Disclaimer: School of Rock and its characters do not belong to me.

Author's notes: Thank you for your reviews and feedback. I do not own Aerosmith or their song Walk This Way, both of which are mentioned in this chapter. The school mentioned, Bowdoin college, is an actual school in Maine, and they aren't a party school any more. They have reformed. At one point though, two frat houses went through 64 kegs in one weekend. You can do the math. Also, for the purposes of this story, legal adult age is 21. But people can still vote at 18. The only reason this was created is so Summer can still be forced to go to a shrink, even if she is 18.

Ch4

Katie looked at Summer, who was bobbing her head to the music on her computer. She was starting to wonder about her friend, who had never been as laid back as she was now before she moved. Summer hadn't been one to talk or hang out a lot alone with Zack or Freddy. Now it seemed she wasn't doing anything without Zack, and Freddy was becoming more of a friend than someone who she had previously just greeted because he was a friend of Katie's or in the band.

Her clothing choice had also changed. Instead of her conservative, preppy clothes, she now wore mostly band tees and jeans. Katie also found Summer now had a large collection of Converse. Summer was a changed girl, and Katie could tell. Summer's next statement emphasized that point.

Summer removed her headphones. "Hey Blacky, do you like Freddy?"

"Well that was forward." Katie put down her book. "And yeah I like him. He's my friend."

"That's not what I meant." Summer turned to face Katie more directly. "And you know it. I meant do you like him, as in would you date him?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I talked to him. We had lunch together."

"So?"

"Just answer the question Katie. Would you date Freddy?"

"Are you kidding? He's annoying and immature."

Summer raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you friends with him? Because if someone is that annoying, I know I don't make it a point of my day to see them, something you do with Freddy."

"What did he tell you? Does he like me or something? Summer, if he likes me, you have obligation as my best friend to tell me."

"I also made a promise with Freddy. I don't break promises, Blacky. You know that."

Katie seemed to think for a moment. "He does like me doesn't he?"

"Like I said, I can't say anything." Summer smirked.

"This is beyond disgusting. I've known him since, forever." Katie groaned. "Even if I did like him like that, I couldn't date him."

"It sounds to me like you're in denial."

"Whatever. What about you? You sure spend a lot of time with Zack."

"We have a class together. And he's always been a good friend. Your point?"

"Would you date him?"

"I don't know. Dating has never been the first thing on my mind. I guess if he asked me I'd say yes. Why do you ask? Payback for asking about Freddy or something?"

"Of course not." Katie said sarcastically. "I was just thinking we haven't had a good girl talk in about four years. And since you opened up the topic..."

"Sure." Summer nodded. "So, did you have any good boyfriends while I was gone?"

§ § §

Zack was strumming on his guitar in his dorm room. He had been hit by inspiration for a song, and though he really didn't have a band to play it with, was working on it anyway. Every once in a while, he would jot down notes in one of his notebooks, this particular one filled with songs he had written, most of which had never been performed.

Freddy sat across the room finishing his first assignment of the year. He was working on the last sentence when he heard Zack's playing, and he looked up. "Dude, what is that?"

Zack shrugged. "I don't know. It just came to me. Why?"

"Its good. I know you're not done, but it's good. Has an Aerosmith vibe to it."

"Thanks. If we just had the band to play it with..."

"We'll get there eventually man. Someone here has to know real rock and how to play."

"You seem overly optimistic. Did you get some crack?"

"No."

"Then what's up?"

"Nothing."

"Something has to be up if you're in that good of a mood."

"I can't just be happy for no reason?"

"Freddy, I've known you since kindergarten. You don't get happy for no reason. So spill. What has put you in a scarily optimistic mood?"

"Summer's talking to Katie for me."

"We're back in elementary school I see. Why didn't you just have me pass her a note in study hall? It might have been easier. Will you go out with Freddy? Check yes or no." Zack laughed

"Shut up Slick."

"I'm sorry. But you're 18 years old. Don't you think you might be able to ask her out on your own now?"

"I should be, but I can't. Every time I try I say something stupid, and she just laughs."

Zack nodded. "What is it about her that you like so much?"

"Are you kidding? Everything. She's gorgeous, especially when she smiles. And she's not like other girls. She doesn't need someone to save her, or cling on her every waking second. She's practically perfect."

