Solitary Man

A/N: OMG YES! Time-skip! I know I am evil, but I really didn't think people would want to read about 2 whole years of Zack's rather uneventful (after the chapter 4 incident) life. The tour was eventful I guess, but this now takes place 2 years and a lot of tours later.
Warnings: Just the same as last time. Shouta-con certain, definite slash and swearing.
Disclaimer: I own not HIM, their songs, School Of Rock ect ect ect. I am writing this for mah own amusement and not to make moneh.

Solitary Man


The estate was quiet, except for one villa, number 32. The huge white house stood in the middle of a row of very similar houses on the Solana estate, the occupants were less than normal people. This villa was the temporary home of `The School Of Rock', at the moment one member was hard at work upstairs, Zack Mooneyham. 18 year old guitar player and full time rocker. He was currently singing lyrics from a new song while writing them down.

`I know how it feels to be on your own
In this cruel world where hearts are bound to turn to stone
Where you are alone
And tired of breathing
It's all going wrong
And you just can't stand the pain any more
You're too numb to believe in
In anything

Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Darling don't let me down

I know how easy it is to let go
Surrender to despair lurking at your door
To lose your soul and all your feelings
Strength all gone
And so many things left unsaid
And deeds undone
You've stopped caring
'Cause it's all in vain

Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Darling don't let me down

You are so alone
And tired of breathing
It's all going wrong
And you just can't stand the pain

Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Baby just don't close your heart
Darling don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Just don't let me down'


Zack smiled and finished the lyrics with a flourish before setting his pen on the bedside table, he then replaced his guitar in it's case before collapsing backwards on the double bed. The band were on tour, but Dewey had though that they deserved a good break and had booked them into a nice villa in Florida.

He was enjoying the break but he loved to rock and he couldn't help but want to write new songs even on his holiday, he had grown a lot in mind and body, he was no longer afraid to sing either and although far from being a great lead singer he was decent. The guitarist's musings were cut short by a rap on the door.

``Hey Zack Attack!'' The door opened and the band's lead singer leant into the room, ``we made food if you want some buddy.''

Zack sat up, yawned and smiled at the older man, Dewey Finn. He had been many things to Zack in the time they had known each other; a teacher, inspiration, a hero, a jam session buddy and more recently…a love interest.

Neither of them had ever mentioned that incident two years ago, but the tension between the two could still be felt when both were in the room, it wasn't a bad kind of tension. The kind of tension you got when you were around two people who each wanted the other, but neither would ever say anything.

For Dewey…well he felt the same way as he did two years back, that Zack would want a guy or girl his own age. Zack…well he couldn't face Dewey saying no again, so he kept the fact that he was now 18 and still wanted the singer to himself.

``Yooo Zack dude?'' Dewey's worried tone forced Zack to snap out of it, he grinned at the other once more and then hopped off his bed to join Dewey at the door, ``Thinkin?''

``Yup. I do that sometimes you know,'' Zack just managed to dodge Dewey's grab and pressed himself against a wall, ``ok ok! No sarcasm! Mercy!''

``Good, cause I'm the sarcasm king around here,'' Dewey smirked and made his way downstairs, Zack peeled himself off the wall and stuck his tongue out childishly at the singer's back, ``stop making faces at me.'' Zack immediately stopped and blinked, damn Dewey knew him too well.

***


Once they were all around the table for lunch, Zack felt more at home than he had ever felt, he honestly felt that the band were his family now. He got on with all of them, they all had the same general interests as him, he could have conversations and not have to watch what he said and he could do what he liked within reason. It didn't matter that `lunch' turned out to be various sandwiches and a bowl of ice cream, to Zack that was the best damn lunch he'd ever had.

``Hey Zack, what are you planning on doing later?'' Summer asked him suddenly, Zack paused and looked around the table, everyone was looking at him for some reason.

``Er…I dunno…silly question with the way you guys are staring at me but…any reason you ask?'' Zack's question was barley out of his mouth before Summer had replied.

``Cause we're all doing different things and we wondered what you were gonna do.'' Summer turned to the rest of the band and gestured for them to speak up.

``I'm going skateboarding at Vans.'' Freddy shrugged, he didn't expect Zack to really want to do that really, Tomika, Alica and Marta who were never apart were next.

``We're going shopping with Katie.'' The chimed at once, Zack looked at Katie, he had half expected her to want to go with Freddy considering the two were an item. But whatever, he didn't fancy shopping either.

``I am going over to the internet café to check out the band website.'' Lawrence offered, Zack shook his head and shrugged.

``I'll check it out later, I'm not in a computer mood right now.

``Well, I'm going to talk to the owner of the car parked right next to our tour bus, it's stopping us from getting it out and I really think tha-''

``That's great Summer. But…I'm really not sure I want to go and argue with some guy for fun…sorry.'' Zack slunk down in his chair as everyone shot him exasperated looks. He hadn't left the villa the whole time they had been there and it was getting a little silly.

``So what are you going to do Zack? Mooch in your bedroom all day again? I mean I know you're working on new stuff for us but…take a break man!'' Freddy leant back in his chair to prove his point, Zack just sighed and shrugged again.

