A/N: Here goes nothing...

REVIEWERS!

closetwriter: Okay...so this update was no sooner than usual...but...I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I thought it was sweet too. I wish I was on Spring Break now...

wyverna: You're not a writing person? God, I could write forever. But I can relate to the reviewing inability. I never know what to say, so my reviews usually turn into babble-fests. Which is probably why I don't mind when my reviewers babble to me about things outside of my story, because I do the same thing. I do feel honored, everyday. I actually looked up the Yardbirds, and it turns out they're actually innovators in the rock world, and the mentioned that Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton (this is the meaning I got from what was written on the site) were both a part of the band, before moving on to their other things. Yeah, I probably could have mentioned those band names. And yes, Apple is an odd name for a child. What's with celebrities giving their children weird names. It's so funny. And then you have like Ozzy, whose children have the most normal of names. YES! Another F/S fic. I will definitely read it as soon as it's posted, and review it (of course)! Just get it up soon! Constant Interruptions...an interesting title...and we have a new pope? I don't have a pope. I'm atheist! But I'm very happy for the new pope. Just a little uncertain of the whole "voting in a pope" thing...anyways...

IndesElfwine: I seriosuly was getting really sad the other day, when it wasn't allowing reviews. I was like, "why isn't anyone reviewing? do they all hate me...? sniffles..." I have self-esteem issues... Anyways...yes, Katie's sis likes Zack...the stupid bitch...and yes, Zack does like Katie. But as more than a friend? I wonder...

iamnotachipmunk: Yeah, no Austin. I don't when...or if...he'll show up again before this story ends...hm...maybe for you he might make one more appearance. What's there to dislike about Katie? She had no personality whatsoever in the movie (four WHOLE lines). So she's not really someone you can feel...anything towards. But I guess it's so hard to like any of the characterizations of Katie out there...and then there's all those Katie/Freddy fics that just turn my stomach (no offense to anyone who writes/reads/likes this pairing!) Everyone's always telling me I should feel honored, and you know what, I do. I feel honored because you all read and review so loyally, and you're all such totally sweet people.

radiancex: I'll cry when it's over too. Because I'm like that. Every story I write takes so much of me, and I really fall in love with the characters I use (every one of them, protagonist, antagonist). ANDI've read books where I've cried when they ended, because they were just so wonderful.Oh, don't be envious. I don't doubt you can write just as good, if not better than me. And wait no more, it's here!

Nanners-77: Yes, I idolize you for it. I'm starting to review alittle like you (because you're my reviewing hero), but I'm afraid I'm a little too harsh sometimes. I can be that way. I feel guilty too, because I don't like to discourage any writer of any level of ability. You know what...I think I have told someone they were the worst writer I'd ever seen...but god, the story was horrible. Tense changes within sentences...I shudder at the memory. Freddy's gonna start acting weird soon too...because they're both weird. They both have so much shit going on, from their parents and people at school...teenage life sucks. I only have a year left, YAY ME! The Notebook was a good movie...even if I did know the ending before I even watched it...but I still loved it. What's his name, something Gosling is a damn good actor, and he's kind of cute. I hope you're feeling better...poor sick baby...and a 65 on a science test isn't so bad. But then, I barely passed the last science class I took so...heheh...yay for the boy I had a crush on forcing me to copy his homework!

sweetcaroline: Well, I was bumping people's stories and I figured...hell, why not. I love her story, and I bumped it last time, and it got deleted, post it again! Kill two birds with one stone...except I don't condone killing birds with stones...it's a waste of a good stone, that you could throw at people. What am I talking about? Ah...yes...

Alex: I'm pretty satisfied with that chapter myself. It was wonderful! Anyhooo...yes, I did watch the Chipmunks. Not regularly, school and whatnot, and never having the schedule right. I liked the episode where they were all doing this scavanger hunt, and the Chipettes and Chipmunks were all against eachother, and then that dude was all messing with Brittany, and Alvin came to help her (sort of), and the Chipettes broke out singing "My Boyfriends Back" (great song!)! Oh, and when the Chipmunks sang "Bad to the Bone", another great song. Oh, and I loved the movie "Chipmunks Around the World"! And the Chipmunk Christmas Movie "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two-Front-Teeth"! YAY ALVIN! And Theodore, I loved Theodore! He was sooooo cute with his girlfriend, Eleni, right? And Janet and Simon were so cute...awwww...and I loved the episodes where they did the origins of the Chipmunks and the origins of the Chipettes. I have never been karaoking, but my parents did but me a karaoke machine one Christmas. It was cheap and doesn't work anymore (when I needed to use it, the damn microphone wouldn't work, I was soooooo pissed!) I'm a nerd too! Sometimes I'm a dork though. My cousin tells me I'm special!

