Hey people! No, your eyes don't deceive you. This is an update from KL21, and yes it has arrived on time. Nothing special to mention about this story
So, without further ado, I give you Chapter 8 of WarGames. Please read, enjoy and review. Thank You.
Side Quests
Sam's POV
What time is it? 10:00 am. I've been up for two hours. I can't believe I woke up at 8:00 on a Sunday. I've got absolutely nowhere to be. I've nowhere I really want to be. I'm still a little shaken by yesterday's events. If this is what losing is like then I'm definitely gonna beat Freddie because losing sucks. I don't understand how he puts up with it all of the time. Well If I'm gonna beat Freddie then I'm gonna have to get some things first. I wonder if Carly's home. Well enough wondering, let's find out.
"Carly, you home?" Huh. Where is she? I'll check up stairs.
No Carly, but Spencer's here. "Hey Spence." He must've jumped two feet in the air.
"Hey Sam." He's still a little timid. At least it's not as bad as last month. And his hair is starting to grow back. "You don't have any scissors, do you?"
"No." This is ridiculous, "Are you still afraid of me?" It's not like I did it on purpose. Freddie said something about the proportionality of the size of Pluto to the other planets. I needed a lock of hair to prove my point that size doesn't make it any less a part of the solar system. It's not my fault he moved.
"I'm not afraid of you Sam…" he can't see the confused expression that I'm wearing because he's lookin down and to the left in some sorta dramatic fashion… that's definitely where Carly gets it from, "but my hair is. And what the hair says, goes."
I don't have time for this, "Where's Carly?"
"I don't know. She left about an hour ago, didn't say where, though."
Well that's just great. I know. I'll check the Groovy Smoothie. "Thanks anyway."
Well here we are. She's not at the counter. She's not at the stools. She's not at any of the tables. Hmm, she may be in the bathroom so I'll wait for her to come out. Wendy's here so I'll chat with her. "Hey Wendy." She can stretch her eye really wide. Why is she so afraid?
"H-H-Hey Sam…" Is she shaking? "About that whole lunch fiasco…" Oooh, that explains it.
"Don't worry about it." Don't be fooled, I'm still upset about it but she's more useful to me when she's not afraid of me. Surely enough she starts to relax. "I need some information on a couple of people."
She smiles, "Well, if it's info you seek then you came to the right place." I just might let her off the hook. She is a good friend to the three of us, and to iCarly. Not to mention, she's quite useful. I generally don't like gossips, but she isn't a bad person really. Then again, she isn't really a gossip more than she is an informant. She doesn't spread rumors around, and the info you do get from her is pretty accurate. I'm still unsure of how she gets her information, or even where she gets her information, she may be a better invisible ninja than I am… especially since I'm on a web show that almost the entire school watches. Can't really be invisible when everyone knows who you are. "What do ya need?"
First things first, "Let's start with my regular information." She starts to fiddle with her PearPod. "Hey, is that new?"
"Yeah, I figured that if I've got info and people want it, then I might as well charge them for it." I didn't know she charged. "I don't charge you for my services because if it weren't for you guys, I never would've started doin this in the first place." That's true, I suppose. She would only come to us with her gossip, and we told her to use it for a more positive purpose than just to spread rumors about other people. We also told her to get the whole story. That's what makes Wendy different from Kayla. She obviously didn't check that rumor I started before she decided to send it to the entire school. "Ahh, here we go." I turn to survey the establishment once again, I don't see her anywhere. She must not be here. "Mr. Howard was spotted eating glue during lunch on Friday... Ms. Briggs has been sucking her thumb for the last three days… I think that the two incidents may be related but more investigation is required… Freddie has been pretty low key since the incident at Gibby's party." What incident.
"What're you talkin about? What incident?" she's lookin at me weird.
"At Gibby's party. You didn't see it?" She's still lookin at me funny, "When Freddie got knocked into the mud pit…" Oh, ok.
"I knew about that, but he seemed to take it ok." Much to my chagrin.
Why is she shaking her head? "No, after that. One of the jocks started to mock him. Then, Freddie hauled off and hit him with the tripod. Knocked him clean off of the platform. Steve now has a dislocated shoulder and a broken humerus."
A broken, humorous, what? "What does humor have to do with this?"
"It's the bone above the elbow." Oh.
That must've been the sound that I heard as I was leavin. I'm actually impressed. Didn't know he had it in him, although, this probably creates more problems than it solves. "Anything else?"
"Well it's not exactly about Freddie but its Freddie related?"
"Give it to me."
"Freddie's recent act of violence has significantly increased his bad boy image." I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. "Romantic interest has increased by about 20 percent." WHAT!! Romantic interest?
"When you say romantic interest, do you mean…"
"Reports show that a portion of the junior class has been looking into his relationship status, as well as, a small constituent of the senior class."
