A/N: OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! Thank you all SO MUCH for the reviews! I can't believe it! Over 100? I would never ever, not in a million YEARS have thought I'd get that many! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *HUGE group hug!*

Oh, and a special mention to Wyverna: you asked for a mention, so here you are! Your review made me laugh, by the way. Flying monkeys?????

Disclaimer: Oh come on, I think you know by now. . .why the hell do I keep writing these anyway? (Freddy: 'cos you don't wanna get sued). Hmm. Good point. Okay, I don't own anything. Happy? (Freddy: Yep!)

You'd Better Get Me To School On Time: chapter seven

* * previously * *

Katie pulled back after kissing him, completely shocked. She'd never done anything like that before. But there was a bigger shock in store for her. . .

Freddy was awake.

* * * * * *

"Freddy!" Katie gasped, even more shocked than she had been. "You're awake!" He just stared up at her with those dark brown eyes that she loved so much. . . "Uh - how - how are you feeling?" She stammered, unable to think of anything else to say.

"Rough," he replied, his eyes still firmly locked on Katie's. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I feel like Neil Pert's drumming in my head." Katie smiled sympathetically at him, though some of the smile came from the relief that Freddy hadn't said anything about her kissing him. And it looked like he wasn't going to say anything either. Or so she thought. . .

"But otherwise you're okay?" She asked gently, more calmly than before. He nodded, his eyes beginning to close again.

"Fine," he yawned before closing his eyes completely. Katie reached out to gently stroke his hair. But as soon as her fingers brushed against his skin, he stiffened, and his eyes snapped open.

"What's wrong?"

"You - you kissed me," he replied simply.. Katie drew her hand back slowly, as if she were in a state of shock. And she was - in a way.

"Oh - I - I - I'm sorry!" She gasped. "I'm so sorry - I didn't mean to - I should - I should go."

"No - please don't," he begged. But Katie did not hear his plead, for she was already sprinting from the door, tears pouring down her face.

* * * * *

She came to a stop outside the hospital. You idiot! she thought angrily. How could you have been so stupid? You had a great friendship with him, and you go and throw it away in less than five minutes! Stupid! You're stupid!

Katie sank onto the stone steps by the entrance, ignoring the fact that her jeans were getting dirt on them. She didn't care. Instead, she glumly put her elbows on her knees and placed her head in her hands. And she thought about Freddy. And the great friendship they'd had. And how she'd thrown it all away. . . .

*~*~*~*~*

It was lunchtime. But Freddy was nowhere to be seen. Katie purposely skipped lunch to find him. She eventually came to a stop outside their classroom door, carefully pushed it open a crack, and peered in. Sure enough, there was Freddy, sat at his desk. Or, to be more precise, he was sat in his chair with his head on the desk.

"Freddy?" Katie asked gently. He did not reply, or move. Had he heard her? "Freddy?" She asked, slightly louder. Still no reply. She pushed the door wide open and stepped inside. Walking over to his desk, she knelt down and prodded him. "Freddy!" He jumped a mile, and looked up.

"Katie, what do you want?" He asked hoarsely.

"You weren't in lunch," she replied simply.

"I know."

"Why not?" He shrugged.

"Not hungry." A worried expression flittered across Katie's face.

"Freddy, you need to eat. You'll make yourself ill if you carry on like this."

"I don't care." Katie put her hand on his shoulder. He tried to move away, but she tightened her grip.

"Freddy. I know you're upset. I know that you're feeling pretty bad right now -"

"Understatement of the century," he said quietly.

"Okay, so you're feeling the worst you ever have in your life. And I know that I will never be able to understand how you're feeling." Freddy looked away - Katie strongly suspected that he was crying. "Freddy -"

"Katie," he whispered. "I - I'm just finding it so hard. I loved Lisa so much. She was like my best friend, as well as my little sister. And now she's gone, and. . .and. . .I don't know. . .how I'm going to cope without her." He started crying - really crying. "God, what's wrong with me?!"

"Freddy, look at me," Katie said, gently but firmly. She put her hand under his chin and lifted his head up so that his eyes were on hers. "There is nothing wrong with you. She's your sister, and you love her, and you miss her. It's only been five weeks - you're bound to feel like this. But it will get better. It will. I promise."

"Promise?" He asked, sniffling. Katie nodded.

"I promise." He sniffled again. "Come here." She leaned forward and put her arms round him. He stiffened at first, but then responded by putting his head on her shoulder.

"Thanks Katie," he choked out between tears, his voice muffled by Katie's shoulder. "Thanks for listening to me. You're a good friend."

*~*~*~*~*

A good friend. That's all she ever was, all she'd ever be. Well - all she ever would have been.

"And I spoilt it with one, stupid, little kiss," she muttered to herself. "What else could possibly go wrong?" As if by magic, there was a low rumble of thunder - and the heavens opened. "Oh, crap!" She snapped, looking sharply upwards. "Is this punishment for something?" She yelled towards the sky. "I - am - getting - soaked!"

"Come inside then, silly." Katie jumped a mile, and whipped round to see the red-headed nurse standing behind her.

"I should really go home though." The nurse smiled slightly.