Parcie05: We were all stupid kids at one point in time. I wouldn't kill you...the Backstreet Boys on the other hand...they must die. That's so totally nice of you. I love being flattered, it makes me blush and feel all googly. Summer and Freddy, their characters are just MADE for each other. Total opposites, and you know, there's a fine line between love and hate. Actually, I have to get started on my book (or revising my book...it's already finishing, it just needs more fleshing out...I did it for a creative writing assignment. It was supposed to be a short story...it was forty pages long.) Yes, I have a book. It's a fantasy, there's a little romance, and it's all finished, I just need to rewrite it with more detail. Right now, it's just a skeleton. Well, I never start a story not knowing how it's going to end, and unfortunately, this one is reaching its climax...but there may be another SoR fic in the future.

That's everybody! Nothing from vaguely specific? And whatever happened to SwimmerKitti? I miss their reviews...

ENJOY!

Chapter 13: All's Fair In Love And War Part 2

Katie picked up a book, glanced over the kernel on the back, and shoved it once more on the shelf. She sighed, glancing at Zack, who was looking over a songbook, forming the chords from one of the featured songs on an invisible guitar in the air. She sighed.

It had been a Tuesday when Katie had realized she had more-than-friend feelings for Zack. She remembered, because it had been the most awful Tuesday of her entire life and she'd wrote lengthily about it in her journal until her hand cramped. School was drab, despicable, and depressing, every event forever ingrained in her mind, only to fade into a hazy blur when that one moment…that one wonderfully blissful moment, happened.

After a particularly brutal game of dodge ball in gym, where every girl in the class seemed to decide it would be a nice change of pace to aim every ball at Katie rather than ignore her all together, she had come to fall against her locker. She had leaned her bruised forehead against the blue metal in an attempt to soothe the sore with its natural cool. A group of girls, from her gym class had passed her, snickering their regards and calling out doggedly to her. Then Zack, with his laid-back attitude and cute shy boy personality had appeared. The girls had immediately fallen hush. If they weren't drooling over one of the many boy athletes or Freddy Jones, it was Zack. Of course, he was oblivious to this attention. Dense, as Summer had put it. But that was just another one of his charms. He must have sensed what had happened at gym, because he had leaned against the locker beside Katie and whispered 'You want me to mess them up for you? I know they're girls, but with the way I fight, they'll probably kick my ass anyways.' It had made her smile. He'd always known how to make her smile, no matter what the situation. No one else did.

And at the same time, she had blushed. No boy had ever made her blush like that before. From embarrassment, maybe, mortification even. Anger, as well. But never from sheer lightheaded giddiness. He had been close to her, and his mouth had been millimeters from her ear. His words had been warm. That was how she would always remember him, probably. Warm.

Then the girls across the hall had broke into murmurs. A little too loudly, one had commented on Zack's closeness to Katie. She had flushed, but he had simply shrugged it off, as he always did, slinking an arm over Katie's shoulders and saying jokingly 'Well, babe, let's go get lunch. Then we can make-out in the janitor's closet, huh?' This had made the girls' faces contort with disgust and horror. And Katie had easily caught on to the game, replying 'Sure thing, sweet buns, but we really need to talk about this dominatrix thing…' Zack hadn't been able to keep a straight face, hearing that in Katie's usual monotone, and he broke into laughter, as the girls turned and marched away, noses in the air and looking completely appalled. Then Zack had led Katie towards the cafeteria, but not before pecking her neatly on the cheek, a last bit of show for the fleeing girls.

Katie had fallen when he'd whispered in her ear. But the kiss had sealed the deal. It hadn't been a real "kiss", and it hadn't been the first time Zack had casually brushed his lips against her skin. It had just never felt so different.

"Do you think going from an A-minor chord to a C would sound good in an outro?" Zack spoke up, breaking their twenty minutes of complete silence. Katie looked puzzled a moment, by the question, as he stared unblinkingly at her. Then she shook her head, shrugging, and tracing her fingers over the spine of another book, one on the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"How should I know?" she mumbled, "You're the music genius, I'm just background noise." He rolled his eyes, putting the songbook back and sighing. He placed his hands on his hips and looked around the store briefly, almost groggily.

"Where'd Summer and Freddy take off to?"

"I don't know," Katie answered, following his bird like head movements and scanning the store. She hadn't even realized they'd disappeared. When she couldn't locate the two missing teens, she simply shrugged again, turning back to Zack, "They're in here somewhere. They wouldn't of taken off without us."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Zack muttered, falling back against the shelf and fingering another songbook, fingers itching to grab it out.

"You start writing new material, for the Battle of the Bands?" Katie questioned nonchalantly. She tried to appear interested in another book, but she stared at him from the corner of her eye. He was fidgeting now, pulling out a book to flip its pages aimlessly.

"A lot of crap, yeah," he answered bitterly, shoving the book back, "I can't seem to get anything good out. It all sounds like whiny emo crap, or…" he shuddered, disgustingly spitting out, "Pop rock."

"Bowling for Soup?"

"Not even…try Yellowcard."

