Chapter 3 is up. So far my longest about 2900+ words. I'm still trying to write longer. So far it's improving little by little.

I know from reading this, Summer's mom is harsh on her but kind to others. Summer's mom does care about her but she also expects a lot from Summer. And know I'm making Freddie the bad guy but it will change in a few chapters. Not the next chapter but in the later chapters. So enjoy.

I do not own School of Rock

Through The Years

Freshman Year

Chapter 3: A Friend In You

"Okay so how was your first month in high school?" Dewey asked.

The remaining 13 members of the School of Rock (not including Dewey) were at their first practice since school started. For the first half an hour they had not done any work but instead caught up with each other. There had been many hugs, giggles and stories being shared about their respective high schools. The question Dewey posted was met with mutterings, nods and whatnots.

"Good," Martha said.

"Brilliant," Billy replied.

"Awesome," Frankie said.

"That's good," Dewey said, "I remembered my first time at high school. It was great, you meet a lot of new people and learn more about yourself. Of course the thing I learn by my first week was to bring extra clothing. The jocks keep putting my head in the toilet bowl."

Everyone else stayed silent as they watched Dewey reminisce about high school with a dreamy gleam to his eyes. They did not know whether to smile or be serious at him mentioning his head in the depths of a toilet bowl. Dewey shook his head and as if to stop reminiscing.

"Anyway, Battle of the Bands is coming up in a few months, and I want to talk to you guys about something," Dewey paused, looking at all of them before continuing, "I think that School of Rock will need a new front singer –at this everyone looked up, Dewey had always been the one to take the stage with them- now before you protest or start spewing whatevers, I want you guys to listen. I'll still be in the band, I just won't perform. I'll just be like at the background cheering you on. You guys will still be practising here."

"Why?" Tomika asked.

"Guys, I'm like super old, I think it would be good for the band," Dewey said.

"But you're like, the one that started this," Frankie spoke up.

"Yeah I know, but sometimes change is good," Dewey said as he looked at all of them. They were no longer ten but soon to be thirteen year olds. How time flies so fast, "I'll still be here, it's not like I'm going to die or something."

"So what will you be doing during practice?" Zac asked.

"Listening to you guys, giving some pointers, helping Summer organise concerts and whatnots and helping the crew," Dewey said.

The teenagers nodded, some of them were okay with his decision, and others weren't. But that would be another matter. Dewey stood up, and started band practice. All of them were, no doubt, thinking about what Dewey had said.

Summer entered Dewey's apartment. It had been two months since the Dewey thing and the band was still not back on track. Zac now had the position of main guitarist while Tomika, Alicia and Martha still had not decided who should be lead singer. Dewey, as he said, did not go anywhere and was there at every practice sorting things out. Summer was having a hard time now scheduling practice, concerts and meet and greet sessions due to all of them having different schedules. Heck, different lives. At the beginning it was nearly impossible to find a time slot for the band to rehearse and Summer was grateful for having Dewey and Gordon helping her.

She sighed as she heard raised voices, a common occurrence at every band practice now. Today it was Alicia and Martha arguing with Tomika trying to be the peace keeper. Summer groaned, Dewey was currently away today trying to finalise a deal for the band and she was left in charge of fresh teenagers who were about to start puberty. Summer slammed the door, signaling that she was here but the band ignored her. Impatient, Summer let out a loud whistle. When she was certain she had everyone's attention she stopped.

"Do we have to do this at every band practice? Stop fighting and start rehearsing," Summer said exasperated. Summer could see that Martha and Alicia did not want to stop fighting but both nodded grudgingly and got to their places as did everyone else. From where Summer stood, she could see Zac giving her a sympathetic smile. Summer tried to smile back but felt as if it was more of a grimace.

She walked up to the counter she usually used and sighed once more. She hated it. That all the band ever did was fight and she had to break it up. It was driving her mad. High school was to be the part of her life where all she had to do was study and manage the band, instead Summer found herself feeling as if she was at the bottom of a huge mountain. In school she had Freddie ignore her, Brittany to mock her with her other pathetic minions. In band practices she had to break every fight and have angry producers and execs call her up and yell at her. Then outside of these two, she had been forced by her mom to continue her dance lessons as well as join other useless activities. It seemed like she never got a chance to rest or any time for herself.

