."
"I'm sorry to hear about that Freddie." Lane sympathized, referring to the boy's dad leaving him before his birth. It was something he was thankful to have never experienced himself with his parents. The guidance counselor was raised and cared for well by both his mother and father. It was something he was grateful for and why as a guidance counselor he took it upon himself sometimes to try and go above and beyond to help kids that didn't have the same luxury he did.
The boy looked down at his hands and mumbled, "It is what it is I guess."
There was brief pause for a moment as he looked at Freddie, "Have you ever tried getting in contact with your father?" The guidance counselor questioned, trying to get the boy to focus more on this bigger issue.
"With all due respect, I don't feel very comfortable nor have much desire to talk about that man." Freddie exclaimed, displeased at the fact Lane had referred to him as his father. It was the one thing in his life that nagged him since he was a little kid. Not just because the circumstances surrounding his departure were out of his control, but because he always wanted to know why? Why did he abandon his mom and him and was there something that led him to do so?
The counselor made note of the fact that Freddie acknowledged his father as 'that man'. There was clearly a lot of resentment Freddie had towards his father and rightfully so.
"Okay, no problem. How about we talk about the rumors going on instead?" Lane instead shifted the conversation towards. It was his understanding that talking about Freddie's father was currently off-limits and would require a much more delicate approach. He jotted down some notes as he awaited for Freddie to initiate the conversation.
"They're bullshit. What more is there to say?" The boy scoffed, crossing his arms again. He could feel his blood slowly boil at the thought of the teenage boy that had confronted him, Beck, and Andre at the gym the other day. It didn't take long after Sam's video message for the boy to do some digging and realize that Sam was the mastermind behind the rumors. He didn't really expect it to be anyone but her considering the blonde demon had always made it her goal to make his life as miserable as it could be.
"Freddie, I'm going to ask for you to please not use language like that here." Lane said somewhat sternly. It wasn't uncommon to hear students swear around the school, but Lane still liked maintaining a level of professional communication between him and his students.
"Whatever." The former tech producer muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Thank you... So how do you feel about these rumors?" Lane asked, seeing the increasing annoyance form on the face of the brunette boy.
"I feel that they're bullshit." Freddie answered, knowing it wasn't the answer the man in front of him was looking for.
Lane opened his mouth to give him another warning, but decided not to. Instead he pressed a bit, "Do they make you feel angry?"
"Do you even have to ask that?" Freddie snapped, sitting up in his seat a little. The guidance counselor raised his hands slightly, pleading for the boy to cool down a bit. The boy knew Lane was just trying to get him to expand on his feelings, but the conversation they just had about his father leading into this only seemed to make matters worse.
"Look Freddie, I get that talking about this is probably reopening some wounds, but I'm just trying to help you -"
"Help me what." Freddie interrupted, "Help me vent out my anger? Is that what this is? Honestly, I think punching a hole in the wall of my hotel room so the couple next door can stop listening to music at 3 in the morning is a better way to vent! Or maybe wiping off any bit of smugness I missed on that asshole Ryder's face would do wonders for me in releasing my anger!"
"This isn't about relieving your anger, it's about helping you understand it." Lane explained, noticing the increasing annoyance on the boy's face.
"Why don't you help me by not prying into my life?" The boy exclaimed, raising his voice a little louder.
"Freddie I don't think that's fa- Fair?" The former tech producer cut him off, standing up, "Don't talk to me about what's fair! You didn't have to leave your mom behind just so you could escape your shitty life and friends and yet still lay in bed every night wondering if you made the right move. You don't have to bust your ass at the Pear store everyday to pay for food, gas, and a hotel room while still trying to study hard in school. You don't have to walk into this building every goddamn day and hear kids gossiping about you, trying to figure out every little detail of your life and knowing that no matter what you do they'll hate you anyway. Just because some she-demon decided to spread some crap online. So until you have to go through something like that stop trying to tell me what is and isn't fair!"
The former tech producer stood there breathing heavily as Lane just sat there looking at the boy partially in shock. The room was quiet for a few moments before Freddie choked out quietly to himself, yet still loud enough for Lane to hear, "What did I do wrong in my life to have to go through all of this? I was a good friend, a caring son. All I ever got in return was mud slung at my face and knives stabbed in my back." The guidance counselor was still taken aback at his outburst as the boy grabbed his bag and slowly opened the door leading into the hallway. He paused for a moment and turned around, looking at Lane, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Freddie." Lane whispered, "We can talk again whenever you're ready." Freddie simply gave a weak nod before exiting the room and closing the door behind him. Lane blew out a deep breath tossing his pen onto the notebook. Freddie was a unique kid compared to the other students he worked with at Hollywood Arts. He had faced a lot of for someone as young as he was and his internet fame made it even harder for him. It may not have been fair, but it was something he was going to have to accept and move forward from in his life if he ever wanted to be at peace. The boy had a long journey ahead of him, but Lane was confident that this first meeting despite its catastrophic ending was a good start.
