I looked up at the clock and began tapping my fingers against my desk; this was it; The last day of junior year at Ridgeway high school and I was excited for the summer to come, just five more minutes. The intercom crackled to life and I looked up at it as my name was announced "Freddie Benson." came the voice of the secretary.

When I got to the office there were two officers sitting with the principle Oh jeez... What's Sam done now? I think with a sigh. Sam and Carly are my two best friends (and my ex girlfriends, weird I know) and we do a web show called iCarly which was getting pretty popular. I was beckoned into the office by the secretary who gave me a sympathetic smile, which just made it all the more confusing.

I was sat down in one of the comfortable leather seats inside the principles office and once again am greeted with sympathetic looks from the officers and principle Franklin. "You're Freddie Benson?" The officer on my left asks.

"Yes I am sir."

"We uh, we're sorry to have to say this but... There was a car accident this afternoon."

I feel a shiver slide down my spine "What?" I ask.

"Your mother, Marissa Benson, was in a car crash this afternoon on her way home from the grocery store today, I'm sorry son." The officer to my right said.

I felt... Numb, "I've got to go." I tell them, "Um, is there anything else you need from me?"

They shook their heads, "Nope, you go home and rest. This is a lot to take in."

Of course it is, I just found out my mother is dead. I head out to the school parking lot and then I remember, my mother had forbidden me from getting a drivers license because she was afraid I'd be in a fatal accident... Talk about cruel irony. I walk the rest of the way to my apartment in Bushwell Plaza. Once I'm in the apartment I collapse on the couch and let my body shut down to process the grief.

I was awoken by a sharp pounding on the door which I recognized as Sam's signature knock so I crawled off the couch and walked to the door "Yeah?" I asked groggily.

The blonde glared at me, "Dude it's like 7, where have you been?"

"I must've fallen asleep" I mumble.

"You missed iCarly, we had to cancel the show."

"And?" I ask, starting to get a little angry.

"Dude, we had to cancel iCarly again!"

"Whatever Sam, just... leave me alone." I say as I shut the door and head back into my room, I don't feel like talking to anyone. I can imagine her raging out there. I hear the Shay apartment door slam and I have to admit I'm surprised, she normally would come after me , but I don't care, instead I head back to my room and spend the rest of the night locked inside.

The next morning I stayed in bed, half expecting my mom to come into my room and yell at me for being lazy but then I realized she was gone, she wouldn't be bothering me ever again about anything. I slowly rolled out of bed and realized funeral arrangements needed to be made so I headed to the telephone and dial my aunt in Los Angeles.

After getting off the phone with her I go back to my room and get dressed in a simple black shirt and blue jeans, I don't really care what I wear, and head over to the Shay apartment in the hopes they'll have something that's not a vegetable to eat.

I slowly enter the apartment across the hall from mine and get a sympathetic look from Spencer which makes me grateful and angry at the same time. I appreciate the sympathy but it just reminds me she's dead and never coming back. "Hey Kiddo." Carly's older brother says, "I just heard."

"It's fine." I say sharply, probably more sharply than I meant to, "I just...I just want to try and.."

In a moment of out of character wisdom he nods knowingly, "There's some ham left over in the fridge, you'd better get it before Sam gets here." I shake my head and head into the kitchen where sure enough there's four slices of ham. I quickly put them on some bread and with some ketchup and start to eat the two ham sandwiches I've made "Where's Carly?"

"She is upstairs, she'll be down in a few."

I roll my eyes, probably talking to some worthless boy again. I hate her so much sometimes... Why can't she see what's right in front of her? Why can't she see that I'm worth about 10 of those losers she dates? I take a bite of my sandwich and accidentally bite my tongue, causing me to drop my sandwich back on my plate, "Chizz.." I mutter.

"Everything okay?" The eccentric artist asks from the living room.

"I'm fine." I lie and resume eating. Five minutes later Carly comes down dressed in a gray penny t-shirt and bunny pajamas and smiles that smile that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Hey Freddie."

"Hey."

"Are... you eating ham?"

"Yup."

"The ham that's... the last in the fridge?"

"Yup."

"Are you suicidal?!"

"Nope, I'm just not afraid anymore.." It's funny how your parent dying can you give a new perspective on life.

She shrugs and walks over to the fridge and pulls out the orange juice, "I uh... I heard about your mom, I'm so sorry.."

I nod and try to force a smile, "Thanks."

"I know what it's like,to lose a parent and if you need to talk let me know."

