A/N: I was really surprised, with this story, how the characters spoke to me. A lot of things came out from all ends. Most specifically, Katie, Lawrence, Zack, and Freddy. Summer wasn't too mucha surprise, but Freddy is altering somewhat.I had their home lives both planned out, and then I went to Freddy's house, and I was completely wrong about a lot of things...

I know, I sound weird. Characters talking to me and whatnot...I read an interview with Ray Bradbury, and he was talking about how his characters tell him the story, and I was like...DUDE! That's what my characters do for me...

ENJOY!

Chapter 4: One Is Silver and the Other's Gold

It took nearly an hour and a half for the full weight of Summer's words to press down on the rest of the School of Rock gang. By then, Freddy was obviously worn, drenched in sweat. Every now and then he would slam his drumstick against a cymbal or a snare drum, taking deep breaths. Zack had taken to retuning his guitar, then putting it out of tune, and putting it back in tune. Katie was sitting on the couch, her head resting in her hands, hair sprawled about her face. Lawrence was staring at his open book, looking very much like he was reading, though he hadn't flipped the page in all that time. Gordie was clicking on random icons on his laptop, closing the windows and opening new ones. The rest of the group found other things to stare at, found other ways to sit, found other means of enhancing the ominous silence. Dewey himself had pulled out a bottle of beer, though he didn't like to drink in front of the kids, he was now silently sipping at it.

"What do we do?" Katie finally asked. Everyone was startled by her voice, hoarse from being silent so long. They stared at her, as though the words were foreign, as though in stun that she could speak, almost as though they'd never heard speech before.

"What can we do?" Zack retorted, pausing from trying to get the third string of his guitar in tune with the fourth.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate an apology," Katie snapped, looking meaningfully at Freddy, who returned the glare.

"She doesn't deserve one," Marta spoke up, "Freddy was right. If she was going to say 'no' she would have done it already."

"That doesn't change the fact that he was really cruel to her," Tomika put in, "Some of the things he said were really uncalled for. We all know Summer has sacrificed a great deal for us…"

"Like what? Precious study time?" Freddy spat.

"Yes. Think of all the books she could have read, were it not for us," Frankie mocked, "We don't need her, what does she really do around here?"

"What do you really do around here?" Katie bit back.

"Yeah, besides sitting around flirting with Michelle," Alicia joined in, both teens blushed, "Which brings me to, what does Michelle really do around here?"

"She's just not saying 'no' because she doesn't want to hurt her boyfriend's feelings," Freddy muttered with disgust, "Why are you guys sticking up for someone who wants to throw us all away for some guy. She's just putting on some show so we don't hate her or feel bad or some crap like that, it's all so fucking fake…"

"You're really not the one who should be lecturing on feelings," Eleni interjected, "Seeing as how you disregard those of the entire female population."

"Oh, and like you're so innocent."

"I never said I was, but at least I'm not spouting out whiny crap about how Summer shouldn't be as sensitive to other's feelings. Face it, Freddy, she cares about other people. She cares so much it scares the hell out of you because you've never cared for one goddamned person in your entire life besides yourself."

"You better watch it," Freddy growled, on his feet. Eleni smirked at him. She'd struck a nerve that time.

"Maybe it's about what I mean to School of Rock," Lawrence mumbled under his breath, and suddenly all eyes were on him.

"What did you say?" Zack questioned and Lawrence flushed, quietly shutting his book, and pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

"It was what Summer said," he clarified, his voice slightly above a whisper, "Maybe it's about what I mean to School of Rock. I was just wondering what she meant by it." Abruptly, Katie stood, crossing the room and slapping Freddy upside the head.

"Ow, now what the hell was that one for?" he demanded, glowering down at her. She stared defiantly back.

"Don't you get it?" Katie asked, looking around angrily at everyone in the room, "It's not about what we mean to her, that has nothing to do with her not saying 'no'! It's about what she means to all of us!"

"Now you're just not making any sense," Billy whined, "Aren't you just repeating what she said?"

"I don't know about you guys, but it sure as hell sounds like she feels unappreciated to me," Katie hissed.

