Hey everyone... I'm back, sorry it took so long for me to update, but I guess I've been too lazy. Heh! Heh! It doesn't really matter. I guess this story has to go on, so here is chapter five anyway. In this chapter the students are going to be working on their projects. I don't really know how this chapter will actually end or progress, since I don't have any sort of story plan, but I hope it goes well enough for all of you people. I've been thinking up other ideas for other chapters and other stories, but I can't actually get to typing them down on the computer. I guess it's out of pure laziness... Sorry again, that my update was rather late... But the thing is I would like you to know that I DON'T HAVE a beta-reader, that's probably another reason for my slowness. Please don't forget to review!

Chapter5

Line between Enmity and Friendship

I sighed in aggravation as I took of on my skateboard and headed for the address I scrawled on a piece of crumpled paper. I was headed for Hathaway's house, a place I clearly didn't want to be found at.

It was the second day of the new school year and our classes had just finished. I had headed home and after some minutes of complaining to my parents, they shooed me out the door and told me to get to her house. I still couldn't believe that I was stuck working with 'them' on this project.

We had gotten "The Greatest Geniuses of Time" as a topic. I wasn't all too ecstatic about the concept, but I guess we didn't get the worst topic of the lot, but then again I had no idea what Hathaway was going to make us do. I can spot some qualities that Hathaway and a slave driver share.

I wasn't exactly sure where her house really was and I was actually hoping to get lost, and I just happened to conveniently forget my cell phone. I grinned to myself, thinking that my plan was foolproof. I would buy my time by just careening the sidewalks and alleys. If they asked me for the reason of my absence; I would tell them that I got couldn't find my way to her house, blaming her directions.

I was a genius.

Of course I would have to attend at least some of the other meetings that they would spring on me, but this one was a certain one that I really did want to miss. I didn't want to have to face a certain girl in my group.

I had already eaten lunch with them, but that was inevitable. These meetings would suck the cool factor from me completely. I didn't really want to end up like Lawrence or Zack. The thought made my skin crawl to a new extent.

I hit a pothole with my skateboard and staggered forward, my face smacking into a lamppost. I had received the annoying feeling of déjà vu. I groaned as I felt the pain from my newly forming bruise. For some reason, I was wipeout-prone in this new school year. I couldn't really care less, since no one I knew saw me. For some reason I've been a lot more conscious of what people thought of me...

And I knew the reason why...

Why was I feeling this way? I had asked myself that question a while back, but then I realized that I already knew the answer to that. She had made me realize who I was and how bad I had actually become. I had only entertained these thoughts this morning, yet they seemed to make sense so much.

I felt so bad about what had happened. I found that I was actually mad that she hated me and thought that I was lower than the scum of the earth! I realized that the fact hurt me so much that she hated me.

I shook my head clear of those thoughts. I had to get back to my old self. I knew that I would be subject to change someday, but now that I could see myself changing, I couldn't bring myself to say that I was wrong and that in the past I had committed some mistakes. I wasn't the one to do that. I had way too much pride, and that is really something I just can't get rid of yet.

My pride is what gets me out of a lot of situations where there is potential for embarrassment. When Mooneyham found out about my little 'bathroom secret,' it was my pride that saved me. I knew that I had to go out in a big way, just to beat him, just to show him off. And I did.

I shook my head once more continued gliding across a sidewalk. I didn't really want to think anymore. I looked up from the cement sidewalk and realized where I was. I looked across the street and found a CD store. I shrugged and went inside. What else was there to do?

I crossed the street without thinking, numbing my mind from any sort of thought... as you can see it isn't working... I was boarding at an average speed, staring intently at the CD store, but then I felt a loud honk and a shrieking screeching ring in my ears.

Then it dawned on me

I swiveled myself around. There was a white van screeching to a halt, with its horn blaring at me. By sheer surprise I staggered on my board and fell to the ground. It stopped barely a few inches away from me. I was in a daze, but sadly enough it didn't prepare me for what was to happen next.

