Disclaimer: Eighteen chapters where I deny owning 'School of Rock' and one weird chapter where I deny owning 'The Bill'. I'm not about to start claiming ownership now am I? Oh, just read!

Chapter Twenty:
Deceit

Band practice resumed in early March.
The group was a lot smaller than usual without Summer, Eleni or Michelle but it was still the School of Rock and the 'band must go on!' as Zack had exclaimed brightly that morning.
Just as they were finishing up Katie noticed Eleni at the door. She was casting Freddy looks and she looked slightly flustered.
Katie put her bass away and watched Eleni motion Freddy over.
She couldn't hear what they were talking about, but it looked serious.
Over by the door Freddy was hearing the words he was sure would repeat in his head for a while.
"You remember Chrissie's party don't you?" Eleni asked softly.
Freddy nodded. "I remember some of it. I don't remember how I got home or anything after my third beer."
Eleni sighed. "I don't remember much either. I think someone might've been slipping some harder stuff into our drinks. The thing is, I was talking to David, Chrissie's brother, and he remembers you and I going upstairs together."
Freddy frowned. "You aren't suggesting we…?"
Eleni shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is…" She sighed. "I'm late."
Freddy shook his head and took a step back. "You mean late late don't you?"
Eleni bit her lip. Freddy sighed. "You're going to test it aren't you, I mean, it might be nothing mightn't it?"
Eleni nodded. "Maybe, hopefully, I mean…"
Freddy frowned. "I'm sorry Eleni. If you are, well, I'll be here, I promise."
Eleni hugged him and sobbed into his chest. "Thank you Freddy, I knew you'd be supportive." Freddy didn't attempt to console her, he just stood there awkwardly. She eventually pulled away. "I'll call you okay?"
Freddy nodded. "Yeah, tell me, I want to know, I want to help."
Eleni smiled sadly and then left.
Katie and Zack walked over to their friend. "What did Princess Thomas want?" Zack asked.
Freddy was silent for a moment, staring at the spot where Eleni had once stood. Zack waved his hand in front of his friend's face and Freddy looked at him. "What? What's wrong?" He asked, snapping out of his trance.
Zack smiled. "Are you okay mate?"
Freddy nodded. "Yeah, fine." He rushed to the door. "I'll see you."
"Freddy?" Katie called after him.
She looked at Zack and shrugged.

"And, he just… oh, I'm brilliant!" Michelle exclaimed.
Eleni smiled softly.
Michelle saw her look and frowned. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure about this, I mean, I can't pretend forever can I? And, I don't like lying to him."
Michelle shook her head. "It doesn't have to be forever. You just need to lie long enough for him to realize he wants you rather than Katie."
"And if he never realizes it?" Eleni muttered.
Michelle shook her head. "Look at you, then look at Katie. He'll realize what he's got soon and give up on that ugly mole. Trust me, beautiful people always get what they want and deserve and you deserve him."
Eleni shrugged. "Okay, but how do I hide I'm not actually pregnant?"
Michelle smiled. "Leave that one to me, you just keep playing the pathetic girl who got knocked up. You can do that right?"
Eleni nodded. Michelle tapped her cheek. "Good girl."

Freddy looked up from the lounge as there was a knock on his front door.
He got up and opened it, expecting to find Eleni, but instead there stood Katie.
He smiled and motioned for her to come in.
"Why the pleasant surprise?" He asked as she sat down. He noticed the way she sat down on his couch. It was civilized as if she were a guest. She used to jump over the back just like he did. She used to treat the house like it was her own.
"What happened at the end of band practice, you just disappeared? Zack and I wanted to know if you wanted to come see Summer with us."
Freddy looked at her. "Is that where you've been?"
She nodded. "Zack's still there. We told her all about the new songs. I just came over to see if you wanted to join us. I know she'd love to hear from you."
Freddy shook his head. "I can't, I'm waiting for someone."
"Eleni?" Katie asked.
He nodded slowly. "She's got some very important news for me."
Katie lowered her eyebrows. "What could Eleni have that's so important?"
Freddy shook his head again. "Actually, it's nothing, but I said I'd wait for her to come over."
Katie moved closer to him. "What has she done Freddy, you can tell me?"
Freddy glared at her. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Katie pulled back. "Sorry."
Freddy stood up and walked to the door. "I think you better get going."
Katie joined him at the door. "Call me if you wanna talk okay?"
Freddy shut the door behind her and leaned against it. "Not a chance of getting a call from me about this Katez."

Finishing his second peanut butter and jelly sandwich Freddy heard another knock on his door.
It had been an hour since Katie had left so Freddy doubted it would be her.
He rushed over and pulled it open to find a white-faced Eleni standing on his porch.
He ushered her inside. She was gripping something in her hand.
"What took you so long?" Freddy asked, trying not to be rude.
Eleni looked at him. "I'm sorry, I had to get the courage to do it."
Freddy sighed. "Well, what is it then?"
Eleni opened her hand and in it was an already-opened pregnancy test.
She pulled out the indicator and showed him the markings.
It was obvious, even to Freddy, that it read positive.
"So, this means I…?" He asked.
Eleni frowned. "I'll have to get a proper test done, by a doctor I mean, but it looks likely."
Freddy sighed and put his head in his hands.
Next to him Eleni looked down at Michelle's cousin's pregnancy test. It had done the job all right and convinced Freddy she was pregnant with his child, but would this really work as Michelle had planned?

A/N: Faking a pregnancy? That's low, even for Michelle and Eleni!