AN: My first SOR fanfic, so be gentle. The kids are all around 16/17.
Disclaimer; I own nothing. Seriously now, do I actually have to tell you that?
"I saw Katie in town today, with her little brother. They were coming out of the cinema."
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. The members of The School Of Rock looked at Summer as she walked in the door and started shrugging off her coat.
"Thanks Summer, that's really what we want to think about right now." Freddy moaned, thumping his sticks onto one of his drums.
Marta rolled her eyes at him, then walked over to Summer and whispered conspirationally, "Mark's mom just picked him up to take him to his Grandma's or something, and Freddy yelled at him that he was letting the band down 'cause he's hardly ever here." Freddy glared at her.
"Well, it would be nice if we could get someone who can actually play bass." Summer remarked.
"Like Katie?" Zack asked, glancing quickly at Freddy, who was now glaring at his drum set instead of Summer.
"Yeah, like Katie." Summer smiled, a little sadly. "Everything's so different with her gone."
"Well it would be, wouldn't it. I mean, she's gone." Marta gave a small laugh.
"But it's so so different."
Zack raised his eyebrows slightly. "Summer, you're supposed to be the one who never uses bad grammar. You realise that doesn't make any sense, right?"
"You know what I mean. And he's really not very good. And I even miss hearing her and Freddy argue."
"Freddy and Mark argue plenty." Tomika pointed out.
"But it's not the same, is it? It used to be - playful. Now it's just like they hate each other."
"They do."
Freddy stood up. "If you really want to discuss it as if I'm not here, at least wait until I'm out of the room." He threw his drumsticks to the floor and stormed out of the room. The other members exchanged glances.
"Nice one Summer." Zack frowned at her, then followed Freddy out.
"He was slumped at the bottom of the wall, and he didn't even look up when Zack sat down next to him.
"Hey, what's up?" Freddy didn't answer. "I know you're pissed at Mark, but you didn't need to yell at Summer."
"I didn't yell." Freddy muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Why do they have to talk about her every five minutes? She's been out of the band nearly a year and a half."
"What, Katie?" Freddy glared at him. "Sorry. You do miss her, don't you."
"Of course. We all do. Summer's right, it's not the same."
"Yeah, but you miss her more. It's obvious."
Freddy said nothing for awhile. "You remember her fifteenth birthday? I'd completely forgotten, and didn't even have a present, so I offered to teach her how to play
the drums." Zack looked amused. "Yeah - see, we'd had this conversation back when Dewey was pretending to be Mr S. about whether girls could play the drums, and I said she wouldn't be able to name two good women drummers."
"Could she?"
Freddy gave a small laugh, "Yeah, she could. She was really surprised when I remembered, but she agreed to take lessons. except she called to - well, the day she told the band it was over, just before we had practice, she called me and said she was going to be busy for a while and could we put the lessons on hold. We never started up again."
"That sucks. Katie's different now. It's wierd really. Not only does she not come to band, she hardly goes anywhere."
"Anywhere we go."
"Whatever."
At that moment, Summer stuck her head out of the door. "Dewey's back, come on."
An hour later, the band were still practicing when the front door opened and a figure appeared that surprised everyone present. Katie bit her lowed lip, looking more
like a deer stuck in the headlights than anything else. If anything surprised them more than her appearance, it was the fact that she had her bass guitar swung over her shoulder.
"Um...Mr Finn, can I talk to you?"
"It's Dewey Katie, you know that."
"Dewey. Can I talk to you?"
"Sure Katie."
"Um, alone?"
The band exchanged glances, then turned their gazes back to Katie, who was getting steadily redder. Dewey shrugged. "Sure, step this way."
Katie followed him into the next room, then stood looking uncomfortable for a few moments.
"So, what was it you wanted to say?"
"I...well, I was wondering." She stopped, took a deep breath, then looked up at him. "I'm kinda short on money and I need to sell my guitar. I figured, seeing as you helped me choose it, I should ask you first. But if you don't want it I can go somewhere else, I mean - " She added hurriedly before Dewey interrupted her.
"Katie, you can't sell your guitar! What about the band?"
"I haven't been in the band for over a year. I really don't have time to be in the band."
"But to sell your guitar...if you keep it, you can at least practice, so you can join again when you have more time."
"It isn't like that. Look, if you don't want it, I'll go. I just thought - "
"How much you askin' for it?"
"Wh-huh?"
"How much are you selling it for?"
"I dunno. How much would you offer?"
"$200."
"Okay."
He gave her a strange look. "No, you're supposed to bargin for it."
"No.$200's fine, really."
"$250."
"Dewey, I - "
"Don't argue." She shrugged.
Five minutes later, the band watched as Katie left the room, keeping her eyes firmly on the ground. She reached the door and pushed it open before anyone spoke.
"Katie - " Summer began as the door swung shut again. " - nice to see you again." She finished, pulling a face.
Dewey came back into the room. "Why aren't you guys practicing?"
"What did Katie want'" Summer asked him.
"That's her business." He looked round at them. "Come on, let's rock!"
They exchanged glances again, shrugged collectively, and got to work.
AN; So...what did you think? any good? You can tell me by pressing the button at the bottom of you screen. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, and goodnight.
