Chapter 15

"Are you sure you want to bring your guitar to your new school?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"Yeah," I replied, slinging the guitar over my shoulder. "I think it could be a good conversation starter." It had been two days since I received my test results and Principal Franklin approved my placement in the 9th Grade. During those two days, I had been busy researching iCarly online, buying school supplies, practicing the guitar Lexie gave me, and brainstorming ways to get involved in the iCarly web series.

It was fascinating to see the web series come to life. In the Nickelodeon version of iCarly, we only got a glimpse of what the show was about. We knew it was a comedy skit show, but we only managed to watch a few skits before it ended. In this world, I could watch the entire full-length episode, and honestly, it was quite entertaining. It was no wonder the show became popular among teenagers and young adults in the iCarly TV show world.

Despite its childish comedic nature, the web series managed to attract tens of thousands of viewers each week, with the potential to reach even higher numbers based on online ratings. My plan was to make some appearances on the show and also create my own YouTube channel. This way, I could ride the coattails of iCarly and potentially become one of the first wave of content creators.

All I needed to do was befriend Carly, Sam, and Freddie and hope they liked me enough to invite me onto their show. Carly and Freddie seemed approachable, but winning over Sam might require some extra effort.

From what I can recall in the series, Sam wasn't particularly feminine, even when she started dating Freddie. I vaguely remember her having a strong fondness for food, so I thought maybe I could win her friendship by treating her taste buds.

I had devised an interesting plan, to say the least. Concealed in my backpack was a container brimming with crispy bacon. The mere thought of this plan made me chuckle. I wasn't entirely certain if it would succeed, but at least I could enjoy bacon for lunch if it didn't work out.

"Isn't it a bit douchey to bring it?" Alex questioned as he was currently seated in the back seat of Meredith's car.

"I think it would be fine. It's a great way to make friends", Meredith stated as she parked her car at the school parking lot.

"See you later guys. I still have to meet Principal Franklin in order to know my classes", I stated as I got my backpack.

"I'll try and pick you up but if I can't, I'll send you a text. You can get the bus to go home, or you can go to the hospital", Meredith stated as she saw me leave the car.

With a smile on my face, I waved her and Alex goodbye as I entered the Ridgeway Junior High School

As Lucas entered the building, Meredith subtly glanced at Alex and posed a question, her curiosity piqued. "I'm curious," she began, her voice soft yet inquisitive.

Alex turned his gaze towards Meredith, meeting her eyes. "Curious about what?" he inquired.

Meredith hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Why did you choose to accompany me in taking Lucas to school?"

A fleeting moment passed as their eyes locked. Eventually, Alex let out a sigh, as if releasing a weight from his shoulders. "You see," he began, his tone carrying a hint of vulnerability, "when I was a child, I spent some time in the foster care system. I went through various families, most of them forgettable and far from ideal. But there was this one man. He didn't do much, really. Most of the time, he would come home exhausted from his construction job, often falling asleep in his chair. Yet, before he drifted off, he would always ask me about my day. Every single day, without fail, he would ask me how my day went".

A tender silence enveloped the two, momentarily baring their emotions, before Meredith broke it with a heartfelt smile. "You know, Alex," she said, her voice filled with sincerity, "you're going to make an amazing father one day."

Though unspoken, Meredith could keenly perceive that Alex was gradually developing a sense of care for Lucas. Perhaps it was because Alex's own childhood experiences mirrored those of Lucas, who had endured a brief stint in the foster care system. Alex was determined to ensure that Lucas understood he was safe and protected under Meredith's care, even if he didn't explicitly express it.

In response, Alex's demeanor shifted, with a mixture of discomfort and deflection evident in his retort. "Just drive already. We're going to be late," he replied.

A few minutes later, as Grade 9 students began to gather for their English class, Carly Shay entered the room and was immediately taken aback by the audacity of Sam eating at her desk so early in the morning. "You're having breakfast in class?" Carly exclaimed, a mix of surprise and disapproval evident in her voice.

Sam, with a bowl of cereal, a cup of orange juice, and two pieces of bacon on her desk, simply nodded with food still in her mouth, an unapologetic expression on her face.