"Well, young mister Jones did ask me to come get you, but if you're sure -"

"No! I'll come!" Katie stood quickly, and, wiping the dirt off of the seat of her pants, hurriedly bolted inside.

The nurse watched her run inside. Ah - young love, she thought. How sweet. Those two really care about each other. She just doesn't seem to realise that the feeling's mutual. With a twinkle in her sharp green eyes, she followed Katie indoors. I knew this would work. All it needs now is for them to wake up to how they feel. She knew it would work all right. . .

In truth, Freddy hadn't asked her to go find Katie. But hey, what was the harm in playing matchmaker. . ?

* * * * *

Katie took a very deep, very shaky breath before daring to step inside the room again. She didn't actually know what she was expecting to see - Freddy waiting for her with a pitchfork? - but the room was exactly the way it had been when she had run crying from it. The walls, ceiling and floor were still the same horrible, bright white colour. The chair was still pulled up to the bed. And Freddy was still lying in the bed, and he still had that albuterol drip in his arm - which still made Katie feel sick.

She thought she was being quiet, but as soon as the door shut with a soft click, Freddy's eyes opened, and he looked over in Katie's direction.

"Why did you leave?" He asked, his voice still raspy.

"I - was. . .well, I was embarrassed," Katie replied, going a very bright shade of red.

"Why?"

"Because - because I kissed you." Did I just say that out loud???

"You don't need to be embarrassed."

"I don't?"

"No." Freddy paused before he continued - he was obviously extremely tired. "I just wanted to say. . .before you left. . .ditto." Katie blinked.

"Ditto? Ditto what?"

"Just ditto. . ." he murmured as he drifted off into sleep again. Katie stared at him, stared at her feet, and then stared at Freddy again. What the heck does he mean by that? I honestly don't have a clue. . .

One week later

Freddy lay on his front, stretched out across the sofa. His chin was on the armrest, his arms dangling over the edge.

"Freddy, sweetheart?" He hit the pause button on the controls, and flipped over onto his back to see his dear mother standing over him.

"Yeah mom?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"You sure? You don't want a drink or anything to eat or -"

"MOM!" Freddy shouted loudly. Freddy's mother looked slightly hurt that he had just yelled at her, but she fell silent anyway. "Mom, I'm fine. Stop worrying."

"Freddy, you've not long got out of the hospital," his mom replied, sitting beside her son on the battered sofa. "Just let me fuss over you for a couple more days, okay?" She asked, stroking Freddy's hair. He rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Okay. Sure you don't need anything?"

"Yep. Sure."

"Okay." The doorbell rang. Freddy's mom got up to answer it, and Freddy turned back onto his front, took up the video game controls again, and continued shooting at the various evil creatures on the screen. He could hear the door being opened, and then his mothers voice.

"Katie! How nice to see you!" Katie? Freddy thought.

"Hi Mrs. Jones. Um - is it okay if I come in? I just wanted to see Freddy for a minute."

"Yes, of course, come on in." Damn! Hope I don't look like too much of an invalid. . .

"Hi Freddy." He jumped a mile. "Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you." He hit the pause button yet again, then turned onto his back to see Katie, in her school uniform seated at the other end of the sofa. She tilted her head to one side as she studied the game on the screen. "Alien Basher Four?"

"Okay, so there's not a lot else to do in this house," Freddy mumbled, going slightly red.

"Freddy, you've got hundreds of movies!" Katie gestured to the cabinet beside the TV. It (the cabinet, not the TV) was full of video cases.

"Katie, when you're stuck indoors all day, you tend to get through movies and video games pretty quickly." Katie wrinkled her nose in agreement.

"So. How are you?" Freddy shrugged.

"Yeah. I'm pretty good."

"Cool." Silence came over them. Katie bit her lip, and suddenly became very interested in a loose thread on her school skirt. "Oh," she said suddenly, reaching down and digging in her schoolbag. "Um - the others signed this for you. . ." She drew out a large card. Freddy leaned forward, and took it from her.

"A Get Well Soon card?" He asked, studying the front of it.

"Yeah." Freddy opened it up. . .

* * * * *

HI FREDDY! GET BETTER SOON! LUV FROM MARTA

Hope you're okay Freddy! Alicia xXx

Hope ya can cum back soon dude! See ya! From Zack

Get well soon Freddy, from "Mr. Cool"

We need a drummer! GET WELL NOW OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!! Summer xXx

You scared me, please don't do it again. Haha, get well soon freddy, luv from tomika

I bet you still can't read my writing! Get well soon Freddy!!!! Luv from Eleni

Stick it to the man! See ya soon from Leonard

I hope you come back soon! I need you to help me - Michelle's starting to flirt with me!

I am NOT! Ignore Frankie, he's being a jerk! I hope you're okay Freddy. Luv from Michelle

Hope you can come back soon - it's just not the same when it's Zack wearing the outfits I make (don't tell him I said that!) From BILLY

Get well! Hope to see you soon! Marco

You collapsed at practise? Way to scare the girls! HAHA don't tell them I told you that!!!!! See ya, from Gordon

Hi dude! Glad to hear you're okay now. Don't worry about the competition, okay? There'll be others! Just concentrate on getting better so you can come back to practise and help us KICK ASS! YEAH!!!! See ya soon dude! DEWEY

Obviously I had to write something in here - but I'm not sure what. So, I'm just going to say this - I'm so glad you're okay. I really am. And I hope you can come back to school, and to band soon.

