Note: Chapter 5 edited! (July 18 04)
Chapter 5 - An Unexpected Encounter
The past week had flown by, too quickly for Summer to register. There was a lot of phone time with Marta, she chuckled to herself.
Indeed, Marta had been especially talkative and giggly for the past week. She couldn't stop talking about that day at Zack's house, and how the "delectable drummer," in her words, gave a couple of extremely obvious hints. Summer had only rolled her eyes, and asked her friend what had taken her so long to notice.
Thinking about Marta and Freddy automatically reminded her of Zack. Hell, did I blow some chances or what, Summer thought ruefully, as she gazed at the picture of the Doberman on her calendar. Eleni didn't seem to mind, however. She had always been incredibly happy to see Summer suffer because of her own faults.
She peered over to her digital alarm clock, and noticed she only had 10 minutes to get to Lawrence's house for the scheduled band practice. At that exact moment, the doorbell rang, and Summer could see Marta at the door from her bedroom window. Talk about timing…
----
"Ah, here comes out main vocalist and everyone's favourite manager!" Zack exclaimed as Summer and Marta walked into Lawrence's garage. Both of the girls blushed, Summer's cheeks turned a bold shade of magenta. Favourite manager… the words echoed throughout Summer's mind.
Everyone was there already, and looking around at all the teens' faces, it seemed to Summer that the overall mood was much higher today than it had been a week before. Maybe 'cause Eleni's not here?…She thought satisfactorily to herself.
Katie was eager to get started. "'School of Rock,' then, people?"
Freddy shook his head. "Hold up, dude, we gotta figure some shit out." He turned his head to Marta. "Foxy, you take main vocals for now, so that way --"
Marta's face sported a slightly scandalized look, but her eyes looked hopeful. "What did you call me?"
Freddy face turned red, as the kids in the band looked extremely amused. "I thought that could be your new nickname… It's a bit more accurate than 'blondie,' eh?"
A deep shade of scarlet overtook Marta's face, as her heart seemed to leap up in excitement. "S-sure…" An embarrassed laugh escaped her lips.
"Anyway," Summer broke up the moment, much to Marta's dismay. She looked at Marta pointedly, trying to convey her happiness for her best friend. "Let's try what Freddy said. Marta, you do lead vocals, and let's see if we can go without Dewey's guitar, 'kay?"
"Yeah, Finn didn't do much anyway," spat Zack.
The band positioned themselves, and on Zack's count, began playing. Summer was incredibly disappointed, however, as the performance sounded horrible. It's not their fault, she thought sadly.
The band members seemed to be realizing it too, and their performance gradually grew more feeble. Finally, Freddy called out for the madness to stop.
"That was shit." He said simply.
"Totally. Something's missing. Something big is missing," Katie complained.
"It is Dewey we are missing, his guitar solo," suggested Lawrence.
"Not only that, Lawrence. It's his voice too." The band looked at Summer questioningly. "We're missing a strong male voice. Dewey brought in the old school rock to the band."
Marta nodded her head in agreement. "Absolutely."
Freddy rubbed his temples. "We're going to have to hold auditions."
Zack shook his head at the idea. "Can't we do something else? We've been together for five years now --"
Freddy tried not to snap at his best friend. "Dude, what else can we do? No one here but you can play guitar, so we need to get someone there. None of us can sing other than Marta, so we need another voice. We have no choice, man." His body only tensed up more at the recognition of the tight bind the band was in.
Zack looked defeated. "I feel you… But still…"
Summer looked away quickly. Ever since Dewey had shot her down as a singer back in fifth grade, she wanted to be able to contribute to the band. For the past couple years, she had been teaching herself guitar, with the help of a couple family members who knew how to play. I won't say anything, she reasoned, I'm still not good enough. Maybe later…
"Well," Marta spoke up, "maybe we could put up posters at school or something…? I mean, it looks like our only option right now."
