"WHAT!?", Katie was in complete awe and shock; her arms got heavy and she
felt like she could fall right through the floor.
Freddy was unsure if her 'what' was in reference to that he likes her, or a 'what' as in what-are-you-talking-about-I-don't-like-you. He was hoping for Choice B. "Yeah, that's right, you like me," Freddy still felt his eyes bulging but he knew if he blinked he would start to tear.
"You know that's all crap," Katie stated, and surprisingly enough, convincingly.
"Honestly," Freddy said sounding sensitive. "No, I don't," he bit his lip and after 7 solid seconds of silence, zippered his shorts.
His hair was gelled down like it used to be before Dewey came along. He didn't like it, but sometimes it made him feel more mature.
Freddy glanced up quickly and then back down, to see that Katie's glance was on the floor. "Now it's just obvious Katie," he said with a charming smile. She still didn't look up.
"What's it to you anyway," she asked, still looking down.
"I like you too—well, duh," Freddy said staring appealingly at Katie. He bit his lip in hope she would say something.
"What's the duh about?" Katie said raising her eyebrows, but none the less stubbornly keeping her eyes down.
Freddy was thinking about a song by the Eels he liked called 'Keep your eyes down'.
---Well the sun is shining but it don't feel good, it don't smile down on this neighborhood. When I go walking through this stinking town, Mister I keep my eyes down. I keep my eyes down---
"Well I don't know Katie," Freddy said so quickly it was almost as if he was snapping at her. "I thought that YOU always thought I did, that's all", Freddy added scratching his neck.
"I had hoped," Katie began. "But I never really thought you did," she continued, shrugging and dropping her head to the side a little bit.
"Look at me," Freddy said with his eyes closed and a little nod. She looked up with his glittering eyes reflecting in his. 'It almost hurts,' he thought to himself. "So...it's all there, you like me too?"
"Well DUH," Katie said smiling, mimicking her band-mate.
"Can I ask you something?' Freddy said jamming his hands as far inside his pockets as they would go.
"No, never." Katie Joked.
"What's up with the Metallica CD in your HiFi?"
Katie smiled nervously looking up down and around, everywhere but at Freddy.
"I like Metallica," she muttered.
"Whatttttt!" Freddy couldn't believe it. They spend weeks arguing over it and as it turned out she liked them. "Why did you say you didn't then?"
"Because I thought it was funny," Katie said with a chuckle
"You're insane," Freddy said leading Katie out of the closet. "We better go back downstairs, we got to get to practice".
"Right," Katie said quickly following his statement.
The walk upstairs was pretty quiet.
"Oh no, this isn't going to happen," Freddy said putting ghis arm out in front of her, stopping her from proceeding to enter the basement.
"What?" Katie asked, confused.
"Now that we know that we like each-other, it's not going to be awkward. We're still going to be friends and in time, when you're ready, we'll be together. But this whole awkward thing is not going to happen. We're still going to hang out and be best friends..." Freddy was a little unsure that she would comply. "...Right?"
"Yeah, well of coarse. Let's go," She said motioning for Freddy to open the door. When it opened, a bomb of sound busted from the basement, of a guitar and 2 vocals. Freddy jumped back a little from the sudden noise, and slightly into Katie. They both felt the chills down their spines, chuckled a little at the return of each-others stare, and proceeded to the basement.
It grew quieter, so Freddy took it upon himself to break it. "Alright guys, let's bounce out of here," Freddy said walking over to the snare drum to get his sticks. Everyone got their stuff, and Zack disconnected his guitar.
As Freddy watched everyone hustle, he was leaning on the banister of his staircase from the other side of the stairs. He watched Zack disconnect and disassemble everything from microphones to guitars to pianos. 'He's good' Freddy thought to himself and gave a slight nod. He was then thinking about their friendship. Slowly but surely, Zack was becoming Katie and Freddy's best friend as well. He knew it wouldn't be long before they became a trio and Freddy didn't mind the idea at all, he liked hanging out with Zack even if they weren't on such great terms for 5 years or so. He could tell Katie anything and loved her with all his heart, she was always there for him no matter what. She just didn't understand some guy things, and he felt too hardcore to open up to Frankie, even though Freddy was sure Frankie wouldn't think any less of him.