The van's door swiveled open and as dazed as I was, I gasped at who came out...

"Lawrence!" yelled a disgruntled Freddy, who was sprawled on the floor, "What are you doing here?" He stared in shock as he saw his classmate step out of the white van that would have run him over.

"Freddy?" asked Lawrence, who was rather shocked as well, "I am on the way to Summer's house. Are you headed there too?" He ran to Freddy. Another person stepped from the van. It was an Asian woman who was probably his mother.

"Lawrence? Who is this? Do you know this boy?" asked his mother. She ran over to the two boys and crouched in apprehension. Freddy stared in shock at the two. And the wheels in his head were spinning in scheme.

"Yes, mother." answered Lawrence, "This is Freddy Jones. He is my classmate and my group mate in the project I told you about."

"Oh well, Freddy are you alright?" asked Lawrence's mother concernedly. She began looking over him worriedly.

"I think so, I'm just a bit shook up," He answered uneasily. He lifted his left hand, it had a large bruise on its wrist, "But I think that I am alright. There aren't any visible damages anyway." He gave a weak laugh.

"Well, why don't you go with us to Summer Hathaway's house?" asked Lawrence's mother kindly. Freddy nodded, knowing full well that he couldn't get out of this situation. Lawrence and his mother hoisted him up. They led him inside the van and dropped his skateboard inside as well.

Freddy groaned silently. This wasn't part of the plan...

"Well, we are here," said Lawrence's mother as she drove alongside Summer's driveway. She pulled on the handbrake and the van came to a halt, "Lawrence, call me when you are ready to be picked up and Freddy," She faced the boy, "I am very sorry once again for what had happened."

"It was no problem ma'am," Freddy grinned weakly, "It was my fault for not looking anyway," He put on his best face, one that made Lawrence feel like puking, "It was a pleasure to meet you and I am very grateful that you allowed me to ride in your van." He coated his voice with all the sweetness he could muster.

"Now Freddy, it was all our pleasure," She smiled, buying into his act, "Now you boys run along and get your project ready." Lawrence gave her a quick peck and a curt goodbye, before swinging the door open and jumping out. Freddy followed shortly, saying his thanks and goodbyes once more. With his skateboard in hand, he jumped from the van, and slid the door to a close, "Don't forget to call me Lawrence." And with that she drove off.

"You had my mother completely fooled!" fumed Lawrence as his mother drove away. Freddy turned to him and smirked; "Whenever I'm not telling the truth, she can see right through me, but with you, she thinks that you are an angel!" the two began to walk towards Summer's front door, "Not the spawn of evil that you really are!"

"I'm glad that you feel that way about me," drawled Freddy as he punched the button of the Hathaway's doorbell. They waited for some seconds before they heard the solid approach of clapping footsteps.

Summer was the one who had answered the door, since it was her house. She looked calculatingly at Freddy, "Great, Lawrence you're here," She said, "Freddy, I didn't think that you would show up," She told him honestly.

"Well you were wrong, now weren't you Hathaway," He sauntered past her, into her house. Freddy could tell that she was boring a hole at his back, but she didn't say anything and neither did Freddy, "Now let's get this over with. I have things to do."

"What? Extort younger children? Or perhaps there is a sale at the drugstore for gel and other hair products?" muttered a new voice. It was Zack's. His voice was coming from the direction of the living room. Summer led Lawrence and Freddy there.

When they got there, they found Zack sprawled on the floor, watching the television intently, and Katie who was lying on a davenport lethargically. There was a coffee table, not far from where Zack was, which was cluttered with all sorts of binders and papers.

"Alright, Zack, Katie," called Summer to the two, "Now that Lawrence and Freddy," She put an obvious stress on his name, "have arrived; let's start on the project already." She led them to the coffee table and they each sat down at its sides, "Okay, to start everything off, here are your binders back." She handed each of them the binder that they were specified to, "The first thing that we will discuss is work assignments." She took a clipboard and began reading from it, "Now, there are three categories, research, visual presentations, and audio presentations." She took out a hat, "In this hat, those three categories are written on pieces of paper. Two of us will be doing research, while another two will be doing the visual presentation, and one will do the audio presentation. I will explain what you'll have to do later, now pick."