"And have you told her this? Because until you do, I doubt she's going to think of you as anything else but her goofy friend."

"You sure now how to build a guy's confidence."

"It's just the truth Whacker."

"And it's not like you have room to talk. I don't see you asking Summer out."

"That's because all she is is a friend."

"Yeah. The way you look at her is really how you look at me or Katie." Freddy nodded sarcastically. "And if you don't think I, the King of Dirty Minds, can't figure out the innuendo behind her nickname, you have another thing coming."

"What are you talking about?"

"Hot Wheels? Do you honestly think I can't figure that one out? Even if you don't realize it, you subconsciously are totally digging Summer Hathaway."

§ § §

Summer picked up her cell phone the second she heard a few opening notes to Walk This Way. "Hello?"

"Hi Summer."

"Aunt Beth." Summer slumped down into her seat, motioning for Katie to hold on for sec. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. The house seems so empty without you. It's so quiet."

"All of my music is still on the computer if you ever feel the need to make it sound like I'm still there."

"I don't think that will be necessary. But I wish you had chosen Bowdoin. It is so much closer to home."

Summer rolled her eyes. "I told you. That place was a party school. I didn't want to spend at another four years of my life trying to learn at a party school. I went through that at high school."

"I would just prefer you being closer to home. That way if you want to come home--."

"Aunt Beth, I'm not coming home until break. Despite what you want to believe, I'm not helpless just because I'm in the wheelchair. I don't need you every second of the day."

"You say that now." Summer rolled her eyes. "How is school so far?"

"It's good. The classes are fun, and I ran into some old friends from Horace Green. One of them is my room mate."

"That's nice dear." Beth was dismissive.

"See? I'm doing fine, not withering away."

"And how was your first visit with Dr. Green?"

"He's a crackpot."

"Summer! Dr. Green came highly recommended. He is one of the top in his field."

"If he's so great why can't he see that I'm not insane? I've gotten over the stupid accident. I'm not depressed. Why do you insist on making me go see these guys?"

"I'm just trying to do what's best for you Summer."

Summer didn't respond for a moment. "I have to finish some homework. I'll talk to you later." She hung up without waiting for a response.

"So...that was your aunt?" Katie asked as Summer put the phone on her desk.

"Yeah. She thinks I'm gonna die being away from home."

"Seems to be a common trait among most adults. My mom was crying when I told her the college I chose was out of state. What was the other school you were talking about? The party school."

"Bowdoin. It's a good school, has some good academics. I was thinking about going there until I took a walk around campus and a guy ran by me chugging beer and shouting college at the top of his lungs. Doesn't leave that much of a good impression."

Katie laughed. "Any other fun details?"

"No, but that was bad enough."

"I would think so."

"Now where was I before the phone rang?"

"You were going to show me something you have on your computer."

"Oh yeah." Summer nodded and went to her computer, opening iTunes. A few clicks later and a opening lick began playing in the room.

"Oh. My. God. You have this on your computer? Summer I thought the band threw the demo out."

"Not before I burned it onto a CD." Summer smiled. "I happened to like this song a lot."

"But why didn't you keep the version where Dewey sang it?"

"Because Zack put a better twist on it. It was his song."

"I still can't believe you kept our only recorded song."

"School of Rock is a classic, Blacky. I couldn't just let it get thrown out."

"Yes you could of. Man when Zack and Freddy hear about this..." Katie trailed off as Summer opened up the Internet and began logging into her e-mail.

"They'll like it. They didn't want the demo thrown out in the first place. And even if the band is a sore subject the song still..." Summer trailed off.

"The song still what?"

"Listen to this." Summer began reading an e-mail aloud. "Hey Tink, you won't believe how long it took me to get your e-mail address. I finally got it off of a yahoo directory, so if this isn't actually Tinkerbell, sorry and you can delete this message now. If you haven't guessed by the e-mail address, it's the Dew-man."

That's all for now.

Random Quote of the Day: "I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I've ever known." –Walt Disney

A thank you to reviewers

! aka kittygalmeow aka ella

Swimmerkitti

wiseoldman

mellowyellow36

Pannalid

Nanners-77

Banana4422

bLuEhEaVeN79

rockin awesome x