"Well that can't be true," Zack argued, "I mean, we treat her the same as always."

"Well, maybe that's not how she wants to be treated," Katie replied, matter-of-factly, "Look guys, think about it. When's the last time any of you guys thanked her? For even the little things she did, like reminding us all to study for a test, or helping us with homework problems we didn't understand?" There was uncomfortable shifting, "Or said hi to her, just to say hi! Or asked her how her goddamned day was? When's the last time any of you showed a smidgeon of concern for how she is, and how's she's doing, and how she feels?" With a heavy sigh, Katie slouched back on the couch, head hung low, "Hell, when's the last time I have?"

"So we're the jerks?" Freddy asked, but no one answered. It was as if the room itself was downcast.

"I've been thinking, guys," Dewey finally spoke, and some eyes were lifted in interest. He pulled himself from where he'd been sitting, leaving the half-finished beer behind, and walking to stand in the center of the group, "You've all made good points, but I think Katie's right. We have kind of been giving Tinkerbell the short end of the stick lately. She did have the dignity to come and tell us about this offer, and we have to admit, it's a great offer for her. And she did have the decency to tell us that it was a possibility, her leaving us for them, and to not to make a decision, like saying 'yes', without telling us about it first. Maybe jumping down her throat wasn't the best of solutions…" he looked around, lips pursed, brows arched, and eyes wide.

"So what do we do?" Zack questioned.

"I don't know," Dewey admitted, throwing his hands up to annunciate his despair.

"Well, first we'd have to apologize to her," Katie spoke up, "All of us, not just Freddy. While he may have been an arrogant, obnoxious, insensitive, overbearing…"

"They get the point, Katie," Freddy sneered.

"…jerk," she finished, sticking her tongue out at him before continuing, "We all kind of reacted badly. She came to us for support and understanding, and we stuffed it back down her throat."

"And then maybe we could actually support her," Michelle broke in, "Tell her that we're behind her, no matter the decision she makes."

"And we have to actually mean it, too," Tomika added.

"And we need to tell her how happy we are for her," Alicia put in.

"And then," Eleni joined, "We have to start treating her better. Not like a doormat, but like the good person she is."

"Like, you guys could smile at her when she comes around, even if it's to tell you to do something, because we know she only has the best intentions at heart," Katie took up the mantle of speaker once more, "And I guess…take a moment to acknowledge that she exists, and not wait until she looks like she has one foot in the grave or is on-the-edge schitzo before asking her if she's okay. And ask her how her day was, and listen when she tells you, and…maybe you could just not talk at all, Freddy."

"This is all girlie crap," Frankie moaned.

"No, no, listen to them," Dewey cut in, "It all makes sense, it all sounds good."

"Even the part where I don't talk?" Freddy inquired, arms folded over his chest, drumsticks still in hand.

"Especially the part where you don't talk," Dewey cried dramatically, "Because come on guys, if we don't do this, we run the risk of losing a really awesome manager, and more importantly, a really good friend."

0-0-

Summer dragged herself to her feet, after a long bout of crying. She realized it wasn't getting her anywhere, and was only making her head hurt and gaining her some rather odd stares. She didn't know how long she'd been crying, and had forgotten to put her watch on that morning. She didn't want band practice to let out and everyone to find her downstairs, crying pathetically. So she stumbled away, tracing fingers under her eyes, and touching their tips to her soaked cheeks. She probably looked a mess. She tugged her cell phone from her pocket, looking at it remotely. The time was boldly lettered, practice didn't let out for another hour. There were three messages from Kyle. She usually turned her phone on vibrate during practice, as she couldn't hear the ring tone over the band playing anyways, but she hadn't even felt the small phone go off. She clicked on his number, holding her finger poised over the dial button, before closing the phone and tucking it back in her pocket.

The bus stop was a few blocks away, and Summer practically fell on the bench. She pulled her wallet from her pack, opening it and counting the change. She'd never ridden the bus before, didn't even know how much money she needed, and which bus to get on. She shoved her wallet back in her pack, glancing at the seedy looking figures standing around her, and holding the pack closer to her chest. She felt numb, from the crying, and the pain of the argument she'd had with her friends. You're not that important to them anyways, she thought bitterly, why do they care so much if you manage another band. Because they're your friends, she silently gave in, because for six years the band has been as much they're life as yours. Because, you were their manager first, like Lawrence said. Summer pouted, jutting out her chin, that was it. They just didn't want change, it doesn't change the fact that they think you're really useless to them.