Zack shrugged, looking thoroughly unsatisfied. "I guess so." He seemed to struggle with something inwardly, before blurting out, "Just once more, maybe? I wasn't on my game, personally."
Freddy sighed. "Sure man, but it won't do much…"
Alas, Freddy words rang true as Summer noted that the second attempt at the group's signature song sounded no better than the first. They finished the song rather hastily, almost wanting the torture to be over.
"God," groaned Katie, "we sound like tone-deaf five-year-olds."
"Fuck, amen to that," agreed Freddy, looking thoroughly worked over.
Zack looked up. "I think it's time to call it quits. Thanks for the garage, Lawrence."
One by one the members of the group started to pick up their things. As Summer started to organize her papers, Marta came bounding to her side. "God, Tink, let's get out of here, please."
Summer laughed at her impatience, and got up to walk out. But, she noticed Marta look over her shoulder, and stopped walking as soon as Marta did.
"Actually… I'll catcha later, Tink, I'm gonna stay behind," Marta whispered into Summer's ear.
Summer turned around, and saw that Freddy was the only kid left in the garage, as Lawrence had taken his keyboard upstairs, and Zack and Katie had already left. Summer smiled as she realized what Marta was thinking, and quickly agreed to it.
"Whatever you say, Foxy…" Marta whacked Summer on the arm, giggling at the assumption.
Summer was about to walk out of the garage, but turned around, and said, "Good luck, chickie." She proceeded to walk out of the room, inwardly praying her best friend would not do anything stupid.
----
Marta walked towards Freddy hesitantly, as he was in the middle of packing up his drum set.
"Do you need any help?" were her first words.
Freddy jumped in surprise, as he realized he wasn't alone in the room. He smiled. "Thanks, but I got it all under control here, Foxy."
Marta was discouraged, but didn't give up. "Oh, okay… That's cool." She stood still, unsure of what to say. She swallowed hard and continued on. "Um… I couldn't help but notice that you looked a bit more stressed out than usually today, Spaz…"
Freddy looked up sharply. "Yeah, so?"
Marta winced, but carried on. "Well, you know, I was just wondering --"
Freddy interrupted her, clearly about to start ranting. "You have no idea, Marta, how much I have to deal with. My parents are already bugging me about my grades, the band is practically falling apart, and everything has to fit in with my drumming. You wouldn't understand, drumming's a lot harder than singing…"
Marta's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, it's harder?" Freddy gave her a pointed look, which aggravated Marta even more. "Do you sing? Do you know it's harder?"
Freddy laughed, and talked coaxingly as if he were explaining that one and one equaled two to a four-year-old. "Well, look at it this way: all you have to do is open your mouth and noise comes out. I have to practice my noise."
Marta could hardly believe she was having this conversation with him. "First Alicia, then you! Does anyone believe in me around here?!"
Freddy's eyes widened in worry. "That's not what I meant! I meant to say, you don't need to practice as much as I do."
Marta nodded her head sarcastically. "Right, Spaz, right. Hitting an A above high C takes no fucking effort at all."
Freddy was taken aback, an annoyed look on his face. "Whatever the hell you say, Marta. I'd like to see you try drumming. I'd bet my drumset you couldn't do it."
Marta's face looked set. Bring it on, man, she thought. "Try me, Freddy. You never know."
Freddy smirked as he repositioned himself behind his drums, and challenged her. "You try to do what I do, Foxy, and if you can do it, I'll leave you and your A above high C alone forever." Freddy screwed up his face in concentration, and launched into a short but impressive drum solo Dewey had taught him.
Once he finished, he looked up at Marta, who looked slightly nervous, but still determined. She walked steadily over to the drums. "Move it or lose it, dude, it's my turn."
Freddy laughed in spite of himself and handed over his drumsticks.
Marta took them in her hands. God, I hope I'm holding these right… she thought as she lifted her hands to start banging on the drums in front of her. This should be easy, she tried to tell herself. When Freddy had executed the perfectly administered solo only seconds before, she tried to memorize exactly where each hand had gone, and when.
