Chapter 4 is up, sorry it took a long time. Enjoy :)

I do not own School of Rock

Through The Years

Freshman Year

Chapter 4: Fishing Tales

"Pack your stuff. Clear your schedule. This weekend we are going camping!" announced a very animated Dewey to the group of thirteen (or twelve for those whose birthdays had not passed) year olds.

The group was originally doing their own thing, minding their own business, more or less waiting for practice to begin. Dewey's announcement did not have the desired effects of loud cheering he was hoping for but instead a blank silence. Summer raised her eyebrows. Leave it to Dewey to do something completely out of the blue with no heads up what so ever. He looked excited like he had struck gold or won a jack pot or the time he found his ticket to Battle of the Bands when his previous band let him go.

"Fishing?" she asked.

"Yes," Dewey said grinning before huffing his shoulders at the looks he was getting, "I have cleared it with all your parents. We have been in a dump lately and we need some School of Rock bonding time, you know. Get out of this funk."

By the time he finished, Summer looked around to the members of the School of Rock who were pointedly looking away from another. No doubt all of them were trying not think, and failing, about the fight that they had yesterday during practice. It seemed as if all they ever did was yell (Summer knew that she had shouted herself hoarse at yesterday's argument) at each other now. They never seem to have time to work it out. Bonding time was just what they needed. But with the upcoming Battle of the Bands and whatnot, Summer felt as if camping was not practical.

"I for one agree, but don't you think it is rather impractical..." Summer said as she tried to search for the right words, "...to go camping right now. I mean we still have to prepare for the upcoming gigs and then there's still the fact that we don't even have the Battle of the Band song picked put yet."

Dewey huffed gloomily at one of the chairs in the apartment.

"Well, I think it's a good idea," Zac said as he smiled at Dewey who grinned back, happy that at least someone liked his idea.

"Yeah, me too," Tomika voiced.

"I'm cool with it," Frankie said.

"No way," Freddie stated.

"I don't really like camping," Katie revealed.

Alicia shrugged but more or less nodded smiling at Dewey.

"Summer?" Dewey asked hopefully.

Summer turned to Dewey. She knew that she if agreed everyone else will have to as well. It was a good idea but the timing... Summer nodded reluctantly before giving a small smile to Dewey. This was greeted by loud cheers and several groans.

"Looks like we are going camping," Dewey announced.

On Friday afternoon all of them were gathered at an empty parking lot nearby Dewey's apartment. Dewey had, as he told everyone, arranged everything for them. Dewey had rented a bus for them. Summer who had gone camping before with Emily and her dad knew what exactly to bring. It was a good thing she prepared some just in case items as she knew Katie, Michelle and Marco never went camping before and Freddie showed up with only a backpack full of clothes and a toothbrush.

Summer assigned the sleeping arrangements while everyone waited for Dewey to give them a signal to board the bus. Due to only some of them bringing tents (Summer, Alicia, Frankie and Zac) Summer was sharing a tent with Michelle and Tomika while Alicia had to share a tent with Katie and Martha. Zac was sharing with Gordon and Marco while Frankie was sharing with Billy and Freddie. Dewey had a tent all to himself.

"Okay, onward you all go. Summer help me with the supplies," Dewey said.

The bus door opened and the band went in. Summer walked to the back of the bus where she checking everything was in order. She was still checking when Dewey came up to her.

"So how's it going Tinkerbell?" Dewey asked. Summer smiled at that nickname. She had gotten it because of her size and the fact she could organize all of the bands shenanigans with ease (Like magic Dewey said).

"Good, I'm almost done," Summer replied as she took note of the things in the first aid kit.

"You know, the band is really lucky to have you," Dewey said

"Yeah, I can tell," Summer said wryly. She tried to repress the urge to snort at that sentence. They needed her only to stop them from fighting or tearing at each others throats.

"No, I'm serious. They have you to turn to for help," Dewey said.

Summer finished her checking and smiled at Dewey. She said thanks. What Dewey said was what she needed to hear, maybe. She needed to know that she was not going to drown in a band that seemed on the edge of a fallout. Maybe the camping trip was what everyone needed.

The ride to the camp site was strangely relaxed. It was as if everyone wanted the weekend to be good and was putting in effort to be nice to one another. Summer was able to forget high school as she chatted with Frankie (Michelle was talking to Alicia and Tomika at that time). Soon enough they were at the camp site.

The camp site was near the edge of a lake. There was already a circle in the middle signaling the place for the bonfire. There trees surrounding them were not as large as they thought. At the edge of the campsite was something that resembled a cabin but was as a matter of fact the shower room. All 13 of them were transporting their bags and supplies just beside the circle.

"Okay, first order of business, setting up the tents," Dewey said as he placed the first aid kit sown and looked at them, "So go on."