Even her weekends were used, for homework, planning for the School of Rock and whatever stuff that her mom signed her up for. Summer found herself exhausted every night and even more so every morning. Summer did not even have Emily to talk to anymore as she was in college. With no one to talk to and this big burden on her shoulders, Summer felt as if she were about to crack up.

Summer opened her eyes and shook her head, trying to get away for the thoughts that were distracting her. She took her planner and began work.

"So how's high school treating ya?" Mr Jones asked. It was a Thursday night and Summer and her parents were having dinner with the Jones and Mooneyham. It had been a while since the three families got together. Tonight all of them were surrounding the dining table in Summer's house.

"Fine," Summer lied easily.

"Alright," Zac replied nonchalantly.

"Fine? Alright? Is that the best you got?" Mrs Mooneyham replied, "I remembered when I was in high school. Best years of my life," she ended wistfully.

"That's because she got to meet her husband there," Summer's mom said as she placed the last dish on the table. Everyone began to dig in.

The adults were oblivious to the tension that was going on between their children. Before dinner, there was a band practice in which Zac and Freddie had gotten into a little argument. They both refused to be the one to break the silence. Not to mention that Freddie was still not talking to Summer.

"I swear, I love your meatloaf. It is absolutely mouth watering," Summer's dad complimented Zac's mom.

"Thank you," She beamed before turning to Summer, "So I heard that the school elections are coming up. Are you signing up for any position?"

That was all the adults see her as, a soon to be politician. The girl that may one day be the first female president or a well known speaker or something that will change the world.

"No, I want to focus on my studies and the band this year. Maybe next year," Summer said as she moved her vegetables around her plate. She hated discussing it. The moment her mother found out, she wanted Summer to sign up. She had gotten into an argument with her mother and in the end her father had to settle it.

"I don't see why you're not signing up. You can manage a campaign easily," Freddie's dad said as he scooped another pile of mash potatoes.

Yeah, Summer thought, If I handle one more thing I think I'm going to explode.

"Well, I agree with Summer. I think she already has too much on her plate –A/N: excuse the pun, it was not intended- besides I think it would be better if she tried next year. I mean we are all freshman anyway," Zac spoke up.

"Pff that is rubbish. When I was a freshman, I signed up. I didn't win student body president but I was in the committee," Freddie's dad said

Summer was trying hard to bite back a retort. She was already doing so much, even with Dewey's help. She did not even want to be in the student body committee anyway. She shoved her spoon of mash potatoes into her mouth, all the while allowing the adults to speak up on what she should do.

Freddie Jones was on a roll. High school was turning out to be alright. He immediately found himself surrounded by cool new people who hung around him like he was some kind of god. Even some of the older kids liked him enough. He had been ask to join clubs and societies but turned them down in fear of what they would do to his reputation.

He even started hanging around Brittany, a girl who he used to hate in middle school. She was not that bad. She was something to look at and he was not the only guy to notice that. Brittany seemed to be way better in high school than she ever did in middle school. Brittany was also popular which was a plus to him. He had never been alone with her; their first kiss was at a backyard party. To ever one they were the best looking couple in freshman year.

"Hey, can I have a minute," Summer said as she approached him after the final class for the day has ended. Freddie looked around to see if anyone was there and nodded reluctantly.

"Okay, I just wanted to let you know that this Saturday night is the band practice that we finalise the songs we are performing for Battle of the Bands," Summer began but was interrupted by the School of Rock drummer.

"This Saturday? I... I can't make it. I have something on," Freddie said. He had forgotten all about that practice and Summer was going to kill him when she finds out what he had planned to do this Saturday.

"What stuff?" Summer practically glared at him.

"A party," Freddie said truthfully, he knew it was no use trying to lie to Summer.

"A party?" Summer said as her eyes widened in anger, "You're going to blow us off for a party?"

