A/N: For those of you who haven't read my profile, just wanted to mention that this is the last "School of Rock" story I will write and 3rd to last story I will ever write/finish on this site. I've had a great run on here for several years, and I'm grateful for all the views and reviews I've received since my very first post, but I think it's a great time for me to move on once my other 2 stories are done. Thank you for the support and enjoy the ending to the story I've been writing over 7 years now. :) Sorry if it disappoints, but this was always how it was supposed to go. Enjoy :)

This FINAL CHAPTER is dedicated to the person who was previously Redcraft :)

A week had passed, and things were only a little better. But better was better than nothing.

Alan was still a jerk and probably would always be, but Billy's mother had put the fear in his parents about his bullying going on his permanent record, meaning no ivy league college for him, and Alan stayed quiet about Billy's brothers' threat. It was nice to know that he had gotten a dose of his own medicine. Alan left Eleni alone completely, which didn't seem to bother Eleni none. In fact, if they weren't inseparable before, Billy and Eleni were even more attached at the hip these days. He wasn't mad at her for doing what he would've done if their places had been switched, looking out for his best friend.

Zack still hadn't asked out Michelle, and she was still being annoying about it. The School of Rock gang had agreed to come to his birthday party due to Zack standing up for him and Freddy's 'Billy is our family' speech, but they most likely didn't really want to. But Billy was going to make sure he had fun at his party no matter what.

His father was still ignoring him and luckily oblivious to the bullying at school. Like his brothers had predicted, their mother hadn't said anything and went on to handle it herself. Billy didn't attempt to listen to anymore late night conversations about how gay and embarrassing he was. He was gay. He would always be gay. Zack was right, and in some crazy way, so were his brothers. If someday he wanted to live the life he deserved, he was going to have to find something to live for.

Looking into the mirror as he fixed his collar on his lime green polo shirt, gelled his hair coolly, and added his pink sunglasses, he knew that he would lean on fashion.

Eleni had come over early to get ready, and he was giving her a stunning makeover in the bathroom. Her clothes, her makeup, her hair, he had planned everything and made her look perfect. She was oddly quiet as he worked on her, but he let her bask in the beautification of his imagination.

When he was done, he marveled at his work. "Oh my Gosh, Leni. You're so beautiful," he told her sincerely.

She looked at him strangely then, almost shyly, still quiet.

She considered something, and before Billy knew it, she leaned in and gave him a sweet, long kiss on the lips. He returned the kiss out of surprise, but his lips were the only things feeling anything. It certainly wasn't the first kiss he had had in mind, between him and his best friend, a girl.

"Leni…" Billy was shocked.

"Do you think…" she trailed off for a long time, her eyes concentrated on the floor, "that one day, you might feel the same?"

He lifted up her chin softly. "No, Leni, I don't think so."

She laughed nervously. Her voice cracked as she met his eyes. "Kiss the gay guy. God, I'm stupid, huh?"

"No," he whispered, still confused by her action.

"It's just… you're always there for me. And I always want to be there for you. Is that weird?"

He tried to put it in her perspective. He was the one boy she could count on, the one who had her back, who she could talk to about how she felt. She would always be that girl for him as well.

"No, not weird. Leni, I love you," he smiled at her, regaining confidence. "And if I liked girls, there's no doubt in my mind, I'd choose you. That's why you're my best friend."

"Then… I guess we better find the guy equivalent of me," she smiled back.

"Come here," Billy laughed, pulling her into a close hug.

Michelle popped her head into the bathroom, surprising them both.

"Awh, group hugs. I love group hugs," said the girl, throwing herself onto them. The three of them giggled.

"Really, Billy? You couldn't wait five seconds to start the beautification."

"Shut up, Chelly. You know you're next," said Billy, pulling her in and placing her in the makeover chair in front of the mirror. "We have to get you smokin' for Zack."

"Why are you wasting time?" said Michelle, tossing her hair and sticking up her chin.

Billy and Eleni exchanged another smile while Billy prepared to work on Michelle. He knew that the kiss would be their secret and that their friendship wouldn't change. Once upon a time, he had been confused about Zack, but these things came and went. Just as birthdays did. And one birthday, perhaps he would be spending it with someone he could love the same way they loved him.

The techno music was playing and the lights were dimmed as Billy and his escorts, Michelle and Eleni, descended down the stairs into a crowd of their classmates, all from School of Rock, mostly coupled up and grouped off. But they were all there. Even Freddy was there with Katie with Zack as a third wheel. Alicia was the first to greet Billy at the bottom of the stairs with a hug and then everyone joined in, telling him congratulations, saying 'Happy Birthday' and patting him on the back. Then, the partying began in the backyard.