Freddy moved his gaze over to Michelle and Eleni, who were now Roadies. Ever since the Battle of the Bands, Dewey initiated them into the new job, in fear of criticism from parents, which would cause them to have to break up. Dewey needed more Roadies anyway, because the gigs were getting bigger and bigger, which meant more equipment and more special effects. Gordon was constantly on his laptop working on light shows, and Marco couldn't do it all himself after Tomika became a singer. He'd have to recruit roadies anyway, but only wanted the original class in the band.
Freddy lead everybody out, and all 15 of the critters began their 9-block journey to Dewey's, not before Freddy locked the door.
"What time is it?" Freddy asked anybody.
"It said 4:43 on your VCR clock when we walked out," Zack replied.
"Alrite, we better get going. I can't walk very fast in this," said Freddy, referring to the heat.
Zack closed the gate behind the last person, Gordon, and they began their Journey to band practice. Zack walked next to Freddy.
"You okay Freddy", Zack asked with concern. "You don't look to good."
"Just the heat, I guess," Freddy said shrugging it off lazily.
"Are you sure that's all?" Zack hated questioning people, and Freddy knew it. He figured he'd give in.
"I think it may have something to do with the fact that me and Katie just revealed our feelings for each other," Freddy said tiredly. He was very sluggish in the heat.
"...I had a feeling..." Zack said with a confident grin.
"Shut up, man," Freddy said twirling his drumstick. "...How long have you had this 'feeling'?"
"Ah, fourth grade," Zack replied. "I think"
"How many people do you think had an idea?"
"I don't know. Sometimes it can be right in front of you," Zack said with a shrug. "And sometimes you'll still never get it...so it's hard to say".
"Yeah I dig," said Freddy sounding a little disappointed. Freddy hated gossip, but when there was something going around about Katie or him, he always wanted to know what was going on.
"So, what are you guys gonna do?" Zack asked casually.
"I guess we're just going to kick back until we get a little older," Freddy began sounding more sure of himself than he really was. He wasn't fooling Zack though. "No sense in rushing. And since we have the band now, we need to focus on the music."
"You sure that's what you want to do," Zack asked skeptically
"No," Freddy began. "Katie means more to me than anyone. I love her—you know—like a friend, just more than a friend."
"Yeah I catch your drift. You should talk to her some more about it, see what she wants to do," Zack suggested.
"Yeah I guess I'll talk to her at practice, I don't really have to set anything up so I'll wait for Katie to finish..." Freddy cut himself off and a few seconds later he continued talking. "I just don't want to push her away."
"Trust me, if anything, she's happy you're on her back about it. It makes her feel like you really care... trust me on this one," Zack finished with a little smile.
And that Freddy did. "Well you've had more social contact with people than I have so I guess I don't have much of a choice," Freddy said cleverly.
"Hey man don't worry about it, it'll all fall together, you'll see," Zack said understandingly.
Freddy nodded and they continued the walk mostly quietly. Meanwhile, Katie and Eleni were talking amongst themselves in the far front, drifting off a little bit.
"What's on your mind," Eleni asked with a smirk, she had a feeling Katie was deep in thought.
"Ah, it's Freddy," Katie smiled and shoved her hands in her pockets.
"Positive stuff or negative stuff?"
"Oh, no," Katie stopped Eleni's bad thoughts. "It's all good stuff."
"I'm glad...so what's going on with you guys?" Eleni asked, caring deeply about her best friend.
"We like each other..." Katie didn't need to tell Eleni not to tell anyone. They had an understanding.
"I most figured Kaitlin," Eleni said, teasing her sweetly.
Katie smiled and there was a solid 7 seconds of silence. "Did everyone?"
Eleni looked at Katie. "Did everyone what? Figure you like each other?"
"Well, yeah," Katie asked trying to be calm about it.
"I don't really know. It's hard to tell with people like you and Freddy sometimes," Eleni finished with an understanding shrug.
"What do you mean people like me and Freddy?" Katie asked sounding a little unsure.
"You know," Eleni began. "People that don't really show any emotions. If you're happy, you're happy. If you're sad, you still look happy. If we weren't best friends I'm not sure I'd be able to tell if something was wrong all the time."