Before Carly could continue reprimanding her friend, their English teacher entered the room and immediately noticed Sam indulging in her breakfast. Ms. Briggs fixed a stern gaze upon Sam, causing the blonde girl to hurriedly hide her half-eaten food, desperately trying to consume it as quickly as possible.

Observing Sam's impressive display of devouring her meal, Freddie couldn't help but express his surprise. "That's impressive," he remarked, his tone filled with a mixture of awe and amusement.

After a few seconds, seeing that all her students were prepared, Ms. Briggs smiled and declared, "Today, we won't be having an English class."

Upon hearing this announcement, the kids erupted in excitement, exclaiming, "YEHEY!"

"Silence!" Ms. Briggs bellowed in anger, instantly quieting the cheering class.

"Today, we have a special guest. A friend of mine has graciously agreed to share his talent and show you all the art of true performance!" Ms. Briggs swung open the classroom door and proclaimed in a booming voice, "Please welcome Scottish Highland Dancer Benjamin Yip!"

A man entered the room, adorned in the standard Scottish Highlander dance attire. His tartan kilt flowed gracefully as he moved, complementing the formal jacket adorned with silver buttons. The ensemble was completed with a crisp white shirt, a necktie, knee-high socks, and black ghillie brogues shoes.

As the man began his dance, a wave of disappointment swept through the students, leading them to collectively express their disinterest with boos and jeers.

"BOO!!!"

They found the music and dance style Scottish Highland dancing unappealing, considering the whole performance quite dull. This reaction ignited another wave of anger in Ms. Briggs, who deemed the students' response disrespectful.

"How dare you!" Miss Briggs' fury resonated throughout the room, causing the students to recoil in fear of Miss Brigg's wrath.

Just as Miss Briggs was about to continue scolding her students, Principal Franklin made an unexpected entrance, accompanied by Lucas Grey. Miss Briggs' demeanor instantly transformed upon seeing the principal's presence.

"Principal Ted, what brings you here so early in the morning?" Miss Briggs inquired, her warm smile replacing her previous anger.

Principal Ted briefly surveyed the room, having overheard Miss Briggs' voice raised in frustration in the hallway. His gaze settled on Miss Briggs as he responded.

"You briefly met Lucas Grey a few days ago. He will now be joining your English class," Principal Ted informed her, choosing to overlook Miss Briggs' temper for the time being.

The arrival of a new student piqued the curiosity of Miss Briggs' class, leading to whispers and gossip among the students. They couldn't help but notice Lucas's attractiveness.

Annoyed by the interruption, Miss Briggs's attention was immediately drawn to the guitar strap visible behind Lucas's back. Unable to reprimand Principal Ted, she decided to embarrass Lucas instead.

"So, Mr. Grey, do you fancy yourself a musician?" Miss Briggs asked, her smile masking her underlying intentions.

"I aspire to be," Lucas replied, a genuine smile gracing his face. Just like Principal Franklin, he had also heard Miss Briggs' loud and angry voice in the hallway. It seemed that across different worlds, stern and unpleasant teachers remained a constant variable.

"Do you mind playing for the class?" Miss Briggs asked.

"I don't mind," Lucas replied after a brief moment of contemplation. Despite Miss Briggs' questionable intentions, Lucas felt grateful for the opportunity. As he scanned the classroom, his eyes landed on the familiar faces of Carly Shay, Sam Puckett, and Freddie Benson from iCarly. If he could impress them, it could be his ticket to getting into a popular web show without much hassle.

With a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, Miss Briggs gestured for Lucas Grey to take center stage. "The stage is yours, Mr. Grey," she announced, clapping her hands in excitement.

Lucas confidently stepped forward, addressing the class with a friendly smile. "Hi, everyone. My name is Lucas Grey, and it looks like I'll be playing for you today." Positioning his guitar, he closed his eyes for a moment. He immediately activated his 'musical library' and quickly started scanning for a song to play.

The students leaned forward in their seats, their anticipation palpable in the air. And then, in a split second, something extraordinary happened. Like a switch being flipped, the atmosphere around Lucas transformed completely. The young man who had stood before them now radiated an undeniable aura of charisma and magnetism. It was like a magnetic pull that captured the attention of everyone in the room.

