"Katie! Are you done changing yet!" Billy shouted in his regular girly tone.
"Just a sec!" Katie's muffled voice replied from inside Dewey's bathroom.
Katie emerged in a white tank top that was embellished with sequins at the neckline and arms, on the front, School of Rock, was written in a graffiti-like font. She was wearing a black skirt that fell a few inches above her knees, just barely missing the mini skirt classification. Her legs were covered in white fishnets and a pair of metallic red stiletto boots. Her long, usually down, hair was in two French braids. And two sets of Mardi Gras beads were around her neck, one red, and one silver.
"Eek!" Billy squealed. "It looks absolutely fabulous. Don't you think so everyone?"
All the girls nodded their heads furiously. Most of the guys simply stared.
"You look awesome, girl!" Alicia complimented.
"Think so?" Katie asked. As she tried to walk over to her friends, she stumbled. "These boots are way too hard to walk in."
"Well, that's what makes the outfit sassy," Billy said matter-of-factly. "If you're really bothered by them though, I think I can get a pair of vintage Doc Martins. They'd be the same red metallic color though."
"If you could do that for me, that'd be great. And I wouldn't have to twist my ankle."
0--------------------------------0
"She looks hot," Freddy told Lawrence and Zack, after everyone else had gone of to talk.
"Don't get any thoughts going," Larry warned, "You've still got Summer."
"I know that! But even you gotta say that Katie looks good," he retorted. Then he realized Zack hadn't said anything since Katie had walked out of the bathroom. "What do you think, Mooneyham?"
"She looks okay." A pang of protectiveness had shot through him. He didn't think that Katie should wear an outfit that drew that much attention to her body. "I dunno if it's for her, though," he said not taking his eyes off her.
"Are you nuts?" Freddy asked, "Those clothes couldn't be any more 'her'!"
"I'm not nuts! I just think she," he paused thinking of a way to describe his views.
"Larry, I think Zack's jealous," Freddy taunted.
Lawrence laughed in response.
"Who is there to be jealous of?" Zack replied. "I don't see anyone here to make me jealous."
"Freddy doesn't think you're jealous of someone here but I think you're jealous of the fact that people will be looking at your Katie."
"Since when is she my Katie?" Zack asked, defending himself.
"Oh, give it up, dude! We all know how much you like her," Freddy said.
"Whatever. I am not jealous. I think she looks great. There! Are you happy!" Zack said standing up and walking away.
"I think we made him angry," Lawrence said quietly.
"He'll get over it."
0--------------------------------0
"I really don't like the outfit much," Katie confided in Zack when they got home.
"Why?"
"I dunno. I think it's just a little music video-ish, if you get what I'm trying to say."
Zack chuckled. "Well, everyone thinks you look awesome in it. Plus it's just a tank-top and a skirt," he said, trying to make her feel better.
"I guess. It looks like it should've been in the Pussycat Dolls' video though," she laughed.
"I like that video," Zack replied, "when it's on mute," he added in a stifled tone.
"I heard that, you perv," Katie said as she hit him over the head with a pillow.
"What? I am a typical guy of my age."
"You really need to stop talking to Freddy," Katie rolled her eyes with a slight smile.
Then they sat silently for a while. Not an awkward silence, as one would presume, but a comfortable, soothing quietness. Katie looked at the boy next to her out of the corner of her eye. His dark brown hair was tousled but to a point of perfection, if such a thing were possible. His eyes were shining with their unique happiness. She had never noticed until now that he had unusually full lips for a boy. He also had freckles that covered the bridge of his nose.
Just as Katie was doing her little examination, Zack was doing his own. He noted that she had a gorgeous smile, one of the best on the planet, in his opinion. She had eyes that glowed with a mischievous air. Her skin was a beautiful natural tan. If he had been listening to someone tell him all of this, he would've thought it was rather corny but the thing was, it was all true. Everything about Katie was beautiful to him. She was absolutely stunning.
Then they caught each other glancing and each of the 14-year-olds blushed a bit and quickly looked away. But their pure attraction made them turn their faces back and lean in. Moments later they found themselves on the couch. He was tenderly sucking on her bottom lip and she, in turn, was sucking gently on his top lip. She let out a contented sigh and leaned her head back. Zack's hand made it's way around her neck to support her.
(A/N: Did you ever see that scene in the Mr. Brightside video where she tilts her head back and he slips his hand on her neck? Well that's what I'm trying to describe.)
0--------------------------------0
That night, Katie was in her living room dancing to the MTV Music Video Channel. At the moment, Rihanna's Pon de Replay was on and Katie was moving, to say the least. The only light was the light of the TV. She sometimes did this but today's earlier events had given her a real reason to boogie and get her emotion out. Katie wasn't the best dancer but it wasn't like anyone was watching her, or so she thought.
Zack stood in the dark doorway, trying to suppress his laughter at the sight of Katie. He'd let out a little chuckle here and there and she'd turn around. But since it was so dark, she'd completely miss him standing there. After the song ended, he decided to let her know that he was there.
"Nice moves," he said with a snigger.
Katie jumped at the sound of his voice and then started to laugh. "Sometimes I do this when something good happens earlier in the day," she explained.
"Really? And what would be the occasion for this little disco?" he asked, even though he knew the reason.
"We had band practice, and uh, the ice cream I had was really good, and possibly the eggs I had for breakfast."
"Nothing else stands out in your mind?" Zack asked, playing along.
"Yeah. Freddy and I had a burping contest, that was kind of fun. Oh yeah, and then there was the kissing but that was no big thing," she joked, sitting on the couch.
Zack laughed. "Well, it was a big thing for me."
"Same here, I was just kidding. OH! I like this song!" she squealed as Feel Good Inc. by the Gorillaz began.
"And to think, I thought you were just a rock chick," Zack smiled.
"Nope, I like a lot of stuff just not reggae," she replied as she moved her head to the music and started to sing along. "Windmill, Windmill for the land, Turn forever hand in hand. Take it all in on your stride."
Now she had Zack curious. "What else do I not know about you, Ms. Brown?"
Katie smirked. "Oh, stuff."
"Stuff? What kind of stuff?"
"Uh, I know how to surf, I am really into the celebrity world, which means that I buy tabloids. I like green tea with a whole shit-load of sugar in it. I've killed 4 people. I think I'm an okay artist. I am a conspiracy nerd-"
"Whoa. Wait. What? You killed 4 people?"
"Yeah but you can't tell the cops or I'm going to the big house," she whispered in his ear.
"I know you're just messing around and if I'm wrong, I really think I shouldn't talk to you anymore."
"I'm just messing," she said knowing if he didn't talk to her she'd end up dying.
"Okay then."
A/N: Hahahahahaha. I used the word boogie. lol.This wasn't my best chapter.Sorry for not updating sooner but I'd be in the middle of writing this chapter and get major writer's block so I'd come back later. And sometimes later would mean a day or two. :P
emiziwilson: takes a little bow Thank you very much. Your review particularly put a grin on my face.
Remussweetie: I don't know if that's the right thing to do if someone faints but it just came to me. Her guitar was fine. I guess I forgot to mention that. Thank you.
wyverna: Thank you. I hope you liked this chapter. :)
mark: Thanks. I love that song too.
TtoboggI: :D
Rock chick Drummer: :) Hope you continue to enjoy the story.