Erm...I wrote this chapter while on a caffeine high from the many, many coffee products I won at a raffle, for the March for Dimes, that raised money for the infants in the ICU (intensive care unit). So...pardon if it's a little wonky. the carnival plans worked out for yesterday...thanks to the SS for ignoring my snippiness in my panic that things would unravel....love you guys for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eleni and Katie were playing tennis in gym, when Eleni paused mid swing. "What on earth are they doing...?" she muttered.

Katie looked at her. "What'd you say?"

She nodded towards the window. "What are Freddy, Zack and Summer doing out of chemistry?"

Katie followed her look. Zack looked upset. "What are they doing out there?"

They watched as Freddy and Summer caught up with Zack trying to calm him down. Then she gasped at Freddy's face. "El! What happened to Freddy?" she exclaimed.

Eleni took a closer look. "His dad isn't here," she murmured. "Who beat him up and what'd he do to deserve it?"

Katie looked around cautiously. "Want to ditch and find out?" she whispered.

Eleni rolled her eyes. "Anything is better than tennis. Let's go."

They snuck back into the locker room while Mrs. Turner was helping Michelle and Tomika with their backhand. They changed quickly, and bolted out and headed to their friends by the tree.

"Hey guys. What's wrong?" Katie asked.

Summer, Freddy and Zack looked up at the two girls, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Summer choked out. Zack looked afraid.

"We ditched gym, you guys looked upset. What's wrong?" Eleni said.

"Nothing." Freddy said quickly.

Eleni raised her eyebrows, sitting beside Freddy. "Really," she murmured slowly. "Then, you fell into a desk or something? That's why your face is all battered up?"

Freddy shook his head. "I'm not that big of a klutz El. I got into a fight."

Katie groaned. "Freddy, not again. You promised your mom you'd lay off."

"Well this time, I went too far." Zack took this as an apology.

"Freddy, the guy shouldn't have hit you, no matter what you said." He replied.

"Nah, I tormented him."

"Well, yea ok you did."

The girls sighed. "Who'd you get into a fight with Freddy?" Katie asked.

His eyes went to Zack for a split second, then back to Katie's face. "No one. I dealt with it."

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, tell me."

"No."

"Come on Kat, lay off." Zack said. She glanced at him, surprised. The tone in his voice wasn't one he'd taken with her before.

"Sorry." She said quietly. He looked angry. She wasn't sure if it was at her, or something else, so she stayed silent.

"You guys should get back to class." Summer said haughtily. "We can take it from here, we should really be getting back anyway."

Katie and Eleni glared at her. "Fine, we'll meet you guys at lunch." Eleni said as she and Katie headed back to the gym. As they walked away, they heard Zack and Freddy tell Summer off for being rude.

"What's with them?" Katie asked. Eleni's face was troubled.

"I don't know exactly, but I'm going to find out."

"Did you see the glances Freddy kept shooting Zack? Kind of like he was expecting him to jump in or something, or like he was trying to apologize for something."

"I know. That's what I'm worried about."

"What's with Summer anyway? Who does she think she is, bossing us around like that? So what if she's the manager...she has no right to be rude."

Eleni stopped walking. "You don't get it?"

"Get what?"

"She likes Freddy. She's jealous of the awesome friendship the two of you have, and wishes that she were you."

Katie stopped too, and stared at her friend. "Are you serious?"

"Is this my joking face? One would think not, correct?"

Katie thought about this for a moment. Summer liked Freddy. This was a new revelation. However, when she thought about it, it did make sense. Summer was always fighting for his attention...to sit with him on the band bus...laughing at his jokes no matter how corny they were. He seemed to appreciate it though. Was that the kind of girl he wanted? One who fawned over him constantly...fed his every need? Katie couldn't be that girl, no matter how hard she tried. She was her own person, who needed space.

"Has he said anything to you about it?" She asked, choosing her words carefully as they continued their walk back to class.

"No. He's told me she's nice, and she is rather pretty. But I don't know if he actually thinks of her in that way."

"Does...does he talk about me at all?"

"He talks about you all the time! A better question would be when does he not. You're his best friend. He really values your opinion, whether he shows it or not."

Katie warmed at these words. Sure, it sounded sappy, but she liked it.

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Freddy leaned his head against the tree as Katie and Eleni walked away. "Summer, what's your deal?" he asked her.

"What do you mean?" she replied.

He gestured to the girls retreating backs. "You totally blew them off. They were worried, and you didn't help them any."

"Well they shouldn't have cut class in the first place."

"We are!" Zack exclaimed. "You are! What makes them any different?"

Summer bit her lip, looking between the two boys. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean for it to sound mean. It's just, if any one of us gets into any more trouble, we could get put on probation. That means no band. That means we're screwed. It's like I said guys. We can't win with a mediocre drummer, or a guitarist, bassist or singer for that matter. I was trying to look out for everyone's best interests."

Freddy felt his anger melt away slightly. She was just trying to help anyway. It's just the way Summer was. Her best intentions were sometimes viewed as mean, but that's why she was awesome. She knew how to get what she wanted. He glanced at Zack.

"It's ok." Zack said. "But you should really talk to them now. They looked upset."

"I will," she promised.

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"Hey, Katie! Wait up!" Katie turned as she heard her voice being called. It was Freddy.

"We're good, right?" he asked.

She frowned. "Yea, what do you mean?"

"Well, you looked upset as you left today."

"Oh, that. Well, Summer upset me a little, but Eleni and I talked it over. We decided she likes you."

Freddy's eyes widened. "No way. Your nuts." He said.

She grinned, teasing him as her heart was paining her. "I don't think so. I think that she likes you, and that you secretly like it."

He rolled his eyes. "Yea, right. You know you're the only girl for me." He said playfully.

Her heart stopped for a moment at his words, until she realized he was joking. He steered her into their next class, which was band. He motioned for her to be quiet, and pointed to Zack, who was playing his guitar. Katie's eyes widened as she noticed the way the cords were plugged into the amp. They weren't in the right slots. She glanced at Freddy, who was watching Zack gleefully as he tried to figure out what was wrong with his guitar. Yup, she told herself, that's Freddy. Always joking.

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Yeaaaaaaaaaa.......I think this is my longest chapter yet! (i think... anyone wanna check?) On a sour note...my dad just asked how I'd feel about moving. I don't suppose it'd be completely horrible of me to say that I might actually think it's a sort of good idea.....huh?

Anyways, please review, cuz I love reviews and they make me smile.