A/N - Ooh two updates in the same night! I'm proud of myself anyways, no I don't own How to Rock or any of the characters

...

Kacey was blowing her freshly painted nails dry when Zander walked into the band room. Anyone could see his distress but she was so into examining her nails she didn't notice. He cleared his throat to grab her attention.

"This is such a pretty color on me," she murmured to herself.

"Kacey," he called, she looked up, "Oh hey Zander when did you get here?" She continued before he could reply,

"Before you answer, tell me this color is great on my hand?" She got up and showed him. He shook his head. "You know what never mind, you wouldn't apologize," he snapped walking away.

"Zander!" Kacey shouted astounded, "What's wrong?"

"Don't worry about it, just go back to painting your stupid nails! You know what Kacey I had it up to here with dealing with your crap!"

"Zander where is all this coming from? I didn't-!"

"That's just it! Everything is about you, you have no regard for other people's feeling. Sometimes I can't even believe you are apart of Gravity 5 because you still act so much like a Perf, maybe you should go back to them, and maybe our band would be a lot better off!"

Kacey felt tears well up in her eyes, she watched Zander storm out and wonder what brought all this on. She couldn't come up with anything. Yes, she was a little self-center, and inconsiderate but she thought she was getting better; she never had friends like Stevie, Zander, Kevin, and Nelson. They were something unique, refreshing. She really thought she had her own little family. Now she was told she wasn't apart of that, that she wasn't even close. It tore her up inside and before she knew it, she was hugging herself and sobbing. She didn't understand.

Where did she fit in? At that moment Kacey never felt so worthless and unwanted. And this was the condition Stevie found her best friend in and it was mind blowing.

"Oh my gosh, Kacey, what's wrong? Do you need a nurse?" she rushed to her, searching for any sign of harm but found nothing.

"Kacey talk to me!" she demanded but the other girl just shook her head, and sobbed Zander's name.

"Zander did this to you?" Stevie asked in disbelief, Kacey just nodded. Angered by this, Stevie led Kacey to the couch with some tissues and went storming off to find the villain who did this.

…

She found him talking to some girl by the lockers and that made Stevie see red. Without even realizing she slammed him against the locker and told the girl to get lost.

"Stevie what the-"

"What did you do to Kacey?" she snapped. His face turned cold, "Nothing she didn't deserve." Stevie looked at him incredulous, "What could Kacey have possibly done to you to allow you to leave her on the floor in the band room bawling her eyes out? Huh Zander? She is our friend!"

"No she's your friend! She is not mine!"

"What are you talking about?"

"If she was my friend she wouldn't have bad mouth my songs with the Perfs, she would have stuck up for me!"

"How do you know she did that?"

"Molly told me," he snapped then seeing the look Stevie gave her, he suddenly realized his mistake, he covered his face in shame. All the awful things he said to Kacey, all over a rumor. He should have known better.

"I'm a idiot."

"No you're a jackass," Stevie corrected, "Fix this or else! And never listen to Molly again." She released him and stormed off to lunch.

…

Kacey finally silenced her sobs to hiccups, but her chest hurt and her head was pounding. She hated this feeling. She knew she looked horrible, she could feel the puffiness in her eyes, not to mention her mascara was most likely running but she couldn't care less. This was an emotional pain she never had, it was worse than being knocked off the top of the popularity chart, worse than when she got Stevie fired, or when she tricked everyone into believing she was hurt. It was horrible, it was the realization that no matter what she did, it was never good enough, people are going to find fault in it, and it was just because she was Kacey Simon. Maybe she should leave, transfer schools, and never come back. She could start over and not make the same mistakes.

"Kacey?" The sound of his voice made her heart pound harshly. She sniffed, "If you're here to yell at me some more at least let me take off my make up." She heard him take in a sharp breath but she refused to look at him, to see the anger, the hatred, the disappointment in his eyes.

"No Kacey I came to apologize." She whirled around to face him surprised. He looked sincere and when he saw the tear streaks on her face, a look of guilt pass over his features.

She swallowed, "For what? You were right about me. I don't belong here."

"Don't say that," he snapped.

"Why not? You did." Zander shook his head; he left his spot by the door and walked around the couch to her.

"I know I did, and I was wrong! Kacey I said all those things cause I was angry and I wanted to hurt you. Like I thought you had hurt me! Ever since you joined this band, things have been looking up for us. We're getting gigs, people are hearing my music, and we've gain so much confidence. You did that for us Kacey! You brought us closer, at first not everyone was devoted to Gravity 5, it was just something a bunch of outcast put together to feel like they were a part of something, and you made this band something. Kacey I'm sorry for what I said, and I hate myself for making you cry honestly. Forgive me?"

She was crying again but for an entirely different reason. Zander's apology just put everything back in place and got rid of all the insecure thoughts she was having. Zander just told her she belonged with them, that they were nothing without her. She felt wanted, important, she felt like she in a family again. The warm feeling in the pit of her stomach made her grab Zander in a bone-crushing hug. She planted a kiss on his cheek that made him blush.

"Thank you Zander!"

...

Words: 1080

A/N - Tell me what you think! And if you have any ideas for a drabble let me know!