Whoa sorry about this hiatus guys. I didn't realize it'd been so long since I updated. Well, actually I did...and I just didn't feel like it. I haven't been able to write anything lately. Or if I do, it comes out horribly. So, I hope this chapter is up to all expectations. I've got a cold again and I'm leaving tomorrow. So, I hope you review, because I'll be checking when I get back.
Now, the lyrics that Zack sings, are not mine. It belongs to Don Henley. The name of the song is The Heart of the Matter.
Zack and Freddy followed Summer out to the waiting car. They slid in the back, next to Eleni. No one spoke, as Marta drove them all to the club. The air in the car was tense, but no one attempted to break it. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe everyone was still shaky from last night. When they got there, they grabbed their instruments and headed in the back entrance.
"So are you ready?" Eleni asked, catching up with Zack.
"I practiced a lot...this won't be my best performance, but I don't think I'll bomb it either." He replied, glancing over at Summer, who was walking with Freddy. They were arguing over something, which was what they did best. "What do you think they're talking about?"
Eleni shrugged. "Probably the proper way to breath or something stupid like that. I just wish they'd quit fighting and just hook up already."
Zack's eyes widened. "What?" he exclaimed.
"You mean, you can't tell that they totally want each other? You're insane."
"Now that I think about it..."
"Exactly." Eleni grinned, heading over to join her cousin and Summer, linking her arms over both of their shoulders. If you could only admire one thing about Eleni, it would really be her confidence in everything and everything. Even if you screwed up royally, (like Zack) she helped you figure it out. Zack grinned. That had to be his favorite thing about her.
Glancing over at Katie, who was chatting animatedly with Marta, he wondered if they could ever be loser than they were. He knew that she and Eleni had been the ones to find him last night, and he knew he was drunk. Something he didn't want to know was what he said to them. He'd been around Freddy's dad long enough to know that drunks often don't control what they say. I guess the only way to find out would be to ask, he told himself.
"Hey girls," he said, catching up to them.
"Hey Zack. You gave us quite a scare last night. Everyone was really worried. Were you really in a bar?" Marta asked curiously.
"Yeah." He looked at the shorter girl and watched her eyes widen. "I'm ok though...Freddy gave me some sort of concoction that his uncle uses all the time and swears by."
"Can you play?"
"Yeah, I think so." He glanced at Katie, who was looking at the ground. "Listen, Marta. Can I talk to Katie for a second?"
"Sure." She said, looking furtively between the two. "See you there." She ran to catch up with Tomika.
"Hey." He said.
She looked at him. "Hi."
"Um, I was just wondering...I mean I was drunk so I don't know what I said...if I said anything bad or anything...I just wanted to know-"
"You wanted to know what you said." She finished for him.
"Yeah, basically."
"You said something about me being Freddy's soul mate, and how I love him." She said. "You know, after I went back to my room, I looked up soul mate. Do you know what it means?"
"No, I can't say I do. But Katie, listen," he started. She didn't let him finish.
"It means: two souls that have a particular attachment to one another. It didn't specify romantically or platonically. I suppose it could be either. So I thought about it a lot last night. And today. I couldn't stop thinking about it."
"Yo! Katie! Zack! Let's go, we're here!" Freddy called. Zack didn't wait around to here what Katie said. He knew it had to be bad.
"What'd she say?" Freddy asked him.
"She said that she looked up the definition of soul mates and that she'd been thinking about it all day."
"Really? That's great."
"No, no it's not. She said that it could be romantically or platonically. She probably thought it had to be platonic and now she's going to go for you."
Freddy just rolled his eyes. "Listen...I have a plan." He said.
They'd just finished the first set. Zack grinned widely at the cheering crowd. He'd been at the top of his game, and that surprised him. Heading backstage for a break, he passed Summer. "Maybe I should get drunk more often. I don't play half bad." He grinned.
"Not on your life!" she said, smiling back. "Listen, Zack. Freddy told me that you were worried about what I may think. But, you're playing really well tonight. I know that you had a bad night last night. So I just wanted you to know that you can talk to me if you want. Maybe I can help."
"Don't worry Summer. I've got it all under control." He said, grinning conivingly to himself.
The band quickly grabbed something to eat and drink, and headed back out on stage. Zack introduced them again and they started the second set. They finished one of their single, School of Rock, and they set up for the next song. But Zack and Freddy had other plans.
Katie was switching the tuning on her bass, preparing to play the next song, when she heard Freddy strike up a beat on the drums that she didn't recognize.
I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear
but I knew that it would come
an old, true friend of ours was talkin'on the phone
she said you found someone
and I thought of all the bad luck,
and the struggles we went through
and how I lost me and you lost you
what are these voices outside love's open door
make us throw off our contentment
and beg for something more?
Katie froze. This wasn't on the schedule. She stared at Freddy, wondering what he was doing. He shrugged and motioned with his head for her to look at Zack.
