All of This
Chapter Fourteen
Promises
(Final chapter!!)
Katie slumped down on to her bed after a long drive home from camp. She had had a great time there, and made friendships that she hoped would last forever. She was so incredibly happy to be home, but she only had one person on her mind, and that was Freddy.
She got up and walked downstairs into the kitchen. "Mom, can I go for a walk?" she asked.
"To Freddy's, I take it?" her mom asked.
She laughed a little, "Yeah."
"Go ahead, but don't be too long, okay?" she asked her as she started to wash the dishes.
"Alright," Katie smiled and walked down the hallway. As she opened the door, she smiled as she saw Freddy standing there with his fist in the air, just about to knock.
"Hey!" she shouted, as she ran into his arms.
He laughed as smiled big. "Hey, I've missed you..." he said as he hugged her tighter than he had ever hugged her before.
"I've missed you, too!" she said as she smiled and hugged him continuously, not wanting to let go.
They both let go of each other as they stood there in amazement that they were standing in front of each other again. It was quiet for a little while as they both smiled, but they enjoyed the silence. It felt good.
"How was camp?" he asked.
"Great! Everyone knew about the band, it was really weird but cool at the same time." She giggled a bit. "They all knew about you and were crazy about you. Then I told them that I was going out with you and they lost it," she said as they smiled and he got a little bit red in the cheeks.
"So you got my letters?" he asked.
"Yupp." She smiled. "And don't worry; I didn't fall for any of the guys there." He laughed. It was awkward how they kept standing with him outside and her inside with the door open. "Wanna come in?" she asked.
He smiled. "Sure,"
They walked downstairs into the basement and put on some music.
What would you say if I asked you not to go?
To forget everyone, forget everything and start over with me
Katie sat down comfortably on the couch with her legs crossed as she sat sideways and looked at Freddy, who sat there casually. They just kind of sat there, once again enjoying the way they could talk to each other without talking, and just looking. They loved it.
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Promise me you'll never let me go
Finally, Freddy couldn't hold it in any longer. He leaned in and kissed her. It was deep, but not too deep. It was... perfect.
"I've waited all summer to do that," he said as Katie smiled, bit her lip, and leaned in again for one more.
"Me too," she replied as she slowly opened her eyes to see Freddy grinning widely at her. "What?" she asked with a smirk.
"I just can't believe that I'm sitting here with you right now. It feels like it's been forever."
"It has been forever..." she said quietly as she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder and he comfortably put his arm around her. "Never again will I go to a camp and spend the entire summer away from you," she looked up at him, "its way too long." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.
And the stars aren't out tonight,
But neither are we to look up at them
She listened to the line in the song. "That's how I felt every single night while I was there. Without you to look at the stars..." she said as she gazed around the room and they just sat in their embrace.
Why does hello feel like goodbye?
These memories can't replace,
These wishes I wished and these dreams I chased
Take this broken heart and make it right
"Well, you'll never be without me again." She smiled. She couldn't get over the fact that she was home again and sitting in her basement with Freddy's arms around her. She loved that feeling. When they were alone, and when he was just holding her, she felt like she had some time to breathe. To get away from the things in life that always seemed to suffocate her the most. It was like her moment when she didn't have to think... she just had to breathe. She loved that feeling.
I feel like I lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know, you're not making this easy
"Katie?" Freddy spoke up out of the graceful silence.
"Mhmm?" she replied.
"Do- do you love me?" he asked, a bit nervously.
"More than anything." She said it so simply.
"Good, 'cause I love you, too." He replied in a sense of relief.
"Will you promise me something Freddy?" she asked him.
"Anything..."
She sat up and looked at him. There was a deep feeling between the two. "Promise me you'll never let me go?"
He smiled. "I would never let you go, Katie Brown." They both smiled.
I never thought I'd be the one to say
Please don't, please don't leave me
It was like a clarifying moment in their lives. It was the moment that created a path for the two. It was not a path of which would be taken cautiously, afraid of the destination. It was a path that they could freely take, and not have to worry about where it would take them. That was because in that moment, they realized that no matter where it would take them, they would always be together. As long as they were together, they would be free...
This is where that path took them.
It was the most nervous moment of their lives. They stood there anxiously as they held each other's hands and mouthed words to each other.
"I love you," Freddy mouthed to her.
"I love you, too." She replied with a smile.
I feel like I lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know, you're not making this easy
Everyone was there: their parents, Dewey, the entire band, all of their friends, but that no one else. It was the perfect little backyard wedding.
Everyone had grown up a little since then. The majority of the band was at the ripe age of twenty-two, and Dewey was still trying to hold on to his youth. They had had many great years with the School of Rock, and they still enjoyed rocking out. They had gotten a record deal around two months after the summer had just ended. It was one of the greatest things that had happened to all of them.
They eventually came to accept Summer's death. It was something they couldn't keep grudging about. They would always remember her, and she would always be in their hearts.
Zack also ended up having another girlfriend. Her name was Alex, and eventually, they had gotten married not that much later.
"I do."
"I do."
The moment was coming.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Take my hand and never let me go
They both leaned in as they immediately heard applause. They smiled graciously at each other and hugged one another before taking the others hand and walking back down the aisle.
They had a perfect life together. The band was one of the greatest bands of all time, and they finally had to end it before they all got too old. It ended before anyone had any kids.
By the time they were thirty, they had a little girl named Ashlynn who was three, and a little boy who was five. They had moved into a house that was near their parents, and also right across the street from Zack and Alex.
Take my hand and never let me go
Dewey ended up marrying a little later on. He was older, but he didn't care too much. When they were at a gig one night, a woman by the name of Rachelle had come up to him after the show and they just hit it off. They were really good together.
Even then, Katie and Freddy would never forget the night that Katie had come home from Band Camp. The time they spent together that night was what brought them to where they were. The song that played through it all was the one they would never forget. For as much as it wasn't easy, they never let go.
They couldn't just let go. They were in love. Through everything they went through to be together, it finally became worthy in the end. But to them, it was always worthy. They were just always trying to find that path- that path that took them where they belonged. Together. Together and free.
Promise me... you'll never let me go.