Disclaimer: I do not own School of Rock and this chapter is based on the song, "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.
CH 3 – Rhiannon Freddy's POVI remember the first time I realized that I loved Katie. It shocked me back then, but I guess I knew that it was true along. It was just hard for me to admit. Well, anyway I was at Zack's house and we were doing homework. Okay okay…so Zack was doing homework and I was just eating some brownies talking to him, but that still takes a lot of work.
"Hey turn the volume up will ya? I love this song," I said to Zack.
Zack reached behind him and turned the knob so that it was on full blast, "You like Fleetwood Mac?"
"Yeah. And what's with emphasizing the 'you' part?""I don't know. Fleetwood Mac is still rock I guess, but they're sort of the soft type. Not like you at all," he said not looking up from his paper.
"Oh well, I don't really like all their songs. Just a few. But this one has got to be my favorite," I said humming along to the tune of the song. By now, Zack had put down his pencil, closed his books, and neatly filed away his papers (I swear, Summer has brainwashed him). He was staring at me with that look in his eyes that told me that I was suppose to tell him another one of my stories.
"So why is this your favorite one?"
"Well, I grew up listening to this song all my life. It was my mom and dad's favorite. I guess it was their song or something and you know, I'm real happy that my mom and dad are together cause today, most married couples are divorced," I said, but suddenly regretted it remembering that Zack's parents divorced a couple months ago, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't –"
"Forget about it. It's okay. I mean, if I were you and my parents were still together, I would be real happy too, but go on," Zack said.
"Well, when I was little and my mom wasn't around and this song would be playing, my dad would always say the same thing, 'Freddy, your mom is my Rhiannon'. And of course, I never knew the story behind it, but then as I listened more to the song, it was about a guy going after a woman that he loves – but apparently a whole lot of other guys love her or like her as well. And then I realized that was why my dad loved this song. In their high school days, they were in different cliques or whatever---"
"Now I know where you get your stereotyping from," Zack cutted in.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you're always catorigizing people [which is really stupid]. Punks, rockers, preps. And I see it comes from your dad?"
"Well yeah, I guess so, but where was I? Before someone –cough- zack –cough- so rudely interrupted me? Oh yeah.
Okay, well ANYWAY, I guess my mom was the popular chick in the joint or something and my dad was the rocker, outcast, type of dude. So she was obviously wanted by many, but somehow she and my dad got together. Well, I'm not really sure, but it's something like that."
"Hmm…" Zack thought for a while and then grinned, "So Freddy, who's your Rhiannon?"
"If you think you're going to find out who I like—"
"Aha! So you do like someone. And don't tell me it's Angel, because dude, I know it isn't," Zack smiled, "And don't say it's no one, because there has got to be someone. Someone you just didn't want anyone to know and she must be something if you didn't want anyone to know. And plus, you've probably liked her for a long time, and let me take a wild guess, but it's Katie isn't it?" Zack smiled at me looking at me with his eyes telling me he had won.
But still – I tried to cover it.
"No. Why would you think that?" But already I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
"You're lying," he said knowingly.
"And what makes you think that?"
"Your ears."
"My what?"
"Your ears. Everytime you lie, they turn red or pink or well, they just don't stay the color that they usually do."
My ears? Great. Now if anyone knows I'm lying, they'll just look at my ears and they'll immediately know.
"Well, so fess up. It's Katie isn't it?" Zack grinned.
"Fuck you man," I said defeated.
"I knew it! Eh, don't worry. I won't tell no one bro. But…at least I know now. So do you love her?"
"What?"
"Well, I've always liked Summer, but somewhere deep inside me I knew that I loved her and that it wasn't just liked."
"Yeah. You're right. Katie's my Rhiannon. Oh no, I'm starting to sound like one of those stupid hopeless romantics. But I swear, if you tell anyone, I don't care how good of a best friend you are, I'll send your ass all the way to Timbuktu."
This is the part where Zack started laughing, "Relax. I won't tell anyone."
