Well, golly, since I've actually gotten reviews -- figured it'd help a lot more if I get onto the whole updating thing. So I sat down and wrote this story all…today…well I am gonna…and won't stop until the chapter is complete!!!

Tell me who this song belongs to and I'll give you props…review and I guess I will too…but if you don't get it -- the chapters of my stories always belong to somebody…I LOVE! But the lil dialogue underneath the chapters are always by the same person. Just interesting song thing to me…

On with the story!!!

One more thing - Zack still hasn't been paired up…tell me if you have any suggestions…

Toy Soldiers

What we have to do is deal with it when these individuals are young enough, if you will, to be saved. Not in a religious sense, but not to constitute what this country, at times calls their throw-away children.

"Freddy." Freddy turned around quickly. Why hadn't he guessed this? It was Summer…immediately Freddy had to adjust his view, and visibly looked down on Summer. He ignored the stranger standing by her completely. Now seeing that she had his attention, Summer proceeded. "This is Jack. He's replacing her." She didn't sound all that upset, Freddy noted. "You have missed nearly three months of practice, Freddy, and that…well that is just unacceptable. We have performances and we are in dire need of practice. And if there is no drummer then there cannot be a band. Jack is our new drummer. And you are suspended until further notice. That is all," Summer concluded, taking in the death glare Freddy was openly giving Jack. "You can go back to ignoring your only friends."

Freddy looked Jack up and down…this square…replacing him! Even if he wasn't replacing him, Freddy highly doubted he'd EVER associate himself with somebody like this dude. He wore a sweater vest, and a pair of 'dress' pants. His hair was neatly combed back, the sort of hair style you'd have in 5th grade all thanks to your mommy. He stood straight and proud, and Freddy wanted nothing more than to punch him.

"Fine," Freddy ground out rationally. He, after all, hadn't been to band practice in quite some time, and what did he actually expect them to do? Patiently wait for him to get over his troubles? Even though he was sure this wasn't Dewey's idea, he some how knew that Dewey wanted to keep things moving. It was too late, and there was nothing Freddy could do. Their new drummer shall be this square, because the bad boy has just left the building. "If that's the way you want it Summer." Freddy slammed his locker door and left without another word. He knew how much Summer liked him, but now he was finished with pretending. He was finished with being nice toward her.

Freddy was too busy seething that he didn't see Zack before running into him, literally, of course. Zack lurched back, looking at Freddy with wide eyes. Zack expected Freddy to walk away -- but Freddy was too angry for that. He actually wanted to complain. Freddy Jones never complained about ANYTHING. Anything except this…of course. "She replaced me," he blurted out before he could stop himself. Before, he had told Zack everything, why not now? "Did you know about this?"

Zack shook his head. "Nah," he answered in a low voice. Freddy followed Zack over to his locker. "They were talking about you a few days ago…but I didn't think Dewey would actually go as far as letting Summer take absolute control of the situation…I was pretty sure Dewey wouldn't let her kick you out of the band…I was pretty sure he would let that…that thing join…in your place…I'm sorry, Freddy…"

(A/N: just talked on msn right…who just writes…I need some influence…and my friend -- Tracy has burnt me the Eminem CD - Encore…I'm really happy!…but now -- back to the story)

Freddy shook his head. "You shouldn't be. I'm the…s-s-s-…I mean…I'm s--…well… you see…I'm…" Freddy gave Zack a look.

"Sorry?" Zack asked encouragingly. The old Freddy was back, and Zack couldn't be happier.

Freddy nodded. "What bout that new drummer? That queer, ever get how he follows Summer 'round like a sick pup? Bet he can't even drum." Zack nodded, agreeing.

Billie appeared beside Zack. Zack pulled out his history text, before shutting the door gently. Freddy looked over at Billie. "Hey," he greeted quietly. The students around them were beginning to thin out. Freddy didn't expect Billie to answer. He expected her to do the normal girl thing, despite how she had always been acting towards him.

"Hey," Billie replied evenly. It was the tone she had always used with him, but less excited. She had the normal blank, uncaring expression plastered to her smooth, sweet face -- as if nothing had happened between them. "What's up?"

Freddy shook his head. "I got kicked out of the band," he answered bluntly, even though he was sure that wasn't what she was asking.

