Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone.

Author's note: I'm from Russia, and I'm not so good in English yet. Or already… I need you helping hand: language and slanguage. I mean a beta. Please, help me guys!

Author's note #2: thanx for all my reviewers! Nanners 77: Constructive critism are welcome, thank you a lot. But Katie's last name isn't Brown too. She haven't last name. Brown – it's Rebecca Brown, an actress. Sweetfiregirl: I'm asking you now =) Please, if you'll see mistakes in this chapter, let me know - mail me. Pretty please. Flatfoot-92: at the risk of sounding like an arrogant one, I like the plot too=) I shall develop it. Thank you a lot!

Chapter II.

And every man

In human nature these snakes and ladders

The fairground noises are messages

Life would be dull and boring

Without the choices of passages

Just like those dancing dervish

We spin in circles we strike up poses

/ Public Image Limited, 'Like that', 1989 /

We've been running round in our present state

Hoping help would come from above

But even angels there make the same mistakes in love

/ Roxy Music, 'Sea Breezes '/

She nervously brushed her hair, sitting in front of the dresser, looking at herself in the mirror.

- Honey! I think Summer is here! - Mrs. Hudson called out from the kitchen.

- I'm on it! - Katie bellowed back as she hopped down the stairs taking two steps at a time.

- Hey-hey, Hathaway! - She greeted her with a huge grin as she opened the door.

- Okay, what's wrong now? - Summer dared to ask.

- Oh, my, God! You'll never believe what's happened! - the excited bassist was bouncing up and down so much that it was making Summer sick.

- Hit me, - she replied unconvinced.

- Gimme a sec. Just let me get my coat.

She walked briskly into the living room and picked up her leather coat that was draped over the coach.

- So, what you think? - The brunette grinned wildly.

- Wow, I mean "WOW"! You have it!

- Yep. Mum has bought it today. – Katie smirked.

- Okay, it's awesome, but we should have to go already, - Summer replied.

- Boss will be boss… - Katie muttered, putting on a coat. – By, mum! C ya later!

- Goodnight, Mrs. Hudson!

- Have a good night, girls!

Outside a glass the night city lived own life. Fires blinked, streets were overcrowded with people. Wheels of a dark brown van knocked on a roadway. Dewey drives a car skillfully, echoing a Ramones's songs off the top of his lungs. However, he always sings something like that. After four past years since they've meet him for the first time, Dewey Finn hasn't changed. Absolutely. A 38-of-so rocker with any sence of discipline, any sense of proportion and any sense of shame too. But one plus was: his new girlfriend, Nadin, has brought a deodorant and a hairbrush for him. And she even has instructed Dewey to use these things. Everyone was breathing with relief, and after a month of grumble he was too.

Meantime, Dewey begun to make a chorus to sound rather awfully. Everybody laughed, asking him to stop. He smirked and began to sing even more loudly. Zack snatched Freddy's drumsticks and pushed Dewey's side.

- Dude, shut up! My ears bleed and my brain raped!

- May you sing better, smart ass? A? I didn't heeeeeeear you! – Dewey laughed.

Zack muttered something.

- Excellent! Sit quietly and enjoy this trip!

And he began to sing again.

- You're sick, dude…

- "I couldn't care what you think of me 'cause somebody put something in my drink!" – Dewey quoted.

- If you'll not shut up now, I personally shall put something in your drink. The name – arsenic! – Summer yelled.

- Ooooh, big evil wakes up in our manager! Save me, guys!! - He said with a fake fear.

- Dewey, I warn you… - She said angrily.

- Hey, Guitaro-Man, did she take her valium today?

- Oi, dude, shut up and sing! – Zack replied.

- Should make it in same time?

- Dewey…

- Okaaay, we here! Guys, out! Now! – Dewey stopped the engine.

There was a big parking, alight with paper lamps of all colors.

- The Chinese food today? – Marta asked.

- Yep, let's go! I'm really hungry!

- As always, - Tomika put her two cents in.

- Whatever!

They've come in small cozy restaurant.

- Ah! The ever familiar and intoxicating air of the mushroom sauce is entering my lungs. I can die a happy man now. – Dewey sighed as he sat around the nearest available table. – Come here, dudes!

Zack moved up a chair to Summer nicely, Lawrence, Frankie and other boys did same thing to girls.

- Hey, Fancy Pants, need a helping hand? – Freddy said archly.

- Oh, you're so sweet, Jones. But no, thank you, - Billy answered in mincing manner.

- And how about you, Katherine?

- One more word out of you and you're a dead man Frederick Jones! - The brunette threatened.

- Still PMS'ing, Katie?

- Shut up, sponger! – She answered with a snarl.

- What are you gonna do? Spit all over your new jacket?

- Stop fighting, you, hormonal bombs! You spoil my appetite! – Dewey shouted.

Freddy and Katie sat around table, glancing at each other. Katie didn't know why she hates him so much. She was a silent and reticent girl in the majority of cases, being civil with everyone. But he just finds out all worse and evil in her. Like a fire on a wind – it inflamed Katie. His words were oxygen for her bonfire of rage.