The manager is the band. Kyle wouldn't think you were useless, Summer told herself. She ran her hands over her cheeks, wiping away the saturation, and tucked her hair behind her ears. She nearly jumped when her phone went off. She retrieved it, and stared blankly at the screen and the number she dimly recognized. She didn't want to answer it, but she knew she had to. She opened the phone, and brought it to her ear.

"Hello, Katie," she whispered unhappily.

"Summer? Where are you?"

"Why?"

"Did you get a ride?" Katie pressed, her tone high-pitched somewhat, drowning with concern and worry, "Did your mom come pick you up?"

"No. I'm going to walk home," Summer answered quietly, her stomach giving a great lurch. Her house was a ways away, and she wasn't even sure she knew exactly how to get there on foot. There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Where are you?" Katie asked again, her voice steadfast and demanding.

"I'm sitting at the bus stop around the corner from Dewey's. I was going to ride the bus, but I don't know how…stupid, huh? Brilliant Summer Hathaway doesn't even know how to ride a bus."

"Stay right there, Summer, I'm coming," Katie said, and Summer was startled.

"What? Why?"

"Because there's no way I'm letting you walk home alone, not in this city, not in this neighborhood, not in this life," Katie growled, "Stay right where you are, I'll be there in a few minutes."

"I thought you were mad at…"

"You're the closest thing I have to a best friend," Katie interrupted, "I could be mad at you beyond forgiveness, and still never let you walk home alone."

"I don't know, Katie…what about…"

"They'll get a ride from Dewey or any of the other band members," Katie cut her off, already surmising what the problem was; Zack, Marta, and Freddy, "Now, I'm in my car, I'm starting the engine up, you better be there when I come, or I will hunt you down and force you to accept a ride from me."

"I'll be here," Summer smiled, closing the phone and putting it away.

It only took a few moments for Katie's car to pull up to the curb, and Summer hopped into the front seat. She didn't know how to greet Katie, or whether they were even on good enough terms that she could smile at her. But Katie was frowning out the windshield, so Summer decided it was best to remain silent as she buckled her belt. They drove along in distant quiet, like a wall was between them. It was hard on Summer. She would rather of walked home than sit in that car wondering at all the awful things Katie was probably thinking about her.

"I'm sorry," Katie finally croaked, and Summer was more than taken aback. She had expected anger, yelling, screaming, a self-righteous rant even, but not that swimmingly saddened apology. Tears began to pour down the normally stoic young woman's cheeks, and she looked to Summer as they stopped at a red light, her eyes shining with uncertainty, "I know we…we…were pretty…wrong in taking your news. But you…this…School of Rock is the best thing that's happened to most, if not all of us. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I have friends, Summer, people I can sit with and talk to and laugh. I used to sit in the library at lunch, did you know that?"

"No, I didn't," Summer mumbled, feeling a horrible lump settling at the bottom of her stomach.

"So then you have to promise me something."

"What?"

Katie took a deep breath, licking her lips and meeting Summer's eyes with all seriousness, brown orbs covered in pain and that shy veil that usually hid the darker girl's emotions was suddenly gone. Everything was pouring out of that look, mostly her desperation and fear, almost pleading.

"That no matter what you choose, you and I will still be friends," Katie whispered and Summer let a relieved smile slip across her face. She flung her arms around Katie's neck, and the embrace was reluctantly returned.

"Of course, Katie, always," Summer cried, hot tears falling on her shoulder and seeping through her shirt. She pulled away, wiping the tears from her own face, and then Katie's. They were smiling now, giggling at the seeming ridiculousness of the tension that had sat between them mere seconds before.

"Look at us, we're such ditz-es," Katie commented, laughing and Summer nodded, wiping at her damp nose. There was an impatient honk behind them, and Katie turned back to the front, seeing the light had turned green and the cars that had been in front of them were long since gone. She put her foot on the gas, continuing driving, as they laughed again. Summer settled back into the car seat, at ease now.