Hollywood Arts - Asphalt Café
The brunette boy sat alone on the bench, poking at the pieces of watermelon he had in his container. The anger he had this morning dispersed and he was still feeling rather guilty for snapping at Lane. He let out a sad chuckle to himself. Lately, guilty was all he had been feeling. He hated to admit that someone as evil as Sam Puckett could be right about anything, but yet she was. He did leave his mom behind in search of a better life. Sure she would tell him not to worry and that she understood his decision but it still bothered him. It left a sour taste in his mouth when he thought about the fact that the man his mother may have foolishly loved at one point did exactly the same thing to her.
"You seem like you're in a world of your own." Tori said, pulling the boy back to reality, "Is that watermelon?"
"Go ahead." The boy simply exclaimed, sliding the container towards her.
"Don't mind if do." She noted, taking his fork and eating a piece. Her eyes rolled back in delight something that managed to get a small smile out of Freddie despite his mood. The half-Latina girl swallowed the watermelon piece in her mouth before looking back at the boy, "So, the audition is in a few days. Are you excited?"
"I don't think I'm ready." The boy admitted, trying to shift his mood back to normal, "I keep thinking I'm going to forget my lines on stage and awkwardly stand there."
"No way." Tori disagreed, "You know the lines Freddie. We've gone over them so many times that I'm pretty sure you could write the scene backwards if you wanted."
"Maybe it's just nervousness." Freddie instead suggested. The girl nodded eating another piece of watermelon as he continued, "I just don't want to tank my first ever audition."
"This is just first time pre-performance anxiety." Tori stated, "Trust me, we've all had it." She tilted her head slightly as she noticed the boy still had doubt in his eyes, "Did I ever tell you about my first ever audition?"
The boy shook his head, "No, but I'm sure it was probably one of the most amazing things to happen at this school." He complimented.
The girl chuckled, "Thanks, but I'm not talking about here at Hollywood Arts. It was back when I used to go to Sherwood." Freddie sat up curiously in his seat as Tori continued, "Our school was holding this big play for the first time ever to end the school year. There was a lot of pressure riding on this play because our school wanted to prove to the board the drama department should be given the funds it needed to stay open the next year. Our drama teacher Mr. Brown was such a nice guy and always went out of his way to help us, so it was important for us all to really nail this play for him."
"I wish we had teachers like that at Ridgeway. All we got were some crazies you'd confuse for mental patients if you didn't know them." Freddie joked, letting out a small smirk.
The girl gave a grin of her own, "So anyway, we had our auditions in a week and it was all I focused on. There were times when I skipped meals and even going to some classes. I was so hell bent on not tanking the audition so that I could help Mr. Brown get the funds the department needed. Sure there may have been other students auditioning, but they weren't like the kids here at Hollywood Arts. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands and really lead this play to success because both Mr. Brown and the other drama students were counting on me. So the entire week I'm going over my lines 24/7. I'm saying them in the shower and mumbling them while brushing. Even when I'm in bed I'm thinking of those lines constantly. Finally, the day of my actual audition comes." The girl shook her head just at the memory, "It was an absolute train wreck. The moment I stepped onto the stage my mind went blank and it was like my body was paralyzed. I just stood there as they awaited for me to begin. I was so focused on nailing the audition and worrying about not failing that when it came time to perform that was all I could think about. Luckily, Mr. Brown was able to pull me aside and help me regain some of my bearings. I stepped back on stage and nailed the audition and got the lead in the play. We managed to impress the board enough that not only did they gave the drama department the funds they needed to stay open, but they also decided to expand the drama room."
"Tori Vega saving the day as usual."
The girl playfully rolled her eyes, "My point is that you should stop worrying about failing your audition. We both know you can do this, all you have to do is go out there and perform. When you step on the stage just take a deep breath and the rest will fall into place on its own." Freddie thought about what Tori said and gave her small smile as he nodded. The girl beamed a smile in return that gave him warmth inside as she began to continue eating his watermelon, "You know you really should try some of this before I finish it all."
The boy chuckled, "Yeah sure I'll have a piece." He went to reach for the fork, but the girl instead took poked a piece with the fork and fed the boy. He chewed in delight at sweetness of the watermelon. "You're right." He agreed, "This is really good. Is there anymore left?"
Tori looked down at the container as she chewed on a piece of watermelon. She swallowed and gave the boy a sheepish grin, "I kind of... ate the last piece."
The boy laughed as the girl's face turned red with embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Freddie."
"It's okay, Tori. I can just grab some more when I stop by the supermarket again."
"Or maybe we can go grab some food after your audition? My treat." Tori offered. She felt a bit of apprehension asking him, almost as if it was like she asking him out on a date. That wasn't it though was it? It was just a friendly offer made by one friend to another.
She bit her bottom lip nervously before he flashed a grin that eased her mind, "Deal." Freddie simply said.
"A minute longer and I might have changed my mind, Benson." She teased.
"On second thought." He joked, as the girl pinched his arm playfully and guiltily letting her fingers trace down his forearm a bit as she let go. The boy sat for a moment and watched as the girl walked away from him. He could still feel the sensation her fingers left on his arm different than anything he had felt before. It was a feeling he hadn't felt since Carly, but unlike with his time with her, this moment felt more real.
