Chapter Six: The Long Wait
"Can't we ride a little longer?" Katie begged as he slowly came to a halt outside Vintage Records.
Freddy looked at his watch and grinned. "Your boss said you could only have an hour off." He helped her down. "I want to stay on his good side."
"Suck up," she said dejectedly. She playfully gave his bike a little push, not knowing that it would tip off-balance and end up on the ground. "Shit…" She rushed over to the motorcycle, heaving it to its upright position.
"I am so sorry!" She apologized.
He looked at her weirdly, and then ended up with a cheesy grin on his face. "It's fine." He rushed off to see if there was any damage to it. Thankfully there were none.
"You do realise that when it comes to transportation you are a menace to society," he teased. "First my car, then my motorcycle—I suggest taking the bus to Chez Français."
"Fine by me," she said sincerely.
"I was only kidding," Freddy assured her. "My car will be fixed by then, but for safety measures, I'm renting a tank on that night. I don't think you will be able to inflict any major damages."
"I don't know," she teased. "My fists of fury are quite not what they might seem." Then Katie burst into laughter.
"Katie! Some stock just arrived, I need you to help me unload some stuff," Eric shouted as his head popped round the door.
"My cue to leave," Freddy sighed. He hopped upon his bike. "See you on Wednesday."
Katie's eyes widened as she realised his words, Wednesday.
Her hands reached to her mobile and dialled in the number needed. Words she never thought she'd ever say flew out of her mouth, "Summer! I have nothing to wear."
Katie slipped down the narrow path to the main road. It was three o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon, and she knew better than to let her friends see her skipping Band Practice. She didn't want to make up any stupid excuses for not hanging out. And surely she couldn't tell them the truth.
"Hey, Katie." Zack's voice was easily recognisable as Katie crossed the street. He was standing, or making that leaning, up against a stop sign.
"Oh, hey Zack," Katie greeted him, trying to sound as normal as possible. Not that Zack could have picked up any subtle differences in her voice and the state she was in. Katie stepped back. "You reek of alcohol. Where have you been?"
"I had a science test last period," he explained.
Katie looked at him curiously. "And of course Mr. Ellis had you taste the difference between beer and lager?" she inquired sarcastically.
"Nope, skipped it, spent the whole afternoon here."
Ordinarily, Katie would be convincing Zack that this was not the best way of going about it, but today she just wanted to get out of there. "Oh well. See you later Zack." She hurried off in the direction of Vintage Records.
But he wasn't letting her go so easily. "You know Katie, you're breaking my best mate's heart," he slurred, leaning at an angle that seemed as if he was about to fall.
"Zack," she said. "Lucas has no heart."
He focused his eyes on her. "You know that's not true, he is in love with you. But you keep blowing him off. I mean he understands if it's for your art or something, but for some rich kid? That's really harsh."
Katie stiffened and tried convincing herself that Lucas had no idea about tonight's dinner with Fred.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said quickly, maybe a bit too quickly.
"I don't either," Zack said. "But Lucas can't stop thinking about it."
"Yeah well, whatever." Zack left her at that and promptly threw up on the grass groaning. Katie quickly departed.
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Katie sensed Eric lingering behind her back. She slowly turned around and stuck her tongue out at him playfully. "What?" she demanded.
"Nothing," he retorted. "Why?"
She coughed. "You were staring at me."
"Oh, that," Eric replied. He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I was wondering why you've been dropping things all afternoon."
Katie blushed and too soon knocked over a stack of well-organised CDs. She groaned in frustration, knowing that she'd have to re-stack them.
"Well," she murmured, "I'm nervous."
"About the mysterious event tonight?" Eric asked. "The one where you need to use my back office as a dressing room?"
Katie nodded. "It's actually for a date."
He smiled. "I'm sure you'll have a great time."
"I hope so," Katie began. She took a deep breath. Eric would be a good person to talk to about this whole thing with Fred. He was unprejudiced. On the other hand, he'd been one of a band, and he was pretty loyal when it came to his 'own kind.' Still, sometimes he had good advice. "He's not like us, you know."
"He's not?"
Katie shook her head. "He's different."
"What?" Eric asked her with mock concern. "He's not human is he? Katie, I know you must be very extravagant and all—but dating a dog is taking it too far."
