AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed!!!! I've never had so many reviews for one story...

For those who asked; Of course it's going to be Freddy/Katie! Those two are so cute together!

Onto the story and a big revelation...

~Eleri~

Walking home from practice, Freddy, Summer and Zack found themselves the last three – as usual. Only this time they were discussing Katie's brief appearance at practice.

"What do you think she wanted?"

"I dunno. Did you see that she didn't have her base when she left. What d'you think she was giving it to Dewey for?"

"Maybe it was broken."

"Yeah, and Dewey's really the best person to give a broken guitar to." A horn honked and Summer turned to see her mom pull up beside them. "Oops, gotta go. See you in school tomorrow."

"Bye" "See ya'" the boys chorused.

There was a pause, then Zack spoke again. "I'll go visit her today. See if she wants to talk."

Freddy nodded "Wouldn't hurt. Let me know…" Zack nodded and Freddy turned down the road to his house.

Katie pushed open the door of her apartment and bit her lip anxiously. The hall was still dark, despite the growing dusk outside. That either meant that no one was home yet, or that her father had been drinking again. She sighed, glad her brother was staying at his friend's house that night. She flicked on the light switch and hung her coat on the coat rack by the door.

"Katie?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin before realizing that the voice came from the kitchen. She poked her head round the door to see her mum sitting at the table with a mug of coffee.

"Mom, why are you sitting in the dark?" she went over to pour herself some coffee, but stopped almost immediately. "The coffee's cold. Here, give me your mug, I'll make some more."

"Your father's in the hospital. He had liver poisoning. Oh Katie, everything has been so hard since he lost his job, but I never thought it would go this far."

Katie bit her lip and poured the now-boiling water into the coffeepot, then carried it to the table and sat opposite her mother. "We'll manage mom. Go look in the pocket of my jacket."

Her mother frowned slightly then stood and went into the hallway. "There's nothing there."

"The right pocket."

There was a pause, and Katie poured coffee into the two mugs before her mother came back in. "Two hundred fifty. That's more than you make in a week at the café. That's more than I make in a week."

"That's not true mom. The second part anyway."

"Where's you get it."

Katie shrugged. "It's not important. It'll get us through the week, until I get my pay."

"Katie…"

"I sold my guitar. But Dewey said I could buy it back when I have the money. It doesn't matter anyway, it's not like I can play anymore."

"Your guitar! Katie, how could you. I know things are hard, but they're not that bad. We'll manage."

"We will now. It's done mom, just be happy." She paused and swallowed hard, "are you gonna go see him?"

"I was waiting for you to get home. So you knew. Do you want to come?"

"I have homework to do. Maybe I'll go see him tomorrow."

Her mother nodded then stood up. "I'll go now then."

"But your coffee – "

"I'm sorry honey. I wasn't really drinking it anyway. I'll probably be late."

Katie frowned as she watched her mother standing up and moving into the hallway. A minute later, the door clicked shut and Katie knew she was alone in the apartment. She took a sip of her coffee, glanced at the fifty dollar bills still on the table, then pushed the mug away and buried her head in her arms and sobbed.

An hour later she tidied away the mugs and the coffeepot, and pulled a pan out to cook some pasta for dinner. Her eyes were still a little red from crying, and her face felt tense. She sobbed quietly, then started as the buzzer sounded. She brushed at her eyes then went to answer it. The voice coming up was slightly tinny, but she recognized it anyway.

"Zack? Why are you here."

"You come in and then leave. You don't say anything to us. We haven't seen you in ages. We miss you and we're worried. Is that enough reason."

"Shit, you sound like someone's mom."

There was a long pause. "I just want to talk Katie. That's all. Can we talk?"

"I guess." There was another pause before Zack spoke again.

"Um…look, it's raining kind of heavily out here. Do you think I could come up?"

Katie swore quietly. "Sorry. Yeah." Zack sighed as he heard the door click open and he hurried inside and up the stairs. Katie was already standing with the door open, waiting for him. She stepped aside and let him in. He followed her into the kitchen and she gestured to the stove. "I'm making pasta. Want some?"

"No. I'll eat when I get home. Where's everyone else."

"Greg's at a friend's for the night. Mom and dad are – out." Zack caught the hesitation in her voice but said nothing. "You said you wanted to talk, so talk." She glanced up at him as she poured some pasta into the pan.

"You're not gonna make it easy are you?"

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. "Do I ever?"

"No. No, you don't. What's been going on. We never see you…"

"Yeah, you said that. I've been busy. I already told you that."

"Yeah, you did. A year and a half ago." Katie said nothing, just stirred her pasta and avoided his gaze. "What were you talking to Dewey about today?"

"My business."

"That's what he said." Zack stared at her hard for a while until she, rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I sold him my guitar."

"You what!" Zack

"Why does everyone react that way? I sold my guitar, okay? I needed the money, and Dewey said he'd keep it until I could buy it back."

"What did you need the money for? Katie, you're not – "

"No! You think I'm that dumb? We needed the money. Mom and me and Greg and Dad." She paused for a moment, staring at her hands, then glanced back at him. "Dad lost his job. That's why I left the band. Mom and me both work to get money in. Teachers don't get paid that much you know, and she's only a sub so she doesn't always have a job. She hasn't worked this week, and my job doesn't pay that much, so I had to sell. Just to get us through the week, till she gets a job."

"What about your dad?"

Katie shook her head. "He hasn't found a job yet. He's looking." She stirred the pasta again. "You want a coke or something?"

Zack imitated her by shaking his head. "We miss you, you know."

"Why bother. It's not like there's anything to miss."

He rolled his eyes at her. "Bullshit. And you know it is." He paused for a second. "Freddy misses you." Her head snapped up and he struggled to hide his grin. "Let me guess, you miss him too."

"I haven't gone anywhere, neither has he. Why should I miss him?"

"You know what I mean. Why don't you come back, or at least spend more time with us in school."

"I told you, I'm busy."

"Even during school time."

She shrugged. "Well, maybe in school."

He nodded. "Ok. I guess I can go then." He stood up. "Walk me to the door?"

Katie raised one eyebrow in amusement, then stood and followed him out of the kitchen. At the door she opened her mouth as if to say something, then changed her mind and started to turn away. She changed her mind again, and turned back to him. "Zack?"

"Yeah."

"My dad's in hospital. He poisoned his liver. He started drinking when he lost his job. Don't tell the others." Zack bit his lip then shook his head.

"I won't."

As she closed the door behind him, Katie bit back her tears and hurried into the kitchen to stop her pasta boiling over.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Might be a while before I get the next part up...I'm really busy with school at the mo' but I promise I'll update before next Sunday (I'm going on hols then, so...).

~Eleri~