Zack reluctantly picked first, "I got 'Audio Presentation,'" He read Summer's neat cursive writing.

Summer picked next, since no one seemed to be moving, "I have 'Research.'"

"'Visual Presentation,'" muttered Katie after drawing from the hat.

Lawrence put his arm in and drew out a scrap of paper, "I'm going to be 'Research."

"Well then I guess that means Freddy is in 'Visual Presentation.'" shrugged Summer.

"WHAT?!" yelled a disgruntled Katie, who winced as she screamed, remembering the abrasion of her cheek, "I can't work with Freddy Jones," She uttered his name with all the disgust she could muster.

"Oh yeah, and who was all, 'hence it's called 'group work?' You hypocrite," hissed Freddy, covering up his own disgust with witty remarks.

"Katie, please," began Summer, "We all know that you can't stand him, and you know that we can't stand him either," she said frankly, "Just bear his overbearing-ness and try to get this project done as best as you can." Katie sighed, but she refused any eye contact and her face was caught in a grimace.

"Yeah," drawled Freddy, "Just talk like I'm not here. 'Cause, I know that you are the most tactful person I know Hathaway!" He snapped at her, "I would have thought that you would be a little more polite to your house guests." He pretended to sound abashed.

Zack snapped in a monotone voice, "Cut the crap, Jones..."

"No, Zack," Summer muttered unenthusiastically, "I guess Freddy is right. We are going to be working with each other for quite some time, we have to get used to each other and act at least more civil towards one another," She faced Freddy, "So, Freddy... I guess I'm sorry..." She offered him her hand.

He looked at it suspiciously, all sorts of scenarios popping in his muddled head, but he shook it anyway. Katie's voice cut through thickly, "Please Summer... I can't work with..." She paused, wondering how to address him, "...him..."

"Katie, just try to do it," begged Summer, "Try to bear him as much as possible..."

Freddy opened his mouth to protest, but he got a heel painfully inserted on his foot by Zack. He shut himself up, "Fine," He spoke through gritted teeth, partly because he loathed the idea of working with her, and partly because the pain in his foot was unbearable. He held out his hand to Katie, as Summer had done awhile ago, "Since we are going to be working with each other for some time, how about a truce?" He flashed his best smile.

Katie studied him thoroughly. She searched his eyes for some form of distrust, but his eyes were blocked off. His smile was convincing, yet deals done with Freddy Jones, were like deals with the devil. What if Katie ended up selling her soul?

She shook her head free of those strange thoughts. Where did she come up with that? She looked once more at his outstretched hand. Each second seemed to stretch far longer than it should. She took in a deep breath and made her final decision. "Fine," She muttered, shaking his hand, gripping it forcefully. He winced in pain.

"Alright Katie," said Summer uneasily, "Don't break his hand just yet. You'll need some help with your portion of work," She returned to her business-mode, she began reading from her clipboard "Alright so Lawrence and I have been assigned 'Research,' meaning we are the ones who are going to get all the information about the people whom we are going to research on. Katie and Freddy, you were assigned 'Visual Presentation,' meaning that you two will be the ones who will make the posters, models, and all those other visual aids. Zack, you were assigned 'Audio Presentation,' meaning that you will basically write up the script we will be using when we present," She handed out papers, giving them a more complete synopsis of their workload, "Any questions?"

"Can we help others, outside our area of work?" asked Lawrence, after skimming through the paper.

"Of course," Summer answered immediately, "Any more questions?"

"Yeah," began Freddy, "In these things...err... binders, right? Well they have the complete schedules for these meetings and the topics we'll be attacking, right," before Summer could answer, he stopped her, "That isn't my question yet. What I am asking is... Will I have to read through all of it?"