"You coming? I need someone to walk me to science class. Ms. Hopkins creeps me out." She called out. He shook his head and chuckled as he got off the bench and looped his arm with the girl's as the pair walked back to class. Freddie wasn't sure how she did it, but anytime he felt down she was always able to lift up his spirits and make him feel that everything would be alright.
West Residence
"No Marissa believe me I had no clue they were going to do that." The older West noted. She had spent the last few minutes on the phone speaking to Marissa Benson. Well it was more like listening to her speak. The Benson matriarch was worried about the same thing Ms. West had expressed her concern to Jade about, the children's father.
"I'm sure he will be fine." Ms. West assured, "He has Jade to support him if he needs it and their friends seem to have their backs as well. I must admit it honestly feels good to see the two becoming so close to each other."
"Yes, I suppose you're right." Ms. Benson replied, "It's just I worry about Freddie you know. Even with the two of you, he's still all by himself in Los Angeles and with everything going on with him at the moment I just get worried. Plus that hotel he is staying at just makes me worry even more."
The sound of the doorbell ringing drew the West matriarch's attention. She assumed it was Jade returning from Beck's house. The girl had gone over to complete a history assignment they had due the next day.
"Listen Marissa, I'll give you a call tomorrow, okay?"
Ms. Benson sighed, "Sure, talk to you tomorrow Rachel." The older West cut the call as she put the phone down and walked towards the door. She opened the door and was surprised to see a young man standing on the front steps.
"Freddie?" Ms. West asked, instantly seeing the similarity in his facial features to that of his father. It actually worried her for a second that she may have been reliving some kind of weird flashback from when her ex-husband was younger.
"Hey Ms. West." The boy greeted politely.
"I'm sorry Freddie, but Jade isn't home at the moment." She explained, glancing down at her watch, "She went over to Beck's place to work on a history project, but I'm sure she'll be home in a couple of hours."
"I know she's not here." The boy assured, "I was actually hoping I would be able to speak with you."
"Oh." The West matriarch noted, raising her brow in curiosity, "Well please come in." Freddie thanked her as he stepped inside. The house had very modern decor throughout, something the nerdy side of him found aesthetically pleasing.
"Can I get you something to drink?" She asked, making her way towards the kitchen, "Coffee maybe?"
"Sure that would great." The boy replied, taking a seat on one of the island bar stools. He unstrapped his bag and placed it onto the ground next to him. He watched as his half-sibling's mother placed a small cup into the Brewrig machine and pushed the button. She turned back to look at the boy.
"So how are you finding Los Angeles?" The woman asked, leaning against the sink counter, "It must be a big change compared to Seattle."
"It's nice. A lot busier compared to Seattle though." He pointed out, "I'm still trying to find a nice smoothie place. That's probably one of the things back home that I miss the most."
"I can imagine how hard it must be trying to find a place to replace the Groovy Smoothies."
"You know about the Groovy Smoothies?" The boy asked surprised.
"You can't get smoothies like that anywhere else in the world. I have yet to find anything taste as good as a blueberry splat." She stated with a small smirk, crossing her arms. Freddie could see where Jade had gotten her signature smirk from.
"If you don't mind me asking, did you use to live in Seattle as well?"
"No, but I've gone to some company events over there. Jade refuses to believe that anything can taste better than her Jet Brew coffee." The boy let out a small chuckle knowing just how much Jade needed it to survive in the morning. The older West grabbed the warm cup of coffee now ready and handed it over to Freddie.
"Thanks." The boy noted, taking a sip of the warm drink. He gripped onto the mug tightly, letting his fingers absorb the warmth.
"So Freddie, you said that you were here to speak to me." Ms. West noted, trying to regain focus back onto the topic at hand.
"Yes of course. Well you see I have actually been looking around for a place in Los Angeles to rent. Beck had mentioned that you were a real estate agent and I was wondering if you would be able to help me find something. I doubt I'd be able to find anyone that knows more about rent prices and good neighborhoods better than you and I don't think I can afford an agent."
"Yes Jade had been telling me about your hotel situation." Ms. West pointed out. She made sure not to mention the fact that his mother absolutely hated the fact he was living in one, let alone one that was in a less than stellar area. The black haired woman figured he had enough on his plate already to have to think about his mom freaking out, "I'd be more than to happy to show you some good places. Just give me some time to do some research and scout a couple places beforehand."
"That would be great." He said happily, "I really appreciate this Ms. West. It is very kind of you."
"No problem at all Freddie." She replied. The brunette boy sipped on his coffee when the light above him in the kitchen began to flicker causing the older West to groan.
"Is the bulb dying?" Freddie asked, looking up.
The older West shook her head, "No, I was told the wiring inside was loose or something. I've been meaning to call someone to fix it, but I haven't really had any time to do it. The fall season is usually a busy time for people looking to buy or sell."
"I could take a look at if you'd like." The boy offered.