"I guess I didn't really give the news that well as it is," Summer sighed, flicking a strand of hair from her face, "I could have gone about it better. Oh, I planned and I planned…but…standing up there, I felt like I was betraying all of them."

"I think we would concur that emotion," Katie mumbled lightly, smiling to show she was teasing.

"I just knew, no matter what I said," Summer went on, appreciating the return of her friend's sarcastic humor, "You would all take it wrong. It really isn't that easy for me to decide. Maybe if I was older, had more resources, I could manage both bands, but I can't."

"So you're seriously thinking about taking Kyle up on the offer," Katie questioned, trying to hide the bitter hurt in her tone.

"It's a really big opportunity," Summer sighed, "They're recording artists, there'd be a lot of work for me. It would be huge…you know, I'd be the youngest manager of a signed band?"

"So the overachiever in you really wants this," Katie concluded.

"A lot, a lot, a lot," Summer confirmed, then sighing, "And you should have seen Kyle when I was going to turn him down. He looked so disappointed, so hurt…"

"So Freddy wasn't far off? That this is partially because you don't want to hurt your new boy's feelings?"

Summer's hair stood on end at the mention of the drummer. She scowled, rigidly running her fingers through her hair.

"Freddy Jones," she scoffed, "Don't even mention that…pompous…arrogant…appallingly insensitive…"

"Whoa, calm down, Summer," Katie soothed, pulling onto Summer's street and stopping the car in front of her house, "Remember how I mentioned that School of Rock is the best thing that's happened to most of us? Him especially. Now, I'm not agreeing with what he said, and I sure as hell am not defending how he said it, but try and see things from his viewpoint. Maybe he felt like you possibly leaving was a threat to the best thing that's ever happened to him?"

"I guess," Summer muttered, "But it wouldn't be though. If I did choose to leave - which I'm not saying I am - School of Rock would still live on."

"Maybe it just scared him," Katie suggested, "That if you left, then others could leave as well."

"Freddy Jones? Scared?"

Katie grinned, "I guess it does seem far-fetched." They looked out at the Hathaway house, somewhat regrettably, "You call Kyle?"

"He's called me a few times," Summer answered, "But I'm not really in the mood to hang out with him today. I guess I'll call him and tell him that."

"Okay, cool."

"Um…Katie," Summer started, shifting uncomfortably, not sure why the question she was about to ask was so difficult. Maybe because she'd never had any of the band members over to her house before. They'd seen the outside, when coming to pick her up or drop her off, but that was about it, "You want to hang out for awhile? Talk? I think there's a pint of chocolate ice cream in the freezer."

"Summer, you just said the magic words, chocolate and ice cream," Katie grinned, killing the engine, and jumping from the car. She came to the other side, opening the passenger side door, and offering a hand to help Summer out. Both girls laughed, skipping arm and arm up the walkway, joking with one another, and appearing very much like best friends having the time of their lives.

0-0-

The next day, Summer had opted for a ride on the bus, rather then her usual carpool with Katie, mainly because she wasn't sure she was ready to see the rest of the band yet, or if they even wanted to see her. But she was surprised to find, that within ten minutes of entering the school, most of the band members quickly approached her, apologized, and oddly out-of-place, a lot of them asked if she was okay. A few of the members seemed to avoid her, most specifically Marta and Frankie, but she was incredibly shocked, to find Freddy leaning against the lockers near her own. Somehow, he managed to look as though that just happened to be where he decided to stand, and a couple of girls were talking to him, flirting more like. He returned their attention with smiles, and flirtations of his own. But he kept darting glances down the hall as though he were waiting for someone, and straightened considerably when he saw Summer making her way down.

Trying to maintain an air of dignity, Summer approached her locker with what she hoped was a natural glide down the hall. She fidgeted with her lock, twisting and turning it, trying to appear as though she hadn't just forgotten the combination. She heard Freddy saying good-bye to the girls, who sounded disappointed that he wasn't interested in keeping with their conversation, so they remained standing around him, hoping he'd turn back to them. But he leaned against the locker, staring at Summer instead, his arms crossed over his chest. She focused on ignoring him, narrowed her eyes at her lock. Three was the first number, she recalled…or was it nine? She couldn't concentrate with him breathing down her neck like that, and she suddenly slammed the locker and turned to face him, lips pursed.