I'm learning to live without you now
but miss you sometimes
the more I know, the less I understand
all the things I thought I knew, I'm learning again
I've been tryin' to get down
to the heart of the matter
but my will gets weak
and my thoughts seem to scatter
but I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me anymore.
To her surprise this wasn't just a hair-brained scheme. Zack was singing. He was facing her. He was singing to her. To HER. Her heart stopped.
these times are so uncertain
there's a yearning undefined
people filled with rage
we all need a little tenderness
how can love survive in such a graceless age?
the trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
they're the very things we kill, I guess
pride and competition
cannot fill these empty arms
and the work I put between us
doesn't keep me warm
Oh god. Zack looked different tonight. The lights were focused on him, and they illuminated his eyes. They were brown. But they weren't just brown. They were brown with golden halos around them. Angels eyes, she thought.
I'm learning to live without you now
but I miss you, baby
the more I know, the less I understand
all the things I thought I'd figured out
I have to learn again
I've been trying to get down
to the heart of the matter
but everything changes
and my friends seem to scatter
but I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me anymore
there, are people in your life who've come and gone
they let you down and hurt your pride
better put it all behind you; Live goes on
you keep carryin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside
His voice rang clearly throughout the room, and Katie was positive that all the girls in the room were wishing that he were singing to them. She smiled in satisfaction. They couldn't have him. She would try this out. He began to walk towards her.
I've been trying to get down
to the heart of the matter
but my will gets weak
and my thoughts seem to scatter
but I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me
I've been tryin' to get down
to the heart of the matter
because the flesh will get weak
and the ashes will scatter
so I'm thinkin' about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me
As he finished the song, Freddy gave a drum roll. Then Zack kissed her. The crowd erupted, even more than they had for the band themselves. Eleni, Marta, Michelle, Tomika and even Summer, thought from backstage, began clapping and whooping. Freddy hit the cymbals and stood up on his stool.
"Zack Mooneyham and Katie Hatzel everyone!" He exclaimed, leading the crowd in cheers.
Zack and Katie parted, and grinned at each other. Zack pulled Katie into a hug, and heard her sigh.
Katie was in heaven. Being in Zack's arms was even better than she'd ever imagined being in Freddy's would be, and she'd imagined that tons of times.
"I thought you didn't love me." He said. "That's why I chose that song."
"You're an idiot." She claimed, as she broke the hug. "Of course I do." He squeezed her hand and turned to the crowd.
"Now, I know that wasn't on the list guys." He started, speaking into the microphone that Michelle had handed him. "But I hope you'll forgive me, as I had to let my girl know how I feel. I like saying that. My girl. Now, if you please we'll continue with the set. Thanks guys."
Two hours later, they were done. Sitting backstage, Katie thought back. We started here, she realized. All together...and that's how we'll end. Zack finished putting away his guitar, and came over to sit next to her. She put her head on his shoulder.
"So, congrats you guys." Eleni said, sitting next to them with Freddy.
"Yeah. I told you it'd work Z-man." Freddy announced, grinning cockily.
"This was your idea?" Katie asked incredulously.
Freddy nodded. "Yup. All mine."
She leapt up and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! This was amazing. I couldn't be happier."
"No problem Katie." He said, hugging her back. She sat back down and linked arms with Zack.
"So are we ready to blow Boston?" Summer asked, joining the group.
"Totally. I think we've done enough damage here for one visit." Michelle said as she, Marta and Tomika followed.
"I'm with Summer on this one guys. I say we head home." Freddy said. He stood up, and kissed her cheek. "I've got to go pack up my drums. I'll be back soon." She nodded, blushing slightly.
Waiting until Freddy was out of hearing range, Michelle, Marta, Tomika, Katie and Eleni pounced. "What was that about?" they asked, all talking at once.
"We have a date for next Friday. We're going to take it from there, play it day by day." Summer said, smiling shyly.
Eleni stood up and pulled her into a hug. "Treat him well." She demanded. "Or else I'll have to kill you."
"I will, I promise." Summer replied, hugging her back.
"Guys, we should come back here. This is where we all started. This is where we got big, got together, and this is really the spot that changed our lives. So can we come back?" Katie asked.
They all agreed, even Freddy who'd returned, lugging drum cases behind him. "Let's go guys." He said.
They headed to the car, already planning their stories for when they got back. After all, they all got what they wanted. What could be better?
Alright, I know the ending was weak. I didn't want to stop it here, but I had to. So, this is my last chapter. Sorry guys. I hope you enjoyed the story and I'll start another one soon, I promise.
I'd like to thank all my reviewers. You guys are the ones that kept me going, even during my horrible writing period. I didn't want to leave you hanging. I hope that this chapter is what you expected, and that you'll stick with me, and continue to read and review my future stories.
I love you guys!!
Amy