Okay, really working on keeping this updated! I had guard camp the past couple days though, so that's an excuse for THAT time anyway. Okay, I don't own anything in this story except for the people and things that not actually in the movie School of Rock. Just making sure we're clear on that and all. Okay, on with the story!

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Saturday came all too soon for Zan. She woke up at five o'clock in the morning, feeling butterflies already in her stomach. She pulled on a pair of black shorts and a white sports bra and left the house through the front door.

She listened to music on the IPOD her dad had bought her recently so she didn't have to listen to all the unnerving thoughts tumbling around inside her head. She ran about three miles, longer than she'd run in a while.

Freddy was sitting in his window, drumming on a practice pad on his lap, when she came back up their street toward her house. She was hot and sweaty, her thick hair stuck to her forehead and the back of her neck. She had sweat streaming down her chest, and down her abs too.

Freddy saw her, grinned broadly, and waved. "Hey Zan!" He called, softly, because it was still early and he didn't want to risk waking anybody up.

"Hey." She called back, shoving her hair back off her shoulders. She was breathing heavily, panting with her mouth wide open like a dog.

"You okay?" He called down to her, his brow furrowing. In all the time since he had first met her, he had never known her to go running.

"Yeah!" She smiled, and it was at least partially genuine. She loved that he worried about her so. "I'm fine. Why don't you come over for breakfast?"

"That sounds great." Freddy grinned. To be perfectly honest, he and Zan hadn't done anything in the way of a date or even a semi-date in a couple weeks. "What time?"

"Dunno. I'll call you when Clare tells me." Zan called back up to him, her hand resting on the doorknob of the front door.

"Kay." He waved. She waved back and disappeared into her house.

After a quick, cold shower, Zan pulled on a pair of baggy white pedal pushers and a bright red razor-back tank top that was really quite sporty. She pulled a pair of white ankle socks on and padded barefoot over to the window of her room. Freddy wasn't there anymore.

She hurriedly dried and straightened her hair, then pulled it back into a loose braid. She went downstairs. Nobody was up yet. She didn't blame them. It was seven fifteen on a Saturday morning. She settled down on the sofa and began flipping through channels. She settled on I LOVE THE EIGHTIES on VH1.

"You're up early." Clare commented when she came downstairs half an hour later. She was dressed in pressed khakis and a designer blouse, just the way she always was. Zan was surprised to find that it didn't bother her so much anymore.

"Couldn't sleep." She admitted, turning the volume down a few notches. "Too excited about the show tonight."

"I can't wait." Clare smiled encouragingly, going into the kitchen to start fixing breakfast.

Zan blinked. The thought that her dad and Clare and Brittany might be coming to see her perform hadn't even crossed her mind. She flicked off the television and followed her step-mother into the kitchen.

"You're coming?" She knew she couldn't hide the surprise from her voice, so she didn't even try.

"Of course." Clare smiled graciously. "We wouldn't miss it for the world."

Then Zan felt genuinely ungrateful and selfish for being so snobbish and distant with her dad and step-mom. "Hey Clare, can I help you?" She asked cautiously, hardly daring to be hopeful.

Now it was Clare's turn to be taken completely by surprise. "You want to help me make breakfast?" She demanded incredulously. Zan nodded vehemently. A broad and genuine smile spread across Clare's face. "Of course. I would love to have your help."

Zan called Freddy's house as Clare began setting the table. He picked up on the third ring, obviously waiting for her call. "Hey."

"Hey. Breakfast is ready." Zan informed her, twirling the phone cord around her index finger girlishly. Then she noticed she was doing it and stopped.

"Kay. I'll be over in a second." He hung up, and Zan watched out the front door as he walked over.

After breakfast, they went upstairs to Zan's room to chill. They had to leave the door open, her dad's rules, but they didn't mind. They didn't plan on doing anything that required privacy anyway.

"You still nervous?" Freddy asked sympathetically, lying on his back on her bed and flipping through a Rockin' Weekly magazine.

"You know, I'm really not. I guess there's nothing I can do about it anymore." Zan admitted. She was lying on her side next to him, propped up on her elbow.

"Good." Freddy grinned, and kissed her deeply on the lips.

They began getting ready as soon as they'd eaten lunch. Then they got into Freddy's car and he drove them to the studio. The others were already there.

"You look great, Zan!" Tomika complimented their new lead singer honestly. Even though Zan was supposed to play lead electric guitar, Zach was doing it this show. She was just singing, which was fine by her. She had never been all that great at multi-tasking.

"Thanks." Zan blushed furiously. Her outfit consisted of a very short blue jean pleated skirt with anarchy symbols sewn on. The top was a one-shouldered tank top made of sparkly black material that clung to her curves pleasantly. She wore a pair of chunky black combat boots and lots of jewelry and makeup. Her hair was pulled back into a sexy braid with lots of ribbons tied in.

Dewey clapped his hands together for attention. "Okay, everybody to the bus!" He shouted. The bus was actually his van, that he'd had for forever. They all piled in and drove off. It was very cramped in the back. Zan ended up practically in Freddy's lap, and she didn't mind so much.

The club they were playing at was completely deserted when they got there, except for the people who worked there. They set up their equipment on stage and began warming up. Zan was surprised to find her vocals didn't sound like crap. That couldn't be a good sign. A bad dress rehearsal meant a bad performance. Or did that only work with theater?

At seven o'clock, the doors opened and the club filled up very quickly. Everybody was excited to see the School of Rock again.

Zan felt her heart throbbing somewhere up in her throat, but Freddy gave her hand a slight squeeze on his way back to his drums and she felt a little bit better.

Somebody announced them, and the cheers were wild. They began to play, and everybody screamed with delight. A mosh pit formed quite early in the evening.

They played all night long. When the club closed at midnight, they were all exhausted and covered with sweat, but they were excited and happy. They had, surprisingly, had a great show.

They packed up their instruments and equipment and said goodbye to one another. Then Freddy and Zan left for home.

"You were amazing!" He assured her for about the hundredth time, grinning like a maniac with adrenaline.

"Ha! You're only saying that cause I'm your girlfriend!" Zan challenged, but she was happy nonetheless.

Freddy pulled into his driveway and walked her to her front door. Her dad, Clare, and Brittany had long since been home and gone to bed, but the front porch light was on for her.

"See you tomorrow." He breathed in her ear, then he kissed her deeply. Zan melted in the kiss, and was glad that it lasted a long time.

"Bye." She whispered back, then let herself into the house.

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It was a little bit short, I know, but I guess all of my chappies are a little bit short. Sorry about that. I hope you liked it. Review please?