"No, Freddy... You don't..." muttered Summer who gave him a blatantly annoyed look, "Any more questions?" There was no response, "Alright then, so your first orders of business. Lawrence, you and I will hit the computers and books after I'm done. Zack, you help out with the research first, since you can't work on the script yet, I'll show you were the stuff is. Katie and Freddy, you make some drafts for the visual aids that you will be preparing, you can work here" she checked the watch lashed to her arm, "We stop a quarter before dinner time which is six forty-five. Alright, get to work!"

After a series of silent groans, Zack and Lawrence followed Summer out to the Hathaway's library. Freddy and Katie were left in the living room. She refused to stare at him and he was getting attacked by his conscience.

"Hey... Katie," he began uneasily, but his mind blanked at any form of conversation. He said the first thing that came to his mind, "Thanks for not squealing on me the other day," and he immediately regretted it. He wasn't supposed to feel gratitude. He was supposed to uphold his image of a cold, unfeeling jerk...

"I didn't do it for you," She answered in a harsh voice, "I just don't want them to know what had happened to me. I didn't want them to know that I had actually, willingly associated myself with the likes of you!"

Freddy bit his lip to keep his tongue in check, "Of course..." he mumbled. Katie forced her gaze to the ceiling and Freddy wasn't really staring at anything, but was too wound up in his thoughts to pay attention to anything.

They sat in silence for quite some time. "Listen..." Katie's voice ended the unnerving silence, "I have an idea for one of the posters..."

"Oh yeah..."

"Well, you see..."

I was just sitting there as she got out a sheet of paper to show me the idea she had come up with. I was really surprised. I had been thinking about the uneasiness between her and I. I had been so uneasy about just knowing that she had the abysmal scar on her cheek.

But then she says that she somehow gathered an idea for the project which seemingly fell out of my mind. I tried to keep my mouth screwed onto my jaw, not showing my complete surprise and utter offense. I was used to people feeling miserable when I felt miserable.

She was busy explaining her layout to me, but I was barely listening, once again contemplating...obsessing over her reaction. I was seething inwardly. My surprise began evolving into irritation, and then it burst into rage. How could she not react predictably?

I forced myself to appear to be listening to hear intently.

My hands clenched the side of the table. My knuckles were groaning and whitening in protest. My insides were clenched. My tongue was raw from my biting teeth and my jaw was trembling, shut tight to keep me from verbally assaulting her. My brain was caught in a whirlwind! The thoughts that came out were unpleasant, yet each one was as fleeting as it was disturbing.

I couldn't believe myself! This whole scenario felt so overwhelming. The pressure kept forcing me up, yet the immensity pushed me down as well. I was trapped in the middle. I was unable to rise, yet unable to fall either. Two great forces were battling over me, neither succeeding, yet neither failing. My emotions were in complete turmoil. I wanted to let everything out...

"What's wrong with you?!" I yelled lividly, which followed a series of uncouth words. She shot her head from the paper she was focusing on and gave me a skeptical, perplexed look. That pissed me off even more.

"What?"

I let out a scream of exasperation. I began flailing my arms above me like an idiot, "How can you act so calm and so freakin' bloody infuriating!" I hissed to her fiercely, she backed away in bewilderment.

"What are you talking about Jones," She spat my name out with such force and disgust.

"Why are you acting like nothing had happened yesterday?" I continued scowling at her, while she returned the favor, "How can you act so cheery and forget that little scenario that happened near that freaking tree?" I shot up from the ground and towered over her.

She stood up as well, and she was actually a good few inches taller than me, but since I was already so pissed off, my annoyance for that matter hardly showed. She glared at me fiercely and snapped, "What? You're upset because I'm not?"

I stopped back and my eyes widened. How did she know that? But I regained my composure, "No, I'm upset because I know you are lying about what you said awhile ago about the reason of you not telling your friends!" It was a lie, and vaguely grammatically incorrect, but it was all I came up with.

"I was not lying, you idiot!"

"Oh? And for what reason should I actually believe you?!"

"For the same reason I believe you, you worthless glob of pond scum!"

