123iSwitch Schools
Summary: Marissa Benson has life-changing news for her 14-year-old son. Soon he'll be leaving his old life behind and starting over in a new city, making new friends – including a certain red-haired girl.
AN: This story begins around the time of "iMight Switch Schools" so late Spring towards the end of iCarly Series 1; the Victorious gang (apart from the Vegas) will be starting Hollywood Arts in the new academic year.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Victorious, any of the episodes or any of the characters in either it or iCarly.
Prologue
"Freddie! FREDDIE!" Marissa Benson's voice loomed large through the door of apartment 8-C, Bushwell Plaza, Seattle, WA as she knocked on the door and called to her son. Freddie Benson was sat on the couch of his neighbour, Carly Shay, along with Carly and her best friend Sam Puckett. The trio had just finished shooting an episode of their webshow "iCarly" and were celebrating a successful show by tucking into a tray of Carly's favourite treat, red velvet cupcakes.
The 14-year-old boy sighed and got up from the couch; Carly watched him walk to the door through sympathetic eyes (she knew how over-protective the boy's mother was). Sam, meanwhile, made no effort to suppress her laughter; she never ceased to be amused or entertained at how domineering Mrs Benson was and was always delighted by the misery she caused Freddie. Carly shot her a reproving glance and the blonde reluctantly turned her gaze back to the tray of cupcakes.
"More for mama" she cried gleefully, selecting another treat, as Freddie opened the door to greet his mother.
"Come home now Freddie; I've got important news for you" and with that the pair left; Freddie gave a parting wave to Carly, eyeing her with a sad look. The brunette looked back at him with renewed sympathy in her expression; she had accepted – and liked – Freddie's crush on her (though she never returned his feelings) though part of her wished he would get over it on occasion.
The two Bensons crossed the narrow hallway to their own home, apartment 8-D, and Marissa removed her coat.
"Sit down Freddie" she instructed; her son complied. "I've been offered a new job, Head Nurse."
"That's great mom!" Freddie said brightly, knowing that a little more money would always help – as would more regular hours for his mother, instead of working as many nights as she had to.
"It is good news, I'm glad you agree. We move next week." She nonchalantly dropped the bombshell.
"Wait… what?" her son's voice raised an octave in confusion and comprehension.
"The new job, it's in Los Angeles" she explained with an air of "did I not mention that bit?" in her tone.
"But… b-but… what about school – and my friends, Carly?" he stammered.
"I've enrolled you at Northridge Middle for the last few weeks of term; there's a High School there too. You'll make new friends in no time." She pointedly ignored mention of the object of her son's affections, still believing she could keep him away from girls until at least his 30th birthday.
Freddie's face fell as he felt the bottom collapsing from his world. Marissa leaned over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's for the best Freddie; this is a great opportunity for me – we can start afresh, a new life."
"My life's here" he complained. "My friends, iCarly…"
"It's going to have to come to an end" she stated brusquely. "I know there'll be some difficulties for you leaving it behind Freddie but we're moving next week; that's the end of it."
He nodded in sad resignation. "I'd better start packing" he muttered and he went to his room, lay on his bed and closed his eyes, trying to keep his emotions in check.
Monday morning saw a still subdued Freddie arrive at Ridgeway Junior High School. He had avoided the girls over the weekend while he processed Friday night's cataclysmic news that his mother had given him. He reached his locker and began organising it, sorting the things he'd want to take with him and deciding what he'd just throw out when a voice behind him made his heart leap.
"Hey Freddie" the peppy voice of Carly Shay began. "What happened to you over the weekend, we didn't see you?"
"You could have called round" he half-joked, realising as he said it that it was true; he always went to Carly's, she never made the return trip.
"Wasn't your mom home a lot this weekend?" she pointed out. He shrugged and smirked slightly at her explanation. When he didn't break the silence she continued "So where were you?"
"I was home" He closed his locker and turned to face her. "Packing and deciding what I wanted to take with me."
"Oh, you guys are going on vacation when school ends? Where?" she asked brightly before her smile dropped a little. "How long are you gone for? We'll have to stop iCarly for those Fridays."
Of course, iCarly the brown-eyed boy thought. Is that all that matters to her? Will I ever matter to her? He realised she was expectantly waiting for his answer so he sucked in a deep breath.
"We're not going on vacation; we're going… as in forever."
