Nothing Else Matters

So close

No matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trust in who we are

But nothing else matters

Tell me who sings that song and I'll give a shout out to you -…and tell me the name of that song….

It had been two days before Zack fully realized that Freddy Jones, his best friend since the fifth grade, was actually avoiding him. It infuriated Zack, just a little bit, not that he'd actually show it. But he had opened up his house and risked his LIFE(!!!) for that boy and all he could do in return was ignore him. Freddy Jones! Ignoring! And when he came to that conclusion, it worried the poor boy. Why did Freddy return home? What happened when he did?

Billie was pretty passive about this, and every band member Zack asked, commented that they hadn't noticed anything weird about Freddy, other than how nicer he had became. It was Katie that really alerted Zack. She told him she was worried for Freddy, mainly because the 'brat' refused to talk to her. She knew something was wrong -- but he just…he just wouldn't open up. Zack wanted so badly to tell Katie that she was right, there really was something wrong with Freddy, but he just couldn't.

"We can't spy on him," Zack said for the fifth time that week. Katie opened her mouth objectively. "I know, Katie. I'm worried too. But this is Freddy. He hates prying. He'd get pissed."

Billie watched the argument unenthusiastically. Freddy and Billie had really been bonding before he disappeared from their sight. They watched shows together (including teen titans), and she gave him over enthusiastic book reviews that he really didn't mind. Billie 'rocked' out with him on the keyboard; he was teaching her a few simple drum rhythms. But he was avoiding her as well. She didn't really help, she ignored every conversation about him, and avoided the route she had realized he took to avoid her… which basically means -- she did nothing.

"The others aren't convinced, Zack. We're a band, goddamnit. And he's hurt! We have to do something!" Great. So now Katie was getting pissed -- how…Katie never got pissed. Katie suddenly looked away from Zack to Billie, she wasn't paying attention.

Billie's chin was in her hand, -- her elbow holding her arm up. She was just staring off into space. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Katie snapped. Zack jumped, but Billie didn't. She casually turned her head to look at her 'friend'. "Freddy's hurt, and you know that. Don't you? Why don't you care? Why are you so mean?"

"I'm not mean," Billie murmured quietly. She wasn't -- REALLY! She was nice. She was nice to a guy and he avoids her now. All she could do was let the silence consume her once again.

"He was you friend! Why aren't you worried? Why don't you want to do something?" Katie was being a little drastic. She hadn't really had time to bond with Billie -- and now all those feelings she tucked underneath the loose floorboards were coming back. "Since you don't care about Freddy anymore, then you need to find new friends, 'cause we don't care about you anymore." Katie turned and stormed off.

Zack looked from Katie's retreating back to Billie, who was still sitting at her lunch table. She wasn't reacting, but Zack had learned more about her in the past few weeks. He knew she really was boiling underneath the surface. "Look, Katie's just--"

"It's fine," Billie breathed. "She has a strong point." Billie rose from her seat, still looking into Zack's deep brown eyes. "I don't care about Freddy." Billie retreated as well, heading for the library, most likely. She'd been spending an awful lot of time in that thing. Library? Who goes there in high school? Nerds. Geeks, maybe. And Zack wasn't the only one to suspect this. A few fellow students began poking fun at Billie's hunger for litature -- so Billie coolly began poking fun at their thirst for stupidity.

Zack looked from the area where Billie used to be to where Katie used to be. He sighed angrily and walked off in a different direction. He felt for Freddy, he could understand what he was doing…kind of…y'know it that sense -- that 'not knowing a damn thing' sense. He understood Katie and he understood Billie. But what he didn't understand was himself. Why wasn't he doing something. Billie's silence was something -- and Katie's annoyance was something else. But Zack's inaction…well that couldn't be something. It was nothing…unless nothing was something…

Knock it off. This isn't the time to be talking to myself, Zack thought bitterly as he sat down in the seat in front of Freddy's. Freddy was already there, laying his head on his arms, and shielding his face. Zack looked down at Freddy before turning back in his seat. He couldn't…but there was ten minutes left of lunch. Why would Freddy not finish his favorite class?

"Freddy." His voice was dark, filled with anger he was trying to control. Freddy lifted his head to stare evenly at Zack.

"Sorry," Freddy spat. "If I'd known you were here, I would've gone to the library in stead." …so that's where he went when he skipped lunch…aha…

"Why are you being like this?" Zack asked weakly. "What did I ever do to you?"

Something faltered in Freddy's eyes… "You didn't do anything, Zack. I just…I just need my space. I need to have some time by myself."

Zack shook his head. "That's not you Freddy."