"But you don't believe me!" I yelled back. She looked stunned, I had been right and she had been wrong, and she was really hating it, which I really loved, "Hah, got you, didn't I!" I was gloating, pissing her off even more.

"It was a petty victory for a petty person!" She hissed once more.

"You're just saying that for lack of a better excuse!"

"SHUT UP!!!"

"They're screaming," stated Lawrence, rather calmly actually as he skimmed through the pages of the large research book he was holding. Zack was on the computer and Summer was studying an encyclopedia, "Is that a bad thing?"

The voices were rising to a large degree, "Oh man, what if they trash my living room!" moaned Summer, "Mother will murder me!"

"I say you leave them Summer," smirked Zack as he was scrolling down a research web page, although he was bored out of his wits, he still had his ways, "You know, so they can solve their differences." He gave a loud guffaw afterwards.

Summer shrugged, "Do you suppose my house can survive a nuclear explosion?"

I had gotten home from Hathaway's house, feeling like crap. I was gliding down the streets on my skateboard, groaning and complaining to myself, the raining didn't help much either. I was stuck with Katie for most of the time and I had only gotten free of her horrible company during dinner. She had to go home earlier and I didn't show my relief and happiness discreetly. Although I did not miss the scowling glare and obscene gesture directed to me.

All the feelings I thought I had yesterday were wiped out by my insane anger. I no longer thought that she was even remotely attractive. To me, she now resembled a diseased walrus with twenty-eight chins, deformed teeth, mop-like hair, and a really beaten up face. I smiled at the thought of it.

I couldn't even bear to think of what I had begun to think of her the day before this one. I should have admitted that I was at fault and that I was a fickle jerk, but of course, my pride wouldn't allow me to do that. I pinned the blame all on her, with her conniving... well maybe that isn't the best word to use... with her maddening, irritating manner! I was so glad that I hadn't spent the day with Hathaway, but my hatred for Katie is growing steadily.

I was extremely mad, but I wasn't really flustered. My attention span, although partly fixed on my thoughts, was on full alert. I decided that I liked these thoughts better, since they didn't trick me into ramming into lampposts.

I continued skateboarding along the road. I saw some distance away from me; probably some meters away, there was another kid. I couldn't see very well through the rain and the darkness, but I could decipher some details. He was probably a boy and he was skateboarding like me. There was probably a big bag at his back, since there was a protruding lump at his back. He was somewhat in a hurry, that something from the lump fell to the hard cement.

And of course, I, being the good soul that I am, speeded up to where the book was and picked it up. I looked at the book cover, it was black. The book was rather large and hardbound. I looked up to find the boy who had dropped the book, he wasn't that far. He had stopped some meters away, probably to tie his shoelaces.

I sped up to him. When I reached him, he was still trying to tie his shoes, struggling with the immense weight that was strapped to his back. His face was obscured, "Err... Hey, dude, you dropped your book," The boy stiffened, but he didn't turn to face me.

I set it down on the ground next to him, but I wasn't satisfied with his answer. I put on my helping face, "Do you want to help me with your bag?"

"Sure thanks." His voice was a soft murmur. He sounded vaguely familiar.

I lifted the bag from his bag and I was shocked at the weight that I almost buckled under its heaviness. I had the bag stuffed in front of my face while he fixed his shoelaces. I pondered on why I was doing this for the first time.

The boy stepped up from his crouch, "Thanks Freddy..."

I almost dropped the bag from my arms in shock, "Who are you?"

"Man, I didn't know you were this dense," the kid muttered sarcastically. Slowly realization dawned on me.

"Zack Mooneyham!" I yelled out loud, this time the bag slipped from my hands, landing on my skateboard, which catapulted upwards; whacking my upside the head. I saw Mooneyham laughing his ugly, little head off. I groaned partly out of pain and partly out of annoyance.

I just wasn't lucky this new school year.

He was drenched, just as I was, but at least Zack wasn't in pain, "Don't you dare say a word Mooneyham!" My threatening usually goes well, but this kid was laughing way too much to have any fear knocked into him.

