Chapter 8. I found that I wrote this chapter way back before I wrote the series and I edited it a little.

Anyway enjoy...

Through The Years

Chapter 8: They're back!

The loft was filled with easy chatter and music from the stereo. It was the first practice they had since they split for summer vacation. Instead of rehearsing, the band members were catching up. Michelle was at the couch in the corner telling Billy and Martha about her trip to Bali while Frankie was with Zac, Freddie, Gordon and Dewey at the kitchen counter, laughing at the stories of what occurred while the others were away on vacation. Alicia, Tomika and Katie were exchanging the latest gossip. Everyone was there except, surprisingly, Summer.

It was a surprise because she was the one who scheduled the practice, and was to arrive home that morning, and she was never late.

"Maybe there was a flight delay or something," Alicia suggested when Katie asked about the missing person. Michelle shrugged and went back to talking to Billy as Dewey started to call out to everyone to get ready for practice.

An hour into practice, Michelle's phone rang. The band still kept going, very used to Michelle's phone even though by then Summer would have asked her to put in on silent. The band sounded good even though they hadn't played together in a while. A squeal from Michelle broke their concentration. They had the privilege of seeing Michelle bounce up and down before running to the door. The band smiled with amusement and carried on.

"Summer! OMG!" Michelle practically screamed as she hugged the brunette. After they broke the hug, Michelle looked at Summer, she looked amazing. Paris has definitely helped her. Summer had looked good before, but now she looked downright stunning. No longer frigid and awkward, Summer now looked more confident than ever. Her straight hair now held soft curls at the ends, she grew taller and got a little tanner. She had more shape and character, her eyes still the muddy brown now had more definition.

"You looked great! How are you? How was Paris? Did you see any fashion shows? Museums? Did you get to see Eleni? Kissed any boys?" Michelle asked in one breathe. Summer laughed.

"I'm great, Paris was beautiful. Yes, yes, Eleni sends you her greetings. She looked great by the way, she has this whole rocker chic look going on with a splash of hippies-ness, I guess. That look really works for her I have pictures and I have so much to tell you," Summer gushed before pausing, "but first I think we should go in."

"The boys will die," Michelle announced before leading the way to the practice area. Summer rolled her eyes and Michelle's dramatics and followed Michelle in. They sound great, Summer thought. But they all stopped when she walked in. Summer couldn't decide on whether to be nervous or laugh at their faces when she heard the girls gasp and saw the boys open mouth shocked. None of them seem to be able to say anything to her. In fact they all resembled goldfishes with the way their mouths open and close.

"Come on, I don't look that bad," Summer sniggered.

"No that's not it. You look kind of hot," Billy said

"Kind of?"

"You look amazing," Billy said. His eyes were twinkling with approval as he walked over to Summer. She felt light headed and gave a laugh as he hugged her. The rest of the band soon recovered and made their way to welcome her back Summer noticed some of them still staring and was getting rather uncomfortable. Ignoring it, she turned to face Michelle and Billy.

"You would not believe the fashion show I went with Emily in Paris," Summer said knowing that she attracted the attention of Billy and Michelle.

As band practice went on, Summer told them (Billy and Michelle) the new autumn line (much to their delight). She also told them about the clothes, jewellery and shopping she did in Paris and they told her what they did during their break. Michelle had a blast in Bali while Billy started designing and was currently thinking about applying for an internship in his junior or senior year. Summer sometimes noticed that the others would look at her direction, and she was pleased knowing that she had managed to shock them.

Soon practice ended and the teenagers of the band School of Rock were gathering around on the couches and floors with snacks and fizzy drinks, catching up as a group. Summer learned that Zac had some new material he wanted to try out, and Alicia and Gordon started seeing each other (she couldn't be more happy for them). Summer really did miss them (the band, not just Alicia and Gordon), the break had her recharged and refresh for the new school year.

"So?" Michelle said raising her eyebrows and looking straight at Summer.

"So?" Summer played on.

"Did you?"

"Did I?'

"Did you kiss any French boys?" Michelle said, practically bouncing in anticipation. Let's just say her outburst gained everyone's attention. Summer felt a blush forming in her cheeks.

"Maybe," she smiled.

"Oh My Gosh! You did! Spill," Michelle screamed as she attacked Summer in a massive hug. Summer was about to tell her that she rather not say when Michelle interrupted her, "Wait, how many boys did you kiss?"

Summer could not take it. She giggled and bend down hugging a throw pillow. She muttered something incoherent.

"I'm sorry what?" Tomika said. The girls all leaned in to Summer while the boys try not to look curious.

