The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 153 (Auditions: D3, Popular No More, Gary)

The once popular blonde haired Gary Wolf stood from his seat and started walking towards the stage, it had been a while since anyone really heard from him as he was supposed to have graduated already. Then again, he spent so much time being popular that he never took the time to study or concern himself with the actual important things. So here he was, wanting to be let in by a popular band that was trying to rise up from the ashes. Freddie was skeptical of Gary's desire to actually join. Sam and Jonah were skeptical as well of his devotion to the band. Was it the band or popularity he wanted? His popularity dwindled when he retook a grade, nobody cared for someone who couldn't at least be smart while being popular.

As he strolled up next to the drums, he stared off and smiled. "Hi, I'm Gary Wolf." He grinned a toothy grin at the audience, nobody budged. Freddie looked behind him, then back, shrugging his shoulders. "What? Nothing? What about you Sam?" He clicked his tongue, wagged his eyebrows, and slicked his hair back in an attempt to look sexy. Sam raised her eyebrow and pointed at herself while Freddie growled. He put his hand on the booth and cleared his throat, grabbing the former Mr. Cool's attention. "Gary, you were popular a long time ago. Now you're a two bit hack trying to pick up girls and popularity points. Did you just hit on Sam?"

"Got a problem with that?" Sam spoke under her breath, warning Freddie not to get upset with Gary. Freddie smiled slightly and shook his head. "Oh, okay. So yeah, I kind of had a fall."

"Why?"

"Failed all my classes senior year and so I ended up retaking my classes." He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a progress report. "I'm not doing too badly right now, see! I have enough of a good score to participate in a group activity like this. I can be cool." Freddie arched his eyebrow as Gary smiled at him. "I remember when you guys were big, everyone loved you guys! I want to be a part of that." Freddie lifted his hand and rubbed his temples, uncertain what to say.

"That's the thing, you see…we're not making this band to look good, we're not trying to pick up girls. Hell, Jonah's already got himself a girl! Even I'm set." He placed his hand to his chest and Gary's face dropped. "This isn't a popularity contest either. We're honoring our friend's memory by not letting this band die with his death, but carrying it on. We need someone we can get along with, someone who understands what we're about, and someone who can have fun. Although, good GPA would be a requirement…just saying." Gary's lips dropped and he looked about ready to cry.

"I'm a good drummer, I can show you! I'd even start with the hardest song! Watch!" Freddie moved his eyes over to Sam and sighed, he managed to subdue the irritation when the guy decided to hit on his fiancé, but now he was just annoyed that Gary was going to honestly try Wax Simulacra without first trying the others.

"Who does this guy think he is, the best in the business?" Sam shrugged her shoulders as Gary took his seat and grabbed the drumsticks. He raised one of the sticks in the air and shouted out.

"Start the music!" Freddie rolled his eyes as the song started to play. He wasn't actually done talking to Gary, he had a few more questions for him, but if the guy was seriously going to attempt the song, that was fine. He grit his teeth together and stared at Sam.

"Can you believe this guy? I wasn't done talking."

"Yeah, he seems a bit desperate." Respect must have fled Gary's mind and personality when he had to retake the senior year. He shrugged and watched her as she chewed on a piece of gum. It was strange, since she didn't chew gum that often. He smiled lightly and turned his head back to Gary as Sam popped a bubble. "He's missing a lot of notes."

"Yeah I notice. He really shouldn't have started off with that song." All in all, Gary wasn't that bad of a drummer, maybe they could get along with him if he was their drummer. However, he couldn't be lazy, that was out of the question. "Okay, I've seen enough. Stop the music." Jeremy was busy rocking out, so Freddie called out once more with a bit of agitation in his voice. "Jeremy! Stop the damn music!"

"Sorry!" The techie quickly stopped the music and Gary quit drumming. He seemed a bit confused, so he rested his hands at his legs and waited for Freddie to say something. Freddie stood from the booth and walked to the other side, promptly leaning against the decorated booth.

"Gary, you messed that song up quite a bit, but you have grabbed my attention." He heard Sam groan and chuckled in response. Clearly she didn't want him to consider Gary as a drummer, because that meant she'd have to be around the guy more often. She preferred Griffin over this guy! "However, I'm not convinced that you aren't in this solely for popularity. You need to know that you have to work and pull your weight in this band, there are no free rides."

"I know."

"I'm not sure that you know, to be honest. I have to see that you want it, not see a desperate attempt to achieve popularity." Gary frowned and folded his arms over. He flipped his head back to get his hair out of his eyes and decided to give Freddie a serious look that seemed to fall short. In actuality, the look perturbed him and made him question once more, just how serious Gary was. "You either want this or you don't, it's really up to you. As far as whether you're going to be in the band or not, that's up to us…so you want to be sure you're going to be able to get along with us and vice versa. If not, then there's no room for you."

"No, I'm sorry, I can get along! I really want this, I do! I'm serious, there's nothing more I want than to be a part of this band." Freddie heard Sam gag and gently kicked the leg of the booth, causing her to jump in surprise and glare at him. He smirked back at her and whispered that he'd let her get him back for that one later on. "Please, please give me a chance! I'd do anything to be in this band."

