I'm sorry, yet again, for taking so long to write this, but today I was in town with my dad, and "Long Way to the Top" came on. You know, the song School of Rock plays at the very end? Only, it was ACDC's version... Anyway, I took it as a message to get back to writing the story, so here you go, the second part at long last.

--

Something was wrong. Zack wasn't stupid, he could tell by the way Freddy would hardly meet his eyes and only talked to him if he needed something. The most interaction had occurred between them when Freddy had asked for the salt during breakfast in the hotel restaurant that morning.

What had he done wrong? Did he accidentally leave a scratch on Freddy's drum kit? Stretch out one of his favorite band shirts? He highly doubted the last one, because he hadn't put on a growth spurt recently, at least not to his knowledge, and if it had been something as simple as a damaging a piece of equipment, the matter would've already been settled. So, what was it then?

Since they had a free day, everyone decided to go check out the local mall, and agreed to meet for lunch. Since Freddy seemed determined not to come near Zack with a ten foot pole, he oped for hanging out with Gordon, Marco, Frankie, Leonard, and Dewey. They (minus Dewey) didn't share the bus with the band, but stuck with them like glue any other time and were nice enough.

Zack soon regretted his choice when his little group made a beeline for Spencer's, the posters of scantly clad women in particular, but much to his surprise, Dewey chose to linger behind, giving his best attempt to look casual about it. His knack for wearing his emotions on his sleeve served as both a blessing and a curse, the latter usually for himself.

"Hey dude," Dewey flashed a strained grin.

"Hey," Zack grunted. He had a feeling that he knew what Dewey was going to talk to him about.

"So, I noticed you and Freddy didn't stick together today..."

"Touché, Captain Obvious," Zack snorted in amusement, folding his arms across his chest.

"Well, you know how I hate to pry, but do you wanna tell me why my drummer and lead guitarist suddenly aren't speaking to each other?" Dewey nudged Zack suggestively, in what Zack guessed to be his usual effort to add humor to the situation.

Zack sighed. "I really wish I could tell you why he's pissed at me, but I'm just as knowledgeable as you," he shrugged.

"You guys didn't happen to get drunk last night, did you?" Dewey asked. "I think I remember buying you guys some celebratory booze since the concert went so well, but I can't be sure."

Zack's eyes widened in horror. "Shit. You think I did something that pissed him off last night? I tend not to hold my liquor as well as him..."

Dewey smiled wanly. "You never know man, but I wouldn't let it go too long. You guys have been friends since like-"

"Kindergarten, yeah," Zack nodded. "You're right, I'll try to talk to him. It's just a matter of him being willing or not."

--

It felt like decades later when lunchtime finally rolled around, probably because of the multiple stores Zack had been drug in against his will, but it might just have had something to do with the fact that he still needed to figure out what was up with Freddy and now knew that Dewey was watching to make sure he did it, too.

As was to be expected, Katie and Freddy were the last two to show up in the food court. They looked slightly worn out, but amused. As soon as Zack's eyes met Freddy's though, the expression disappeared so fast that it was hard to believe it'd even been there just a few seconds ago.

Katie noticed the exchange, gave a small shrug, and smiled sympathetically, as if apologizing for something. Right then he knew it was her that he needed to go to if he wanted to figure out just what the hell was going on. Chances were, she'd instigated it...

Once everyone began to go their separate ways again, Zack grasped Katie's shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"Hey, hold on a minute. I wanna talk to you," he ordered.

She tensed up, but remained where she was, watching wistfully as Freddy and Tomekia headed off towards Target. Oh, she'd definitely been up to something, and now it was time for her to own up to it. Besides, it seemed like Freddy already knew what had happened, so it was about time Zack got clued in on it all.

"So, why is Freddy pissed at me," he asked bluntly.

"What are you talking about?" Katie feigned ignorance, but not well enough.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about," Zack eyed her skeptically. "I want to know what kind of shit you're up to, and I want to know now."

She glanced away and began to gnaw on her lip. "Uh, well, you know how I figured out you like Freddy and all?"

Zack's breath caught, and a shot of adrenaline seared through his body. Now he was beginning to catch on, and starting to regret the confrontation. "Yes? Now, please deliver the verdict, even though I know I don't want to hear it."

"Last night I got you guys drunk enough to play Truth or Dare, and you kissed," the words spilled out of her mouth in a barely distinguishable jumble. "Freddy happened to remember, because he could drink even Dewey under the table, so that's why he's really awkward around you now?"

Zack jerked his hand away from Katie's shoulder as if he'd just found out she had a contagious disease. This could not be happening to him! His best friend now wanted nothing to do with him because one of his band mates had taken it upon herself to meddle in his love life? It had to be one giant nightmare, that he'd wake up from in a few minutes, right? To be sure, clichéd as it was, he reached down to pinch his arm. He winced slightly at the pan, and the confirmation it was all really happening.

