CHAPTER 16

"So, how was it?" Lucas inquired after striking the last chord of his song.

In that brief moment, the once quiet classroom filled with a buzz of activity. Many of the girls had their hands on their chests, deeply moved by the raw emotions conveyed through the song.

Carly, captivated by the performance, exclaimed, "That was… amazing…," as she looked at Lucas.

Observing this scene, Freddie's eyes narrowed. Initially, he too had been amazed at how a simple set of lyrics could transform into such a touching song. However, witnessing Carly's caring gaze directed at Lucas, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy and annoyance towards the new kid.

Principal Franklin approached Lucas and commended his performance, saying, "That was a great performance, Mr. Grey." Placing his hand on Lucas's shoulder, he continued, "As Lucas Grey is a new student, he will need someone to show him around the school. Any volunteers?" Principal Franklin wore a smile as he made the request.

Immediately, most of the girls in the class eagerly raised their hands, including Gibby, prompting a questioning look from Sam.

"What? I like the song. I want to be friends with him", Gibby explained.

Principal Franklin noticed Carly Shay's raised hand and suggested, "How about Miss Shay? She seems eager." In his mind, Principal Franklin believed Carly could provide a good friendship for the young Lucas. If Carly could handle the problematic Sam Puckett, she would surely be able to assist the somewhat border-line depress Lucas Grey.

Lucas, seizing the opportunity, smiled and said to Carly, "I don't mind. I will be in your care, Miss Shay," causing the young girl to blush at being addressed as 'Miss Shay'.

Observing Carly's reaction, Freddie grew increasingly frustrated and muttered, "Oh man." Despite knowing Carly for much longer, he had never been the one to make her blush.

Gibby, noticing Freddie's frustration, reassured him by placing his arm around Freddie's shoulder and saying, "It's alright."

"Gibby!", Freddie shouted as he pushed Gibby away.

AFTER THE CLASS:

After fully introducing themselves with Lucas and showing him around the school after Ms.Briggs class, the group of Sam, Carly, Freddie, and Lucas were currently seated on one of the free tables in the school cafeteria for lunch.

"So, you're new in Seattle?" Carly asked, casually moving her hair behind her ear.

"Not really. I'm currently staying with my sister," Lucas replied. He was aware that Carly seemed to be developing a crush on him, but he didn't delve too deeply into those thoughts. After all, he was a man in a child's body, and the idea felt wrong on many levels.

Freddie, noticing Carly's demeanor, quickly positioned himself between the two. "Sister? Why not your parents?" he blurted out.

"Freddie!" Carly exclaimed in annoyance.

Lucas smiled, amused by Freddie's antics. He immediately realized that Freddie was feeling jealous due to the attention Carly was giving him. "My parents passed away about four years ago," he explained calmly.

Lucas's response created an awkward silence that enveloped the group. Feeling annoyed that the lively atmosphere had been disrupted, Sam approached Freddie and punched him in the arm, "Look what you did!", she said, scolding Freddie.

Rubbing his arm, Freddie defended himself, saying, "How was I supposed to know?"

Lucas just chuckled, understanding the situation. "It's fine. You wouldn't have known anyway," he reassured them.

"Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you guys, don't you have a web series together?" Lucas inquired, choosing to address the topic head-on. He had decided it was the best course of action to take at the moment. Since 2 out of the 3 members seemed to like him already, Lucas believed that it was the right time to broach such a topic.

Carly's face lit up with a smile. "Yeah! You know about iCarly?" she exclaimed, clearly delighted that Lucas was familiar with their web show.

"I actually started watching it a few days ago. It's a funny show," Lucas added, confirming his interest.

In a synchronic moment, both Sam and Carly turned to each other and simultaneously said,

"You should totally go on the show!"

"You should totally go on the show!"

"Really? That would be awesome!", Lucas replied. Seemingly glad that he was effortlessly able to get into the webshow without any hassle.

On the side, Freddie returned back to his seat with a defeated sigh. In his mind, Lucas had become a rival for Carly's affection and love, and it seemed like things were not going in his favor.

As the 4 individuals continued eating, Lucas suddenly took out a container filled with bacon from his bag, catching Sam's attention immediately. Her eyes widened with excitement as she locked onto the delicious treat.

"You can have some," Lucas offered, a playful smile on his face.

Without hesitation, Sam eagerly grabbed the container and started devouring the bacon inside, much to the surprise of Carly, Freddie, and even Lucas himself. They watched in astonishment as Sam's appetite seemed insatiable.

"Whoa, Sam, slow down!" Carly exclaimed, both amused and bewildered by her friend's voracious eating.

EXTRA SCENE LATER IN THE NIGHT:

Meredith glanced at her watch, feeling the pressure to finish her charts as quickly as possible. Cristina, always quick with her words, couldn't resist teasing her.

"Why the hurry? Are you meeting with Derek or something?" Cristina playfully asked, a smirk forming on her face.

Meredith, her focus still on her work, replied in a composed manner, "Derek and I broke up."

Cristina's eyes widened in surprise. "You and McDreamy really broke up? For good this time?" she asked.

Meredith, not wanting to delve into the details, responded calmly, "Cristina, I don't want to talk about it right now."

Understanding her friend's need for privacy, Cristina changed the subject. "Fine, but why are you still in a hurry?"

Meredith paused for a moment, considering her answer. "I need to go home early because Lucas is alone at the house," she explained.

Curiosity got the better of Cristina, and she inquired further. "Oh, so how's it been? Having a younger brother?"

Meredith momentarily stopped writing, reflecting on her experience so far. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Sometimes he seems too mature for his age, but then he surprises me by watching a kids' comedy shows. It's a bit of a mixed bag really."

"Just give it time. He's a teenager, after all. He'll start masturbating in his laundry soon enough", Cristina teased, causing shock to form in Meredith's face, "Cristina!".