"Oh," she gave him a sympathetic smile, patting his shoulder softly. He shook his head, frowning. She smirked, lightly punching his shoulder, before running her fingers through her hair and chuckling, "If you could just get it up to Goo Goo Dolls' level we'll be good." He glowered at her, though there was no real anger present, "Why are you in such a funk, anyways?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, slumping against the shelves, and sliding partway down to a squat, "Lack of inspiration, maybe. You'd think with Summer wanting to leave, and everyone walking on pins and needles, I'd have tons of inspiration. But I have nothing…I'm like a dry well…someone shoot me and end this creative-less misery."

"Don't be so drastic, Cobain, it's not the end of the world," Katie clucked, leaning beside him, "You'll get your groove back, sooner or later, and Billy Joel our way to the top."

"Thanks," he mumbled, "Doesn't change the fact I can't write any good music whatsoever."

"Maybe I could take a whack at writing a song," Katie suggested, smiling slyly. He looked up doubtfully to her. She spun away from the shelf, turning to face him with a bright grin, "It can't be that hard, right? What will I write a song about…?" She was thoughtful a moment, before starting in an off-tune hum. Zack shook his head, smirking up at her. And then words began to form, just as off-key as her hum, "Oh, I woke up this morning to a bright sunny day…seemed kind of weird that everything was…um…going my way…and…then I…"

"Okay, that's enough," Zack cried, jumping to his feet, shaking his head, and waving his hands in the air, before grabbing a hold of Katie and clamping one over her mouth, "Goddamn, Katie! Never, I repeat, never write a song!" She was still, looking to him with a smile in her eyes, and he slowly slid the hand away from her mouth, shaking his head still and snickering lightly. He fell silent, realizing with uncertain discontent, how closely he held her, and that his hand was in the small of her back. She lowered her eyes, and he flustered, pulling away and turning to look about the store again, stammering, "Maybe we should go find Summer and Freddy."

"Yeah, I guess…" Katie mumbled, finding herself missing his touch. They began out of the aisle, trudging, and for two people in search, their eyes were innocuously on the ground.

"Katie!" a voice shouted, and they both startled, looking up in surprise, "Zack?" Outside of the store, huddled together and staring in with wide eyes and wider smiles, were the rest of the girls in the band, as well as Billy. Alicia had been the one to shout, and Michelle was waving somewhat. Katie grinned and Zack nodded with a thin smile, as they crossed over to greet their friends.

"What are you guys doing here?" Eleni asked.

"Just shopping," Katie shrugged, "You guys?"

"Shopping," a few of the girls answered in uncoordinated unison. They broke into giggles.

"We're not…disturbing you guys, are we?" Tomika questioned quietly, easily noticing the soft pink that lay across the two teens' cheeks. But the others laughed at, what they felt was, the absurdity of the inquiry.

"Disturbing them?" Billy cried, "Why would we be disturbing them? You're too considerate for your own good, Tomika. They love us, and they'll love our company, won't they?"

"Huh?" Zack gaped, "What are you talking about, man."

"Well, obviously. We're all at the mall," Billy explained, "We can shop together, until band practice, of course. I need to get you two into something more fashionable…"

"There's Freddy," Marta spoke up, perking slightly. The others turned to see the drummer making his way from the shelves, hands shoved in his pockets. Summer was following slowly behind, arms crossed over her chest. They both wore the looks of those guilty of a crime, and if any of their friends had looked closely, they might have noticed the slight color in those teens' cheeks as well.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Freddy mumbled, eyes fixated on a spot of tile floor. Katie slipped an arm over Summer's shoulders, as everyone peered curiously at her, a few too stunned to speak. What was the jilting band manager doing there, anyways?

"You okay?" Katie whispered in her friend's ear. Summer pressed her lips together, her eyes briefly trialing to the drummer, and then nodding carefully, "What happened?"

"Nothing," Summer whispered, forcing a smile, and then turning her attention to the band. Freddy was uncomfortably listening to the others chat, and she noticed a brief glance exchanged between him and Marta. Summer braced herself, feeling her body trembling with fear, and sudden self-doubt. She didn't ponder why she was suddenly aware of the boy's movements and interactions with the others, rather, she wondered why there'd appeared to be a degree of heat between that glance. Why had they looked to one another that way? She frowned, trying to shake those thoughts. Marta was, after all, openly staring at Freddy. He was probably just shooting her a quizzical look.

It seemed the group had decided to continue through the mall, to a few clothing stores, and suddenly they were on the move. They browsed various shopping inlets, and Summer was confounded to find, that the band harbored no ill-will towards her throughout the shopping trip. Somewhere between Wet Seal and Pac Sun, Freddy and Zack somehow managed to slip off, confiding only in Katie their whereabouts and promising to meet back up at the food court later. And even as the other girls excitedly tried on new clothes, and browsed the racks with exuberance, Katie and Summer wished they were with the two AWOL boys. Shopping, clothes shopping especially, just wasn't their thing.

"Summer, you would look absolutely adorable in this," Michelle called, as her and Eleni dragged the reluctant manager to a mirror, holding a slinky red and light pink dress up in front of her.