"Five," she whispered to the girls. Michelle squealed and the girls let out 'oooohs' and giggles. The boys knew that the answer was bad.

"Something has corrupted Summer," Frankie stage whispered to Billy and was immediately hit by a throw pillow from Summer.

"Did you like any of them?" Martha asked breathlessly. She was whisked away with the idea of falling in love in Paris. Under the starry night and on top of the Eifel Tower. The romantic-ness of it all made her want to swoon.

The boys however narrowed their eyes at the words 'any of them' meaning more than one. They were practically Summer's family with the time they spent and things they know about her. Frankie was like Summer's honorary brother and Zac was after all Summer's best guy friend (Billy was second).

"They were all amazing, good looking and so romantic. There was this one guy that gave me a rose when we first met," Summer smiled while the girls swooned, "But you know it's never going to last. I met them at break and they probably do that to girls all the time over there."

"But did you like like any of them," Katie insisted.

"Nah, it's just a fling," Summer said, "I don't think I even want to date some of them, some are so not the type I want to date."

"Well good, "Frankie said, "I'm glad you're not in love with anyone."

If she did, he probably beat the guy up or threaten him not to hurt her menacingly. It was no secret after all that Frankie was always looking after the band. Summer rolled her eyes but otherwise smiled at Frankie, happy to know that Frankie wanted her to be happy and safe. There was easy chatter going around and soon Dewey came along to tell them to head out (or otherwise leave in a very polite manner...kind off).

"Come on, Let's go hang out for a while," Gordon said as he slung his arms around Alicia.

"You guys wanna come with?" Alicia asked.

Nah was the general answer, there was also no and you kid have fun (from Frankie). They watched Alicia and Gordon leave.

"They make such a good couple," Martha said and Katie nodded in agreement.

"I have to go, my family has this dinner thing," Tomika said as she grabbed her stuff.

"Yeah us too," Marco said pointing at himself and Frankie, "We are going to check out the mobile phone store at the mall."

"Can I come?" Martha asked, "I don't really have a place to be."

"Me too? I wanted to get a new phone before school starts," Katie asked.

"Sure, Freddie? Zac? Summer?" Frankie said as he looked at them.

"I have to go pick my sister up from somewhere," Freddie said.

"No thanks.I'm tired, I want to go home and get some rest," Summer declined. She had just after all arrived back hours ago and was still feeling a little jet lagged.

"Nah, I think I'll pass. Want to walk home together," Zac asked Summer.

Summer nodded and they all went the door. The end of summer holidays always indicated autumn was approaching. Summer could feel the heat dwindling down and the leaves about to turn brown and yellow and different shades of reds, the way they always did in autumn. Most people thought that Summer loved the summer season (due to her name) but she had always loved autumn the best. There was just something about autumn. Walking home with Zac was still as comfortable as it felt the last time they did it, before Summer went to Europe.

"So how's your break?" Summer asked as they strolled at a leisurely pace.

"Not bad, wrote some new songs, practiced skateboarding, I'm getting quite good by the way," Zac said as he turned to Summer before continuing on, "It was relaxing."

"That's great," Summer said, falling back into the easy pace she and Zac had.

"From what I heard back there, your break went well too," Zac said.

"Yeah, it was, I guess. I got to immerse myself in a new culture and I got to spent time with Emily. She's about to go back to collage for her second year," Summer said conversationally.

"When is she leaving?" Zac asked.

"Next week," Summer replied. She had a great time spending some time with Emily and was going to miss her when she went back to school.

"You excited to be going back to school. It's about time to go back you know?" Zac asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Summer said, "I mean sure we'll learn new things, there will be new people, we are no longer that clueless, but honestly I really don't want to see those people like Brittany. I mean people like her never changed and because of that high school never does either."

"Well, we are teenagers," Zac countered slowly, "We don't change overnight and I'm pretty sure those people shut down during break to do whatever it is they do."

"You're a teenager, I'm a teenager. We changed," Summer said.

"Really how?" Zac raised his eyebrows.

"Well we both grew a little and..." Summer trailed off as Zac started laughing.

"Besides appearance?"

"Hmm...Guess not. We are still the same boring people who are friends," Summer said as they reached her house.

"Yup we are still the same boring people who are friends," Zac smiled.

The days that were counting down to the start of school loomed. Summer started to get ready for school. She had, with Michelle, went shopping for school items (they were mostly in the stationary store as both of them had enough clothes, thank Bali and Paris for that). Soon Summer found herself on the front steps of Stamford High for her first day back.

A little short, I kind of have writer's block so I didn't really edit much of it. Chapter 9 up soon. I think I'll start with the first day back. So till then :)