"I get your drift."
Before anyone could say anything else, they were at Dewey's. They entered the cement-paved archway, and proceeded left through the courtyard. They stopped at the front door to the apartment building. Everyone looked at Summer.
"Okay, sheesh," Summer said rolling her eyes. She went into her bag and ripped out a leather-covered piece of cardboard that had her keys hanging from it. She pushed and pulled and turned the key for a while until it unlocked; Dewey had warned her about the door...
[Flashback]
"Okay guys that's a wrap for today," Dewey said after their first practice at Dewey's apartment.
"Dewey!" Summer scolded before the band's founder headed for his bed. "You better answer the door next time, we're not waiting an hour for you to get out of bed at 5:00 in the evening!"
"Don't have a poseur, hold on a sec," Dewey said and went into the Kitchen. He came back with a Key. "Take this. It may require some pushing, pulling, turning, and Dunkin Donuts"
"Dunkin Donuts?" Summer asked, not amused.
"I get hungry," Dewey said throwing up his hands.
[End Flashback]
Summer chuckled at that day almost 2 weeks ago. The door finally Budged, and she led everyone upstairs. They ran into Ned, who was exiting the apartment building.
"Hey Guys!" Ned said with a friendly smile.
"Hey Ned, where you off to?" Freddy asked, offering a pound.
"Patty's for a little while," replied Ned, returning his pound.
"You're still with the wicked witch?" Freddy asked sounding a little pissed.
"Ah, she's come to accept Dewey will never pay the rent," Ned shrugged. "She's not that bad after a while."
"Good stuff bro," Freddy said smirking a little. "What time are you coming back?"
"Not sure yet Freddy, I'll probably call Dewey though."
"Okay," Freddy said with a nod. "We'll see ya later then".
"Alrite, Bye Guys"
Ned and Freddy got along really well. Freddy's mom has a temper, and she kicked him out of the house last week. He went to Dewey's and stayed up some of the night talking with Ned, who assured him he was always welcome, he could never possibly over-stay it. No one really knew besides Katie and Zack, and he intended on keeping it that way.
They all got up to the 2nd floor, and Freddy opened the door. The cold air from the air conditioner shot back at him.
"Dewey?" Freddy called.
No answer.
Freddy ran to the back, and Dewey was in the Kitchen on the phone. Dewey nodded at Freddy, and Freddy motioned towards the living room, implying everyone was here. He nodded again and gave him a thumb-up for an okay, and Freddy went into the living room with the rest of the band.
"Freddy?"
Freddy turned around to Katie's glance on the other side of the room. He walked over wires and Amps.
"What's up?" Freddy said jamming his hands in his pockets.
"Help me with my bass?" Katie said biting her lip.
"Of coarse," Freddy said with a little grin.
Freddy walked over to the cabinet to get a cable, and returned to Katie who had her bass around her neck already. He plugged one end into the amp, and followed the end of the chord to the bass. He squatted trying to fit it in, and lost his balance. He put his arm around Katie's hips at reflex, and when he gained his balance, looked up at her and smiled. She smiled and chuckled a little. He fit the chord into her bass and stood up, their bodies no further than an inch apart. Freddy leaned in to kiss her, put she turned her face to the side and received just a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm... sorry, Katie," Freddy said turning a little red
"No, it's not that," Katie said equally embarrassed. "I just wasn't expecting it."
"Me neither...", Freddy came back. They were both still standing close to each other. Freddy being 2 inches taller than Katie, she was slightly looking up. He kissed her temple, hugged her, and walked over to his drum set and sat down behind it. Katie was blushing to the point where she felt her ears getting hot, and was smiling so wide the muscles around her mouth were aching her.
Dewey came out of the Kitchen and Freddy removed his gaze from Katie, and looked to Dewey. Mainly everyone was set-up, and the Roadies were taking inventory.
"Okay minions, listen up," Dewey began, holding his hands out. Everyone looked up and it grew eerily silent. "My friend is coming over, he's got a hangover," he continued, and glared at Freddy. "HE'S NOT DISEASED, he just drank a little too much." Freddy smiled. "I don't know when he'll be able to get here, but when he does just act natural and pretend you don't know anything. Any who, a one of your band members are going to be suspended by their parents".