"Oh wow, gorgeous even," Alicia commented, stopping to admire the garment. Summer blushed, shaking her head firmly.

"I could never wear anything this revealing," she sputtered, pushing it away, "Spaghetti straps and short skirts really aren't flattering on me. Practicality, that's what I look for in clothes…"

"Oh, come on," Michelle pressed, then raising an eyebrow suggestively, "I bet Kyle wouldn't mind the spaghetti straps and short skirt." The other band members perked slightly at the mention of their new rival, glancing interestedly towards the girls huddled about the mirror. Summer looked down, frowning, taking the dress away and moving towards its origin rack, hanging it back up.

"It wouldn't matter what he minded," she said quietly, taking a deep breath and looking up as pleasantly as she could muster to her friends, "We're no longer a couple." There were a few gasps, and some of the girls quickly came to her side.

"No longer a couple?" Tomika sighed, "Was it because of all this manager nonsense?"

"Sort of," Summer relinquished.

"Well, that jackass doesn't know how good he had it," Alicia soothed, smoothing Summer's hair from her face, "And if you want, I can put the smack down on him for breaking it off with you." A few eager "me too's" flitted through the band members.

"There's no need for that," Summer assured them, a little taken aback by their loyalty and willingness to stick up for her that she probably didn't deserve, but a slight hurt that they were convinced he'd broken up with her, "He didn't break anything off with me." She held her breath, waiting for the reaction that would follow that announcement. After a moment, to decipher what she meant, a great roar of approval shook through the store and she was suddenly clapped over the shoulders with hugs.

"Hallelujah!" Alicia cried.

"Thank you," Michelle squealed.

"Oh, girl," Tomika clucked, "We are so happy!"

"It took you long enough," Marta muttered.

"I think," Billy called above the rest, and they fell hush as he stepped forward, grabbing Summer's shoulders and turning her back towards the mirror, "Dropping that…well…serious hunk of a jerk is all the more reason to buy the dress." Summer glanced at her reflection as Billy raised the dress back up to her shoulders. It was a pretty garment. She glanced at the price tag. It was on sale, too. Katie slunk to her side, whispering in her ear.

"I think even that guy who you think you have no chance with couldn't resist seeing you in this." And that seemed to end the debate.

After a few more stops, the group made their way to the food court for some lunch. Summer grasped her purchase to her, peeking inside curiously at it. Her mother would kill her for buying the gaudy thing. A waste of money, the older woman would exclaim. That was alright, though. Summer knew, she just wouldn't show it to her mother.

"There are so many cute guys out there," Eleni was saying, "It's amazing so many of us are single."

"Tell me about it," Michelle rolled her eyes, "And now you're back on the single wagon with the rest of us, huh, Summer? Oh well…"

"I seriously think Frankie is working up the courage to finally ask you out," Billy announced, touching Michelle's arm lightly and smiling knowingly.

"Oh," she sighed, shaking her head, "I sincerely hope you're right. I can't keep waiting for him, not with all the boys constantly pestering me for dates."

"Four boys this past month," Eleni verified and the others shook their heads in stun. How did she do it?

"Well, if things work out, I may not be single for long," Tomika commented quietly, sipping at her glass of fruit punch. The others turned to look at her in surprise.

"Say what?" Alicia squealed, "Who? What? When…? Huh?"

"I can't give you the details, I'm sorry. I don't want to get my hopes up," Tomika shrugged it off, shaking her head, "And I don't want to say anything too soon."

"I didn't even know you had a boy in mind," Eleni cried.

"Well…I have for awhile…actually. It's no big deal. I'm probably just assuming…but after the other night and…the problem is he's so shy. And dating is really not one of his priorities. And his parents are weird, so…" she trailed off, sighing, "But a girl can dream, right?"

"Tomika," Michelle said with a cluck of her tongue, "Any guy you have your sights on who can't get off his rump and ask you out is seriously missing a few brain cells!"

"It's not all his fault," Tomika reasoned, "I could make a move, too. Say something, tell him how I feel. We spent all Friday night talking and…" she clamped a hand over her mouth, "I mean…"

"Friday night!" Alicia screeched excitedly, "Friday night you spent talking with…Lawrence? Oh my god, Tomika! Lawrence! You like Lawrence!"

"Oh, Tomika, how come I've never seen it before," Katie swooned, "Always talking about books, always chatting in the hallways…you guys are perfect for each other. And he definitely likes you. He doesn't put reading on hold for just anyone, you know!"

"I…I…" Tomika stammered, flustered, then drawing her brow together, "You think?"

"If he's not into you, then he has to be gay," Billy assured her, "Which he's not. So he has to be into you."

"I like that logic," Tomika grinned and burst into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, you guys will be so cute together," Summer sighed and the others quickly agreed.

"So, Michelle has Frankie. Tomika has Lawrence. Hm…" Eleni mused, "Anyone else have any secret crushes brewing?" Marta made a squeaking noise, and they all turned to her. She shook her head, blushing, and poking at her cup of lemonade, making a great deal of motion when popping a french-fry in her mouth.