Freddy scowled, slightly. "You don't know what's me." His step father flashed through his mind for a second, and he barely noticed how he grimaced.

"What's the matter with you?" Zack asked, leaning against the back of his seat.

"Nothing," Freddy snapped. "I'm fine!"

"It's your dad," Zack stated, ignoring Freddy's previous comment. "He hurt you again, didn't he. Why would that make you stop communicating with us. Why would that make you skip lunch, and band practice…unless…-- he's making you! Isn't he!"

Freddy shook his head. He REALLY didn't want to get into this. "No. No -- that's not what it is at all. I want to. I hate you all." Oooooooooook…huge give-a-way.

Zack was staring hard at Freddy. "Why didn't you just tell me Freddy? I already knew he was a beater -- why didn't you just tell me -- instead of ripping your band apart?" Awww….how emotional…

"Ripping them apart? What are you talking about?" He knew how the 'groupies' felt about his absence, and he new how the crew felt, and he knew how Katie felt, and he knew how the singers felt -- but how was that ripping them apart?

"Katie wanted to spy on you," Zack sighed. "But I said no. And now she's pissed at Billie for not caring -- which basically means that she's pissed at me too for associating myself with Billie. Marta and Alicia were behind Katie and they're bound to hate me too. Then there's Tomika who agrees with me, so Katie, Marta and Alicia basically just hates her. Lawrence acts pretty much like Billie, so Katie ignores him. Frankie is a little worried -- and Leonardo just doesn't care. Marco ignores the entire situation and the groupies are happy you're gone. They hate you. They hate me. Thanks a whole fuckin' lot."

Freddy shook his head. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I didn't kno -- I didn't mean to." Freddy paused then opened his mouth again -- to apologize more formally.

Zack raised a hand. "I don't care. That's not my problem. You left us. You ignore us. You act like we were never friends, Freddy. That hurts…it hits me right here." He placed his hand over his heart, jokingly -- but immediately regretted it. He was trying to be serious -- he did want Freddy to get the message. So what the hell was he doing joking?…habit…

"Katie hates me?" Freddy asked. His eyes didn't look right. Zack knew there was something obviously wrong -- and now he knew what. Freddy's eyes no longer gleamed with mischief…they just gleamed with pain. Misery. "She wanted to stop him from taking me…but I told her not to…she could've helped -- and I dismissed her like she was at my disposal."

Zack shook his head gently. "She doesn't hate you. She's concerned. Her friendship is overriding her anger. She cares for you Freddy -- like a lot. But she's not the only one."

Freddy raised an eye brow. "I know you care for me too Zack…but that's hardly the --"

"Not me, moron. Don't you remember a friend of mine…name was something like tellie but different…You remember her?" Zack asked sarcastically.

Realization dawned on Freddy. "Oh…Why would she care about me? We barely know each other."

"She never completely revealed her life to you, but you should've noticed -- you're the first person who hasn't judged her. The band, our friends, they don't like her. It's just you and me. She's shutting down too. All this pressure's really getting to her, even if she doesn't complain about it. She won't eat, she's amazingly getting worst grades than you in school -- and you know how much she reads. You've talked to her, you know how smart she is. You hurt her. And all you're concern about is Katie --"

"I've known Katie longer --" Freddy began defensively.

"You mean you've liked Katie longer," Zack shot back. He wasn't trying to degrade Katie, he liked her too. But he liked her enough to know she didn't like Freddy as much as he wanted her to. "Ever notice that she doesn't look directly at you until you stop looking at her?"

"What are you talking about?" Freddy spat harshly. Zack had seen Freddy angry plenty of times. So angry -- he'd seen him in harsh, brutal, vicious fights as well. But Freddy had never used so much emotion in his voice as he did now.

"Katie likes another guy, Freddy…" Zack breathed out slowly. Freddy's entire face just fell apart. "She likes Ray Thompson…and I'm pretty sure he's into her as well…"

"You're lying," Freddy gasped. "You're just mad because I don't like your stupid little friend. You've gone lower than I would've guessed you could!!"

Zack was shaking his head angrily. "Freddy I --" but Freddy cut him off by storming out of the class room.

Freddy continued to ignore and dodge Zack as well as the band…including Katie, for the next three weeks. He hated to admit this to himself, but some small part of himself did believe Zack was telling the truth. They'd been friends for five years, why would Zack throw it all away like this? …he wouldn't…that's just not Zack…

Things weren't improving for Freddy at home. Josh had soon came to a realization that he could do anything to Freddy and Freddy would be too ashamed to tell. He also knew, despite how much Freddy denied it, that because of him -- Freddy wasn't seeing the band. And because of that the band was going to have to find a replacement soon. But not before they try to consult with Freddy first.