There was a collection of mutters and some nods before they started on their tents. Summer, whose last camping trip with her dad and Emily was two years ago, was trying hard to remember how her father started putting up the tent. She had Michelle and Tomika to help but they were as lost as she was. The other groups were in a similar situation. Alicia was maybe having a worse time. Summer could hear her telling Martha and Katie that were putting it up wrong. Zac's group was not having much luck. Gordon and Marco were still reading the instructions while Frankie seemed to be the only one working in his group. Freddie was sitting at tree stump while Billy was attempting to help.

Soon after they all had finished setting up their tents, Dewey assigned Frankie's group and Summer's group to collect fire wood. The other two groups were helping to set up the safety thing (too late to find out the name of it now, Summer thought) to safeguard the supplies in case any animals came while they were sleeping.

So there Summer found herself with Tomika, Michelle, Frankie, Billy and Freddie. Frankie who had been camped almost every year with his brothers and dad showed them the type of wood he was looking for. Twigs were a big no-no Frankie declared and they set of. Summer grabbed branches and anything that remotely close to what Frankie showed.

"So camping, huh," Summer said conversationally to Tomika, Billy and Michelle. Frankie and Freddie were too far away to hear.

"Who would have thought that any of us would be here," Michelle said.

"Yeah, usually two of us would be screaming ourselves hoarse," Billy said.

"Now look where we are," Tomika shook her head, "Dewey and his brilliant plans."

"I think I heard Katie freak out because of no cell reception," Billy shared.

"Even I didn't freak out about that," Michelle said as she rolled her eyes. She saw Katie practically hyperventilating over it.

"This is going to be a long weekend," Summer predicted as she heard a scream from the camp site.

"Agreed," Tomika said.

"So how's school treating ya?" Summer asked Tomika and Billy.

"Good I guess, made some new friends, fitting, getting good grades," Billy said simply.

"Alright. They are asking me to try out for the Drama club and Choir. It's a nice environment. Everyone's welcoming, well as welcoming as you can get anyway," Tomika said. She went into a story about the things she did at Eastwood High. Summer noticed that Billy was rather tense.

When Frankie and Freddie finally went back to the group, they all headed back to the campsite with the wood. Summer moved to be beside Billy and slowed down letting the group walk ahead.

"You okay? You were a little quiet back there," Summer asked him.

"I'm fine," Billy replied.

He gave her a small smile. It was not convincing but Summer knew better than to touch the subject of high school. She was only barely surviving it even with Michelle's friendship. In middle school both of them usually sat together. And Summer rather not risk the possibility of fighting with Billy so she nodded.

"Alright, but you know you can tell me anything right?" Summer said.

"I know. Now come on lets go, I want to change my pants. White is so not a good colour for camping," Billy said. Summer let herself laugh as they walked back to the campsite.

Camping, as Summer had always known was fun and tiring. Camping with her band mates however was fun and exhausting. By night time all of them were around the campfire. They had eaten their dinner of Ramen noodles and was now having marshmallows and making smores. Zac and Dewey brought along their guitars and were strumming a song. Summer sighted content. The day passed by quickly and everyone seemed to get along. In fact all of them were laughing and joking around nothing like the glares and yelling that Summer had grown accustomed to for the past months. Dewey was right, they just needed something to bring them out of their funk.

"Rise and shine, my campers," yelled a very loud Dewey. Summer groaned as she opened her eyes. The sunlight was already seeping through the tent. She looked at her watch and saw that it was 9am. She stayed up late last night with Tomika and Michelle exchanging stories and playing a game of truth and dare. Summer was sure that they were not the only ones who stayed up late last night. She could here stifled giggles coming from Alicia's tent.

Everyone seemed to stay up late last night. She could hear noises from the boys' tents as well. It seemed that everyone stayed up except for Dewey (she could hear his loud snoring, anyone within a five mile radius could). So when Summer woke up to the sound of Dewey's voice telling them to wake up, well putting it plainly, she was deprived of her sleep.

Dewey was still, in fact, yelling (or saying very very loudly) for them to wake up. Summer stretched as she got up. Michelle and Tomika were also now waking up. When they were out of the tent Summer saw Dewey smiling at them. Gordon and Marco were still in their tent trying to wake Zac up. Frankie's group was still sleeping and Alicia, Katie and Martha were all stretching out and rubbing their eyes sleepily.

When everyone finally was awake (it took ten more minutes to finally wake up the boys) Dewey said, "Okay, an hour to bathe and get breakfast. After breakfast we are going fishing."

The twelve kids did not argue, they were to exhausted. So they let Dewey get his way. Summer grabbed her towel, toiletries and clothing. She was thanking her lucky stars that the place Dewey scouted had proper flushing and showers. When all the girls finally finished showering, they went to get their breakfast while the boys took their shower and soon all of them stood, awake, in front of Dewey.

"Fishing is an art," Dewey began but was shortly interrupted.

"Yeah, I don't want to go fishing," Freddie said.

"Me too," Katie agreed.

"Ditto," Martha said.

"I don't think I'm up for fishing. Must be last night's food," Zac said.

"I think more like the fact that you want to go back to sleep," Marco shot back at Zac who merely grinned.

"Guys," Dewey whined, "The purpose of the camping trip is to bond."

"We can bond in our sleep," Frankie tried.