"That's awfully kind of you Freddie, but I'm sure its been a long day for you. I don't think you want to spend your free time standing on a ladder fixing a light fixture." Ms. West explained, kindly turning down his offer.
"No, it's okay Ms. West. It's no problem at all for me." The former tech producer insisted, "It's the least I can do for you agreeing to help me find a place to stay. We used to have lighting issues all the time in our - in the iCarly studio." He quickly corrected, something Ms. West noticed, but didn't press on, "I've managed to pick up a lot from the guys that would fix it. I was even able to fix a similar issue in our apartment back in Seattle."
"Alright sure but just please be careful." Ms. West agreed, knowing the boy would persist until she gave in. The boy set his coffee aside and asked Ms. West where the electrical panel and toolbox were so that he could get to work.
It took the boy about ten minutes, but he was able to re-tighten the wires and install the fixture back onto the ceiling. Ms. West watched half in surprise and half in anxiousness as the boy was on the ladder. She prayed he wouldn't get hurt, knowing how protective his mother was of him. Just as he promised however he finished the job quickly and without much trouble. He switched the power back on and flicked the light switch. To the black haired woman's pleasure, the light did not flicker once.
"That should do it." Freddie noted, folding the ladder and putting the tools back into the box.
"Thank goodness, that flickering light was driving me crazy. Thank you Freddie." The woman praised.
"It's no problem. Just let me know if you run into any other issues, I'd be happy to come by and take a look." He offered, "I can't promise I can fix everything, but it's better than having to schedule an appointment with someone all the time." He exclaimed, flashing a proud grin. If it was one thing he took pride in, it was helping people no matter if he got something out of it or not. It was the one thing he was certain he got from his mother. Ms. West couldn't help but admire the kid in front of her. For a boy who grew up without a father figure, Freddie was a generous and respectful young man. She knew when it came to qualities like that, there was only so much a parent could do to raise their child to be that way. This was just who he was, not because he was told to be, but because he wanted to be.
"I should probably head back to the hotel." The boy noted, feeling some dread knowing he would leaving such a wonderful home and go back to a place he had grown to not stand anymore, "Thank you for the coffee and thanks again your help Ms. West."
The older West felt bad knowing the boy was going to be heading back to the hotel to probably munch on microwaved food for dinner. "Freddie." She called out to the boy who stood by the front door.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to maybe stay for dinner?... I'm not sure if you like Chinese but you're more than welcome to stay."
"I don't want to impose- Nonsense." She interrupted, "I'm sure Jade would be thrilled to have you over. I would also love to get to know you more."
The boy let out a wide smile and nodded, "Sure, I would love to."
"Excellent." The black haired woman exclaimed as she clapped, "Now tell me something. Is Jade's acting teacher really as strange as I've heard? Jade's told me some pretty crazy stories and I don't know whether she's telling the truth or I should be looking to place her in creative writing classes."
"Believe me you have no idea." The boy stated suppressing a laugh, sparking greater intrigue from the woman, "Like just the other day he came into class after drinking a bad coconut..."
Shay Residence
The blonde stepped into Bushwell Plaza after a pretty rough day at school. Carly refused to even acknowledge that she was there at school. Even during lunch just as she decided she was going to corner the girl and force her to talk, Carly instead purposely started a conversation with Wendy. She was making her way to the meat shop nearby after school when she found herself stepping inside the apartment complex. Maybe it was out of habit or maybe because it felt weird knowing she wasn't welcome inside anymore. She forced herself to believe the former as she made her all the way up, until she was in the hallway between the Shay and Benson apartments. She stood in front of the Shay's door unsure of what to do. Her hand was closed in a fist as she pondered knocking on the door. Sam then remembered that Carly was not at home at this time as she was always tutoring some kid a few blocks away. The brunette wasn't even paid much, but Sam knew Carly wanted to just help the little girl pass her science class so her parents would take her to see Girly Cow.
"I don't know, I just see some of her in me." She remembered Carly saying when she exclaimed that she shouldn't be wasting her time given the crummy pay, "Her parents are going to take her to see Girly Cow on ice in Florida if she passes her science class."
"So what? I heard it isn't even good."
"That's not the only reason why I want to help her." The brunette answered, "She says her parents are always busy with work and they don't really spend a lot of time together. Her dad is always traveling for business and her mom is too busy trying to keep up with work and house chores to be able to spend time with her. I don't want to see someone miss out on an opportunity to be with both of their parents." Her face fell slightly as she whispered, "I know I would have done anything to spend more time with my mom and dad... I really miss her Sam." The brunette web hostess didn't have to say more as the blonde already began to hold her in her arms as she sobbed lightly.
Carly's tutoring seemed to work as the girl was currently doing extremely well in her science. So well that her parents decided to book the tickets in advance to surprise her. Carly even managed to convince them to just make it a vacation after speaking to them about what her daughter had said about not spending enough time with them. She told them the story with her dad and how since she was little she wished he could spend more time with her. It was enough for them to agree with the web hostess. The brunette knew the little girl was going to be bouncing off the walls in excitement and joy when they would tell her.
