The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 146 (Auditions: Searching)

Next Monday, December 12th, was the start of the auditions for the week, but first they finally had a chance to catch T-Bo while he was on break. While Jonah talked to T-Bo, Freddie was busy trying to locate people off the list that he and Jonah wanted to convince to come to auditions. Sam and Carly were helping to post flyers about the auditions. Currently, Freddie was at Principal Franklin's office, talking to him about the auditions. The principal was smiling and leaning back in his chair, he seemed excited about the possibility of Jonah and Freddie forming a band.

"You said the auditions are to be held where, exactly?"

"The auditorium. Jonah and I have a couple songs we want each person to attempt, that way we'll pool in all the results and see who we think sounds the best. We also need to be sure that the person will get along with the band." Hopefully they would have a green light from the man to use the auditorium. If not, then they'd find somewhere else. Adapting, it was a fine thing for them, no trouble at all. "We just need your permission to use it this week, auditions are every night after school this week."

"I see." Principal Franklin rubbed his chin and Freddie quickly set a list of people down in front of him. "What is this?"

"These are the ones we're trying to get to come to auditions. We want there to be a fair game for everyone, but we know some of these guys here have skill and are curious to see how far they could take it. Also, just if they want to be in a band. Jonah is also trying to talk to T-Bo about the possibility of doing our gigs there. If at all possible, we should have this whole thing up and running by Christmas. Think you'd come see our grand re-opening?"

"Of course, I think it holds a lot of promise." Pride ran through Freddie's heart as he smiled and nodded towards the man. "Of course you can use the auditorium, just let me know if I'm invited to the gig when you get started." He nodded his head and grabbed the list of people from the desk. With a smile, he made his way to the door, saluting the principal briefly.

"Can do, everyone's invited." As he made his way out, he spotted Sam fighting a flyer, he smirked and walked up to her. She was pushing the flyer up, but the adhesive on the back wasn't sticking well enough. "Having a little trouble dear?"

"This damn thing won't-" As she lowered her arms, the flyer sat for a second. Freddie raised his eyebrows and Sam started to cheer, but froze when the flyer began peeling away and she let out a scream of frustration. "Damn this thing!"

"Just use tape." He had some tape in his backpack, which was slung over his right shoulder. He pulled it off and opened the small zipper on the side, pulling out some tape for her. "Here." She stared at the tape for a second and quickly swiped it.

"Thanks, you're the best."'

"You know it." He gazed at the greenish yellow flyer with a sense of pride. It had an image of their instruments at the bottom, their band name was well decorated at the top. TheSeattleBeasts. It wasn't the best band name in the world, but it was better than some high school band names at least. It had all the information about the auditions and people were already starting to read the flyers. "I'm going to go check the bulletin board to see if anyone's signed up, then I'm going to go find the people on this list."

"Okay, have fun." Sam turned around and eyed the people around them, nobody was looking. She took the opportunity to plant a quick peck on his cheek then rush off. He chuckled slightly and moved towards the front of the school where the bulletin board was, when he arrived, he found their audition sheets stapled together and posted up on the large brown square. They had ten pages, each with ten lines.

"Okay…let's see…" He reached up and started sifting through the pages, at least four of them were already filled up! His eyebrows rose and he started going through the names, three people who appeared on the sign up list were on the list of people that he wanted to contact, so that was good news. "Didn't think people missed us all that much…Gibby's still not up there though…" He pulled a pen from his jean pocket and started to mark off the names of the people who already signed up. There were about eight people he definitely wanted to convince. With three, that really helped his work haul. "Let's see here. Gibby, Duke..." He blinked and tapped his eraser on his chin, recalling the overgrown oaf that helped them with the chicks. That kid could drum, so Freddie was really looking forward to having him on stage. "Griffin." He didn't think Griffin was a drummer, but he wanted to know a bit more about this guy. Carly didn't have to know. "Rebecca Berkowitz." She was an okay drummer and always seemed to be playing in the band hall during lunch hours. "Nate Garner." He was a lanky guy who played the drums as well with Rebecca, so clearly he had to be included on the list.

The three people on the list that already signed up were Jocelyn, she could drum with her own hands. Although, usually she used her fists, which may explain why she was still in high school, she opted for brawn over brains. There was Gary Wolf, a once popular kid who was lately always drumming on the desks. Then finally was Cort. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but damn the kid could strum a beat. Freddie marked their names off his paper and put his pencil to the first name his eyes spotted, Nate Garner. Nate and Rebecca would likely be in the band hall.

He folded the paper up and pushed it into his pocket while making his way towards the band hall where he could hear the drums being sounded off. It was interesting to him, one of these two could very well be their next drummer.

They had four songs that they wanted the people to try to drum to, each had its own level of difficulty, starting with the easiest: HighwaytoHell by AC/DC. The next was Stone Sour's ComeWhateverMay, a popular favorite for him. After that, just a little bit more difficult was Phil Collins, IntheAirTonight. The most intense drum, noted as one of the hardest to master, was Mars Volta WaxSimulacra. If someone could play that song perfectly, then screw the rest of the auditions, they were in. Well, chances were there might be some who could master that insane drumbeat.

As he made it to the door of the band hall, he glanced through the window and saw Rebecca pounding away on the drums while Nate tapped his foot and clapped along with the beat. He smiled and gently knocked on the door, watching and waiting as they stopped what they were doing and came over. Nate opened the door and leaned against the doorframe. "What's up?"

"Hey, you know. We're having auditions for a drummer in our band, I was hoping you two might come audition. I've heard you guys play, I think you have great skill." The couple looked at each other and grinned. His pride rose up as they nodded at him, agreeing to show up. "Awesome, I'll tell you more later. The sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the front."

