Important Note: A lot of people were concerned about the FJKBY thing. The 'y' was supposed to be a picture of a heart, but I guess doesn't process the font webdings. If you're still confused as to what I mean go to Microsoft Word or any program that supports the font Webdings. Then make a capital Y and a heart will appear. Sorry for any confusion.

CH 9 – A Lesson Learned

That morning, as Freddy's dad drove them to Dewey's apartment, Freddy stared at Katie. Katie was staring out the window, but Freddy could still see her face. In the window, he could see her reflection and most importantly, her eyes. Her brown eyes which Freddy always seemed to melt in.

Freddy watched her closely and stared deep into her eyes in the reflection. He knew that you always read these types of things in novels where you could look into their eyes and tell what they're thinking, but Freddy couldn't. He tried again, but he couldn't tell what Katie was feeling. She seemed empty and calm and peaceful, but Freddy knew that she was probably thinking hundreds of things all at once. It was just who she was, who she has always been, and who she will always be.

"Stop staring at me," Katie said and turned around.

Freddy felt heat rising in his face and quickly turned to face the front. Out of the corner of his eye when he saw Katie's head turn back towards the window, he slowly moved his head so he could stare at her again. He didn't know when he suddenly liked to watch her so much, but he did. He noticed things about her that he didn't before – like how when she was angry, her cheeks would be red and her forehead would be creased. Or how when she was bored, she would stare off into space and dream.

"We're here," Johnathan said and got out of the car to fetch Freddy and Katie's suitcases from the trunk.

"Bye dad," Freddy said, "See you in a month."

"Bye John!" Katie said heartily and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"You guys better buy me a t-shirt!" Johnathan said and laughed. "Have fun!" With that, he drove off.

Katie and Freddy climbed the stairs to Dewey's apartment dragging their suitcases with them. When they came in front of the door, Katie took out her key and opened it.

"FREDDY!" A voice shrieked and as fast as the speed of lighting a creature sprung herself atop Freddy. Unfortunately, this creature was Natalie. Katie rolled her eyes and stepped into the apartment and looked around, "Where is everyone?"

"Well you three came early. You weren't supposed to be here till an hour later, but oh well," Dewey said pouring himself some coffee. "Want some?"

"No thanks. Coffee is going to stop my growth," Katie laughed and set her suitcases aside.

"Probably explains why you're taller then me," Dewey laughed and nodded towards the couch. "I see the couple is acquainted." Katie couldn't help but frown and turn away from the sight.

"Jealous?" Dewey said spinning his spoon around in his coffee while Katie took a seat beside him.

"No." Dewey looked at her – he wasn't nieve. In fact, he was still in his middle thirties so it just proved that he wasn't that old to not know anything either. Dewey sat back and studied the figure before him whose head was cradled in her folded arms on the table. Insecure…tired…ignorant…, Dewey thought, she reminds me a lot of me when I was at that age.

"Yuh-huh," Dewey said in a 'as-a-matter-of-fact' type of voice.

"Nuh-uh," Katie replied and looked up. "What makes you think I am?"

"Experience," Dewey said blankly.

"AHA!" Katie pointed a figure at him. "So you do have some of your own little love escapades! Spill it Dew!"

"Shh…" Dewey nodded towards the couple who were now kissing. "I don't want everyone to hear."

"Whatever," Katie said. "Just tell."

"Promise not to tell?" Katie nodded.

"Raise your right hand," Dewey stated. Katie rolled her eyes at him and gave him a semi-smile. "No, I'm serious. Raise your right hand." Katie raised her right hand despite the lameness of it all. "Repeat the following words."

"I, Katie Brown, bass player of School of Rock, promise not to tell what I am about to hear," Dewey said.

"I, Katie Brown, bass player of School of Rock, promise not to tell what I am about to hear," Katie repeated and slammed her hand back down, "Now will you please tell?"

"Well it all started…"

17-year-old Dewey Finn stared at the couple before him with jealousy burning in his eyes – though he wasn't aware of it. In front of him was his best childhood female friend, Kayley and her new idiotic, stuck-up boyfriend Bradley. 'Bradley,' Dewey scoffed, 'What's so great about him?'

"Come on Kayley! Hurry up! I don't have all day," Dewey muttered to himself. Watching the couple kiss an extremely LONG good-bye kiss was making his stomach turn and his eyes bulge. Finally, they parted.

"Sheesh. That only took – forever," Dewey said impatiently as he and Kayley walked toward his van.

"Lighten up Dewey! That's what happens when you're in love…you forget about time and just…I don't know," Kayley sighed dreamily and buckled her seat belt. "You'll find out one day when you're in love."

"Love is for suckers," Dewey said and pulled out of his parking space.

"How would you know? You've never been in love," Kayley defended herself.

Dewey grunted and just stared ahead at the road, "How would you know? Maybe I am in love, but things just aren't working!"

"Tell me who the lucky girl is!" The blonde squealed and laughed. "Dewey's in love!"

"I'd rather not say," Dewey said looking at her out of the corner of his eye. He sighed out of heartache. He felt like turning left and driving off the cliff. If he couldn't be with her in this lifetime, at least he'd be with her in death – where Bradley wasn't.

The more Kayley laughed, the more Dewey felt pain and anger. He could feel tears threatening to spill out of his eyes, but he held it back. This just wasn't the time to break down and cry right in front of the woman you love.

