Okay...Let's recap.
This is short. And sweet. And kinda crap to be honest. But...before you all leap down my throat. I would like to make it clear, next chapter we visit the casa de Freddy. And because of that, I would also like to point out that reviews would help things along there.
So please...do a dying starving writer a favour and review.
And now...onwards and upwards my friends...
THE RETURN
Five weeks in a row. Freddy hadn't been to school for five weeks. Zack was now internally panicking; what if Freddy hadn't been lying, what if Freddy really had been taken away? But then again, a doctor knew what they were doing, didn't they? If Freddy didn't need the help, then surely he wouldn't get taken away. Oh this was all FUCKED up. It was now Monday morning and he was still ruminating on Freddy and the phone call. His father pulled the car up to the curb and Zack leapt out, slamming the door after him. "Do you need picking up tonight?" his father rolled down the passenger window.
"No, I'll be at band practise. I'll hitch a ride with Summer."
"Alright. Have a good day."
"See you Dad."
Seeing Summer get our of her car, he waited for her by the statue of Horace Greene, the founder of the school. "No news?" He queried.
"Not yet." They had had this conversation every day for the last fortnight. And then Summer's answer was always the same. No news. The walk into school was sombre to say the least. Along the way, they saw Katie, Lawrence and Billy.
Only Billy came up to them and said, "Alright. I have two new outfits for Drummer Boy. He's not here and if I don't do the adjustments then God help me, I shall strangle the pair of you. I have eight outfits to make for eight weeks time. Do you think I am made of time? Tell me where I can find him. Now."
"...'scuse me?" was heard in stereo.
"Drummer Boy. Where?" Billy tapped his foot impatiently.
"Right now, Billy, we don't quite know-"
"Well how on earth could you lose him? I know Spazzy's not the brightest or the tallest kid on the block but surely even you could manage to find him, Miss Manager. I mean, honestly, the kid wears pink shirts in his spare time. How could you lose track of that?"
"Quite easily Billy. Particularly if I haven't seen him in over a month and nobody is answering my calls."
"Oh. " Billy's ire disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "Well when you do eventually manage to find him, tell him he needs to come for a fitting right away. Or he's going as is, chafing crotch or no." And with that Billy vanished back into the throng.
"Well that was...odd."
"No kidding." Summer's dry sarcasm had never seemed more plentiful than the last five weeks. They both made their way to the classroom, with only a few more 'Where's Freddy?'s from various people. The classroom thankfully was empty of al the class. Zack sat down at his desk and promptly began to stare at Freddy's seat. Summer rolled her eyes and said nothing. Zack had suffered the worst, practically pining for the Spazz. If Summer wasn't completely sure of Zack's persuasion she could have sworn he was...pining after Freddy Jones in a not so best friend sort of way.
The class streamed in at five to nine, the bell ringing soon after. After their teacher had Summer take register, the day carried on and the lessons got underway. At least until quarter past nine, that is.
At quarter past nine, on the dot in fact, Freddy Jones turned up in the classroom.
Only he didn't look much like the old Freddy Jones. The spiky hair he had prided himself on, was gone, shorn short like a military cut. A rumpled school uniform with rolled up sleeves and un-tucked shirt had been replaced with a pristine jumper, ironed trousers and a short sleeve shirt. Freddy looked, most worrying like he had lost one hell of a lot of weight in a really short amount of time – pinched cheeks and hollow eyes. To put it in short – Freddy Jones didn't look at all well. Or hot. Or much like his old self to boot.
Behind was a strange man in white, holding Freddy's school bag and a file. Behind him, was Principal Mullins, looking distinctly put out. "Boys and girls, this is Mr Milton. He's going to be helping Freddy for the next few weeks so please make him feel welcome. Thank you class." With that, she left, practically slamming the door behind her.
Someone wasn't a happy bunny, Summer mused as 'Mr Milton' pushed Freddy further into the room, saying "Go and sit down Fredrick." Freddy shuffled to his desk, every eye in the room on him. He didn't look up, didn't say a word, didn't do anything once he sat down. He was one step away from drooling on his shirt, judging by the empty stare and the half open mouth. 'Mr. Milton' followed Freddy, sitting on a conveniently placed chair right beside him. "Face the front!" every head snapped round, including Summer's. The lesson carried on, though people still snuck looks at Freddy and helper, staring at Freddy, who wasn't taking any notes, or doing the work on the board.
Finally at ten past eleven, the lesson finally drew to a close, at the sound of the bell. Half the people leapt for the door, the other half towards Freddy and his helper. Then, "OUTSIDE NOW, CHILDREN." Evidently Principal Mullins had returned. Everyone but Freddy, Zack and Summer left. Mr Milton stared at them and made a shoo-ing motion, "Run along now." He said, rather pompously. Thankfully Principal Mullins helped them out again.
"Mr...Err...Milton was it? Would you please step outside?"
"Why?"
"I'd like to have a chat with you."
"Okay..." The man didn't seem very happy to leave Freddy all alone in the classroom, with Summer and Zack. Still, he couldn't ignore the Mullinator so he went with her. Still left the door wide open so he could see what was going on; maybe Zack was going to start making out with Freddy and have Summer film it or something. Heh. She was really getting into this Zack/Freddy thing...
"Freddy!" Zack was not ruminating on making out of any sort, instead choosing to leap right into the thick of things. "How've you been?"
"F-F-fine." Okay...since when did Freddy talk with a stutter? Summer swung a random chair around and plonked herself down on it.
"Okay, Spazzy McGee. You've missed five weeks of band practise and two photo shoots. We have a concert in less than two months and you need to buck your ideas up. I am Manager of this band and I do not need you vanishing on me randomly. I need you to turn up tonight at band practise –"
"I'm sorry." The creepy guy had obviously finished dealing with Miss Mullins and now leaned over Summer like some weirdo. "Fredrick will no longer be in the 'band'" Insert air quotes.
"And who are you to tell him that?" Summer was not going to give her drummer boy without a fight. Spazzy he may be, talented he was. Spazzy was one of the best and Summer would be damned if she let him leave the band.
"It's a doctor's order. No activities outside his routine. Now run along."
"Why?" Oh, boy. Now Zack was getting mad. "Why can't I spend time with my best friend?"
"Let me guess. Zackary Mooneyham?"
"Yeah. So?" Snarky...
"Doctor Minelin said that in a few weeks you can visit for brief periods providing Fredrick takes his medication and complies with the rules laid out for him. I'll send a letter through the school when you can begin to visit. However, if you continue to disrupt that routine, I will be making a recommendation to the Doctor about removing that privilege. Am I clear?"
"Yes." And with Zack touched Freddy's hand, caressing it with his fingertips and then simply left the room, banging the door shut behind him.
'Oh. Shit.' Was all Summer could think before she was running after him. "Zack. Zack!" He stopped eventually, only to peg it into the boys' toilets. Unfortunately for him, Summer Hathaway was no coward and banged through the door right after him sending boys scattering left right and centre screaming like little girls. "Oh shut up. Pathetic." They legged it out the doors "Zack! I know it's hard. If we have to take this to Dewey then we will. But I will not give up on Freddy. And neither will you. You hear me!"
"...Yes." Zack sound muffled but he was agreeing with her. It was a start.
"Right. Now you keep it together, and you make sure you get invited over to Freddy's house as soon as you can. We need the boy back."
Summer was not about to loose the one thing that made the lead guitarist go wild. Her mind firmly shoved away the idea that she would miss Freddy too...
THE END...FOR NOW...