KATIE'S POV
"Mm…they all look so yummy. I can't decide. I think I'll just get a cheesecake," I said and pointed towards it in the glass case. We were at the café in the Barnes and Noble bookstore. Most teens would consider this a 'pathetic' place to hang out, but not me. It was where Summer, Marta, Alicia, Tomika, and I would hang out at least once every week.
"Okay then. Two slices of cheesecake, three fudge brownies, and five medium drinks of hot cocoa. Anything else?" Summer turned to the rest of us.
"Nope," we all said.
"That comes down to $24.90," the woman behind the counter said. Once we got our food, we sat down at the table and started eating and chatting.
"So, your anniversary with Zack is coming up. Where are you guys planning to go?" I asked stirring my hot cocoa.
"Ugh. I wish I knew. He won't tell me," Summer said taking a bite of her cake.
"Oh, cheer up. Maybe he's planning to take you to a concert or something. I heard Chicago was on tour with Earth, Wind, and Fire," Tomika smiled. Now Summer wasn't really into music at first, but as time passed on she developed a taste for it. But she wasn't totally hardcore like Dewey, Zack, and Freddy were. She was more of an oldie's soft rock type of girl and maybe a bit of disco too.
"Just don't flip about it. I'm sure he's cooking up something real nice," Alicia assured her.
"Yeah, I mean remember what he did for your six month anniversary? That was so romantic and sweet," Marta said, "You thought he forgot cause he didn't act liked he remembered, but the day of your anniversary he gave you breakfast on the bed, then….yeah…it was real nice. You're lucky to have Zack. Most guys won't bother to do that for their girlfriends."
"Yeah, I guess that's the only thing that really matters," Summer smiled, "but anyway…besides my love life, what about you, Katie?"
I looked up from my cheesecake. I really hadn't been paying attention, "What about my love life?"
"Oh come on girl. Stop tryin to hide it. Everybody knows that you like Freddy," Alicia said and twirled her hoop earring, "It's pretty obvious that you two been giving each other these looks when you thought no one else was looking."
"Amen!" Tomika exclaimed, "She's right Katie. I swear, even Dewey knows. And he's like, what, late 40's?"
"Dewey isn't that old Miki. Probably mid-30's, but anyway, yes, it's clear," Marta said. Oh and just to let you know Miki is our little nickname for Tomika.
"Please tell me it isn't that detectable," I said. I raised my hands up to my cheeks and they were burning. I must've been blushing like crazy. And plus, I didn't want other people knowing I liked – wait loved Freddy.
"Dudette, we knew that you two been crushing on each other since…fifth grade? Or maybe fourth. But anyhow, we're fifteen now. You're 15. Do something about it!" Marta said.
And then, Thank God, my cell phone started vibrating. I didn't want to talk about this any further, "Hold up. I got to take this call."
SUMMER'S POV
"Nothing is ever going to happen to those two," Marta sighed, "It's so sad to see this perfect couple not get together when they know damn well that they like each other."
"Well, I agree with you on the part that they do love each other and they are perfect for each other, but they don't know that they like each other. Katie knows that Freddy loves her, but only as a sister and nothing more," I said, "But we're still going to play matchmaker right? I mean, Zack is working on Freddy, and we'll figure something out."
"Yeah, I hope. Cause seriously, I'm sick of them acting like nothing's going on. I can feel the vibe," Alicia said drinking some of her hot cocoa.
"So, what are we going to do?" Tomika asked.
I leaned it a bit closer and we started whispering, but then we heard a familiar voice, "Hey guys."
"Aah!" I screamed and jumped in my seat, "Oh Freddy it's only you. Hi Larry."
"Hey, you don't notice me?" I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders.
I laughed, "Sorry Zack." I gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"So Freddy, Zack and me are going to go to the movies. Wanna come?"
"We are?" Zack turned to me. Underneath the table, I stepped on his foot, smiled, and whispered, "Don't ruin this."
"Oh yeah. That. I remember now. Yeah, we're going to see uh…Garfield?" He looked at me warily.
"But if I come, won't that be like intruding your date?" Freddy said.