Confusion filling his body, he stepped a little bit harder on the gas pedal. "Hey!" Kayley jumped a bit at the speed. "Not so fast! We're not rushing or anything!"

Dewey sighed and ran a bit slower. "So tell me who the lucky girl is!" Kayley asked again.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Lots of reasons."

"Like?"

"You may never talk to me again."

"Why would I do that? Do I not like her or something?"

"No, but trust me, you wouldn't talk to me again." I still don't get why you're talking to me now, Dewey thought, after all you have BRAD.

"Tell me!"

"No!" Dewey said firmly, anger burning inside of him. He wasn't sure why he felt angry but he felt like he should be. That it was her fault that he was gloomy and miserable all the time. That it was her fault that he couldn't sleep at night because thoughts of her always entered his head. That it was her fault he couldn't bear to look at her when she was with Brad or else he would break down. That it was her fault he loved her.

"Come on!"

"No."

"Please!"

"NO!" Dewey shouted and stepped on the gas pedal full speed on the freeway. Next thing he knew, all he heard was the distant cry of 'DEWEY! WATCH OUT!' and all he saw was pitch black.

Three days later, Dewey's eyes opened. He blinked and looked around. Then he heard voices. They were near.

"The young boy survived…he's still unconscious but I guarantee you that he should be waking up soon. He didn't suffer too many injuries, just a broken right arm," a man said, but his tone slid down. "However…I'm not so sure about the girl. She's still alive, but she's unconscious as well. The only way to keep her alive is by keeping her plugged to the meter, but I can't guarantee that she'll wake up at all."

Dewey sat up. What were they talking about? Where was he? Was he the boy the doctor was talking about? Who was the girl? KAYLEY!

"What's going on?" Dewey spoke aloud, but his voice came out different. Like he hadn't been talking for ages.

"DEWEY!" a woman said and pulled him into an embrace. "You're all right! You've finally woken!"

"Mom…it's okay, I'm here. W-w-what's going on?"

"Oh honey," Dewey's mother said and sniffed. "You were driving with Kayley and you got into a car accident –"

"Where's Kayley?!" Dewey asked urgency high in his voice.

Dewey's mother pulled back the curtain and there lay a sleeping Kayley. She had scars all over her face and stitches adorned her arms and her legs.

Dewey crept out of his bed and walked over to Kayley's. "Kayley?" he touched her cheek. "Kayley?! Wake up…if this is a joke, it isn't funny."

Kayley didn't move, but just stayed still. "Her parents told us to pull the plug," the doctor said. "I'm afraid…she's gone."

That night Dewey was still in his hospital bed staring up at the white ceiling. They had taken Kayley away to the morgue to prepare her for her funeral. Dewey looked at the empty bed beside him and for the first time that day, he let the tears flow freely.

The curtains were open and he was the only one in the room so he stared out into the dark nightsky.

"I'm sorry Kayley," Dewey wept. "I'm sorry I got mad at you and got us into a car accident! I'm SORRY!" Dewey shouted at the blinking stars and the bright moon hoping that Kayley was up there listening. "But most of all, I'm sorry that I didn't get to tell you that I love you."

Katie wiped the tears from her eyes, "Dewey, I'm so sorry!" She scooted closer and gave him a hug just like he had given her the day at her father's funeral.

"I…I never really got over it. Her death and all, but I've moved on and I'm doing okay," Dewey said. He was surprised at himself for not even letting a single tear fall free. "Just don't tell anyone okay?"

Katie nodded. "But what does this all have to do with me?"

"It's a lesson that you should know. A lesson that I learned a bit too late," Dewey said sadly. "You should tell him. How you really feel. Before it drives you crazy."

Katie bit her lip. "I think I already am."

A/N: Ok I know short chapter and it wasn't probably important, but I felt like I owed Dewey something…come on the man had to had some kind of life before School of Rock. Plus, this 'lesson' is going to have a big part and don't worry: I promise that they'll finally be on tour next chapter!

Please REVIEW! I should get at least 30, thank you! XD

Shout Outs:

Lenlen

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Tmrwspromise

ElvenLadyofLegolas

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Lover Del Dragon

IluvRockN'Roll

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IlovethisStory

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Swimmerkitti: Yeah you explained it well! Thanks! )

JustVisitingUKGirl: Perfect! Thanks! ) lol

SiennaR79: Yeah I know someone who can do that…ME! Yeah I can write on my skin too and it will pop-out 3-D style. My friends are like, 'Do you cut yourself to do that?' And I'm like, "HECK NO! Why would I cut myself?" lol My dad said that when he was my age he had the same thing, but it went away when he turned 30 or something. Maybe it's in genes! Heh. Hm…call me crazy but you probably like cars huh? Judging from your pen name that is. SiennaR79 your favorite? Mine is a Nissan 350 Z. It's my dream car…apart from the Lotus Elise. XD

AmeilaBedelia: Aww…but if I had him kiss her believe me, I was tempted, it woulda ruined the whole story! Gahhand it should count that he was about to though. Hehe.

Brooke: No I'm not in college. I'm not even in high school yet! Lol Yeah I think we just start school early. I live in CA, USA

t.i.n.k.a.h.h.b.el.l.: Yeah I love his apology too! hehe

Blondie02: I don't know where I get these ideas. They come at random. I remember I was in church listening to a sermon and then the idea of this fic popped up. Weird huh? lol

Dracosbabe41: I can understand that you don't have time to review, but I'm glad you did – at least once. I'd appreciate it if you could do it more often though! )