I smile bitterly, so this is what it takes for her to notice me? "Thanks." I say as I finish my first sandwich.

"I heard Sam came to see you last night, I'm sorry."

She's sorry a lot today, I just nod and put my other sandwich aside "I have to go." I tell the Shays "I'm meeting my aunt at the airport later and I have to get some stuff ready, plus it's a pain to get a taxi."

"I'll drive you." She offers but I need to be alone so I decline the offer as politely as I can and leave. The cold fresh air feels good and it jolts my brain out of the stupor it's been in since I woke up. I wander around Seattle for about an hour, letting the cold air chill me to the bone... Oh how I love Seattle in November. When I finally reach the airport my Aunt is waiting for me, we hug and I smile sadly at her.

My Aunt Jennifer is my mother's twin sister but in appearance only. They have completely different personalities; While my mom was strict, over bearing, and insane Jennifer is cool, calm, and completely sane. She's a talent agent in Los Angeles so she doesn't get to visit much, but the one or two times a year we get to see each other we have a lot of fun.

"Hey Aunt Jen." I say.

"Freddie! It's good to see you, I'm sorry it has to be on such a sad occasion... Marissa was a good woman."

I nod, "The funeral's Tomorrow."

"After the funeral, would you consider moving to L.A with me?"

I froze, she wanted me to move to Los Angeles? Away from Seattle? "Yes." I answered quickly.

My Aunt Jennifer and I spent the rest of the day finishing the funeral arrangement; My mother had most of them planned out years ago, and then I went back to Bushwell Plaza to finish packing. In the hallway Carly and Sam are talking, probably waiting for me, "Hey guys."

"Hey Freddie."

"Nerd."

"What's up?"

Sam was the one to speak up, "We've been waiting for an hour nub, where've you been?"

"I was helping with the funeral arrangements." I tell her, gritting my teeth. Carly gives me a sympathetic smile, which just seems to make me angrier.

"Yeah whatever, you missed rehearsals."

Rehearsal? That's all she can think about? "I was busy." I figure now is the only time I'll get to tell them, "I'm moving to Los Angeles after the funeral."

"What?!" Both girls shriek.

"You can't do that." Carly insists.

"I'll beat you so bad you can't leave." Sam threatens.

"I don't care anymore." I snap, "I'm moving, I need a fresh start, I need... to get away from Seattle."

"Please Stay." The brunette in front of me begs. "Please, for me?"

I stare at them incredulously, "Tell me it's not for iCarly." I challenge. The two teen girls stare at each other for a moment and finally I speak up again, "I don't believe this, the only reason you want me to stay if because of iCarly?!"

"Yeah.." Sam said.

Carly looked uncomfortable, like she'd just realized she'd done something wrong "What the chizz is wrong with you both!?" I'm talking mostly to Carly as I know Sam doesn't give a damn about me.

"What's wrong with me?" Carly asks angrily, "What's wrong with you? How can you just go and leave us?!"

"My mother is dead Carly, but I guess you don't care. This is my official notice: I quit!" I then head into my apartment and slam the door.

The next day is the funeral and I notice neither Carly or Sam have bothered to show up which is fine with me, both of them showed their true colors yesterday and as far as I'm concerned I'm done with them. The sky is overcast, ,which is nothing new for Seattle, and it feels like it may rain. Thankfully Aunt Jenny brought two umbrellas just in case.

The preacher says something about how my Mother is in a better place and how she should not be mourned, I tuned him out after the first sentence. Finally it's my turn to say something so I slowly walk up to the pedestal and clear my throat "My mother..." I paused to look back at the coffin before resuming my speech, "Was many things: Crazy, nosy, and sometimes over bearing. But I loved her, and I will miss her. She did the best she could with what she had and I will always love her and respect her for it."

It's funny how a funeral can force people to say the best about things; not a week ago I was angry and wished my Mom dead, now I'd give anything to have her back. After I step down it's Aunt Jennifer's turn to speak and she tells the mourners one of the happy moments in their childhood before stepping down, tears filling up in her eyes.

After the funeral we had back to Bushwell plaza and load up my stuff into a moving van we'd hired after I'd agreed to move to Los Angeles and we start driving. I take one last look back at Seattle before saying a silent goodbye to my old life and hello to my new one.

Note: Okay so here's the first chapter of my new story, iNeed a Change. I hope Challenge King enjoys this, as it's based off his challenge to me. I know Carly may seem a little (or a lot) OOC here, but please bear with me as the story progresses I think you'll like it. I don't own iCarly or anything related, please read and review!