"Well, the thing is it's not a date. We're all going," I pointed to Larry, Alicia, Tomika, and Marta, "And Katie's coming too."
At first, it didn't look like he was going to go, but when I mentioned Katie was going, he brightened up and nodded, "Sure."
"We'll meet there around 7pm tonight?" I said and looked at everyone. Everyone nodded, "Great."
KATIE'S POV
"Hold up. I got to take this call," I said and went outside.
"Hello?"
"Hey Katie. It's me."
"Jake? Hey, what's new over there in London?"
"Thing is, I'm not in London right now."
"Oh really? Then where are you?"
"Turn around."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
I turned around and saw my 17-year-old cousin Jake standing there. "Jake!" I ran up to him and gave him a great bear hug and a kiss on both of his cheeks, "What are you doing here?"
"My whole family is over here. Everyone else is at your house. Your ma told me to come down here because well, you're here."
"Great! Let me just tell my friends and then I'm out of here. I still can't believe you're here!" I squealed and ran inside the bookstore.
FREDDY'S POV
I was about to say 'no' to go to the movies, but then since Katie's going to be there, why be so rude?
"So where is Katie anyway?" I asked looking around.
"She's outside. Had to take a phone call," Alicia said cuddling next to Larry in their little booth. It was still very hard for me to accept the fact that these two were going out. I mean, I had nothing against it – it was just something that you wouldn't think would happen.
"Great. I'll see her. Excuse me," I said and walked passed them, but paused at the front doors.
Katie was talking on her phone, turned around, screamed, ran up to the guy, and then she hugged and kissed him. Now this guy looked to be 17 or 18 years old. And maybe he's some secret boyfriend that she didn't want to tell us about. But she looked really happy to see him and they kept hugging each other.
And I swear, my heart just cracked into half right there. If she had a boyfriend, she could've at least told us about him or something. I knew that she wasn't my girlfriend, but it still hurt.
Then I saw her give him one last hug and she was started running back toward the store. I didn't want her thinking I was spying or anything so I ran back to the café where everyone was.
"Hey you guys," Katie breathed. 'She's probably exhausted from all that hugging,' I thought bitterly.
"Sorry to just barge out like this, but I gotta go. Call you guys later, Bye. Oh, and you guys can have my cheesecake if ya want. I only took like one bite!" she said and started towards the door.
"Wait, but Katie!" Summer yelled.
"I'll call you later Summer!" she waved and got out of the store. Through the glass door, I could see her and that other guy link their arms together and they started walking down the street. I wondered if anybody else knew about this.
KATIE'S POV
"I still can't believe you're here!" I squealed and gave him another hug.
"Do you know how many times you've said that?" Jake laughed and kissed the top of my head.
I laughed, "Yeah, but still. I haven't seen you in years, and you know I've always looked up to you as my older bro. I just – I can't believe you're really here! Flesh and blood!"
I opened the front door to my house and found it empty, "Hm…I wonder where everyone is. Probably went out to eat or something, but I see that all your bags are here."
"Yep. We get to stay here for about two months. Isn't that great?"
"Definitely," my cell started to ring again, "Hello?"
"Hey Katie, it's me. We're going to the movies tonight. I think we're just gonna watch Harry Potter or something. Wanna come?"
"Sure – oh wait. But my cousin Jake is over."
"Jake is there? Hey, tell him I said hi. And you know, he could always just come with us. Plus, Freddy's going to be there."
"Hmm…when you put it that way, yeah I'll come," I laughed.
"I knew you'd see it my way," I could hear her laughing on the other line, "Meet us at Century theatres around seven p.m. Bye."
"Bye," I said and hung up.
"That was Summer," I turned to Jake, "How would you like to come to the movies with us tonight?"
"That'd be great. Oh – so," he grinned, "…when can I meet this Freddy guy, hmmm? The one that you can't stop talking about over the phone? Not to mention the numerous emails you send me?"
I blushed, "Don't say a word about that to anybody? Got it? And you'll meet Freddy tonight – at the movies."
A/N: Please review. Again, sorry for the long update.