"Marta," Michelle cooed, "Spill, now."

"I'm just…it's nothing. No one," Marta shook her head firmly, "No. Me, crush…no."

"Oh, but you do," Summer noted, "I've seen you, always drawing hearts on your papers, and daydreaming…"

"Oooo," Alicia hummed, draping an arm over Marta's shoulders, the strawberry blonde's cheeks a deep pink, "Our baby Blondie has a crush. Who?"

"No," she shook her head, "I couldn't…"

"Come on," the girls pressed, leaning in, "Marta, tell!"

"What are friends for if you can't confide in them?" Michelle questioned rhetorically.

"I…"

"And you've never had a crush before, so this must be big," Billy pointed out, "Maybe we can help you."

"Oh…"

"Marta," Alicia pestered, "We are your friends. We are closer than friends, we are family. Family tell each other everything. Who's this boy? Does he like you? Details, every last one of them."

"Oh…okay," Marta took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut, "You'll all think I'm so stupid…but…I…" she bit her lower lip opening her eyes to stare uncertainly out at her friends, "It's Freddy." Summer felt her stomach drop as the other girls gave looks of bewilderment.

"Freddy? Oh, no, Marta, not Freddy," Michelle cried.

"No, just hear me out," Marta shouted, "I know that Freddy is…well…Freddy. I just think that…you know, it sounds a little romantic, but…I think if he had a girlfriend…a really good girlfriend, that really cared about him, he'd stop all the things he does. That he'd…that…I don't…I think he could change his ways, if he knew someone really loved him." They were all stunned silent.

"You're in love with Freddy?" Katie spoke up. Marta turned a deep shade of red.

"I don't think that…no, I couldn't possibly be in love with Freddy. I love Freddy, but not in love, I mean…it's just too early to tell, don't you think," she sputtered.

"How long have you had this crush?" Eleni questioned. Summer pulled her bag towards her, pursing her lips and trying to focus on the pretty garment inside, trying to fight the emotions struggling within her.

"Well…" Marta mumbled, "A year and a half, now." A few of the girls gasped, and Summer winced, feeling sick.

A year and a half. For a year and a half Marta had liked Freddy as more than a friend. For a year and a half, she'd cared endearingly for Freddy. For a year and a half, she'd pined over him and thought of him and longingly waited for him to notice her. For a year and a half she'd fantasized about saving him from his life and taking him away from everything that was horrible and helping him straighten everything out. For a year and a half, even as she denied it, she'd been in love with Freddy.

And for a year and a half, Summer had barely realized Freddy was there. Hadn't she? She didn't even think that he had a life outside of the band, that he was hurting, that he was screwing around for some un-evident reason. Something was hurting him, and Marta had noticed, whereas Summer had simply shrugged it off as a defective personality trait.

"Do you think…do you think he returns your feelings?" Summer whispered, deathly pale as she clutched her bag to her. Marta looked surprised, then let her eyes fall to her french-fries.

"I don't know. But he…Friday night…he kissed me."

"He did," Eleni squealed, "Oh, how cute!"

"Well, actually…"

"I have to go to the restroom," Summer excused herself. Stiffly she stood, hastily striding away from the table, as the girls surrounded Marta for details. She didn't hear the part where Marta explained Freddy had been drunk, and there might have been nothing to the kiss, but she wouldn't have cared either way.

The swinging door to the restroom slammed shut and Summer braced herself against the counter in front of the mirror and sink. She took a composing breath, trying to calm her nerves, trying to stop shaking, then turned the water on and splashed her face.

What do we do? What are we doing? She had been so uncertain, so scared of these feelings inside her, back at the bookstore.

I don't know. But we'll figure it out. His words had been such a comfort. She'd been convinced that everything would be alright. That they could figure out, even soon possibly, what was happening between them. And then he had drawn her forward, into another kiss, brushed her hair from her eyes.

Stop avoiding me, he had told her, it pisses me off. It was the closest he could come to speaking about his feelings. She could tell, from the look in his eyes, that it hurt him as well. And then he'd left and she had followed.

She wished he was there now, but she didn't know why. Being around him, especially since the night before, she felt secure. She felt all jittery as well, from their kissing endeavors, but that feeling of safety still remained. He would take care of her, she was convinced, she was protected with him.

A harrowing decision settled inside of Summer. Marta deserved him. He deserved Marta. The blonde really cared about him, deeply, and there was no doubt in that cherubic face of her motives for loving him. Marta cared about Freddy for no reason than to simply care about him. She probably knew a lot about Freddy's life. He probably talked to her about how un-perfect things were at home, the security dogs, being a plumber, broken vases, and the lonely nights. Marta had probably been over to Freddy's house on a few occasions. She'd probably even been inside his 'home'. That look in Marta's eyes suggested that she knew Freddy, that she really knew him. Marta probably even knew that it was unwise to talk about Freddy's father with him. She probably even knew about Freddy's father, knew everything about the enigmatic business tycoon who's very mention incited so much turmoil in the drummer.