Freddy was unsure if her 'what' was in reference to that he likes her, or a 'what' as in what-are-you-talking-about-I-don't-like-you. He was hoping for Choice B. "Yeah, that's right, you like me," Freddy still felt his eyes bulging but he knew if he blinked he would start to tear.
"You know that's all crap," Katie stated, and surprisingly enough, convincingly.
"Honestly," Freddy said sounding sensitive. "No, I don't," he bit his lip and after 7 solid seconds of silence, zippered his shorts.
His hair was gelled down like it used to be before Dewey came along. He didn't like it, but sometimes it made him feel more mature.
Freddy glanced up quickly and then back down, to see that Katie's glance was on the floor. "Now it's just obvious Katie," he said with a charming smile. She still didn't look up.
"What's it to you anyway," she asked, still looking down.
"I like you too—well, duh," Freddy said staring appealingly at Katie. He bit his lip in hope she would say something.
"What's the duh about?" Katie said raising her eyebrows, but none the less stubbornly keeping her eyes down.
Freddy was thinking about a song by the Eels he liked called 'Keep your eyes down'.
---Well the sun is shining but it don't feel good, it don't smile down on this neighborhood. When I go walking through this stinking town, Mister I keep my eyes down. I keep my eyes down---
"Well I don't know Katie," Freddy said so quickly it was almost as if he was snapping at her. "I thought that YOU always thought I did, that's all", Freddy added scratching his neck.
"I had hoped," Katie began. "But I never really thought you did," she continued, shrugging and dropping her head to the side a little bit.
"Look at me," Freddy said with his eyes closed and a little nod. She looked up with his glittering eyes reflecting in his. 'It almost hurts,' he thought to himself. "So...it's all there, you like me too?"
"Well DUH," Katie said smiling, mimicking her band-mate.
"Can I ask you something?' Freddy said jamming his hands as far inside his pockets as they would go.
"No, never." Katie Joked.
"What's up with the Metallica CD in your HiFi?"
Katie smiled nervously looking up down and around, everywhere but at Freddy.
"I like Metallica," she muttered.
"Whatttttt!" Freddy couldn't believe it. They spend weeks arguing over it and as it turned out she liked them. "Why did you say you didn't then?"
"Because I thought it was funny," Katie said with a chuckle
"You're insane," Freddy said leading Katie out of the closet. "We better go back downstairs, we got to get to practice".
"Right," Katie said quickly following his statement.
The walk upstairs was pretty quiet.
"Oh no, this isn't going to happen," Freddy said putting ghis arm out in front of her, stopping her from proceeding to enter the basement.
"What?" Katie asked, confused.
"Now that we know that we like each-other, it's not going to be awkward. We're still going to be friends and in time, when you're ready, we'll be together. But this whole awkward thing is not going to happen. We're still going to hang out and be best friends..." Freddy was a little unsure that she would comply. "...Right?"
"Yeah, well of coarse. Let's go," She said motioning for Freddy to open the door. When it opened, a bomb of sound busted from the basement, of a guitar and 2 vocals. Freddy jumped back a little from the sudden noise, and slightly into Katie. They both felt the chills down their spines, chuckled a little at the return of each-others stare, and proceeded to the basement.
It grew quieter, so Freddy took it upon himself to break it. "Alright guys, let's bounce out of here," Freddy said walking over to the snare drum to get his sticks. Everyone got their stuff, and Zack disconnected his guitar.
As Freddy watched everyone hustle, he was leaning on the banister of his staircase from the other side of the stairs. He watched Zack disconnect and disassemble everything from microphones to guitars to pianos. 'He's good' Freddy thought to himself and gave a slight nod. He was then thinking about their friendship. Slowly but surely, Zack was becoming Katie and Freddy's best friend as well. He knew it wouldn't be long before they became a trio and Freddy didn't mind the idea at all, he liked hanging out with Zack even if they weren't on such great terms for 5 years or so. He could tell Katie anything and loved her with all his heart, she was always there for him no matter what. She just didn't understand some guy things, and he felt too hardcore to open up to Frankie, even though Freddy was sure Frankie wouldn't think any less of him.