- Let's order something, - Michelle said.

- One minute, - Dewey mumbled. – Ah, she is!

- Who? – Frankie asked.

- Pei-Pei, girl, how are you?

- Oh, hey, Dewey, kids! - A small black-hair Chinese woman smiled to teens. – Dewey, it's your bandmates?

- Oh yeah. Dudes, meet Pei-Pei! The blond one it's our drummer, Freddy.

Freddy nodded and smiled to her.

- And it's Lawrence, Mr. Cool, he's own awesome keyboardist. Oh, don't blush, man! Back singers – Alicia, Marta and Tomika, - Dewey said. – And there our security, Frankie and Leonard. And own roadies, Gordon and Marco. – He continued to speak. – And our own Jeff Beck, Zack, with his beautiful girlfriend, Summer. She's a manager.

- And I am a band stylist, miss, - Billy interrupted him. - I'm Billy.

- Nice to meet you, Billy, - Pei-Pei answered with a smile on her face. – They are such cute kids, Dewey.

- Yeah, they are. Oh, and there we have Michelle and Eleni, groupies.

Pei-Pei's eyes extended comically.

- It isn't important. – Dewey said quickly. She shrugged shoulders.

- Oh-kay, kids, what you want for a dinner?

- I dunno… - Dewey said. – Guys, what you think about the Peking duck?

- Yep.

- Okay.

- I'm in.

- Alright, did you hear these hungry children, Pei? – Finn smirked. – We shall celebrate!

- Okay, kids. See you soon. Happy dining! – And she left their alone.

- What about, man? – Freddy asked in skeptically manner.

- Erm… I have huge news for all of you. – He made a dramatically pause. – Dudes… We have audition… in a Virgin!

Zack felt as if the air had just been sucked out of the room and he couldn't breathe.

- No jokes?

- We will rock up the world!!! - Dewey finished her enthusiastic speech.

- Cool! – All kids said in same time.

- It happens in four days. And we should have a lot of practice. Let's begin tomorrow!

- Tomorrow? On Sunday? – Katie asked thoughtfully.

- Yep.

- I cannot do it, - she said.

- But why?

- My parents take me to my aunt Alberta, - she answered.

- Pff! Tell them that you not go, - Freddy snapped sarcastically.

- I cannot. Really.

- Oh, c'mon. Stop this shit!

- I cannot spit on my parents as you can, Jones! - She held her chin up as she looked into his eyes.

- Ha-ha, very funny! - He answered with a cocky grin.

- Shut the hell up! - She hissed back.

- Bitch! - Anger flashed in his eyes.

- Fuck yourself, asshole! - She quipped. – Guys, have fun.

And with that she raised, whirled around and quickly made her way to ladies rooms.

Dewey frowned, and Alicia accused him.

- You've gone too far!

- Me?!- Freddy laughed forcibly.

- Yes, you are. – Dewey said. – You break it, you fix it. Go! I said go!

- Damn…

And he followed her.

- So, what are you doing out of these? – His voice was sharp and low as he grabbed Katie by her arm and dragged her to the nearest corner.

- I'm not talk to you, stupid, - She gathered her courage, grabbed his hands and forced him to let go of her arm.

- Look, I only want to ask a pardon.

- For what? You want to admit that you're a brainless ass? I already know it! You're loser, Jones! – She yelled.

Suddenly, his hands were on her arms and she felt her back slam against the door of ladies rooms.

- You better take that back. - He hissed angrily.

She swallowed hard as she tried to calm her racing heartbeat.

- It's true!

- You…

- Cookies, kids?

They looked back, facing with aged Chinese lady.

- Look, this isn't really a good time now, - Katie answered.

- No, now a good time! - She insisted.

- Okay, - teens agreed.

Woman smiled and left their alone.

They pulled down cookies, taking out a note and reading in unison.

"A journey soon begins,

Its prize reflected in another's eyes,

When what you see is what you lack,

The selfless love will change you back."

- What is it?

- I dunno…

Suddenly, a floor and walls shudder, light blinked. Freddy grabbed her arms, pressing her to a wall. Unexpectedly, all things stopped.

- What the hell it was?! – He screamed.

- Ouch! That hurts! - She protested, trying to pull her arm out of his grip but failing. - Let go!

- Oh? Sorry, - He let go of her arm. – It was an earthquake?

Katie took a deep breath and sighed loudly before speaking.

- I dunno. Let's return to guys.

But the band only looked surprised at them.

- Are you ill, Spazzy? – Dewey said skeptically.

- I told you it was an earthquake! – Freddy insisted. – And at last: never ever call me THAT!

- Cool down, dude. It wasn't an earth… whatever! Let's celebrate our future success!

Katie looked at Freddy in confusion.

- What it was, actually?

He only shrugged shoulders and answered with uncertainty in his voice.

- A mirage?

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