And like Marta had said, maybe if Freddy had someone who truly cared about him. Someone who was stable even, and knew exactly what she wanted, who wasn't a complete and total bitch and didn't treat Freddy the way he thought he deserved to be treated, he could get his life together. Maybe he would stop drinking, stop womanizing, stop doing all those things he did to hurt himself. He would do all those things for Marta. Because Marta could make him feel loved, could make him feel cared about. Because Marta wouldn't be using him.

I haven't even had the chance to figure out how I feel about him and already he's being taken away, Summer thought, her eyes glazing over with fresh tears. She clutched the counter rim, squatting down to press her forehead against the cool plastic, ignoring how dirty and unsanitary everything was in that public place. But doesn't Marta just deserve him more? Wouldn't she be a great deal better for him than you? Yes. Probably. The door opened, and she straightened, turning to face the newcomer, and swiping away those small tears.

Katie crossed her arms over her chest, staring impertinently at Summer, her lips pressed together and her eyes wide.

"You abandoned me," she accused, "They were ready to zero in on me with their 'who has a crush on who' game. I barely scrambled out of there!"

"I'm sorry," Summer quickly apologized, but caught the worry lining her friend's face and fell silent.

"Why'd you take off?"

"No reason," Summer shrugged, turning back to face the mirror and attempt straightening her hair. She hadn't realized it was such a mess. She blushed. Freddy and the bookshelf hadn't exactly helped. Katie fell in beside her, tugging out a tube of lip gloss from her pocket, and applying some.

"You've been acting a little weird, is all," she murmured, "What do you think of Marta liking Freddy? Freaky, huh? Though I guess we should have seen it coming…the way Marta is always hanging around him, always talking to him, always wondering where he is."

"I guess," Summer mumbled, glowering at a particular knot that was giving her trouble as she ran her fingers through it. She tried not to let her voice break under the pressure of suppressing her true feelings. She dared a glance Katie's way, "What do you think?"

"It's Freddy," Katie shook her head, then sighing haggardly, "The others are all gung-ho about Marta's crush. They think she has a huge chance…and that they'd make a perfect couple."

"Oh," Summer stammered, choking on the word somewhat, "Do they really?"

"Yeah," Katie piped, turning to lean back on the counter and smiling half-heartedly at Summer, "But let's be honest here. If, and this is a huge if, Freddy and Marta were to date, which would never happen because Freddy doesn't date band members according to Zack, I highly doubt that any amount of love and caring she could cram down his throat would have any affect on him. He would never want to be her charity case, but that's exactly what she's making him out to be. You remember when there was that lost puppy, and Marta just had to take it in because it looked so sad and lonely."

"Turned out it had rabies," Summer muttered, "I remember. Most of the band had to get shots. At least I didn't. We had to have the dog put down too, and no one in the band would talk to her for weeks, and vice versa. Made practices really hard. But Freddy doesn't have rabies…anymore…and he's not a lost puppy."

"And he wouldn't like being treated as one, either," Katie pointed out, "It's just Marta doesn't understand him, is all. Hell, you'd think I could connect, my life is so screwed up, but even I don't understand him. His life, what little Zack has mentioned about it, makes my life look like…like…a boat on a river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies."

"Like an LSD trip?" Summer scrunched her nose and they laughed.

"Okay, bad reference…but I don't know. She's right, it's a little too romantic an idea, that she would swoop down on his miserable life with her light and happiness and cheer and save him from himself," Katie shook her head, "I feel bad saying this, but that is way too idealistic, even for her."

"No. You shouldn't feel bad," Summer told her, smiling solemnly, though feeling the weight lift off her chest, and a little less sick to the stomach. She hadn't thought of things that way and she was grateful for Katie then, more intensely then before, for pointing it out to her, "You're right. It's an unrealistic fantasy, that chances are, will never work out."

"Should we tell her?"

"No. They already think I'm a bitch, why open my mouth and prove it?" Summer reasoned.

"You're not a bitch."

"Don't lie to me, Katie, I see it in your eyes."

"Oh yes. You're right. I think you are a complete and total bitch. You saw right through that one," the bassist dripped sarcastically, shaking her head and chuckling softly.

"I knew it," Summer murmured stubbornly.

They exited the bathroom together, their laughter dying as they entered the crowded food court once more. And Summer's smile faded almost completely as she spied that Zack and Freddy had returned. The drummer was seated beside Marta, probably due to the meddling of the other band members, and she was leaning in to whisper something in his ear. He seemed to nod, but Summer couldn't read his expression. He looked flustered. She frowned, feeling her stomach knot. They looked good, sitting next to each other, whispering in one another's ears, she realized.

Maybe it would be better if Marta was with Freddy. And in order for that to happen, Summer thought, she would have to step aside.