"What do you want?" she demanded. He smiled, amused, and evidently satisfied with himself.

"To say 'hi', Gidget," he answered smoothly. Summer's eyes squeezed into murderous slits.

"Freddy Jones, what in the ever-loving world would make you think I would be interested in pleasant greetings from you?" she snapped, then as a last minute thought, "And don't call me Gidget!"

"Don't tell me you're mad about what I said, Gidget."

"No, I'm not mad," Summer seethed, "I'm infuriated! I am livid! How dare you presume to know my intentions…"

"You know I'm supposed to apologize to you," Freddy interrupted, and her teeth clattered as her mouth slammed shut, "But I'm not going to. Because I meant it. And it was the truth, wasn't it? Everything I said? So how can you be mad about the truth? I should be mad at you."

"Oh yes, you're right," Summer dripped sarcastically, "You hit it right on the nail, there. I guess you have it all figured out. Now if you don't mind, I have to get to class," and as if to prove her point the bell rang. She moved to push past him, and his hand caught hold of her waist, pushing her back to the lockers. She slammed gently against the cold metal, causing it to shake, and she was startled. He didn't look happy, and all signs of joviality was gone from his face. People moved passed, hurrying to class, and ignoring them all together. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, pushing the blood to her head and pressing it against her cheeks. She didn't like the sudden movement, and she hated how his hand held her firmly in place against those lockers, the warmth of its touch burning the skin of her belly where it rested. She couldn't form words, mentally demanding of him what he wanted, but disappointed as he didn't seem to have mind-reading abilities of any sort.

Freddy loosened slightly, seeing the fear suddenly jump in Summer's eyes. He hadn't meant to scare her. He didn't know what he'd meant to do. He was sure he had more to say, that they're conversation hadn't been over as far as he was concerned, but at the moment, he couldn't think why or what more there was to say. He had told her everything he'd set out to tell her, and then some. Sure, he hadn't planned the conversation out, he never did, that was a Summer thing. But he knew what he had wanted to get off his chest. There was nothing else to say, no reason for him to hold her there.

"Of course you have to get to class," he attempted at taunting her, quickly scrambling for an excuse, "Always have to be the goody-two-shoes, huh? You really weren't cut out for rock, babe." A few doors slammed in the distance as the last of the students disappeared into their classes, leaving the two alone in the hall.

"You're making me late," Summer stammered.

"God forbid."

"I mean it, Freddy Jones, let me go this instant," Summer whispered roughly, and after a moment's deliberation, he obliged. She straightened her blouse, pushed her hair behind her ears and turned down the hall towards her classroom.

"Hey, Summer," Freddy called and she paused, "Before you decide to leave School of Rock, how 'bout sticking it to The Man one last time with me?" She turned, to eye him curiously, and he smiled. He had her, "I don't have my homework done and I haven't studied for that math test, anyways, so there's really no point for me to go to class."

"Are you suggesting we skip school," Summer questioned, not sounding incredibly pleased with the idea. Freddy grinned at her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No, I'm inviting you to join me as I skip school. Don't tell me you've turned into such a prude, you're even above ditching once in awhile."

Summer pressed her lips together, hands on hips. She glanced at her classroom down the hall, and the late bell rang, echoing throughout the building and ringing in her ears. Then she met Freddy's eyes.

END A/N: You know what would be totally awesome? A School of Rock goes to Las Vegas fic...I would totally read that! Actually, I'm thinking of writing one myself. It's working it's way into my head, developing incredibly! I don't know when I'd write it though, between returning to A Simple Kiss updates and considering finishing my Recess fic (that I just left hanging...those reviewers were not happy...)

AUGH! Will she ditch? Will she ditch? The suspense must be killing all of you...! Unless you read it already...

Please excuse any grammatical and typing errors. PLEASE REVIEW!

THanks for Reading.