Six months later I found myself at the airport, my fellow band mates all around me. Zack had his Fender in hand, Dewey his Gibson. Summer was checking role call by head count, even though she was too short to see over half of the taller people.
"Rows 30-10 are now boarding," a voice came on the speaker. I looked at my boarding pass. That meant us.
"Freddy! Come on, let's go!" Katie shouted from across the terminal area, giving me a beckoning hand.
"Um, yeah. Coming." I grabbed my backpack and ran over to where the rest of them were boarding.
Summer glared at me, as if I had ruined her whole boarding cycle that had been so thoroughly planned out. Marta smiled at the guy who was checking the passes; she obviously thought he was cute.
"Thanks... Peter." I heard her say, checking his name tag and lightly touching his hand. She whipped her light blond hair at me and glared for a second. I wasn't having much luck with the women today.
I grabbed Katie's empty hand and we boarded the airplane together. It was practically deserted, due to the fact that Summer booked a flight for us at three o'clock in the morning.
I pushed my way through Gordon putting his laptop in the overhead carrier, all the while still holding Katie's hand. I found row twenty-six and stepped into the window seat. Katie sat next to me and used the seat next to us to accompany her bass.
As if we were all in some kind of musical cult, the entire band took their CD players and headphones out of wherever they were, backpacks, purses, pockets, cases, stuck the headphones into their ears, and switched the players on at the same time.
I was halfway through the CD Zack had burned me three nights ago when Katie pulled off my headphones and kissed me.
I looked at her with wide eyes, letting her know that she had caught my attention.
"I have an idea," she said in a sweet and low sexy voice. It sounded like candy, if candy had a sound.
"Yes?"
"See that flight attendant?" Katie said. She pointed three rows back to a young girl. She couldn't have been older than nineteen. I would have been a fool not to notice how pretty she was. I also would have been one not to notice the way she kept flirting with Zack.
"Yeah," I said, nice and cool.
"And you see that drink cart she has?"
"Yeah..."
"Why don't you go and pay your respects to her? Respects as in... beer?"
What Katie meant by that was, 'Go over and flirt with that flight attendant. I want beer.' I looked at Katie. She had this wild look in her eye that I had only seen once before. It was when we had won Battle of the Bands less than seven months ago. I hadn't taken too much notice to it then, but now, I was getting kind of turned on by it.
She grinned at me, and I grinned back. She slid her knees to the side to let me out. I got up and walked over to where Zack and Leonard were sitting. The fight attendant was still flirting with Zack.
"Excuse me, miss?" I politely tapped her on the shoulder, receiving a glare from Zack. He was obviously enjoying being a free man again.
"Yes?"
"Uh, what drinks do you have in stock today?"
Dammit. Duh, Freddy. The same ones they've had since you were born?
"Well, we have tons of soda fountain drinks... uh, orange juice..." She bent down and checked the next rack of drinks. Zack seemed to be enjoying his aisle view.
"Beer?" I piped. Stupid, stupid Freddy!
"Yes, but I'll have to card you."
I looked to Zack for help.
"Oh, uh, Francesca. It's okay. He's clean."
She gave me the once over and looked back at Zack, who was vigorously nodding his head.
"Well, since your friend says it's okay..."
She took two Samuel Adams from a cooler under the cart.
"Thanks," I smiled.
I grabbed the beers and took them back to my seat. I noticed Summer glaring at me from the row opposite to Zack and Leonard. I tried to act as if I didn't notice her and handed Katie one of the beers.
"Oh, score!" she said.
I slid back into my seat when Summer came up to us, her hands on her hips and her whole 'I know what you're up to and I don't like it' glare.
"Fuck," Katie cussed when she got beer on her favorite White Stripes shirt.
"Katie!" Summer scolded. "Are you actually going to drink that? Don't tell me this pervert right here talked you into it. You're drinking, Katherine. UnderAGE. What's next? Are you going to do drugs, smoking, or sex?" Summer scoffed. I got pissed at the pervert part.
Now Katie was gettting mad.
"Actually, Summer, it wasn't this 'pervert's' idea. It was mine. And Freddy never did a damn thing to you in your life, so stay out of mine."
Oh, diss!
"Katie, I need to talk to you alone." Summer said. She grabbed Katie and took her towards the front of the plane before she could protest. I snuck into the restroom behind them and put my ear to the door to hear what they were saying.
"... I'll stay out of your life Katie, whatever. But don't come crying to me when he dumps you," Summer said. I could just imagine the expression on her face right now.
"Dump me? Freddy is the sweetest, most loving guy. He would never do anything like that to me." Katie said innocently. I felt like floating on Cloud 9.
"Look at you," she began, disgusted. "You're falling under that spell of his. He's going to tell you he loves you, Katie. Then, before you know it, you're in bed with him. And the next day, you'll find him making out with some other girl. Look at what happened to Marta." Summer said. Dammit. She sounded exactly like Zack. They were broken up, but were still thinking the same damn thoughts.
"Fuck Marta. I'm sick and tired of everyone warning me that I'll end up like her when I know better. And, Summer, look. You're my best friend. I don't need another mom. Especially on my band's tour around Florida. Beer isn't that bad." Katie explained. I guessed the conversation was over so I went to my seat without Katie or Summer noticing I was eavesdropping. I sat down and opened a magazine.
"Right. Been there done that," Katie said, sitting down.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Nothing that matters. Summer being Summer, as always," she said, taking a sip of her beer.
"Okay... now it's my turn for an idea," I whispered into her ear, just as low and sexy as she had.
"And what would that be?"
I pointed in the direction of the bathroom.
"Dream on, Freddy." She rolled her eyes and snatched my Rolling Stone magazine away from me.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
"Um, let me think about it," she paused, putting a finger to her chin. "No," she said after about two seconds. I sighed.
"But one day, okay." She smiled that sweet, angelic smile of hers.
"Okay... whatever Posh." I smiled right back.
She rested her head on my shoulder and drifted off to sleep.