"You've got reports?" How does she get reports?
"I take this very seriously." I suppose she should. "Is there anything else you wanna know?"
"Yeah, what information do you have on Lisa Preston?"
"Hmm, let's see… Peters… Peterson… Powell… Prescott… Preston. Preston, Henry… Preston, John… Preston, Kimberly… Ah here we go, Preston, Lisa." She is very well organized, I could've gone to her when I needed help getting my school stuff organized and saved myself the embarrassment of having to ask Freddie for help. "She's kept pretty clean this year." Crap. "Straight A's, Honors math and history, accepted to Stanford, UCLA, Washington, and Washington State," My God, She's worse than Carly.
There's gotta be something, "What about personality wise?" She raises her eyebrows and searches her PearPod.
"Umm, She has a tiny bit of a jealous streak," Okay, "Can be overwhelming in conversation," very chatty, "Prone to temper tantrums." Cry baby. Is that it?
"Is there anything else?" She's friggin' perfect.
"Well, what are you lookin' for?"
Why can't she have some sort of 'no questions asked' policy? "What about personality related to her relationships?" This is gonna raise questions.
"Umm, Jealous streak, conversation dominator, bratty. Sorry Sam, that's all I got at the moment." Chizz she is perfect. "Because of her relatively spotless record, there was no reason to dig deeper." What is she thinkin' up? "There may be something there if we dig a little deeper just give me some time." All I can do is nod.
Freddie could end up callin' this chick and then he'll forget about me all together. Heck, he'll even forget about Carly. They could go off together to… to… What colleges has Freddie been accepted to? Carly would know.
"Hey Sam, Can I ask you something?" What does she want to know? What could she possibly not know yet?
"Sure?" I'm a little wary of questioning from informants.
"Why are you so interested in Lisa?"
Oh no, I can't let her know that I'm checkin up on Freddie. There's no doubt that she knows about our fight, so it would seem weird. Not to mention completely inexplicable. I have to play this cool, if there is anything off about my answer she will start digging, and she can be as relentless as Carly. "Because…"
"Before you answer, let me clarify my question." Well this is unexpected, "I know why you're interested in Lisa. There is only one reason you've ever come to me with a specific request for a girl." Double Chizz, "There was that girl that did magic, a couple of years ago, there was Shannon, there was Tanya, and there was Kayla. There is only one thing that all of these girls had in common. They all had or have a thing for Freddie." She's definitely gonna start diggin' now. I doubt that it matters what I say at this point, "So I guess my real question is: Why do you care about who's interested in Freddie?" There has to be some way to get out of this.
"I just want to make sure he doesn't get hurt." It is the truth, "He's still my friend," at least I hope he is. It's not like I hate him. He just needs to get over what I did, because I'm not apologizing.
Come on, that has to be good enough, "Ok." Phew, "Well, if there's any dirt on Lisa, I'll have it by Tuesday at the latest." Wow, two days? She works fast. "Well Sam, I have another appointment in about 10 min."
"Oh, sure thing," informants work is never done, I suppose, "Hey, did Carly come by here at all today?"
"Not since I've been here."
"Is there any way you could find out where she is?"
"Sure, give me a sec." Let's see, she's not at her apartment, she's not here, she wouldn't go to Build-A-Bra without me, she could be at the store but she won't be there for long. So where would she go? Well she could be at the… "My sources say that she's been spotted at the park." What's she doin there?
"Ok, thanks."
What could she be doin at the park. Oh well, looks like I'm off to the park. But before I go, "T-Bo, Blueberry Blitz!"
"B-Blitz!" Here it comes… in 3-2-1. "Wanna buy some French toast?"
"Just give me my smoothie!" I don't have time for French toast.
"Sell you the whole stick… $4.50" Oh man that's cheaper than it usually is.
"Why so cheap?"
"Your friend brought the stick of pretzels for $6.50, so I'm runnin a deal."
Seems a little sketchy, "How much for syrup?"
"For you… 25 cents."
"Ok I'll take it." Now that I have breakfast I should be able to put up with some of this nonsense.
So, before I find Carly, lemme see if I got my whole situation straight: Freddie cut off our friendship, then, he went out on a lunch date with Wendy… at our spot no less, he goes crazy and starts attackin' jocks… which will come back to bite him if he doesn't end this soon, and now he's ignoring me. This is quite the situation he's gotten himself into. Oh well, let's see how long he can last.
Finally at the park, not many places she would be. There is either the pond, or the walkway. I doubt she will be at the playground so I'll save that for last. I wonder if ducks eat French toast. How do birds handle powdered sugar? I know rice is bad, poor pigeon. I didn't know at the time, I was nine.
There she is, "Hey Carly."
"Oh, hey Sam." Is she still depressed?
"What's goin' on kid?" Maybe I can assure her, or reassure her. "Are you still worried about Freddie?"