0-0-

The days leading to Friday auditions were hazy. Summer made a good effort of avoiding Freddy without appearing to be avoiding him. She sat with the band at lunch again, laughed with them, walked to classes with them. But she made it a point not to find herself alone with the blonde drummer. And she believed or simply hoped, he hadn't caught on, that in truth, she was still avoiding him.

But Kyle, however, did. Her strange behavior around the drummer was more than evident to the ex-boyfriend, as were all of Summer's 'behaviors'. In fact, he watched her like a hawk. And as she flitted around at the auditions, his eyes were ever on her. She was near the band, chatting and laughing with Katie and a few of the other girls. At one moment, she tripped, and Freddy easily caught her. She'd blushed, said something and shied away. Kyle frowned at this. Something was definitely going on.

The auditions were being held at a small amphitheater, which would also be the location of the contest. It was fairly new, a part of a near-by university, a prestigious arts' institute. A few of the bands had already auditioned, and Kyle sat with the other Barber Boys, awaiting their turn. The crowd was sparse now, as people came and went from their auditions. It was just perfunctory, Kyle knew, he and his group would make the bill without problem. And they would win, he was convinced, because they were the best. He didn't even bother listening to the other groups as they performed.

The small door, leading to the audience floor and stage, opened and a stout man holding a clipboard stepped out.

"School of Rock," the man called, and Kyle watched them disappear into the stage area. He frowned. Summer stood to the far wall with a few of the other non-musicians in their group.

"Why are we still doing this?" Cory moaned, beside Kyle, shooting an uncertain look towards a boy with a foot tall Mohawk and several piercings. Kyle ripped his eyes from the petite dark haired woman, and glowered out at his 'friends'.

"Yeah," Matthew whined, "She dumped you. Shouldn't this be over?"

"No," Kyle snapped, "We're still going through with this stupid thing, and we will win and she will leave that band behind. Then, without them to influence her, she'll come back to me and…"

"Oh god," Darren muttered, huddling closer to the other two boys, all wearing blanched faces of fear, looking out at the less than chaste looking rockers around them, "Why are you always like this? Just let her go…sheesh. It was the same thing with what's-her-name…Gretchen or Gina…"

"Greta," Kyle hissed, "And it is not. I happen to love Summer and I happen to think she feels the same about me. It's those damn friends of hers, and that damn Freddy Jones…"

"Here he goes again," Matthew rolled his eyes, "Freddy Jones is just some punk kid, jeez Kyle, he's a spoiled rich delinquent. Just get your dad to sue his dad…that was assault and battery he committed against you…"

"Yeah, and look at your face, man," Darren put in. Kyle winced, touching a finger to his less swollen nose. It still stung.

"Who knows what that guy is capable of," Cory commented, "He's crazy. They all are…with their 'rock' music. And that old man at that dirty apartment, he's almost like their cult leader, or something…"

"All the more reason to get Summer away from them," Kyle insisted, "She'll come back to me, when I win this stupid contest…I just know it. They made her break up with me. I have to save her from them."

"Maybe that little band won't pass the audition," Matthew said hopefully, "Which would mean they'd lose the contest, and Summer would be ours…" he swallowed hard, having received a death glare from Kyle, "I mean…yours. Then we wouldn't have to perform."

Kyle shook his head, and perked when the door opened again and the School of Rock band members strode back out. He frowned. They'd auditioned already? That was quick. He didn't even recall hearing any music.

"Barber Boys," the man announced, and Kyle, with his group, marched towards the door. He paused, to gander at the School of Rock kids, who had taken to lounging, a few shooting looks of disgust the Barber Boys' way. He shook his head and continued forward towards the stage. He took his position and waited as Mr. Salvatore, who wasn't particularly happy with the idea of this contest, but found a way to work in making some sort of profit and publicity from it, put their music on.

Kyle smiled, broadly, winningly, as he'd been trained to do. Even though he felt sick, angry, and hurt. No one had ever broken up with him before. But Summer had. He loved her. Didn't she love him? She had to. But the way she acted around that Freddy Jones. The way she smiled at him, talked to him, looked to him with those soft, gentle eyes. It was almost like she wanted something from Freddy. How could she want anything from that womanizing jerk, Kyle wondered. Certainly anything that spoiled rich boy had to offer, Kyle could give ten times better. Freddy must be manipulating her, he assessed.

As Kyle went through the motions, sang the lyrics he'd memorized from so many performances, put on the show, all the facial expressions, all the dance moves, everything, he thought bitterly of Summer. They would win that competition, he decided. They would win no matter what, and she would come to him, and he would show her how much he loved her. And if she didn't come back to him, if his love wasn't enough to convince her he was everything she needed, then he would have to show her what kind of person Freddy Jones really was. By any means necessary, he would get Summer back.

The music ended, and Kyle energetically bounded off the stage with his fellow singers, just another part of the act. They gathered together, wiping the sweat from their brow and smiling pleasantly at the judges.

"Very nice," one of the judges, a pleasant young woman smiled, clapping her hands together. The other judge, the stout man, nodded somewhat, a frown creasing his mouth. The woman looked to him, "What do you think?"

