Reality Check by CHINSKY
Disclaimer: Ummm...Nope. Nothing. Oh wait. I own Joe the Boring Waiter. Does that count for anything?
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Zack and Summer left the house and their eardrums were pounding.
"There's a diner about 2 blocks from here." Zack stated.
"What?" Summer asked.
"I said, there's a diner about 2 blocks from here." Zack stated again.
"Oh, okay, sounds good." Summer replied.
"What?" asked Zack, but Summer knew he was joking, and just laughed. The walked in sync, and as the noise from the pumping bass grew lower Zack felt the need to say something.
"So. Now that we're finally out of there...hmm...what to talk about...something very random, very...okay, I've got it. What's the best way to cool off if you're mad at someone?"
Summer smiled quizzically. Zack nodded, encouraging her that he was serious and he wanted her to answer.
"Hmm..." She thought about it for a moment. "Well, when I'm just pissed off, I put on School of Rock really loud in my headphones. You know, our first song. I had it recorded. It makes me forget about what's bugging me right now. But if I'm REALLY mad...I'll run away for a little bit. Shh, don't tell anyone that 'perfect little Summer' can lose her cool. But...I'll leave the house for the night. Walk as far as I can before getting tired, or as far as I can go in one night."
Zack's eyes widened. "Wow. That's cool." He told her, impressed. "It's your turn to ask me something now."
She stroked her chin to she was deep in intense thought. Zack laughed at her. "Hmmm...I've got it. What's it like living next door to Freddy?"
Zack paused awkwardly for a moment. "You want the clean and wholesome version or the dirty honest version?"
She gave him a look. He nodded. "That's what I thought. Well...it used to be awesome. He was my best friend. But now...geez, its ever since junior year. He comes home at unspeakable hours of the morning, rip roaring drunk. His parents---don't tell anyone this either---they yell all the time. Either at him or at each other. Our house is pretty quiet because its just me and my mom, and usually she's out...on business or...something...but, you know, sometimes I wake up really early...insomnia I guess...and I can hear them yelling even then. It's pretty wild."
Summer was wide eyed. "Wow. I bet."
They walked in silence for a while. "It's your turn." She stated softly.
Zack thought for a moment, and then spoke with the slightest tinge of apprehension in his voice. "Do you ever think what would've happened if Dewey never pretended to be our substitute, and formed the band?"
"Oh, all the time." She answered quickly.
Zack tried again. "What I mean is...is it better or worse than what it is now?"
Summer took a long time before answering. Zack could tell she was thinking deeply until she found just what to say.
"Well...it's always very different, that's for sure. I mean, you guys are my best friends, without you, my life would be different. In a bad way, of course. But...there are times when I think about Freddy...and how messed up he is...and I wonder. Would he have been better off without the band? Would his parents go easier on him now? Would..." She paused. "Would...your dad..." she stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind. Would my mother ease up on my grades? Things like that."
Zack nodded solemnly. "Like...our lives could be better, but worse, in a sense."
"Exactly." She agreed.
They walked another block before she spoke again. "It's your turn."
Zack had run out of ideas, and with a smile he asked, "What's your opinion on abortion?"
She laughed and playfully shoved him. "I won't go into it, and I'm hoping you're not serious."
He laughed and shook his head. "Nah. Not that much at least."
They had reached the diner. Zack opened the door for Summer. "Why, thank you," she said. Zack bowed playfully. Summer giggled.
They were seated in a booth, sitting across from each other.
"So." Zack started, "I heard this place has excellent cheese fries."
"Oh really?" She asked. "Cheese fries? Do you like cheese fries Zack?"
Zack grinned, "Yes Summer, I like cheese fries."
"Well I like them too," Summer said as she nodded, "so we'll just have to get them, won't we?"
Zack was still grinning, but in a quizzical manner, the way Summer had when Zack first asked his crazy questions.
"Well then..." she said slyly. She beckoned the waiter over to them with a very crazy wave of her hand. Zack snorted back a laugh. Summer shushed him with a finger raised to her mouth, a slight smile on her face. The waiter came over to them.
"How can I –"the waiter started, but Summer cut him off.
"No, no, none of that. We want cheese fries."