Freddy moved his gaze over to Michelle and Eleni, who were now Roadies. Ever since the Battle of the Bands, Dewey initiated them into the new job, in fear of criticism from parents, which would cause them to have to break up. Dewey needed more Roadies anyway, because the gigs were getting bigger and bigger, which meant more equipment and more special effects. Gordon was constantly on his laptop working on light shows, and Marco couldn't do it all himself after Tomika became a singer. He'd have to recruit roadies anyway, but only wanted the original class in the band.
Freddy lead everybody out, and all 15 of the critters began their 9-block journey to Dewey's, not before Freddy locked the door.
"What time is it?" Freddy asked anybody.
"It said 4:43 on your VCR clock when we walked out," Zack replied.
"Alrite, we better get going. I can't walk very fast in this," said Freddy, referring to the heat.
Zack closed the gate behind the last person, Gordon, and they began their Journey to band practice. Zack walked next to Freddy.
"You okay Freddy", Zack asked with concern. "You don't look to good."
"Just the heat, I guess," Freddy said shrugging it off lazily.
"Are you sure that's all?" Zack hated questioning people, and Freddy knew it. He figured he'd give in.
"I think it may have something to do with the fact that me and Katie just revealed our feelings for each other," Freddy said tiredly. He was very sluggish in the heat.
"...I had a feeling..." Zack said with a confident grin.
"Shut up, man," Freddy said twirling his drumstick. "...How long have you had this 'feeling'?"
"Ah, fourth grade," Zack replied. "I think"
"How many people do you think had an idea?"
"I don't know. Sometimes it can be right in front of you," Zack said with a shrug. "And sometimes you'll still never get it...so it's hard to say".
"Yeah I dig," said Freddy sounding a little disappointed. Freddy hated gossip, but when there was something going around about Katie or him, he always wanted to know what was going on.
"So, what are you guys gonna do?" Zack asked casually.
"I guess we're just going to kick back until we get a little older," Freddy began sounding more sure of himself than he really was. He wasn't fooling Zack though. "No sense in rushing. And since we have the band now, we need to focus on the music."
"You sure that's what you want to do," Zack asked skeptically
"No," Freddy began. "Katie means more to me than anyone. I love her—you know—like a friend, just more than a friend."
"Yeah I catch your drift. You should talk to her some more about it, see what she wants to do," Zack suggested.
"Yeah I guess I'll talk to her at practice, I don't really have to set anything up so I'll wait for Katie to finish..." Freddy cut himself off and a few seconds later he continued talking. "I just don't want to push her away."
"Trust me, if anything, she's happy you're on her back about it. It makes her feel like you really care... trust me on this one," Zack finished with a little smile.
And that Freddy did. "Well you've had more social contact with people than I have so I guess I don't have much of a choice," Freddy said cleverly.
"Hey man don't worry about it, it'll all fall together, you'll see," Zack said understandingly.
Freddy nodded and they continued the walk mostly quietly. Meanwhile, Katie and Eleni were talking amongst themselves in the far front, drifting off a little bit.
"What's on your mind," Eleni asked with a smirk, she had a feeling Katie was deep in thought.
"Ah, it's Freddy," Katie smiled and shoved her hands in her pockets.
"Positive stuff or negative stuff?"
"Oh, no," Katie stopped Eleni's bad thoughts. "It's all good stuff."
"I'm glad...so what's going on with you guys?" Eleni asked, caring deeply about her best friend.
"We like each other..." Katie didn't need to tell Eleni not to tell anyone. They had an understanding.
"I most figured Kaitlin," Eleni said, teasing her sweetly.
Katie smiled and there was a solid 7 seconds of silence. "Did everyone?"
Eleni looked at Katie. "Did everyone what? Figure you like each other?"
"Well, yeah," Katie asked trying to be calm about it.
"I don't really know. It's hard to tell with people like you and Freddy sometimes," Eleni finished with an understanding shrug.
"What do you mean people like me and Freddy?" Katie asked sounding a little unsure.
"You know," Eleni began. "People that don't really show any emotions. If you're happy, you're happy. If you're sad, you still look happy. If we weren't best friends I'm not sure I'd be able to tell if something was wrong all the time."
"I get your drift."
