okay, I have a load of excuses, but I'm sure you don't want to hear them. So here goes the story. and once again, thanks for the lovely reviews. This ones pretty short (sorry!) but i couldn't help it. Nice, short, and sweet

DISCLAIMER: Chapter two (and i honestly don't own Oreos (produced by nabisco) but i seriously wish i did. I didn't think i had to write that but i felt like it.)

Chapter Five: The Party

They were sitting in the middle of the living room, on floor, and halfway through the oreos when Freddy decided it was boring and asked Katie to join him in the kitchen.

As Tara and Zack watched their retreating backs, they gave each other looks that said 'FINALLY'

"I can't believe it's taken them this long to get together. Freddy's modesty is ridiculous." Tara said softly, reaching for another oreo.

Zack nibbled on the corner of his, he liked to enjoy his for every atom it was, "Yeah. And I swear, if they don't come out dating, I'll tell them to their faces to get it done with already."

Tara sat up, "You know, I haven't really done my part in this. I promised Freddy I would help, but it's completely left my mind."

"I think he appreciates your forgetfulness. Remember his last girlfriend?"

She wrinkled her nose, "Yeah, wasn't she such a wench?"

Zack laughed, "Exactly. maybe you shouldn't interfere. If I didn't know better, I would think you LIKED him."

Tara threw her half-eaten oreo at him in disgust, "AS-IF! Zack! I have my eyes set on another." This was half-coded. hopefully he took the hint.

Zack just stared at her, "who?"

"So," Said Katie.

"Yeah?" Freddy asked, digging in their refrigerator, looking for a distraction. Hm...why did they have so much fruit? The entire lower shelf of the fridge consisted of apples, oranges, mangos, a whole pineapple, some plums, a few Kiwi, and some grapes.

"What did you want to talk about?"

Freddy raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think I was going to talk about something?"

Katie just stared at him for a moment, then said, "Well, only the fact that you invited me to join you. I thought you might have...might have wanted to ask me about something in private?" How could she be more obvious?

"Okay okay...yeah, there was something I wanted to ask you..." He rubbed his neck, nervous, What if she rejected him? It would be so awkward around her.

Katie leaned for eagerly, "what?"

"Do you like..." He searched the fridge, desperately, "Apples?"

Katie looked slightly disappointed, Then pulled back, her face became guarded. "Uh, yeah. I guess." she took one from the fridge. "Thanks."

"Uh, well..."

Zack was waiting, patiently. And, he hated to admit, eagerly

"...you?"

He grinned, "really?"

"Should I not? 'cause I can totally like someone else if you want." Tara said nervously, wishing she had never said anything in the first place. How could she blame someone when she was so good at screwing up her own life? She could win an award, "Most proficient in messing up her own life."

"Yes! I mean, yes you should like me! I like you too." Zack knew he was probably grinning like an idiot, but at this point, he didn't really care.

Tara smiled, "So...you wanna..er...go out?"

"Yeah!"

"You, uh, wanna step back into the living room?"

Katie contemplated this, "Let's give them a few more minutes."

"Why?"

"'Cause Zack promised me he would ask her out finally. And if he backed out I'm gonna bring the whole thing public."

Freddy wasn't sure how he felt about this, "Y-You mean Zack and Tara? Why would they go out?" Tara and Zack? His two best friends? Although he tried to deny it, he knew they were great together.

Katie looked miffed, "You mean you really don't see it?"

"See what?" Denial was working great for him

"That they're totally meant for each other." Katie said. She was still disappointed with Freddy, and wasn't as patient as she usually was with him.

I think that's what people think about us... Freddy thought, not noticing the slight stiffness in Katie's voice.

"I think it's safe." she muttered, mostly to herself.

They entered the living room.

"Tomorrow ok?" Zack was asking.

"Perfect." The two grinned up at Katie and Freddy. For a moment Freddy was jealous of how Zack, the usually timid one, was brave enough to ask Tara out while Freddy had to resort to apples.

"So you guys going out?" asked Katie

"Yep. you two should join us." like on a date? It would be perfect! They could go out without Freddy asking her!

"Naw, I have to have dinner with my grandparents." Oh. Silence followed this comment.

"You mean the dead ones?" Tara asked skeptically. It took Freddy and Zack a moment to remember that yeah, Katie's grandparents WERE dead, except the ones who lived in The Philippines.

Katie laughed, surprised at the delayed reaction to her sarcasm, "You caught me. I'd love to go to a movie with you three,"

Freddy hated to admit he felt such a surge of relief, he was mightily tempted to jump about and sing. Of course, later he could always blame it on the fact he had forgotten to take his Ritalin.

UGH I HATE THIS CHAPTER! although its mainly because I'm having mucho writers block and I had to squeeze this out of the deepest crevasses of my brain. and your nice reviews helped me, and maybe if I got more...?so please build me up, buttercups, don't break my heart...(and sorry for spelling/grammer mistakes...i lost my beta...tear but i think I survived pretty well, so yeah.)