"Awesome, we'll sign up," Rebecca said with a quick jump. Freddie chuckled and thanked them as he moved on his way. Two down already, three more to go. Now Griffin wouldn't be hard to find, he was almost always hanging in the back of the school, beating on the old trash bins. However he and Carly met, Freddie was curious to know.

When he made it out the back of the school, he was not surprised to see Griffin beating on some metal bins with a few sticks. He closed his eyes and pocketed his hands, chuckling as he made his way towards Griffin. Who was this guy anyway? What was he all about? It was a bit concerning. "Hey, how about you trade those twigs for some real drumsticks and trade those bins for some actual drums. Feel like it?" He watched him freeze and swirl around, chuckling nervously. Obviously Griffin recognized him, but clearly he didn't think Freddie did.

"What do you mean?"

"Jonah and I are auditioning drummers for our band, SeattleBeasts…We're coming back out, I think you have some talent. I'd like to see what you can do with a real drum set in front of you rather than those old trash bins. Would you be interested?"

"You're serious?" He raised his eyebrow as Griffin dropped his sticks and grinned widely. "Dude! I was a fan of you guys years ago! It was horrible when Jake died." He frowned as the memory hit him in a tender spot. Breath crept into his mouth and he gently exhaled.

"Yeah, it was pretty rough. It's the reason we took a long break, but we're back and we need a drummer."

"I thought Jonah was the drummer?"

"He was, but he plays the guitar now. Auditions are each night starting tonight through Friday right after school. You interested?"

"Of course! I'll be there!"

"Great, see you there. Sign up's in the front on the bulletin board."

"Awesome!" Freddie smirked and started walking back towards the school as Griffin began pounding away on the bins. It sounded almost like racket, but perhaps it was just because of the tools being used. Hopefully Griffin could put some kind of melody in those drums at the audition.

As he made his way through the halls of Ridgeway, he kept his eyes peeled for the bumbling oaf, he thought for sure Duke would attend the auditions. They would at least spend the next few days weeding out the weaklings, surely Duke would manage to last for a while. It didn't matter when anyone auditioned, they couldn't all audition on the same day and some people might just want to watch before auditioning, scaling out their competition.

"Freddie!" There it was, Duke's voice. He closed his eyes and waited for it, and it came. Within seconds, Duke had managed to grab him in a bear hug and lift him up. He winced and tightened his muscles, but was certain he heard and felt something pop inside. "I haven't seen you in a long time, what's happening!"

"Duke…crushing…" He gasped for air and Duke kindly set him back on the ground.

"Sorry about that."

"It's fine. Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to audition for the drummer position on my band. I think you'd make a great addition, should we choose you." Duke gasped and hugged Freddie once more, lifting him off the ground and screaming out his delight. "I'll take that as a yes then."

"You bet, I'll be there!"

"Wouldn't doubt it for a second…please put me down?" He asked in a pitiful tone, but it was enough that Duke set him back on his feet. After taking a minute to catch his breath and explain what the auditions were all about, he was already out to find Gibby.

It wasn't a difficult search, Gibby was often all over the school, but when it came to lunch time, he was in the cafeteria. As Freddie strolled into the cafeteria, he met Gibby's eyes. The man was chewing on a hamburger and had a rather nonchalant expression on his face. He'd been friends with Freddie and the others before, but it had still been a while since he associated with them. At least, it had been a few years since he'd been on iCarly.

"Hey Gibby, what's happening?"

"Nothing much." Freddie sat at the table as Gibby swallowed and set the hamburger down on his plate. "What brings you over here? I know it's not iCarly. I still think you should bring that back, but oh well."

"Yeah man, there isn't much we can do about that. I'm sorry." He felt Gibby's pain, the youth had been promised a bit more of an involvement with the webshow before it ended and the ending wasa bit abrupt. "But you know, I was thinking maybe you could get involved another way-"

"What? Your auditions?" Gibby's tone dripped with nonchalance as he picked his hamburger back up and bit into it. Freddie wasn't sure what to make of it, whether Gibby's tone was good or not. "I think it's good you're starting the band up again. It really shows perseverance and drive, I guess."

"Yeah, thanks…So you know about the auditions?"

"Yeah, I know you need a drummer and I know when you're starting and whatnot. I'm not too sure I really want to audition."

"We could really use you. I mean, you're one of the best drummers in this school in my opinion."

"Yeah, and I prefer practicing in my garage rather than performing." Gibby ate the last bite of his hamburger and stood up with his tray. Freddie's color started to leave him, but he could bounce back from this. He watched as Gibby slowly carried his trash to the trash can. Had Gibby refused the audition opportunity? Fair game for everyone, that's what it was, even though both he and Jonah really wanted Gibby to join. "You guys getting paid?"

"Yeah, T-Bo's willing to pay for what we do in the shop." Gibby let out a grunt and walked back to the table, grabbing his soda and bringing it to his lips.

"My uncle can get you better deals than a smoothie shop, but if that's how you roll, then that's just you guys."

"Maybe starting out, I mean…"

"I'll think about it, maybe talk it over with my girlfriend. I don't really know how I feel about auditioning. To be honest, you probably will have some great drummers who would be able to bring more to your band and give you a better experience." Freddie slowly nodded as Gibby took another sip of his drink and started to walk off.

"That's fine and all, but if you change your mind, let me know." His heart sank as Gibby waved his hand in the air, dismissing him. He took a deep breath and set his paper on the table, then started marking off the people who agreed to show. All but Gibby. "Well…that sucks…"

Gibby turned them down? Damn!