"Sam?" Spencer called out, pulling the girl out of her flashback. She turned around to see Spencer standing in the hallway behind her. He had a smoothie in his hand as he gave the girl a confused look.
"What are you doing here standing outside?" He asked, grabbing the keys from his pocket, "I figured if you were here you'd already be inside raiding our fridge for ham."
"I guess Carly hadn't told him yet." She thought to herself before answering calmly, "Yeah, I was actually in the neighborhood and figured I'd stop by. You actually just came a few seconds after I did."
"Oh... Well do you want to come inside?" He offered, opening the door. The girl nodded and stepped inside despite knowing she wasn't welcomed inside by her best friend. The artist tossed his keys onto the island counter and plopped onto the couch turning on the television, "Carly isn't supposed to be home for a while. She's over at the Matthews tutoring Brooke."
"Yeah I know." The blonde quietly said, placing her bag on the ground and sitting down on the couch next to Spencer. The shaggy haired man was too engrossed on the screen to notice the unusually dull behavior of the girl. It was a common sight around this time that Sam would be tearing the apartment apart looking for the TV remote while she had a chicken leg in her mouth. Carly would point out how it was probably in the fridge where she left it. The blonde would grab it and turn on the TV as Spencer would run out excited to watch the Boat channel. The girls would deny his request and he would be sitting with his arms crossed, annoyed he couldn't watch the Boat channel as Carly would bring the three of them iced teas that had a little umbrella in the glass. They would then sit and watch America Sings. The trio would proceed to mock the terrible auditions while Spencer would cover his ears from the deafening fan girl screams of Carly and Sam when a random boy band would rock the stage.
"So I was thinking about a new character for the next iCarly episode." Spencer exclaimed excitedly, once again pulling the girl back to Earth. He actually came up with the idea on his way back from the Groovy Smoothies. The blonde involuntarily winced at the sound of the show's name, knowing it was probably not going to be around anymore or at least for a long time. It felt weird. The show had become her life and was really the only thing she was actually proud of in her life. She would never admit it, but it was the only thing that kept her from thinking about the future and where she saw herself. Even though she knew iCarly would have come to an end at some point, she knew she would at least have her best friend to be there. It scared her now to think about where she would be in the future without Carly. It scared her even more to see her mother's life dwindle down into nothing but flings with strange men and alcohol which really made her worry she would become just like her. Was that all she had to look forward to in life? She hated to admit it but a lot of it was her own fault. Barely passing school and racking up detentions and suspensions, she had dug herself a hole that the blonde wasn't sure she could pull herself out of.
"Earth to Sam. Sam, do you copy?" Spencer called out, waving his hands in front of the girl. She shook her head of her thoughts to see Spencer now giving her a concerned look.
"You okay kid?" He asked, furrowing his brows, "You've been kind of zoned out there for some time. I guess a car tire with bolts for a mustache named Mr. Rubberto isn't such a great idea."
"No it's not that Spencer." The blonde reassured, "I just have a lot on my mind is all."
Spencer nodded his head, "Well I mean I'm not really the best person for girl to girl talks, but you can talk to me if you want."
"Actually I think I'm going to go up to the studio for a bit if you don't mind." She instead noted, getting up and grabbing her bag, "I just remembered I left one of my hoodies up there the last show. That's actually one of the reasons I came by in the first place."
"Okay." Spencer slowly said, letting out a slightly defeated breath. He knew there was more to the blonde's story than she was obviously letting on, but he didn't want to irritate the girl. Sam was already halfway up the stairs when she heard his defeated response, feeling rather bad for shutting down his offer to help and lying to him. There was no hoodie in the iCarly studio, she just wanted to step inside the room again. The blonde stepped in front of the studio door and slowly opened it. She stepped inside and switched on the light, bringing the studio to life. She looked over at the bean bags situated near the small steps where they planned future iCarly episodes. The girl made her way over to the car prop that was in the corner of the room and slid her hand across the smooth hood. As great as it was standing in the iCarly studio, it didn't have the same feeling as last time. The magic that was once in this very room had vanished. The girl let out a small sigh as she unzipped the large pocket of her backpack. She reached inside and pulled out a familiar blue remote. Her hands trembled as she held the object out. Her fingers pressed the 'cheer' button and her heart sank.
"I'm Carly."
"I'm Sam."
"And this is iCarly!"
The flashbacks flooded the room and her emotions took over as she began to let out some tears. She dropped the remote, sending it crashing to the ground and accidentally projecting the "aw" sound as she leaned against the hood of the car and slid down onto the ground. Her eyes continued to well with tears as she sat on the cold studio floor. It was all her fault. Losing Carly, iCarly and maybe even the way her mom was. She hated to have to think it, but she knew Carly and even Freddie to an extent tolerated her much more than others would. Heck if the pair were anything like her, they probably would have already given her a broken nose for pulling the stuff she did. The drunken stupor she was in when she video called Freddie made things even worse on top of her plan that may have been successful in its objective, but poor in its results for the girl.