"What? Why?"
"My mom got a new job – Head Nurse at some hospital in LA. We leave next week."
"Next week? But you can't! What about school? What about iCarly?"
And it's back to the show he sighed.
"I have to quit" he shrugged. "I have no choice. This week's show will be my last one. Maybe you could ask Shane or one of the other AV guys to take over?"
"Maybe" she said; there was an edge of sadness in her voice now that the initial shock had subsided.
"Excuse me… Carly Shay?" a voice behind the brunette asked; she turned to face the male owner, Freddie looked past her to the newcomer.
"Yes?" she confirmed.
"On behalf of Briarwood School this is an invitation for an interview with our Headmaster…"
The pair's news had not been well received by Sam; she was surprised, and rather hurt, that Carly had been offered an interview at a different school but she had not (the explanation that her problem was her poor grades and behaviour did little to improve her mood); her efforts to enlist Freddie to help put a stop to Carly's move failed when the boy explained that, as he was moving, he wouldn't be at school with Carly wherever she went and that he wouldn't sabotage her chances to go to a better school. The two had squabbled and argued but Freddie stood firm in his refusal.
Friday afternoon saw the end of Freddie's time at Ridgeway Junior High School; ten minutes from the end of last period he was called to Principal Franklin's office where the African-American shook his hand and wished him well for the future. The out-going iCarly tech producer then headed to his locker for the final time, unloaded it, took a final look around the halls of the school that had been such familiar territory for so long, slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the entrance as the final bell tolled. He greeted Carly's elder brother Spencer, who was driving the trio back to Bushwell Plaza that day, and sat in near-silence, muttering one-word answers when Spencer attempted to engage him in conversation. The tall artist gave up shortly before his sister and her best friend arrived at the SUV and got in.
"So dork, you're no longer a Ridgeway student" Sam began jovially. "We're finally rid of you."
Freddie pulled a face and mouthed an imitation of the blonde's taunt before turning away from her and gazing out of the window. This earned him a shove from his fellow side-kick, something he pointedly ignored. Sam turned to Carly with a quizzical look; the web star and soon-to-be Private School student looked between the pair and shrugged at her friend.
Spencer chatted to the girls on the journey across town; Freddie remained sullen and silent throughout; his only utterance was to thank Spencer for the ride when they pulled in to the apartment complex's parking lot. When the group arrived at the 8th floor he surprised the rest by entering his own home rather than the Shays', simply commenting that he'd be over in time for the show. The 14-year-old then unloaded his school supplies, repacking his bags ahead of their departure the next morning. Once he was finished, keeping one bag clear for the technical equipment he had in the iCarly studio and that he'd disassemble after tonight's show, he left the deserted apartment (his mom was finishing her final shift in Seattle) and entered Carly's home.
"Hey Freddie" Spencer greeted him brightly and cheerfully. "I'm making Spaghetti Tacos, you want some?"
"Sure" the teen forced a smile at his friend. He joined the two girls at the kitchen table just as the sculptor was placing the first serving on the table; Spencer hurriedly furnished him with a plate and a glass, into which Carly poured a generous helping of her infamous Special Lemonade.
The tech producer forced himself to join the conversation and fielded questions about his imminent departure, confirming that it was indeed the following morning that they'd be leaving.
"We'll miss you" the older man told him sincerely.
"Thanks Spence" he gave him a grateful smile before returning to his food. "It's gonna be strange not living across the hall from you guys" he noted.
The quartet finished their meals and Carly checked her watch. "Time for the show" she noted and the three teenagers made their way upstairs as Spencer cleared the table; he would head up later.
Freddie tapped away on his laptop, setting everything up for the webcast, gathered up his camera, trained it on the co-hosts and, with a slight lump in his throat counted down "In five, four, three, two…" before pointing at the girls.
"And finally we have an announcement to make" Carly began, her face turning serious after the amusing sketches they'd performed over the past half-hour. "Get out here Freddie."
"Switching to static camera" he confirmed, setting it down and tapping the requisite keys on his belt-mounted pad. He stood between the two girls.
"Freddie's mom got a new job so they're leaving Seattle – which means, sadly, this is his last iCarly as our tech producer."
"I am NOT sad about this" interjected Sam, earning her a reproachful look from Carly and a slack-jawed glare from Freddie.
