Zack woke up with Freddy still holding onto him. He moved slowly and slipped out of his boyfriend's arm and threw a shirt on before leaving the room and running right into a woman in the hall. "Sorry, still waking up." He said.
"No problem, Zack. I'm used to it." Zack grew confused hearing his name and shook his head more awake and saw Luna, the Hex Girls keyboardist in front of him.
"Luna? Why are you here? Are Thorn and Dusk here too?" He asked.
"Yeah, your cousin went out to get breakfast and Dusk's passed out right from staying up watching Netflix all night. And I'm guessing you're here for the same reason we are."
"Rock Fest invited you too?"
"You know it sweetie. I'll catch you later alright?" She said continuing down the hall.
Summer was sitting outside as she watched their bus drive into the parking. She smiled as Chiaki, his father, and Bart left the bus and made their way over. "I don't want to hear it right now, can I just have the key to my room?" Chiaki asked Summer. She rolled her eyes and handed the key over.
"You're rooming with your dad." She told him.
"Well, I wouldn't want any of you to have to deal with him." He said taking his stuff inside with his father behind him.
"What about me?" Bart asked.
"I don't even know why you're here, but you'll have to share a room with Billy. I wouldn't go in there right now though. Go bug your brother." She said turning and heading back inside.
Freddy was lying asleep in his bed when he felt the other side of the bed being pushed down. "That you Baby? Why don't you come back into my arms and we spend all day in bed together?"
"Ew, is that you talk to people you date?' Freddy recognized his brother's voice immediately and jumped out of bed as fast as possible.
"What are you doing here?"
"I stowed away remember? Why are you in your underwear?"
"That's just how I sleep ok?" He asked grabbing a pair of basketball shorts.
"Suuurrre," Bart said sarcastically. Freddy was about to respond when he heard a knock at the door. He opened it and there was a woman standing outside in a business suit.
"Fredrick Jones?" She asked.
"Haven't been called that in a while, but that's me." He responded.
"My boss in Room 1805 would like to speak with you. If you could finish getting dressed and follow me please." Freddy looked at her confused but went to get a shirt before following her anyways.
"Bart, stay here and don't cause too much trouble ok?"
"We finally got the hot tub to ourselves." Tomika said to Lawrence, leaning back into his embrace.
"I thought you didn't like to be wet." He said into her ear.
"I don't think I mind when you're the one getting me wet." She said rubbing her hand down his chest. Lawrence swallowed hard.
"I need to be somewhere cold," He said climbing out and jumping into the pool. Tomika smiled and sat back to relax.
Zack walked back into to his and Freddy's room and double back for a minute when he saw Bart there. "Ok, Freddy you either de-aged while I was out or-"
"What up Z-Man?" Bart asked, cutting him off.
"That's what I was afraid of. Bart, where's Freddy?"
"Dunno, some lady showed up earlier and asked him to go with her." He told him.
"Some lady? What did she look like?" Zack asked, sitting down.
"Blond hair, glasses, really big-"
"Bart,"
"What? You wanted to know what she looked like didn't you?" Zack inhaled and gave Bart a "continue" gesture. "She also kind of had resting bi-"
"Ok, this is getting us nowhere."
Freddy stepped into the room the lady took him to and saw a man sitting at a table inside. "Freddy Jones right?" He asked.
"Just Freddy's fine," He said tired of hearing his full name.
"Please take a seat." He said, pulling out a chair.
"What's this about?" He asked sitting down.
"My name is Kendall Schmidt, I'm the manager of the band Night Lizard, another band invited to the festival. I've seen your band perform before and you, my young friend, are very talented."
"Um, thanks," Where's he going with this? Freddy thought.
"Perhaps I should get to why I wished to see you here today. Our drummer was in an accident on her way into town and will be unable to play by the time the festival arrives."
"And you want me to take her place, I get it. I'm sorry, but I'm already part of a band." Freddy said getting up.
"If you play with us, you're bound to get far more exposure should you play as a part of our band."
"Look, me and my boyfriend got back together and I really wanna be up on stage with him again-"
"We're willing to pay you five-grand." Kendall told him. Freddy stopped dead in his tracks and sat back down.
"Do I get one of those jackets?" Freddy asked, referring to the jacket Kendall was wearing with the band's name. Kendall smiled and nodded.
"Clark, have Gordon and Marco finished getting ready with the light and set up?" Summer asked.