"Sam!" A voice shouted, making her pull her head up. Sam's eyes slightly bulged open in panic when she heard the footsteps of Spencer running up the stairs. She quickly got up and dusted off her clothes. She even managed to wipe some of the lingering tears off her face just as Spencer busted in through the door. He noticed her eyes slightly red and the blue remote on the ground nearby as he asked, "Are you - Yeah I'm fine Spencer." She hastily pointed out, "What is it? You sounded like you had seen a ghost."
He paused for a moment knowing he was out of the loop on something that had transpired with Sam, but he had more pressing matters to deal with, "I just got a call from Mrs. Matthews. Carly didn't show up today to tutor Brooke."
"But I thought you said that was where she was going." Sam explained, confused before realization hit her, "Oh no."
"What?" Spencer asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.
"L.A." The girl just choked out.
"L.A.?" The artist repeated unsure if he heard her correctly, "What do you mean - Is she going to Los Angeles?"
Sam couldn't muster words and just let out a small nod. Spencer looked at the ground and pinched his nose in frustration, "Please tell me you did not know anything about this Sam?" He muttered, glancing back at the girl who wore a nervous look.
"Look, she told me, but I didn't know she was going today." She started, softly not used to seeing such emotion in him, "All she said to me was that she was going to L.A. to fix - find Freddie." The girl quickly corrected.
"Fix what?" He cut off.
"It's nothing, that's not important."
"No!" The older Shay raised his voice, "It's not nothing Sam. It obviously is important. I brushed it off before but you have been cagey with me since I saw you standing outside our apartment. Then I find you up here with puffed up eyes and dried tear stains on your face. Tell me what the hell is going on and what is had to with Carly going to Los Angeles?" Spencer couldn't help but worry not only about Carly traveling alone to Los Angeles, but also because of the fact she was going to a place where she was not welcomed by the people that lived there, Freddie being one of those people.
The blonde swallowed slowly looking at the awaiting eyes of Spencer. Her legs trembled a bit as if they were made of spaghetti. She felt the numbness spread throughout her body at an alarming rate, "Okay, Spencer. I'll tell you the truth, but you might want to take a seat."
Spencer raised his eyebrow before taking a seat on the beanbag chair letting out a poof sound. It was something that normally would have made the pair crack up, but Sam knew Carly's brother was in no joking mood at the moment. The girl slowly followed suit, taking a seat on the beanbag next to him, but making sure it was at least arm length's away from him out of fear of his reaction.
"So tell me." The artist pressed.
The girl inhaled a sharp breath as she began to recount the tale, starting with her plan.
West Residence
"You should have seen her Freddie. Jade was standing in the middle of the living room covered in mud." Ms. West recalled earning a laugh from the boy and an embarrassed expression from her daughter, "She told me she was looking for dinosaur bones in our backyard."
"Jade West the paleontologist. Who would've thought?" Freddie exclaimed looking at his half-sister who stuck her tongue out teasingly.
"It didn't really surprise me all that much to be honest. Jade loved exploring. She always curious about everything."
"It's funny. My mom would tell me the same thing." The brunette boy pointed out, "I actually sat in my bedroom closet once as a kid. I had seen some movie and I thought that if I stayed in there long enough it would open some magical portal to another world. I had even set up my own little fort inside."
"I guess you and Jade really are cut from the same cloth." Jade's mother agreed as a comfortable silence followed the ensuing giggles.
Freddie couldn't help but sit back in his chair and smile. It felt nice having company for a change after having been stuck in his hotel room alone for dinner for so long. Ms. West was a very kind and understanding lady and it didn't take much for Freddie to know that she would go to whatever lengths to protect her daughter and keep her happy, something he truly admired. It kind of made him feel a bit guilty again for leaving his mom back home and getting upset whenever she would give him tick baths or clean his ears while he was sleeping. The boy softly chuckled realizing how crazy it was that he actually missed all the weird things his mom forced him to do. If you had asked him back then he would've thought she was overbearing and a bit too overprotective of him, but after being away from her for so long it didn't feel that way. In fact, she had grown to become very understanding and acknowledged that the boy was maturing and was smart enough to look after himself. Like all mothers do, she still said she would be on the first flight out if he needed her. She even tried sending him money a few times, something the boy politely declined. It wasn't because he didn't need the money, but because he didn't want to put any additional burden on her by making her pay for his decision to start a new life somewhere else.
On the other side of the table, Ms. West and Jade both looked at the boy across from them and were thinking some things of their own. Jade on the one hand was feeling a sense of wholeness in herself that she never quite experienced before. Sure there were the lingering ideas about the lack of a father in her life, but being in a room with her mother and half-brother was the most family she had been with in quite some time. Not that some of her uncles, aunts, and cousins weren't family, but they just didn't give understand her the same way the two people in the room with her did. That wasn't to take away anything from Beck. Since that day on the beach, the pair had become even closer than ever and she found it difficult to even imagine a life in which he wasn't there. However there was still a level of difference between him and Freddie. Like her mom, Freddie was an extremely understanding and patient person that wouldn't get mad at her even when she deserved it at times. Instead he'd try to find out if something was going on in her life and if there was anything he could to fix it. Beck was similar, but despite everything there was still times where he'd show signs of annoyance and impatience with Jade. Maybe it was unfair to compare the two, considering that the two boys had gone through extremely different lives. Freddie had probably faced enough hardships in his life that anything she did seemed minor to him in comparison which is why he didn't get bothered by her. Nonetheless she loved Beck and cared deeply for Freddie and was happy that both of them were in her life.