"Of course I am. I'm worried about all of you." Maybe I can get her worked up and convince her to join me in my quest for victory. "Why do you think I'm here?" She's right, I was so focused on finding her that I didn't survey the area.
We were in the area of the park where hobos stay. Good thing it was the middle of the day. The skeevy hobos don't come out til night. Anyways, because of all the hobos, people rarely come back here. Generally the rule with hobos is that if you feed the leader they will all pretty much leave you alone. "Carly did you feed, Rufus?"
Come on Carly you've got to remember to feed the hobos, "Rufus isn't in charge anymore, Spanky managed to find a half of pizza in the dumpster. He staged a coup of some sort and now he's in charge." Hobo politics, there should be a class. "But I did feed him." Phew.
"Carly what if I told you that I have a way to end this?" She's still depressed?
"It's best not to mix yourself up in hobo affairs, Sam." What the…
"Not the hobos." She's in really bad shape, "I mean the situation with Freddie." She's perked up at this. Good, happy Carly equals good Carly.
"Really, Sam? You're gonna apologize?" poor disillusioned friend of mine.
"No, I'm not going to apologize." She turned herself down cast again, "What? Are you saying that you think the only way to end this is if I apologize?"
"Sam, you may not realize this, but you've rubbed off on Freddie too." What is she talkin' about? "It's not just you, who's been: getting better in school, and showing up to more of your classes, actually applying to colleges, doing well on your SATs. Generally people's personalities rub off on each other." Well all of that stuff is true. "It's him too. He's been: becoming looser, doing more things on his own, he's been sneaking out of his house, ignoring authority figures ranging from certain teachers to even his mother on occasion, and the most important one, as far as you're concerned, he's become more stubborn." She's right. If he wasn't stubborn, then maybe this whole thing would've been over a while ago… maybe even before the party, "He has a specific set of principles now and he will stick to them. He's developed a backbone… which, might I add, has become quite appealing to some the girls around the school." How could she possibly… "I heard it from some of the girls while I was walkin' around the park." She sounds scared of something. "If things continue like this…"
"I know that Carly." Don't get those bulgy eyes; I didn't even yell this time. "I know he's changing… but I don't understand it. He wants a new image… I get it, I really do, but… why did he have to change the way he acted with us?" If I can't show emotion to Carly who can I show it to? "Why did anything between us have to change at all? Why couldn't he be happy with what we had? I don't wanna lose him, he's our friend. That's the only reason I did what I did… and you know that." Despite all of that, he still… "We are supposed to be friends Carly, how can he just stop?" Phew, that was a mouthful.
"Sam, I don't think he wants to stop being friends." Yeah right, then how would explain it? "Its like I said before, he doesn't feel that he deserves his treatment. I also don't think it's about an apology."
"Then what is it about, Oh wise one?" hope she caught the sarcasm,
"Simple, really, it's about change." If she caught it, I couldn't tell. The ever graceful Carly Shay. No wonder everyone likes her.
"So…" Here comes the hard part… changing a Shay's mind, "… I've got an idea to end this nonsense." Come on Carly, "So are you in?"
"No." minor set back
"You in?" add the smirk.
She's breakin' "Didn't you just ask me that?"
"Yep." Show her the pearly whites
"Fine… I'm in." I've still got it. Watch out Freddie this game ends soon. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. HAAA HA HA HA HA... "Sam, why are you laughing?"
"Because, kid… for the first time in a while… things are lookin up."
"O…K…" She's got that weird look on her face again. I wonder if she's afraid of me sometimes… Oh well "There is one condition Sam."
"What! You're killin my buzz."
"Chill out Sam… my condition is that if this plan doesn't work you have to apologize"
Harsh conditions but this plan has to work, "Fine, whatever, can I continue laughing now?"
"Sure." Yes, my joviality continues.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Haaaa ha ha ha ha ha. Hah hahahahahahaha…" Ready or not, Freddie… Here I come.
There you have it.
This chapter was more of a filler of sorts. There was some importance in it but no vitality. This is why I ended it on a bit of a lighter note (with maniacal laughter).
Some of you may be wondering about Sam's quick recovery from her first defeat. Well I figured that to keep her in character it would be best not to have her sulk about it for too long. So after a good night's sleep and a semi-hearty breakfast of a stick full of French toast, I assumed that she would be back in fighting form. Nothin too big has happened to completely shake her persona…yet. So to those of you Sam fans that didn't like her setback from the previous chapter, there is no need to worry. And to those who enjoyed Sam's just desserts, fret not those are coming as well.
Any ideas on what you think Sam's plan should/could be I would love to hear them.
Well, my lovely and faithful readers. I will leave you with that. Thank you for reading my humble little fic. Please review if you'd like (I hope you do), if not, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Until my next post or Update
Deuces
KL21