"God, I need a cigarette," he moaned. "I can't believe you did this, Katie. I don't know who you thought you'd be doing a favor by fucking up mine and Freddy's relationship."

"In my defense, I know it was for the best. You guys will work things out, and you'll thank me later. Mark my words Zack!" she warned.

"Yeah, whatever," Zack was so angry that he could hardly think. "Luckily, I still have half a pack of cigarettes, so I'm going to go sit outside and bring upon my death a little faster at the risk of taking the lives of innocent bystanders."

He could feel her eyes burning into his back as he stalked off towards the doors, which only made him hunch over further. He dearly hoped that she felt guilty for what she'd done, because if he and Freddy were unable to patch things up, it could very well mean the end of the band.

--

Things only seemed to become more tense over the next couple of days. Sure, they could put aside their drama for the sake of putting on a good show, which only proved how dedicated they were to being musicians. The fact that Zack was starting to become a chain smoker just wasn't cutting it, though.

Summer joined them in Vegas, and immediately picked up on the tension. After all, it wasn't like she'd been born yesterday, as she still so frequently reminded the motley crew under her management, because to that day, they attempted to pull fast ones on her.

Since they still had a couple hours before they were due to go on that night, Zack had wondered out to one of the picnic benches near the tour bus, guitar in hand and yet another cigarette between his lips. He looked every bit the struggling musician, even though music was the furthest from his concerns.

Having seen him exit the tour bus out of the corner of her eye, Summer decided to follow him. If anyone could get Zack to open up and feel better about whatever it was that was bothering him, it was her. She'd sort of made it her mission, ever since she developed an unrequited crush on him back in sixth grade. Eventually, she'd moved on, because honestly? Why ruin such a great friendship, and maybe she'd picked up on the fact that he didn't seem as obsessed with girls as the rest of the guys did? She kept the suspicion to herself, though, figuring he'd tell her when the time was right.

"Hey, mind if I join you?" she requested politely.

"I guess not," Zack gave a half-hearted shrug.

"So, it seems like something is bothering you..." she knew it was wrong to pressure him, but sometimes all he needed was a little shove in the right direction.

He took a long drag from his cigarette, holding in the smoke as long as he could before he started to feel the sting of the nicotine in his lungs. Did he really want to drag Summer into the mess, especially after she'd nearly lost her grandma?

"It's... complicated," he said finally, putting the cigarette to his lips again. "Let me put it this way, Katie meddled where she shouldn't have and made things complicated between Freddy and I. Now I have to start cleaning up, but I have absolutely no idea where to begin."

"I suppose you're not going to tell me exactly what kind of meddling Katie did?" Summer waved away some of the smoke that blown in her direction.

"Sorry, wind changed..." Zack muttered. "I'd rather not, but you've got the gist of it. It's not like you can do anything about it anyway. It's not your problem to fix."

Summer did feel like she did have the "gist" of it, truth be told. In fact, along with picking up on Zack's sexuality, she'd also noticed an undertone of sexual tension between him and Freddy, and obviously she wasn't the only one. The only difference was, she hadn't had the nerve to act on it unlike Katie had. She couldn't exactly admit whose side she was really on though, so she remained silent as Zack began to play the opening cords to some Beatles song.

--

"Katie, what did you do?" Summer had caught her backstage after the show was over.

"I knew you'd figure it out..." Katie shook her head, smiling grimly. "I just got them to play Truth or Dare when they were both drunk and they ended up kissing. Freddy's still determined to believe that the only thing he'd put his dick in is a vagina, and Zack is too much of a chicken shit to confront him."

Summer was silent for a moment, absorbing the information. Katie's method had been a little... crude, but admirable all the same. She never would've done something like that; it just wasn't in her nature, and she'd get teased for years afterward. "Wow, that had to take some guts..."

Katie blinked in surprise. "You- you're not mad?"

"Of course not!" Summer huffed, hands on her hips. "It's about time someone did something. You set things in motion, so now it's time to just sit back and let them work things out on their own. It's really about the only thing we can do."

"So, you picked up on it too, huh?" it was more of a rhetorical question than anything, but Katie was so shocked that she'd spoken aloud.

"It was obvious to anyone with half a brain, which would explain why we're the only ones that noticed." Summer smirked.

"You know, I think that's the most logical thing I've heard all week," Katie laughed. "Now what do you say we head back to the dressing room. There's some ice cold water in the mini fridge that's calling my name, unless Freddy has guzzled it all by now."

Summer gestured for Katie to lead the way. It looked like they were a team now...