"I'm not blowing you all off, but I have a life you know," Freddie smirked which only made Summer madder.

"Come off it, you have practically ditched us for your 'cooler friends'," Summer spat.

"I still talk to Zac and Michelle. Stop being so high and mighty," Freddie said without thinking.

"High and Mighty?" Summer practically screamed, "You're the one who keeps thinking that you're too good for us. What happened? I want the old Freddie back. You know, the one that used to be my friend."

"Look. I'm sorry okay, but I'm going to that party. And that old Freddie you knew was lame, I'm trying to make a fresh start here at high school. Sorry if my plans don't include you," Freddie snarled and was about to storm out of the class room when Summer spoke up.

"What about your promise? You know the one where we all promised to be in friends no matter what. The one where whatever happens we will be there for each other," Summer said trying to hold back her tears, "That we will all make the effort to still stay in each others life regardless of who we are or who we will be in high school."

Freddie grimaced and turned around to look at Summer. His face was scrunched up, the way it always did when he did not want to hear something. "I'm sorry."

Summer tried to keep the shock and hurt out of her face, but was too tired. Tired of everything. She crumbled down and broke into tears.

Michelle rushed down the hallways, muttering how stupid she was. She had left her file in the classroom and was now praying fervently that the class was not locked. She gave a sigh of relief when the door opened with ease. She was on her way to the desk she sat when she noticed a girl crying at the back of the classroom. Summer? Michelle walked up to her. Summer looked up when she heard her footsteps.

"What are you doing here?" Summer asked, her voice sounded hoarse. She tried to clear it by coughing.

"I came to get my file. What's wrong?"Michelle said as she sat down beside Summer.

"Nothing, I'm just tired," Summer half lied with an exhausted voice. She was tired but that was not the only reason she was crying.

"I've got time," Michelle smiled. That gesture alone made Summer feel like crying once more, touched that Michelle cared.

"I'm just so exhausted all the time. When I'm not here trying to get good grades because my mom expects it, I'm getting yelled at by riled up producers or trying to break up a fight between members of a band who just don't give a damn. Than there is a thousand other things that everyone expects me to do. It's just too much," Summer said. She didn't know why she was telling this to Michelle of all people. Michelle hanged around the schools biggest gossipers. She could practically see it, Michelle rushing of after this to spread the news that Summer Hathaway could not handle high school. It was humiliation to no end.

But to her surprise, Michelle did not ask questions or say anything. She just moved closer and hugged Summer. She was just there and that was all Summer needed at that time.

"Hey, so I was thinking that we should join cheerleading next year. I mean it might not be our style but its high school we have to try something new right?" Michelle said as she slid down a sit in front of Summer.

It was the next day, during lunch time. Summer usually ate alone since Zac didn't have the same lunch period as her. Summer stared at Michelle in amazement. She knew that what happened yesterday changed things between them, made them closer, but she never thought that Michelle would sit with her at lunch when she could be with her other friends.

"What are you doing here?" Summer asked.

"Eating lunch, duh," Michelle said as she took a bite of her burger.

"I mean what are you doing here with me? Shouldn't you be eating lunch with your friends?" Summer questioned.

"You are my friend, and those people won't mind. They don't care actually," Michelle shrugged. She took another bite of her burger before noticing Summer's face and saying, "Everyone needs a friend. I'm not filling the role out of sympathy or obligation if you are wondering. I really do want to be friends."

"Thanks," Summer finally said as she swallowed a lump in her throat.

"You don't need to thank me," Michelle waved it off before continuing in a serious manner, "I hate Brittany, she is a total fake. She doesn't even deserve the insult of bimbo because that would be an insult to bimbos."

Summer let out an airy laugh. It was the first time she laughed, truly laughed, in a long time. She felt her body relax as she began to eat her lunch while talking to Michelle. High school is almost bearable Summer thought.

Okay I'm done. Chapter 4 will be up soon. Also I'll be gone at the end of week and maybe some of next week, to scout out my future school. I'll also be starting school soon depending on what school I choose so I won't be able to update as much as I would like. So till I update :)