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I wake up on the kitchen floor in my pajamas. I remember putting them on, but I must have slept-walked to the kitchen. I shake my head to get rid of the grogginess as I sit up. I rub my eyes and then the side of my head. It's throbbing slightly –A cause of concern if it were any other time than this. I stand and walk to the bathroom and, to my luck and surprise it's open.

When I come out, I'm met by two people waiting to go. "Two other bathrooms and you can't use 'me?"

"Someone's taking a shower and it would just be weird to use her parent's bathroom." I nod and manage to make my way to the living room where several people are scattered here and there. I spot Freddy on the floor and lay next to him. He sits up on his forearms and looks around until he finds me, then he lies back down. "Good morning." I shake my head. "It's not? Then what is it?"

"Morning. I hate mornings." He finds my hand and holds it with his own. I take a deep breath in and smell Freddy along with percolating coffee. I don't drink coffee often, so it's not something I'm breaking the door down to get. Freddy's blonde hair is sticking out every which way. My hair is slightly messy, but I straightened it the best I could. I giggle at his hair and sit on my knees. "What?" I shake my head.

"Your hair is so cute in the morning." He holds the front part down and groans. I giggle more. I hear the shifting of bodies and look to see a few dead looking people. I stand when I hear the light strumming of a guitar. My ears are pleased by the sound, so I find myself trying to locate it. I walk dreamily upstairs and into a plain, and from my own reason, guest bedroom. I see Zack strumming his acoustic. He only looks when I shut the door and applaud. "Oh, Lynn…I though no one would find me here." He goes to put the guitar away, but I quickly stop him.

"You know I love how you play! So play for me!" He smiles and puts his fingers in place. He plays "Simple Kind of Man" by Lynard Skynard. "God, you're so good, Zack!" He smiles.

"Thanks. Can you play?"

"Eh, more or less." I take the guitar from him and start to play "Mr. Brightside" (acoustically cause I'm cool like that) by The Killers.

"Did they make an acoustic version?" I shake my head.

"No, I wrote it myself."

"You're good, Lynn. You should stop by the school of Rock and show our teacher what you can do."

"I only picked up guitar, piano, bass, drums, and the flute for fun." I pause. "I was only self taught in piano and flute."

"I see." He lies back on the bed and I put the guitar away safely. "It's been so long since the fifth grade. That's when School of Rock, our band, was formed."

"That long, huh?" He nods.

"Yeah…I didn't really have friends, but the band made me get closer to people." As he lies, he strums chords. "Maybe we was makin' straight A's. But we was stuck in a dumb daze. Don't take much to memorize your lines. I feel like I've been hypnotized." He sounds like he's singing and talking at the same time. I stand and smile.

"You're a great guy, Zack. You've got real talent." He nods as he continues. "Can I hear it with the band sometime?"

"I suppose. Look, Lynn…" He sits up and sets the guitar aside. "I'm glad for you that Freddy makes you happy, but…what about me? I know we're great friends, but…ever since we went out last year I can't shake these feelings about you."

After a pause I say "But you said-"

"I know what I said. I said that I was over you." He pauses. "I was over you. For a month or two. It's…you just don't understand." He shakes his head and stands.

"Then help me to." He sighs and walks out of the room and Freddy appears in the doorway. "What's eating him?" I shake my head and stand.

"It's nothing, Freddy."

"Bullshit. Lynn, what's wrong?"

"I said it's nothing, Freddy. Just drop it!" I push past him and walk downstairs.

"Lynn, get back here! I wanna talk to you!" I hear Freddy storm downstairs and I walk out the front door, only to slam it in his face. He opens it after me. "Lynn! Fuckin' a! Fucking LOOK AT ME!" I feel hot, salty tears brim my eyes and spill over as I turn around.

"What, Freddy?!" I walk up to him. "What could you possibly want from me?!"

"The truth, Lynn! Just….tell me the truth." I weakly hit his chest and collapse into his arms. "Lynn, just calm down. It's okay." I shake my head.

"No, it's not." He kisses the top of my head.

"Why don't I take you back home so you can get some rest?" I shake my head in protest.

"I don't want to go home."

"Then I'll take you to my house." I sniffle and carefully wipe my eyes. He holds my cheeks and wipes my eyes with his thumbs. "You look so much more pretty without makeup, Lynn."

"You do too, Freddy." We burst out laughing. "I have no idea where that came from." I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a passionate kiss. When we pull away he gives a dreamy sigh. "What was that for?" He asks with a smile.

"I don't know. A thank you, I suppose."

-

I close the gap in the curtain I've created and go back to the bedroom. I lay on my back with my knee up as I strum the guitar and sing "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers. Someone enters and I'm praying it's her. I see Tomika in her place. "Are you singing about Lynn?" I don't know if I should say yes, but she seems to have figured it out. I nod. " I can't believe you still like her. Why didn't you say something?" I shrug.

"I don't know. Maybe because everyone thinks that she and Freddy are destined for each other."

"You know Lynn doesn't believe in early marriage, right?" I nod.

"Of course. What does tha-"

"You will have enough time to woo her and prove you're better for her than Freddy is."

"You really think that I'm better for her than Freddy is?" She nods.

"I just know her and Freddy are going to break up. Freddy's stubborn, right?" I nod. Everyone knows that. "She wants to go back to England for college and Freddy wants to go to NYU and knowing both of them…they'll clash and break." Sounds logical.

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Don't tell anyone what we talked about."

"Of course not." I smile in my head. I have to grab this opportunity.