The waiter paused and raised his eyebrow.
"2 orders. Lots of cheese. Good fries, do you understand? You know what I'm saying. Not mushy. Not burnt either. Cheddar cheese, not cold. I do not like bad cheese fries. In my opinion, there is nothing worse then bad cheese fries. Sir, I appreciate your work at this fine establishment, you seem like a nice young boy, what's your name? Ah, yes, Joe, it says so on your name-tag. Joe, do not screw this up. This is what we want and what we want, we get, correct? Isn't rule number 1, 'the customer is always right'? I am right, and I want good cheese fries. I like you, but if they do not meet my demands I shall not pay for them, understood?" She said this with a haughty tone, as though she were from a country club and not in a diner, one that was most confusing to poor Joe the Waiter.
Joe nodded, scribbled on his order pad and backed away as though Summer was crazy.
Zack's snorts became full blown laughs as Summer finished. His laughs were infectious, and Summer began to giggle as well.
"You're insane Summer," Zack said in between laughs.
Summer looked awed, "Why Zack, thank you!"
Zack just laughed harder.
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They finished their food and left the diner. Zack was glowing. Who knew Summer could be this much fun? He asked himself.
"Which way?" He asked her.
"You mean...Oh, no, you don't have to walk me home—"
"No." Zack interrupted. "I want to. Really."
Summer graciously accepted. "Thanks." Zack just nodded.
They walked in silence, most of the way. Zack spoke. "I had a really nice time tonight Summer."
"So did I Zack. And you were right, those cheese fries were good. Then again, I probably scared that poor waiter out of his wits."
He nodded and smiled. "That you did." Silence again.
"It's the house over there." Summer said, and pointed to 2 houses down.
Zack nodded. Truth be told, he didn't want this night to end yet. Desperate for something to say, he started, "Um...it's your turn, isn't it?"
"What?"
"I asked you about abortion. Now it's your turn."
Silence. They had walked up her driveway and were now standing on her front porch. She looked out towards the street as Zack looked at her. She's really pretty...He thought to himself. How come I never noticed?
"What do you think of me?"
Zack stared at her. "What?"
"What do you think of me, Zack?" Summer repeated. She turned to face him now.
He thought for a moment. He didn't know how to say what he was thinking. He was thinking about how wrong he had always been about Summer. How much fun she really is, and how much he really liked her. He wanted to say this, but the words that formed in his head got stuck in his mouth. "I...I think you're really...wait, no. I think...this has been...no, no no." Zack was extremely hopeless in saying what he wanted to say. "You're, awesome and I really like...damn. Just...Summer...geez," Summer grinned shyly and the poor boy's lack of words. He looked up at her. His frustration seemed to melt away in an instant, looking into her eyes. He took a large step and came very close to Summer, closing his eyes and noticing how close he was to her mouth. Summers breath quickened and Zack could feel it on his face. Summer slowly closed her eyes too, and closed the space that was still between them.
Zack was kissing Summer. In his head, he was amazed. He'd known Summer since the fifth grade, and she'd never been an object of affection. He almost laughed to himself, as he thought, Yeah, well she is now. He moved his arms around Summer, and Summer was snaking her arms up around his neck when--
RING!
Summer pulled back for a moment. "Sorry, hang on," she told him. She looked at her phone then frowned. She answered, "Hello? Dewey? What's going on?" Zack heard him talking on the phone, as her expression turned to one of fear. White as a ghost, she murmured. "Yeah. I heard you. Zack's with me. We'll be there soon," and she hung up.
Zack sensed her fear. "What's wrong?"
"Zack, we have to go. We have to go now. No time...No time for questions." She exclaimed urgently, and pulled him back down the driveway.
"Summer...wait, what is it?" Zack was confused.
"Zack! It's...It's Freddy..." She stopped, and her eyes looked like they were about to start to tear. "Freddy...he's been in an accident."
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A/N: Hehe, pleeeease don't hate me. Next chapter will be up soon (hopefully), I promise. It's already written. This chapter needed a lot of work, that's why it took so slow. Plus, school just started. Damn high school, it's the third day of school and I have an essay due Monday. What is history? Anyone feel like helping me out? Hehe. Later,
The Chinskinator.