His mother had set up everything the way he had wanted it out back. Outside was a long table of homemade hors d-oeuvres, sweet baked goods, and sherbet punch that Freddy seemed intent on devouring all by himself. Billy had wanted chic sitting areas for people to sit down and chat, and his mother had told him that beanbag chairs would have to suffice rather than fancy modern couches like in the magazines he flipped through. There were neon lights flashing in all directions of the backyard and multicolored tea lights floating on the pool. It wasn't exactly a New York rave, but it was as close is it was going to get in his rich suburban neighborhood.

Billy's mom watched from afar but tried to stay out of sight as much as possible, and his brothers were grudgingly down in the basement playing video games to stay out of the way of the party. His father had most likely made up some excuse of why he couldn't be home for his son's birthday, but Billy tried hard not to care. Everyone surprisingly seemed to be having a great time.

He was dancing with Eleni in the middle of the dance floor and laughing hysterically when something caught her eye.

"Oh my God!" Eleni laughed even harder, wheeling Billy around to look at what she saw.

He watched as Tomika and Lawrence finished climbing the ladder and disappeared into the Loft, his Loft.

"They totally went up there to make-out!"

"That better be all," Billy protested, shouting at the wooden treehouse, hoping they would hear him. "Ew, just ew!"

"Better than Freddie and Katie. Then things would really be gross," Eleni joked.

The both of them now looked towards the area of beanbag chairs where Katie and Freddie were cuddled up and making out openly while Michelle and Zack chatted. Not long before they joined the party, Michelle had detached herself from Billy's arm and found Zack to hang out.

"They look so pathetic!" Eleni shouted over the music to Billy as they now half-danced, half-spied on Michelle and Zack. "Why isn't he asking her to dance?"

"When was the last time you saw Zack dance!" Billy shouted back.

"Good point! But come on, we have to help her out."

Billy knew that Zack wouldn't dance to this music, and he knew that Michelle desperately wanted to. Zack had helped him out. He wanted to be a good friend and help both of them. He approached the stereo system and tried to find the perfect song. It had to be an oldie if only to pay tribute to Dewey's teachings that old music was where the true heart of music lie. Billy found what he was looking for and switched the music to "Come Sail Away" by Styx.

Everyone turned to face him, wondering why the sudden change in music.

"It's the only kinda sorta slow song of the night. Take advantage!" Billy told the crowd and then looked pointedly at Zack who took the hint.

He saw Zack whisper to Michelle, and they got up from the chairs. He led her out onto the dance floor, and then they began to slow dance.

Billy moved himself to the middle of the dance floor amongst the now slow dancing couples. When he reached Eleni, he held out his hand majestically. "Epic bestfriend dance?"

She smiled and took his hand. "Epic bestfriend dance."

They slow danced together until the music picked up with a drum solo. Laughing, they let go of each other and spun into craziness, dancing alone. Billy flailed his arms in the air and spun around with glee. Everything filtered through his pink sunglasses until he closed his eyes and tried to free himself.

After the song ended, the music shut off as well as the neon lights. Everyone looked around frantically until yellow light appeared from the doorway of his house. Walking toward him was his mother and brothers holding a large topsy-turvy yellow and pink two-tiered frosted cake, candles aflame on top. His brothers looked half-annoyed, most likely out of having to pause their video game and pretend to care about this party. The chorus of happy birthday spread amongst everyone and Billy began blushing. By the time his mother and brothers reached him, it was time for him to blow out the candles. Everyone crowded around him now, except for Tomika and Lawrence, who were no doubt still making out in the Loft. He looked around at all of their faces, eager for him to make his wish and get their slice of cake. Zack had his arm around Michelle, who looked like she had just won the lottery. Eleni was by his side, staring in awe at the cake. He closed his eyes, made his secret wish, and blew. As they cheered, he kept his eyes closed for a moment and allowed himself to soak in this moment of being surrounded by friends and people who loved him.

He was thirteen, and he was gay. He had a mother who cared and two big brothers who had his back in the most unexpected situations. He had two gorgeous best friends by the name of Michelle and Eleni, and he looked super stylish in his pink glasses that night. These were his truths, the important things that defined his life.

But the biggest truth was that he was going to survive this life being no one but himself.