"But-" Before he could retaliate, two bright lights shined in our way, obscuring our vision completely. They were the headlights of a car, "Zack!" two people had yelled from the car. Pattering and splashing footsteps came towards them. I sighed, probably his parents.

A woman, probably his mother, rushed to him, an umbrella above her head. She began stroking his head and checking for any injuries, "Zack, my poor baby! What took you so long to come home, dear?" She placed the umbrella above her 'poor baby's' head. I stifled my sniggers.

"Zachary," His father's curt voice was a great contrast to his mother's.

"Well, who's this?" His mother interrupted, glancing at me, "Zack, is this boy one of your school friends?"

"I guess you can say that mom," He turned red from all the embarrassment he was feeling at the moment. I smirked at his attitude, "Err... This is Freddy. He's been my classmate ever since long ago..."

"Freddy!" His mother's voice went abnormally high, "Freddy, Frederick Jones! I know your parents. But I mostly remember you, as that sweet, little boy who would offer everyone chocolates and kisses during those Valentine's Day parties!" I turned the color of a paper heart. What can I say, I was young and extremely stupid, not to mention I had no self-consciousness, "Why are you stuck in the rain too?"

"Well actually-" I was cut off by a muffled ringing in my pants, "Excuse me." I flashed a quick smile and dug into my pocket. It was my cell phone, "Hello," I answered into the receiver. It was my mother, "Yes, mom."

"Freddy, dear," her voice was rather muffled, and the reception he was picking up wasn't the best, "its Mommy. I just want to know where you are. Are you still in Summer's house? Or are you caught out in the rain?"

"Well, Mom," I began, the rain was getting harder with each spatter, "I'm out in the rain, the Mooneyhams are with me..."

"The Mooneyhams," her voice became higher, "Give the phone to one of them." I shrugged at the cell phone and handed it to Zack's mother. I told her it was my mother and she graciously took it. The two began chatting enthusiastically. They spoke so fast, I couldn't really catch up that much.

When she was finished, she handed the phone to me and gave me a huge smile, "Well, Freddy, I and your mom had a little discussion. She doesn't want you out in the rain too much, and your house is still kind of far away. So I offered to let you sleep at our house, and your mother agreed. You are staying with us for the night."

My eyes widened at that statement, but I didn't show my displeasure, instead I masked it with a face full of gratitude, "Thank you Mrs. Mooneyham, and thanks Mister Mooneyham." I smiled at the two of them. Zack's father looked rather hesitant, but his wife hushed him down.

"What? Mom!" protested Zack; who came a bit too late in the conversation. "He can't sleep over!"

"Why not son?" asked his mother, "Aren't you two buddies?" I felt sick at the thought. I'm pretty sure Mooneyham did too,

"Oh yeah," Zack began throatily.

"... We're the best of friends..."

I am so glad that that is all well and done with. I have no idea what took me so long to complete it. It's probably because I have another story, although it is in the Lord of the Rings section. Anyway, I hoped you liked this chapter. I know that it most of it is done in Freddy's point of view. It's not that he's the center of the story. It's because he's the easiest to write! And besides, the beginning chapters...the "Pre-Dewey Era"... they have the main characters evolving into what they are in the movies. And Freddy does need the most evolving, either way. I still hope that you liked the chapter and the whole story so far. I can't really think of what's going to happen next, I mean, I have ideas, but I don't even know if I'm going to be using any of them. Nothing is ever final for me. So it gets really, really confusing. Sometimes I can't really keep track of what's happening in my stories even if I do make them. But I mean, you have to admit that your brain does get muddled sometimes. But in my case, it's extremely muddled, but I guess that really is my fault. No matter, at least the chapters get done right? Heh... heh... I need to fill in this empty space. Yes, keep the text flowing, come on! When will this end? I have to get more words in. Is anyone actually reading this part? Oh well, everything must come to an end. So I leave all of you now, until the next chapter people! Please, please, please do not forget to give me a nice little review!