Love from Katie

* * * * *

Freddy sat reading the messages for ages. On several occasions, he laughed out loud, especially at Frankie, Michelle's and Gordon's messages. He rolled his eyes when he came to Billy's - he hated having to wear those damn outfits! - and raised an eyebrow at Dewey's. Then he came to Katie's.

"Thanks Katie," he mumbled, after reading it.

"That's okay Freddy," Katie said to her knees. "I got everyone to sign it at school today - then I swung past Dewey's after school and bullied him into signing it." Freddy laughed slightly as he re-read Dewey's message. Then he did a double-take.

"The competition! I completely forgot about that!"

"We didn't do it." Freddy moaned and fell back against the cushions, pulling one over his face. "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe I got sick just before the competition." Katie patted his knee sympathetically.

"There'll be other competitions," she told him. "And it wasn't that big a deal anyway. Apparently one of the lights fell halfway through and nearly hit someone in the front row."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, I know." A silence came over them again, and it was several minutes before Katie eventually spoke. "Freddy?"

"Hmm?"

"When - when you were in the hospital - just after I - I. . .Oh God, I can't even say it." She took a deep breath. "After I - kissed you -" Freddy removed the cushion off of his face at this point "- and I went back in - you said 'Ditto' and I was wondering. . ."

"You were wondering what I meant?" He asked. Katie nodded shyly. Freddy put the cushion down and sat up.

"Katie, I know how you feel. And recently, I've been thinking about it. Actually, I've been thinking about it for ages. I don't know why I didn't realise this before but - I do like you. As more than a friend." Katie's eyes widened in surprise. "Just before you kissed me in the hospital, I could vaguely hear someone talking to me. You."

*~*~*~*~*

"I really, really like you. I mean, seriously like you."

*~*~*~*~*

". . .and that's what I meant when I said ditto. I meant that I feel the same way about you as you do about me." Katie stared at Freddy, then a huge smile lit up her face.

"Well. Um. . .that was - unexpected." Freddy laughed. "Well - I've gotta catch the bus home so. . .uh - is it okay if I come round tomorrow?"

"Sure!" Katie grinned at Freddy, then picked up her schoolbag and swung it onto her shoulder. "See you tomorrow then."

"Yeah. . .'bye." Katie paused before bending forwards and kissing Freddy lightly on the cheek. Then she stood straight, and giving Freddy one last smile, left.

Oh my god. . .she kissed me again! Freddy thought. Yes! He heard the front door click as it shut. An idea started forming in his mind, and before he knew what he was doing, he was jumping and sprinting out of the house at top speed.

"KATIE!" He yelled. Katie, who was at the end of the driveway, stopped and turned.

"Freddy!" She gasped as Freddy ran down the driveway towards her. "What on earth are you doing, you should be indoors, not out here -" She was cut-off mid sentence when he took her hand. Then, as if in slow motion. . .

He kissed her. A proper, deep, meaningful kiss. Katie was shocked at first, but then she felt herself melting into the kiss. I don't want this to ever end. . .she thought. But eventually it did. Freddy broke away from her and gently pushed her hair away from her face.

"So, you wanna come out with me sometime?" He asked quietly, playing with her hair.

"Freddy Jones," Katie said, with an even bigger smile on her face. "I thought you'd never ask."

"So that's a yes?" Katie playfully punched him on the shoulder.

"Of course it is."

"Frederick Jones!!!!" Freddy winced, then turned back to the house. His mother was standing in the doorway, brandishing a tea towel, and not looking very happy. "You get back in this house right now, do you hear me?" Freddy turned back to Katie.

"Looks like I have to go." Katie playfully ruffled his hair. "Hey!"

"Be a good boy then, Frederick."

"Aww, don't be mean. I'm a recovering invalid."

"That's no excuse!"

"Freddy!"

"ALRIGHT MOM, I'M COMING!" Freddy shouted back, his voice cracking slightly. "Ouch. Probably shouldn't do that again for a while."

"No, you really shouldn't," Katie agreed. "Well. . .see you tomorrow then."

"Okay. Bye. . ." He kissed her gently on the cheek before turning and running back into the house.

"Freddy Jones, what the hell were you doing out there?" His mom snapped.

"Mom! Stop fussing!" Freddy whined as his mom closed the door. Katie couldn't help but laugh as she started walking down the road again.

Omigod, omigod, omigod! She silently screamed. Freddy likes me! He KISSED me! He kissed ME! Freddy Jones kissed me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He actually likes me and he kissed me! AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Wait until I tell Summer about this!" Katie muttered happily to herself.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

FIN

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A/N: OH MY GOD! I've actually finished a story! I can't believe it! I'd just like to say, thank you all so much for all of your wonderful reviews! : ) Feel free to tell me if you thought this chapter majorly sucked! REVIEW!!!!!! Thanks!