"It's not the style we usually display…"

"Exactly. You wanted to draw in a larger crowd. We have to expand the musical horizon of our show," the woman pointed out. The man looked thoughtful a moment, before nodding.

"Right. You're on the bill," he informed them. Kyle grinned triumphantly, and Mr. Salvatore thanked the man.

As they began to walk out, Kyle announced, "I wonder if that School of Rock is on the bill, and if they had just as much ease…"

"School of Rock?" the man perked, and the boys paused, turning to look at him quizzically, "Now they're a great band. Of course they're on the bill. They're automatically on it, what with being the returning champions. They were here to make sure we put them on the bill, gave us a rundown of their new material and the equipment they'd need. I'm not judging...and I really shouldn't say anything...but I think they stand a great chance of winning again this year.."

"Those kids are so talented," the woman quickly agreed, "And passionate, too. You don't see that kind of love for music in these competitions nowadays…"

Kyle shook his head, an awning of disheartenment settling in his stomach. They walked out the door and found some of the band members, Dewey included, standing close by as though they had been listening. Freddy was leaned against the wall, beside Zack and Lawrence, Gordie and Leonard were there as well, and they nodded smugly at Kyle as though trying to appear like they just decided to stand there. He shook his head, growling softly under his breath as his group left the building.

Dewey looked to the other guys in stun, shaking his head, flabbergasted. He'd been silent, intently listening to the music muffled through that door. As the front entrance slammed shut behind the Barber Boys and they were officially gone, he let out a groan.

"She's leaving the dark side for that?" he cried, "Man, they suck!"

"Tell me about it," Zack muttered in disgust, "Such commercial lyrics…"

"And their music is just background noise," Lawrence commented, "It's all about their singing, so the music doesn't have to be that good, huh?"

"Exactly, dude," Freddy groaned.

"The problem is," Gordie interrupted, "The judges aren't going to know that. This style of, if you can call it music, is so popular right now…and they will be the only ones of that genre performing…and well…chances are the judges will see them as innovative and new."

"Translation," Leonard sighed, "As much as I know we all hate to admit it, those guys might actually have the potential to be serious competition."

0-0-

Kyle slumped in the car, shaking his head for the thousandth time since they'd left the amphitheater.

"I hate to admit this," he finally spoke up, "But it would seem School of Rock is actually going to be serious competition."

"Yeah," Mr. Salvatore sighed, "And with how much I'm pumping up this comp, you guys had better win. Because if you lose to those kids, chances are…they'll get all the recognition I'm trying to send your boys' way."

"But what'll we do?" Matthew whined, "You saw the way those judges lit up when that band was even mentioned. They frowned the whole time we were performing…"

"Which is weird, because we were perfect," Darren muttered and the other boys broke into a discussion of everything that was great about their try-out. But Kyle wasn't paying attention. The gears in his head were slowly turning as a plot formed. He smirked. By any means necessary, no matter what it took, he was winning that competition.

"I think I know what we can do," he announced, grinning mischievously and the others looked at him, "We get them in trouble…for lip-synching."

"Huh?" Cody scrunched his nose, "Do they lip-synch?"

"Not yet," Kyle sneered, "Not yet…but in three weeks, four judges and a crowded amphitheater will think exactly that. And lip-synching is an automatic disqualification." The three other boys looked amongst themselves uncertainly, eyeing Kyle with disbelief at what he was suggesting, and a little bit of fear. Was he really proposing they set up this other band? They readied a protest, when Mr. Salvatore cleared his throat.

"I like that idea," he said, "You have the makings of a true chart climber, Kyle, you know that? Now why don't you tell us how you plan on pulling this off…" And the three boys clamped their mouths shut, because they too wanted to be true chart climbers.

A/N: HUH! That evil Kyle. What is he plotting? Bad, bad Kyle! And yes, Summer found out about Freddy kissing Marta! Oh no! What could possibly happen next!

Well, I have to get back to writing. Hm...I was drinking an apple marguerite, not long ago, and my head feels all floaty. My mom thinks it was a virgin, but I'm feeling all buzzed and I stood there watching my aunt make it, so...don't tell my mom. There's not much she can do about it now, I already drank one and half. It's not like it was my first drink, jeez...um...I mean...I've never drunk. Drinking alcohol is bad. Especially if you aren't of legal age...uh...

Please excuse any grammatical and typing errors, as well as any band slamming (if you're a fan of any band I might have inadvertantly or purposely put down) that occured. While I'm at it, please excuse any Freddy angst that I caused, any Summer bitchiness, any overly perky characters, and the Barber Boys, because let's face it...they need to be excused. Which reminds me. Hm...let's make a game out of it...can you all find the ways in which the Barber Boys are opposite of School of Rock? Tell me, when you REVIEW!

Thanks for Reading. Rock out. Awww...my Pink Floyd cd stopped...crazy...toys in the attic...i am crazy...THEMUSIC WILL NEVER DIE!