Unfortunately for her, Freddy's arms had been moving so fast, they had just looked like one huge blur.
It dawned on Marta that she hadn't the slightest clue what she was about to do. I can either try and embarrass myself, or talk my way out of it and save face…
"So? Let's get this shit on, sister. Move it or lose it!" Freddy sneered, mocking Marta.
Marta dropped the drumsticks and turned around to face Freddy with an angry, yet slightly defeated, look on her face. "Oh yeah? Well… singing's hard too, you ass."
Freddy started to laugh, the insult being so weak he thought it was a joke. When he realized, however, that she was trying to stand up for herself, his laughing weakened. His expression softened when he saw the vulnerability etched on Marta's features.
"D-do you want me to teach it to you, Foxy?" What the FUCK, Jones, why are you stuttering? Freddy thought angrily at himself. Marta didn't seem to notice, however, as the angry look on her face disappeared.
"Fine… But you did NOT win this one, Spaz, you resigned from the challenge yourself."
Freddy smirked. "Whatever you say, doll." He bent over to pick up the drumsticks.
Marta made to stand up so Freddy could use the stool, but she felt a firm hand grasp her shoulder. She stopped moving immediately and stood there, as if frozen in time. "Sit down, Foxy," Freddy whispered, "I'll show you."
Marta practically melted back onto the stool, as Freddy squatted behind her, and put the drumsticks into her hands. He then took them into his own, as he prepared to show her the moves.
I wish I knew if he was thinking the same thing I am, Marta wondered nervously, as Freddy began to take her arms slowly through the motions of the drum solo. She couldn't believe how right it felt, being in his arms that way.
Freddy began to slow down. "Now, here's where it gets complicated; your hands gotta cross over, like this…" His voice faded out as his arms crossed with Marta's, unknowingly sending shivers down her spine.
Marta, at this point, was no longer paying attention to the solo, but to the way the pair's arms were linked together, and how Freddy's arms were wrapped around her.
Freddy didn't seem to mind either, as he paused in the position.
Marta leaned back onto Freddy's chest, feeling strangely at home. Freddy's head came forward, and he whispered something into Marta's ear. It was too quiet for her to hear, however.
She turned her body around, so she was completely facing him. "What did --"
Freddy leaned closer, so their faces were mere inches apart, and put his finger to her lips to stop her. "Don't talk." He hesitated for a moment, staring transfixed at Marta's lips.
Suddenly, in a bold and quick movement, there was no longer any space between them.
Marta squelched a scream, as she was totally taken aback by the sudden interaction. ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID? her head seemed to scream at her, and she immediately sunk into the bold kiss.
Fireworks were all Freddy felt as his mind swirled around in exhilaration. Finally… His feelings for the petite girl were finally being expressed, and she seemed to be feeling the same way he did. The kiss was being returned by Marta intensely, and Freddy felt he could have stayed there forever.
A thought came over Marta, and she quickly pulled away. Freddy looked at her in annoyance, asking silently why she had stopped.
"Freddy… Eleni…"
Freddy looked confused. "What are you talking about, woman?"
"Well," started Marta, feeling quite sheepish, "I just assumed there was something there… I mean, she obviously is totally into you, and well, what's not to like about her, right…?"
Freddy looked hurt, and almost insulted. "Are you kidding me? Marta, she's the last thing on my mind right now! I can't believe you'd ever think that! That spoiled brat? No way!…"
Marta smiled with relief as Freddy spoke the words she needed to hear. Quickly, she put her hand over his moving mouth. "Don't talk." And leaned in once again.
Freddy, to say the least, shut up quite quickly.
A/N - Okay, I really, really hope this chapter was alright. Please review: is it okay? Too out-there? Too doesn't-make-sense-ish? Any comments would be fab! Thanks! :D