Billie nodded, knowingly. She knew EVERYTHING. "I know," she said predictably. "She banished me." For some odd reason, Billie didn't appear to be all that upset. "That's alright, no offense, Zack. With Summer running the show…" Billie trailed off. Freddy couldn't help noticing that he'd never seen her insult anyone at all. How…inhuman…

The bell sounded -- notifying the trio that they were now late for class. Freddy began walking off -- in the wrong direction, no less -- and Billie grabbed his wrist. Zack probably would have but he had started sprinting down the hall to his history class.

Freddy winced, a loud in take of breath, before turning to look at Billie. "What the hell?" Billie asked out loud before roughly pushing up his shirt sleeve to reveal the numerous, sometimes deep gashes running up the inside of his arm. "Oh…my…god…" it was nothing new. She saw them every time she wore short sleeves. But this wasn't Freddy. It couldn't be. He was strong. And she was not.

"It's nothing," Freddy snapped, wrenching his arm out of Billie's grasp and hastily pulling down his shirt sleeve. "It's nothing," he repeated.

Billie shook her head. "Freddy…no…you're better than this…"

"That's where your wrong," Freddy snapped. "I'm NOT better. I'm not." He shook his head. "Please don't tell anyone."

Billie nodded. "Alright." She started heading to their Chemistry class, Freddy in step beside her. "But keep in mind, Freddy. It's like alcohol -- even though you can get addicted -- it doesn't heal you. It only numbs the pain -- but it cannot make it go away."

They turned into the room, while their teacher -- Mrs. Gillespie -- was in the middle of a speech. A long and tiresome speech no doubt. Gillespie whipped around to glare at the two teenagers as the door slammed close noisily. "Pass?" she snapped angrily.

"Nope," Billie answered casually, as she strode over to her seat, Freddy dropping down into the one in front of her.

"Tardy again, Rebelle?" Gillespie snapped angrily. (A/N: not so sure if that is the surname I gave Billie…but lets hope, eh? Please PLEASE tell me if it's not. Point out my faults. Every human is flawed. I don't mind flames…)

Billie nodded. "Apparently so." Freddy turned around to give Billie a grin. Friends were good to have. It was refreshing. Billie grinned at Freddy in return.

The hour went by slowly. Dreadfully slow! The entire period Gillespie was snapping rudely at Freddy and Billie for every mistake they made, while she ignored other students who made the exact same mistakes. Finally, after Schaffer purposefully knocked into Freddy -- making him drop his test tube, shattering on the ground, Gillespie just lost it.

She whirled around to glare at Freddy. "For God's sake! Can't you ever do anything right?" she nearly screamed at Freddy.

Freddy opened his mouth to reply with a sheepish -- sorry, but somebody replied for him. "Sure he can. He can do plenty of things right," Billie snapped rudely.

"Apparently punctuality and kindness aren't amongst those," Summer commented nastily. The teacher ignored this.

Billie and Freddy both looked over at Summer at the same time -- with the same look on their faces. "You're gonna start talking about kindness?" Freddy snapped defensively.

Gillespie looked back at Freddy. "Shut up," she snapped. "No one told you to talk."

Freddy opened his mouth to defend himself. "Let it go Freddy," Billie whispered into Freddy's ear. "Bitches stick together, you cannot win."

Freddy looked back at Billie, but Gillespie had already heard her. "Get out," she gasped quietly, but still harshly. "Get out of my room you ungrateful brat!" She threw her hand toward the door.

Billie gave her a faked surprise look. "But--but…what did I do?" she gasped.

Freddy turned in his seat to grin at Billie. "Well you see," he began. "You said a very bad word, Rebelle. You said Bitch. And according to the teacher's book of nerdom…bitch is unacceptable. Dumbass or jackass or stupid ass or…asshole…those will all be acceptable when looking at Gillespie or people like Summer." He gasped the last word. Her name.

Billie nodded. "True true." Billie stood from her seat. Picking up her bag, she casually strode to the front of the class room. "Keep that in mind, kiddies. Just tell the TRUTH and you'll be reward with the rest of the day, and possibly week off. Tell the truth." Billie turned and left the room. Freddy jumped from his seat and followed her. As they walked down the hall together they could clearly hear a few echoes of the word bitch, asshole, etc. And they couldn't help grinning.

The group was back together and Freddy was feeling much better. But deep down he was sure his father would hate this. His father would be pissed…but his father didn't have to life his life. And his father didn't run it either. He was of his own and shan't ever fall again.

A/N -- Gillespie is pronounced Ga-leps-pee. I have a teacher that acts JUST LIKE HER. With that name…hahah..bitch…R/R PLEASE!!!! Sorry for any mistakes.