Unknown to everyone in the room, Lucas had activated his; S-rank singing talent, S-rank musical talent, and S-rank stage presence talent.

"So, I wrote this song a while back. It can have a different meaning to each individual, but I hope you guys like it," Lucas shared. Based on the musical library, the song that Lucas picked was a song that didn't exist in this world.

Lucas's fingers delicately caressed the strings of his guitar, each chord resonating with a bittersweet slow melody.

[Music Library:" Somewhere Only We Know" made by the British Band Keane in the original world back in 2004. Not released in this new world.]

♫ ♩I walked across an empty land♪♫

♫ ♩I knew the pathway like the back of my hand♪♫

♫ ♩I felt the earth beneath my feet♪♫

♫ ♩Sat by the river and it made me complete♪♫

♫ ♩Oh, simple thing, where have you gone? ♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' old, and I need something to rely on♪♫

♫ ♩So, tell me when you're gonna let me in♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' tired, and I need somewhere to begin♪♫

As Lucas's voice filled the room, the students couldn't help but sway gently from side to side, caught in the spell of the song. With closed eyes, Lucas poured his soul into each melody, his voice resonating with raw emotion.

♫ ♩I came across a fallen tree♪♫

♫ ♩I felt the branches of it looking at me♪♫

♫ ♩Is this the place we used to love? ♪♫

♫ ♩Is this the place that I've been dreaming of? ♪♫

As the song continued, the mischievous smile on Miss Briggs' face began to fade. Her initial intention to embarrass the young student started to dissolve, replaced by a growing sense of awe and respect.

♫ ♩Oh, simple thing, where have you gone? ♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' old, and I need something to rely on♪♫

♫ ♩So, tell me when you're gonna let me in♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' tired, and I need somewhere to begin♪♫

Principal Franklin could only sigh inwardly, his heart heavy with concern. As a friend of Dr. Webber, he was aware of Lucas's difficult past and the emotional baggage he carried. Hearing the song made him think that Lucas was longing for the days of his past. He believes that Lucas was feeling nostalgic about his parents, and he wonders if the kid has truly processed what has happened to him in the last 4 years. As a principal, he believes that he has a responsibility to keep a watchful eye on Lucas, ensuring that the weight of his experiences wouldn't drag him into a downward spiral.

♫ ♩And if you have a minute, why don't we go ♪♫

♫ ♩Talk about it somewhere only we know? ♪♫

♫ ♩This could be the end of everything♪♫

♫ ♩So, why don't we go♪♫

♫ ♩Somewhere only we know? ♪♫

As Lucas fingers played the guitar, some students began to imagine the place where they truly felt comfort and happiness, a longing that they didn't know they had miss.

Memories long forgotten were awakened, and they found themselves transported to moments of pure comfort and joy. Each student had their own vivid recollections. One imagined the treehouse his father had lovingly built, a sanctuary of childhood adventures. Another, with tears welling in her eyes, reminisced about the precious moments shared with her late mother, a bittersweet mixture of love and longing. And yet another was instantly transported back to the bustling ice cream shop, the sweet indulgence shared with his family after Sunday church.

Caught in the music's embrace, Carly Shay too felt the power of vivid memories. She was transported to a time when her father's duty didn't keep him away, when she was just a child lying in bed with a fever. In that moment, her father's presence brought her solace and security, as he tenderly read her bedtime stories. Unbeknownst to her, tears welled in her eyes as she found herself typing a heartfelt message to her father, expressing how much she missed him. The music had unlocked a deep longing within her, evoking the vivid emotions and connections she thought were lost in time.

♫ ♩Oh, simple thing, where have you gone? ♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' old, and I need something to rely on♪♫

♫ ♩So, tell me when you're gonna let me in♪♫

♫ ♩I'm gettin' tired, and I need somewhere to begin♪♫

♫ ♩And if you have a minute, why don't we go♪♫

♫ ♩Talk about it somewhere only we know? ♪♫

♫ ♩This could be the end of everything♪♫

♫ ♩So, why don't we go? ♪♫

♫ ♩Somewhere only we know? ♪♫

♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫

♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫♫ ♩♪♫

♫ ♩Somewhere only we know♪♫

♫♩♪{song ends} ♫♩♪