"Indeed they are," He told her.
"Excellent. Chiaki needs to rest, but tomorrow we need to start practicing immediately."
"Of course Summer." He said as he stood awkwardly in the doorway.
"You can leave now, if you want." She said softly.
"I'd rather stay to be honest." He said in response.
"Oh, well that's fine too." Both of them sat on the end of her bed in silence hoping the other one would say something. Luckily for Clack, Summer spoke up. "Look Clark, about last night-"
"Yeah?" He asked excitedly.
"That was really sweet what you did."
"Well, I saw that you were having a hard time and I wanted to make it better."
"I never really thanked you did I?" She asked scooting closer to him. Clark began to blush. Summer kept her face down so Clark would see her face being a matching shade or red.
"Th-that won't be necessary." He said, his voice cracking.
"N-no really, I insist." She said, wrapping her pinkie finger around his. Both of them began to breathe heavily, but before they either of them could make a move, the door swung open with Leonard on the other side.
"Hey Sum, me and Frankie were wondering if-" He stopped dead in his tracks seeing the two sitting very close to each other. "Oh I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" He asked amused.
"Nope!" Summer said fast, pushing Clark over. "What did you need?"
"Nothing anymore, seeing that was worth all the performances in the world!" He said as he walked away laughing.
"Freddy, there you are." Zack said walking up and hugging him. "Where were you and why is Bart here? And what is that jacket?"
"You're gonna wanna sit down Babe." He said.
"Freddy, I can take it, just tell me." He reassured him.
"I agreed to play in a different band for the Rock Festival." He said bluntly.
"...oh," Zack said softly.
"You hate me don't you? I knew it, I'll go tell them it's not happening." He said turning around.
"No, no, Freddy it's ok." He said taking ahold of his boyfriend's hand. "Bart came for a reason didn't he?"
"Are you sure? I really will go tell them it's not happening." He offered again.
"If you want to play for another band, I won't stop you."
"Oh good, because I kind of signed a contract saying I have to." He admitted.
"There it is. I'm gonna go introduce Thorn to the rest of our band." Zack said making his way for the door.
"The Hex Girls are here?" Freddy asked.
"Apparently," He said before closing the door on his way out.
"So am I the band's drummer now?" Bart asked.
"What do you mean by that?" Freddy asked.
"You had me play at the last dance and now that we're at probably one of the biggest shows the band's gonna have and you're blowing them off again." Bart explained.
"Bart, Night Lizard's director is offering me five thousand dollars to play for them. Do you know what that could mean?"
"All the fried chicken." Bart said with his mouth watering.
"Sure, all the fried chicken." Freddy said in a deadpan tone.
"You're sure, you're related?" Katie asked Zack and Thorn were sitting next to each other in the same pose, both wearing black swimsuits. The two turned their heads and looked at each other.
"Pretty sure." They said in unison.
"Seems like it to me." Lawrence said.
"Our mom's are sisters." Zack told them.
"We both have one sixteenth wiccan blood because of it." Thorn added.
"I'm dating a witch?" Freddy asked, walking out to the pool area. "Cool,"
"What's with the jacket?" Frankie asked.
"You wanna tell them or should I?" Bart asked from behind him.
"Listen guys-" Freddy started to say with a sigh.
"I'm playing in his place again." Bart said before his brother could finish.
"What?!" Summer cried standing up from her chair next to Clark. "Freddy, a word please?" She said walking up to him.
"Zack?" Katie asked, turning to him.
"It's fine. I'm not gonna be a controlling boyfriend."
"But,"
"I'm ok, trust me." He said flashing a smile.
"Good to see Ashton taught you how fake a smile." Thorn said quietly enough for only him to hear. "Do even believe yourself?"
"We've had too many fights, I don't want to cause another one." He explained.
"You're really doing this?" Summer asked.
"Sum, come on, these guys are gonna pay be five thousand bucks."
"It always comes back to money with you doesn't it?"
"Says the richest girl in school."
"That's not the point and you know it."
"Look, Bart's here. Do you think I'd even consider it if you guys didn't have a stand in for me?"
"You're practically a stand in for him at this point. Besides, Bart may be good, but he's not you Freddy. You're supposed to be our drummer."
"Look, this is the last time I'll stick him in with you guys ok? I promise."
"I hope so," Summer said looking out at Zack sharing a laugh with his cousin. "For his sake." She added, walking back out.