"Anyway, we just wanted to let you know – and I wanted to publically wish Freddie well in the future. Good luck Freddie, I'm sure you'll do great." And she hugged him briefly; Freddie held on a second too long but released the brunette before she had to resort to flicking the back of his head again.
"Goodbye Freddie" Spencer said, entering the picture and shaking his hand warmly.
"Yeah, see ya nub" muttered Sam, briefly placing her hand on his back before quickly removing it.
"Thanks guys; it's been great being involved in iCarly – and thanks to all you guys, the fans of iCarly; you're all awesome and it's been great being a part of it."
"Alright, that's enough mushy stuff" the blonde piped up, giving him a not-too-gentle shove. "Back where you belong so we can wrap up." Freddie shot her a look but returned behind the camera, picked it up and turned it back to the two girls (Spencer made his way out of shot).
The girls signed off the show leading Freddie to tap a few buttons to shut down the stream before he announced "And we are clear." He set the camera back down and began disconnecting everything without further comment.
"You need help with any of that Freddo?" asked Spencer.
"Nah thanks, I'm good – just need to take it apart and I'll move it down in the elevator before taking it back to mine."
Carly bit her tongue; the brunette hadn't realised that, of course, Freddie's departure meant that he would be taking all his equipment with him. The glance she traded with Sam revealed the blonde hadn't considered this either. Looks like we need a new tech guy soon crossed the hostesses' minds.
With his kit disassembled Freddie walked away from the tech cart and began a short tour of the studio; he paused briefly to rest his hand on props such as the car seat that Spencer had restored, smiling as he recalled Mandy the stalker who had sat there and the troubles they'd had in getting rid of her.
"You ok?" Carly's voice asked timidly as she saw his expression sadden again.
"Yeah; it's just… saying goodbye really."
"I know" she sympathised, pulling him into another hug, which he returned willingly but without the temptation to hold on forever. She released him and took a step back towards her brother and best friend. "We'll be downstairs when you're done" she told him. Freddie nodded.
With the rest of the group gone the brown-haired boy continued his goodbye to the studio at a leisurely pace; he allowed memories of bygone shows to flood back into his mind and a few tears to escape his eyes. Finally he was ready; he returned to the tech cart, made sure everything was ready to go and pushed it to the elevator. He took it down to the living area and pushed it across the hallway as Carly held her front door open. The brunette followed him into 8-D and gave him one last hug as he deposited the equipment in his room.
"I'll miss you Freddie" she whispered.
"I'll miss you too Carls" he replied. His mom arrived at this precise moment so he continued "I'll look in tomorrow morning just before we go and say goodbye, ok?"
The brunette web star nodded sadly and returned home.
"Are you all packed Freddie?" she asked, "we're leaving early tomorrow – you won't have time to pack in the morning if you want to say goodbye to your friends."
"Yes mom, I'm just about done" he confirmed. "Just my computer equipment that I just brought back from Carly's."
"Ok"
Freddie spent the next half-hour or so, while his mom ate and finished her own packing, to check on the schools she had found for him. He pulled a face as he read more and more about Northridge High and quickly began to look for other, more promising schools in the area. One in particular appealed to him as he read its website front page.
Do you have a gift for performing? Can you make productions come to life? If so, this is the school for you. Singers, actors, dancers, special effects people – join us and make some magic. To arrange an audition contact Principal Eikner.
Freddie smiled; the school looked good from its website and, by checking the local county's education board website, he saw that its results were way better than those of Northridge. He scribbled down some of the information and fired off an e-mail to Mr Eikner before deciding that it might be best to inform of mother of the change of plans.
"Mom" Freddie began as he left his room and approached his mother in the kitchen of their apartment "I've been looking on-line and I don't think Northridge High sounds like a good enough school." He proceeded to explain all the things he had found on-line about its scores, the building, the area and gave a detailed account of why he shouldn't go there.
Marissa looked steadily at her son; her protective instincts demanded the best for him so she asked "Have you found somewhere better?"
"I have" he confirmed. "I just needed to set up an interview and… well; they call it an 'audition' really."
"What's the school" his mum enquired curiously.
"Hollywood Arts."
AN: For those of you wondering why this is in the Victorious section, rather than the cross-overs, bear with me; it's more of a Victorious-plus-Freddie (and minus Tori, to begin with at least) rather than a true cross-over.