Ms. West on the other hand couldn't help but look at her daughter and the girl's half-brother who sat facing her. It was really an emotional moment for the West matriarch who had believed that her daughter would live the rest of her life not knowing her mother had kept such a big secret from her. She knew that if it had ever come out, it would absolutely crush Jade and put a major strain on their relationship. She admired Freddie's bravery to take matters into his own hands and find Jade all while leaving his old life behind. Granted, the woman did not know the full story of his life in Seattle apart from what Ms. Benson had mentioned over their many phone conversations, but she knew it was a bold thing of him to do to put himself out there and be so exposed, something both her and Ms. Benson were afraid of doing. Her daughter luckily was still thankfully understanding of her not telling her about Freddie, although the woman was sure a lot of it had to do with the fact the girl was too excited at the fact to learn she had an older brother to care. It was something Jade was always quite vocal about. The girl knew it probably wasn't feasible for her mom to have another kid, but Ms. West was glad she was able to get her wish in some form. Her head turned back to the former tech producer. He was a very genuine kid. If today and especially this dinner showed her anything, it was that Freddie was exactly the kind of person Jade needed to have in her life. Someone she was sure would not only have her daughter's back and keep her out of trouble, but help show her the joy of having someone aside from her that she could truly call family.
"Well this was honestly a great dinner, but I think I should really be getting going. It's getting pretty late and I'm sure you both are tired." The boy finally noted, "I can stay and help clean up if you need me to though."
He let out a soft involuntary yawn causing the West girls to chuckle, "No, don't worry about that Freddie. We can handle it." Ms. West waved off, "It was great having you here today. Hopefully you can come by more often."
"It would be my pleasure." He noted, looking at his half-sister, "Walk me to the door?"
The girl nodded as she walked alongside the boy with Ms. West watching from further behind.
"So that must have been pretty fun." Jade pointed out, "Hearing all those embarrassing stories. I'm sure you'll be using them against me for a long time."
"Probably." The boy joked as the girl scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully. The pair stopped at the front door as Freddie glanced at the girl, "You know I don't think I remember ever having dinner with a girl and her mom before. It was surprisingly more easier than I would imagine."
"Yeah, tell that to Beck." The girl chuckled, remembering the awkwardness that ensued the first time he stopped by for dinner. Ms. West and him were on much better terms now, but Jade just remembered wanting to crawl into bed and sleep the awkwardness away that night.
"Don't worry, I'm sure when you and Tori start dating you'll have fun talking to Detective Vega about how much you looove Tori." The girl teased.
The boy gave a small smile before his face fell slightly thinking back to what Sam said. He looked at the girl who noticed his change of expression and whispered, "Sam said Carly loves me."
"What?" The girl asked in surprise, partially from the fact that Freddie heard from Sam, "Are you sure this isn't one of their tactics to make you feel guilty for leaving?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I honestly have no idea. Apparently she was too scared to ever tell me so Sam did it instead. It's just a lot to process." It was something he had wanted to hear ever since he knew the girl across the hall. Now he finally heard it, not from her mouth, but his worst enemy. The conflicting thoughts and feelings from his head and heart were making him go crazy. He hated the fact that Sam told him. He had accepted when he came to L.A. that Carly would and had never loved him. If what Sam said was true, it undid everything he once thought.
Jade gave her brother a comforting hug, something the West matriarch noticed with a small smile on her face.
"It'll be okay, Freddie. I promise." She whispered soothingly. The pair separated from their hug and the boy gave a nod to Ms. West and mumbled a thank you to Jade as he stepped outside. The pale brunette watched as the boy backed off the driveway and drove off into the night leaving her to process herself the revelation he had just dropped on her.
Meanwhile...
The brunette girl stared out into the starry night feeling the cold air blow on her skin. It was a quiet night in Seattle as she sat on the bench clutching her heavy school bag. It wouldn't be too long now for her to be face to face with the boy she loved. The word 'love' still gave her goosebumps on her arms whenever she thought about it. It wasn't until the day Sam pointed it out to her that she actually acknowledged it openly. A part of her wondered how far back these feelings stretched, but it was too painful at the moment for her to relive and analyze the interactions she had with the boy in the past. She kicked herself for being stubborn by never admitting her feelings and spurning every move Freddie had made on her. Maybe if she had told the boy how she felt he would have still been in Seattle and everything would have been normal and probably even better with them dating.