Before anyone could say anything else, they were at Dewey's. They entered the cement-paved archway, and proceeded left through the courtyard. They stopped at the front door to the apartment building. Everyone looked at Summer.
"Okay, sheesh," Summer said rolling her eyes. She went into her bag and ripped out a leather-covered piece of cardboard that had her keys hanging from it. She pushed and pulled and turned the key for a while until it unlocked; Dewey had warned her about the door...
[Flashback]
"Okay guys that's a wrap for today," Dewey said after their first practice at Dewey's apartment.
"Dewey!" Summer scolded before the band's founder headed for his bed. "You better answer the door next time, we're not waiting an hour for you to get out of bed at 5:00 in the evening!"
"Don't have a poseur, hold on a sec," Dewey said and went into the Kitchen. He came back with a Key. "Take this. It may require some pushing, pulling, turning, and Dunkin Donuts"
"Dunkin Donuts?" Summer asked, not amused.
"I get hungry," Dewey said throwing up his hands.
[End Flashback]
Summer chuckled at that day almost 2 weeks ago. The door finally Budged, and she led everyone upstairs. They ran into Ned, who was exiting the apartment building.
"Hey Guys!" Ned said with a friendly smile.
"Hey Ned, where you off to?" Freddy asked, offering a pound.
"Patty's for a little while," replied Ned, returning his pound.
"You're still with the wicked witch?" Freddy asked sounding a little pissed.
"Ah, she's come to accept Dewey will never pay the rent," Ned shrugged. "She's not that bad after a while."
"Good stuff bro," Freddy said smirking a little. "What time are you coming back?"
"Not sure yet Freddy, I'll probably call Dewey though."
"Okay," Freddy said with a nod. "We'll see ya later then".
"Alrite, Bye Guys"
Ned and Freddy got along really well. Freddy's mom has a temper, and she kicked him out of the house last week. He went to Dewey's and stayed up some of the night talking with Ned, who assured him he was always welcome, he could never possibly over-stay it. No one really knew besides Katie and Zack, and he intended on keeping it that way.
They all got up to the 2nd floor, and Freddy opened the door. The cold air from the air conditioner shot back at him.
"Dewey?" Freddy called.
No answer.
Freddy ran to the back, and Dewey was in the Kitchen on the phone. Dewey nodded at Freddy, and Freddy motioned towards the living room, implying everyone was here. He nodded again and gave him a thumb-up for an okay, and Freddy went into the living room with the rest of the band.
"Freddy?"
Freddy turned around to Katie's glance on the other side of the room. He walked over wires and Amps.
"What's up?" Freddy said jamming his hands in his pockets.
"Help me with my bass?" Katie said biting her lip.
"Of coarse," Freddy said with a little grin.
Freddy walked over to the cabinet to get a cable, and returned to Katie who had her bass around her neck already. He plugged one end into the amp, and followed the end of the chord to the bass. He squatted trying to fit it in, and lost his balance. He put his arm around Katie's hips at reflex, and when he gained his balance, looked up at her and smiled. She smiled and chuckled a little. He fit the chord into her bass and stood up, their bodies no further than an inch apart. Freddy leaned in to kiss her, put she turned her face to the side and received just a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm... sorry, Katie," Freddy said turning a little red
"No, it's not that," Katie said equally embarrassed. "I just wasn't expecting it."
"Me neither...", Freddy came back. They were both still standing close to each other. Freddy being 2 inches taller than Katie, she was slightly looking up. He kissed her temple, hugged her, and walked over to his drum set and sat down behind it. Katie was blushing to the point where she felt her ears getting hot, and was smiling so wide the muscles around her mouth were aching her.
Dewey came out of the Kitchen and Freddy removed his gaze from Katie, and looked to Dewey. Mainly everyone was set-up, and the Roadies were taking inventory.
"Okay minions, listen up," Dewey began, holding his hands out. Everyone looked up and it grew eerily silent. "My friend is coming over, he's got a hangover," he continued, and glared at Freddy. "HE'S NOT DISEASED, he just drank a little too much." Freddy smiled. "I don't know when he'll be able to get here, but when he does just act natural and pretend you don't know anything. Any who, a one of your band members are going to be suspended by their parents".