"Ugh," Dewey groaned.

"Did he just stamp his foot like a teenage girl?" Michelle asked Alicia.

"I think he did," Alicia responded.

Summer who was watching with amusement finally said, "You know Dewey, we could all just" –Summer stopped and looked at Dewey's face which was pouting and said exasperatedly- "fine. Everyone lets go fishing."

Fishing it turned was absolutely boring. The only person who seemed to be enjoying was Dewey. Soon after ten minutes of waiting, Martha and Katie stopped paying attention to their poles, Freddie was drumming a beat with his drumsticks and Zac was sleeping. Summer had long given up trying to fish and was now resting under the shade of the tree. She had declined the invitation of the rest of the girls to go exploring. Zac was under the same tree sleeping while the boys were goofing of somewhere. From where she sat she could see all of them. Billy was currently making his way towards her.

"He sleeps like the dead," Billy said as he sat down beside her.

"Yeah. It took, what, a bucket of cold water to wake him up," Summer said as she chuckled.

"No, I think Marco stamped on his foot," Billy laughed. There was silence before he finally spoke up once again, "I was lying. I'm not fine,"

Summer waited for him to continue.

"I know I act weird, for a guy. In middle school everyone was used to it, used to me. High school on the other hand is a different story," Billy paused, "Some people are so cruel. I hate it there. They call me mean names and do mean stuff."

"What about Alicia and Frankie?" Summer asked still stunned at the new revelation, "I mean Frankie is like everyone's big brother."

Frankie was the band's big brother. He seemed to be cool with everyone. He was larger than most of them but he was downright friendly. And Alicia was the type of girl who looked so laid back but was fiercely loyal. Summer would be shock if both of them started picking on him.

"They know, and they try to help me and protect me," Billy sighted, "But they can't there all the time. It's not so bad most of the time but sometimes it's hard."

"I'm sorry," Summer said.

"Don't be, it's not like you planned this or something. I heard from Michelle that you are having a rough time too."

Summer shrugged and said, "But it's different."

It was different. Summer knew as a girl she would only be torn down verbally and mentally. (A/N: I know that sometimes girls get bullied physically, I'm aware of that. But Summer only gets bullied in school through words.) Billy would get the whole package.

"I know," Billy said as he closed his eyes and moved his back on the bark of the tree. There was a moment of silence before he opened his eyes. Summer saw vulnerability, "They call me names. Fagot, Midget, Pretty boy and what not. They make me questioned if I'm right in the head... Whether I'm gay or something."

"It doesn't matter what they say. You know you better than they ever will. So only you know the answer to that and what gives them the right to decide what is right or wrong," Summer said as she looked at his straight in the eye and held his hand firmly. She was beyond mad at those people who were degrading Billy. What right did they have to hurt him?

"Thanks for listening. Not many people do that to me now, you're a good friend," Billy said as he leaned in and hugged her.

In that moment, an unconscious Zac choose to snore rather loudly. Billy and Summer looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

"He sure knows how to ruin the moment," Billy said when he finally controlled his laughter.

"Yes he does. Come on let's find the others," Summer said as she got up and offered him her hand. He took it and she pulled him up. More than anything she wanted to stop bullies from hurting Billy but she knew Billy did not want her to interfere. So she did the second best thing, she started to be there for him.

By the time Dewey came back to the camp site (he claimed that he caught a large fish but accidentally set it free) it was time for lunch. Summer and Billy had joined the rest of the group on exploring and left a sleeping Zac at the tree near the fishing site. Zac had woken up several hours later and rushed to join them for lunch.

Lunch was a simple affair, Ramen noodles and burnt sausages. Soon they finished up and went to Dewey who was organizing their second activity for the day; hiking. The twelve kids got up and followed a rather clueless Dewey who seemed to be checking the map ever few minutes and retracing back their steps. The horrendous affair soon ended when Alicia fell down, and Dewey decided it was not safe.

Summer knew that Billy did not want her to treat him like he was fragile, so Summer tried instead to talk with the others. From the corner of her eyes she spotted Billy talking to Alicia. By the time they went back to their campsite, it was getting dark and Dewey decided to cook burgers. That decision took about an hour and several burnt patties but otherwise dinner was great.

Soon enough the weekend flew by and they were packing their camp stuff and boarding the bus on the way back to Dewey's apartment where their parent would pick them up. Summer was sitting beside Katie, both of them relaxing and dwindling down after the camp. It had been a fun a weekend, Zac even managed to write a new song.

The weekend to Summer was an escape. She left her troubles behind and now she was re energized and going to face them. She knew that as soon as Monday comes along, it would be as if nothing had changed. Billy would still be bullied, Freddie would think that he was to cool for her and she knew she would still be teased and taunted. But things had changed, for her at least. Now, she was not going down without a fight. She was going straight up and standing her ground. For herself and the countless others who had been bullied.

Okay done. This chapter is actually somewhat more serious than the previous. No one and I mean no one should ever be degraded because of who they are.

On another note chapter 5 will be up soon. So till then :)