"Freddie and I dating?" The girl thought. She let out a small disbelieving chuckle at the fact that she never really thought much about the idea. Aside from the taco truck incident and the whole hero worship fiasco, the pair didn't really have a ton of intimate moments. That was probably her fault for the most part for always dating the new flavor of week and also partially Sam's because she always seemed to be around when Freddie was, so the two were barely ever alone. There was that one time when she swore she heard him ask if it was too late for her to love him, but the girl chalked it off as just hearing things.
The sound of a loud hiss drew the girl's focus onto the road in front of her as she saw a bus come up next to the curb and pull to a complete stop. The doors opened and the girl stood in place as other patrons around her began to step inside and take their seats. The girl clutched her ticket tightly in one hand and her school bag full of clothes and essentials in the other. She slowly stepped onto the bus and handed the driver her ticket as she walked towards the back and took a window seat in an empty row. Normally, this would be the point where Sam would tell her everything was going to be fine and that she had her back, but the seat next to hers would remain empty this time around. The girl did feel kind of bad about her fight with Sam and ignoring her, but she knew it was the best thing for the two of them to apart for a while. Another thought that nagged her was leaving without telling Spencer anything and unfairly making him worry about her whereabouts. Her brother had left several calls and texts, but she didn't want to tell him anything until she was sure he couldn't stop her. With a quick swipe to unlock her phone, she shot him a text letting him know she was fine before placing her phone on silent. The doors of the bus closed a few minutes later as Carly looked out the window as Seattle began to fade away slowly into the distance. She dug into her bag to pull out her headphones. The girl put the buds in her ears and selected her favorite song on her Pearpod. She closed her eyes letting the music take her away as she awaited her destination.
I can be fragile
I can break in two
But I know I'll be swept up by you
"Don't you think we both deserve one nice dance, with someone we don't hate?"
And if I can get frightened
You'll always be a place of quiet to calm me
And if you feel my love, just let it show
And if you want my heart, just me know
"Absolutely."
'Cause you are meant for me.
AN: And that's the end of the chapter. Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. This was a pretty Freddie heavy chapter and we even got to see a lot more of Sam compared to previous chapters. This is definitely a calm before the storm type chapter if I do say so myself.
devante padilla 9: Thanks for your review. I think this story allows a different iCarly/Victorious universe to be explored and one that can really change a lot not only in terms of plot, but the way characters interact with each other. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and enjoy the coming ones even more.
RyanMK666: Thanks for your review. You're definitely right. A rumor like this is not something that will go away easily. Obviously based on the ending Carly is going to try and fix it anyway, but it's going to take a lot more than that. Sam's intentions for spreading the rumors may have seemed somewhat innocent in her eyes as she was trying to help her best friend, but the price she paid was the very person she did it all for. However, as evil as Sam may be at the moment, I think she might still be redeemable. Obviously it will take way more than apologies, but I think she may be ready to realize that what she did was wrong and her downward spiral is her fault. As much as you love her or hate her, Sam like Freddie is still a big part of Carly's life and vice versa. Both girls will feel that a lot more in the coming chapters. Not saying she's going to take the right path, but it'll be an interesting battle she will undergo.
Remy-Chan 27516: Thanks for your review. Honestly, Freddie and Jade are two characters that kind of just write themselves. They are so complex and have so many layers to them that it makes it easy to really explore them and their relationship each chapter. I try not to force anything and just see where the story takes them.
OneHorseShay: Thanks for your review. Yeah it really was just out of nowhere diving back into this story after so long. I had re-read it and found myself just typing out chapter 6 without a hitch like I never even took a hiatus. I think Ms. West is still at the point of getting to know Freddie personally. Sure she has heard about him from his mom and even Jade, but the two haven't really talked aside from this chapter. Their interactions this chapter were a step in the right direction and Freddie's living situation will definitely be resolved in a few chapters. With regards to Sam, yeah she really got away with a lot since she wasn't speaking with Freddie face to face. I'm sure if he had accepted the call, he probably would have said exactly what you wrote and maybe even worse.
ajk2: Thanks for your review. I think it wasn't really a matter of her realizing it so much as her accepting it. I believe that Carly always understood that what Sam was doing to Freddie was wrong, but she never wanted to accept the fact that it wasn't anything more than two frenemies going at it similar to Tori and Jade. Maybe she was scared that if she did something about it, it would have shifted the balance in the trio's relationship. As it turns out though, her doing nothing shifted the balance between them all a lot more.
calvinhobbesliker: Thanks for your review. Freddie will definitely be facing a lot more issues in the coming chapters, with one labelled as 'Carly Shay' being a big one. Sam paid the ultimate price this time in losing Carly and iCarly. Unlike before, this time she isn't going to be able to talk her way out of it and is going to have to do a lot to get back onto decent terms with Carly. The rumors are going to be tough to get past, but like you said he has a much better support system than he did in Seattle. And yes Freddie and Jade's father has only been mentioned in conversation so far, but based on his actions and the stories about him, I think you're right that he is a lot more dangerous than it seems.
Once again thank you all for your support for this story and I will be back again with chapter 8. Stay tuned.