She coughed and sent a glare his way. "No, I just meant he's rich and up there in society."
"Oh."
"But he's different than the rest of them."
Eric nodded slowly and ran one of his well-worn hands over his thick beard. "You've met the rest of them?" he asked calmly.
"No. I mean, he's rich, but he's not," she said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "well, a loser."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Katie sighed heavily. "You do know what I mean."
"I think I do, and frankly, I'm disappointed in you."
Her head snapped up and looked squarely at him, her face fell. "I knew you would be. Clinically insane! Me going to some fancy restaurant with him. Everyone will be mad if they catch me with him. I should probably not go. But I want to as well."
Eric walked over and put a strong arm around Katie's shoulder. "No, you should go. I'm not disappointed in you because you're getting to know him, or dating him. I'm disappointed you're judging him before you know him, labelling him before a fair judgment."
"Me? Prejudiced? What are you talking about? I never said anything about his race."
"Prejudiced means to prejudge. You're prejudging these kids because they're wealthy."
"Well, they prejudge us."
"Oh right," Eric said slowly. "I forgot. Two wrongs make a right."
Katie groaned under her breath. "Fine, but there's just so much doubt between us."
"Personally, I think it's just you Katie. The way he's acting, he seems to really like you." His eyes sparkled mischievously.
She smiled weakly. "Perhaps he does."
"See," he reassured her, "so go have a good time. Stop thinking so much. Learn to let go."
After a moment of consideration she frowned, reached into her pocket, and pulled out her mobile.
"You're actually going to cancel with him?" Eric sounded surprised.
"No," Katie corrected him. "I'm calling my friend Summer. I want to be sure she remembers to bring a hair tie, too."
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Summer arrived at the store panting and holding a carrier back filled with clothes. "Hello," she announced as thrust the bag at Katie.
"I thought you weren't coming," Katie said, hugging her tightly.
"I was just a little late," she replied.
"Have you got anything that'll suit me?"
"I think you'll like it. It's got plenty of black in it." With a great flourish, she unzipped the bag and whipped out a black lace top.
"Oh," she said. Inside she was bursting with uncharacteristic excitement.
"That's nothing. Check this out." She removed a long black and red floral skirt with black lace trim along the bottom.
"Flowers?" Katie gasped. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
But Summer wasn't upset at her reaction. "What did you expect? A leather skirt with studs?"
"This is just—different," Katie stated. "I just don't really like flowers, that's all."
"Well tonight, Katherine, you will do flowers," Summer said, using Katie's full name to provide her with even more sophistication. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a black pair of heels.
"No way," Katie replied looking at them disgustedly. "Not in a million years."
Summer's eyes glittered.
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Katie walked slowly out of the back office, trying hard not to fall in Summer's black heels. She felt strange in the flowing skirt. She hadn't worn anything but jeans since elementary school—when she'd first discovered the Bass Guitar because of her saviour Dewey Finn. She wore jeans or pants under the school assigned skirt. While other girls made theirs shorter, she was the one trying to cover up as much as possible.
"You look great," Eric said as she emerged.
"I look ridiculous."
"No, you feel ridiculous," he corrected her. "You look amazing. And I bet what's-his-name's going to think so, too."
"His name is Fred. Fred Jenkins."
"Fred Jenkins?" Summer repeated. "He's so—weird."
Eric burst out laughing. "I'll have to judge for myself."
Katie scowled at the two of them. "Cut it out."
"Fine," Eric complied as a pair of bright car lights appeared in the parking lot. "By the way, Mr Jenkins's chariot awaits you."
Katie turned around quickly. For the first time, she knew exactly what the expression 'deer caught in headlights' really meant. Suddenly it all seemed so stupid—the floral skirt, her hair tied up in a bun behind her head, and especially the shoes. What was she thinking? This wasn't her world at all.
But it was too late to do anything about it now. He was here. He had saw her. The bells jingling above the doorway made that abundantly clear.
"Wow," Freddy exclaimed, staring at Katie with surprise. "You look…"
"Hideous," she groaned. He smiled and shook his head.
"The opposite in fact."
Summer and Eric stood off to the side, watching as the two teens stared at each other.
"Have fun," Eric said as they left.
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