"Really now? Would that include chopping your hair?" Gary gasped and his hands flew to his head. Freddie smirked and folded his arms over, wagging his eyebrows up and down. After a moment, Gary exhaled and lowered his arms.

"Yes, I would cut my hair. I'm not so concerned with popularity, I just want to be a part of this band."

"Why? Why do you want to be a part of Seattle Beasts?"

"Because…well…" Freddie waited to gauge his reaction, to see if he said anything that might give away potential vanity. If one thing was for sure, there was no way in hell that Gary would cut his hair off, everyone knew that. He just needed to back Gary into a corner and find a good way to bring out the vain side of him, assuming that was the real reason he was there. He didn't know for a fact, Gary could truly be there just because he wanted to be. "I thought it'd be a great way to spend my time and to hang out."

"Hang out? Being in a band is hard work. Think you could do that?"

"Hard work, you say?" Gary swallowed hard and Freddie's devious stare increased. "Yeah, I could do it." A curious thought, considering this guy never actually worked a day in his life. He was pampered constantly, perhaps weighted on hands and feet. "I can do everything!"

"How long have you actually worked with a musical instrument of any kind?"

"Um…a semester?" Gary shrugged his shoulders and Freddie gently tapped a finger on his chin.

"Only a semester? Never had much time outside all that popularity and coolness?"

"Yeah pretty much." His eyebrow arched and Gary flinched, quickly recanting what he just said. "I didn't mean that! I mean, I was always busy with other things in life, like my girlfriend. That was then, though." Freddie was thinking of giving Gary a chance to play for him, because at least he had some history with an instrument. Fairness was always the greatest thing anyone could give.

"Girlfriend? You had a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, she was hot!" Sam rolled her eyes and Freddie glanced to the side, he really wasn't sure he wanted to hear this. "I mean she had this stunning hourglass figure and was an amazing kisser." He sighed and returned to the seated side of the booth, grabbing the papers and shuffling through them.

"Uh huh, that's great…"

"We uh…we actually did it once, but she wasn't really all that great and-" Sam groaned miserably and Freddie's muscles tensed as his eyes flew over to Gary. Thoughts of Carly and Steven rushed into his mind and he slammed the papers hard on the desk. Gary froze and his eyes widened as his hands flew to his mouth in realization of his mistake. "Sorry I said too much! That wasn't-"

"Get out!"

"But…"

"Get out!" Freddie pointed to the doors and Gary whimpered off the stage like a scolded puppy. "If you know what's good for you, you'll get out before I lose it." Gary stopped at the doors and looked back, his shoulders slumped.

"I guess that means I won't get the position?" This time it was Sam who replied, wanting Freddie to keep his calm.

"Gary, please leave. It's not your fault, just go. We'll be in contact if we think you fit what we're looking for in a drummer."

"O-Okay…I'm sorry…" She smiled slightly and gave him a brisk nod.

"Just go." Gary nodded and quickly left as Sam stood up and turned to the rest of the audience. Everyone was curious to see what was going on, but they weren't about to get any answers. That was the last audition of the night anyhow. "Okay the auditions are over for tonight anyway, so go home and get some rest! We hope to see you guys at tomorrow's audition! Have a good night!" One by one everyone started leaving, including Jeremy. When everyone was gone, Sam moved behind Freddie and put her hands on his arms, then rested her head on his back. His muscles relaxed as he leaned forward against the booth and sighed.

"I'm sorry Sam, I shouldn't have exploded like that."

"It's okay Freddie." He smiled slightly as she moved her hands down his arms and wrapped them around his waist with care. She kissed the back of his neck once and closed her eyes. "Just relax. I know you're angry, so am I."

"I didn't have to take it out on Gary."

"True, but you couldn't help it. I probably would have done the same thing if Carly were my sister. I think any of us would have. He just said that a bit too soon for what we just found out."

"Yeah…" He lifted his head up as she moved her chin to his shoulder and smiled. He could feel her smile and the warmth of her arms around him, they soothed his fiery soul and relaxed his shot nerves. What would he do without her? Probably not much. "Tomorrow's a new day, let's focus on that. You want me to try to talk to Gibby about the auditions?"

"No. He declined them already. I asked him earlier today when I saw him in the halls and he didn't say anything about it."

"Damn…" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "You know, there's a couch backstage if you want to cuddle up a bit." There was a tempting thought, and nobody would disturb them any.

"Well as long as we don't fall asleep. I don't want to think about what your uncle would do to me if we fell asleep and you didn't get home." Sam giggled lightly and took his hand, then started walking in front of him, leading him backstage. He smiled brightly as they walked to the small black couch propped against the wall, shielded by several stage props.

"Here, let's just sit here and talk, or just cuddle up." He nodded and sat with her. She smiled and kissed his cheek, then set her head upon his right shoulder. Her fingers were tangled with his and his arm was around her. "Yeah, this is nice…" She slowly closed her eyes and Freddie kissed her temple. They could stay like this forever if it was possible, he didn't mind. He slowly exhaled and closed his eyes, drifting off in the comfort of the couch and Sam's warmth.

Well, Gary was annoying as hell. Hmm, what do we have here? Sam and Freddie falling asleep on the couch? Ooh, hope they don't oversleep, or they're in for it when Uncle Morris comes looking for Sam XD. Don't fall asleep, Freddie!