``I don't want to do any of that stuff though…look, I'll go for a swim ok?'' Zack stood up and started to clear his dishes away into the sink to be washed later, he didn't know who's turn it was but it wasn't his. He then turned and made his way upstairs to get ready for his promised swim. He vaguely heard Freddy sigh and smiled.

``The pool is in the back yard. I didn't know Zack Attack was so lazy.''

***

After his swim Zack had got changed into a baggy Sabbath tee and some black cargos fully planning on lounging around for the rest of the day, when he walked back out to the poolside he found Dewey sitting and reading a book.

``Where have you been?'' He asked as he plonked down in the chair next to the singer, Dewey looked up from his book and shrugged before gesturing to the TV room, ``and you guys called me lazy? Geeze.''

``Hey, I never called you anything.'' Dewey pointed out before turning a page in his book, Zack opened his mouth to argue and then closed it in annoyance…it was true, Dewey hadn't said anything. Grumbling the guitarist pulled out his notebook and tossed it over the table.

``New lyrics. I wrote them this morning before lunch.'' Dewey caught the notebook and opened it, turning his attention from the other book, he smiled as he read the lyrics.

``I know, I heard you dude. You've developed a pretty awesome singing voice you know.''

Zack flushed crimson and turned away from the singer, everything was silent for a good few minutes then Zack turned back to Dewey taking in the man's appearance. He hadn't changed much over the two years, but Zack noticed his shirts were looser than before.

``You've lost weight.'' The guitarist accused bluntly, Dewey looked up at him in surprise and cocked his head.

``Nice of you to notice, I've been trying to.'' Dewey blinked when Zack frowned at his reply, he gave a questioning look and Zack turned his head away again.

``You look fine the way you are, there's no need for crap like that.'' Zack muttered, catching even himself by surprise this time, Dewey stared at Zack for a little while and then smiled. Zack was always honest, it was something he'd tried to drum into the guitarist's head and it seemed to be working.

``Thanks Zack, hey, do me a favour will you?'' Dewey asked, Zack nodded slowly wondering what would be asked of him, ``go and check the pool filter for me, I think Freddy broke it.''

Zack frowned but stood up anyways and made his way to the edge of the pool where he crouched down, the filter seemed ok….what was Dewey talking about-

``Oh no…'' Zack turned but he was too late to dodge as Dewey shoved him one handed into the pool, he yelped as he fell. When he surfaced he shook his hair out of his face and glowered up at Dewey who was dying of hysterical laughter, ``You are so dead Finn!'' Zack swam quickly to the side, finding it hard to stay afloat in cargos.

``Oh?'' Dewey looked down at the guitarist hanging onto the pool edge, Zack glared up at Dewey. The singer's eyes were lit up with suppressed laughter and Zack couldn't help but think that a happy Dewey was the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. The singer was forgiven almost instantly, of course he didn't let on. He swum to the ladder fake-grumbling.

``Bastard, I'm gonna get you for that, you better watch your back the rest of this holiday…'' he muttered as he heaved himself out of the pool, his Sabbath shirt clung to his skin and his pants almost fell round his ankles they were so waterlogged. Dewey immediately burst out laughing again.

Zack grit his teeth and slowly peeled off all his wet clothes minus his boxers, this was stupid…he couldn't even go and get a towel because he didn't want to get everything wet. As soon as Freddy got back his plan would be put into action.

This meant war.

***

Zack was just coming in from the pool area having spent an hour lying on a seat trying to dry off his boxers when he spotted Freddy, the blonde was sitting on the couch with a gameboy in his hands and a carton of orange balanced on his knee, Zack shook him and it almost fell off.

``See, now that is a silly idea.''

``Shut up Zay! It would have been fine if you hadn't manhandled me!'' Freddy snapped at Zack, his gaze never leaving the gameboy…god forbid he lose a life or something, ``what happened to you anyways? I thought you swam this morning…but your hair is a mess.''

``Thanks Freddy… Zack slunk into the seat across from Freddy and sighed, ``Dewey though it would be fun to push me in the pool. With my clothes on. After I had just showered.''

``Ooo, that's one of the cheap shots…'' Freddy grinned at Zack and paused his game, ``why did he do that?'' Zack was worried by the grin on Freddy's face, he slunk a little lower in his seat.

``How should I know? Go ask the bastard…''

``Ahhh…now you know what I think? I think I already know why he did it,'' Freddy's voice made Zack look up, he paled several shades as he spotted the little black book in Freddy's hand, ``I think, I found your journal.''

``Freddy…'' Zack's voice sounded slightly hollow, the guitarist was staring at the book as if it would explode, ``did you read that, or are you just messing with me? I'm not joking Freddy.''

``I…might have read a bit of it…'' Freddy shrunk back in his seat, ``but not much!'' Zack was staring at him in disbelief, the guitarist shook his head, he honestly didn't know what to say. Freddy didn't know he had secrets like that in there, he had just expected…normal teenage stuff. Besides…it was his fault for leaving it around like that.

``…never mind, it doesn't matter.''

``Hey Zack,'' the blonde was looking at him with a deadly serious expression now, ``…why don't you just tell him man?'' Zack thought his head would explode, he launched himself on top of Freddy, kneeling over the blonde on the couch, and grabbed his Green Day shirt.

``Don't be an idiot, listen Freddy…I can't do anything about you knowing now…but you will tell no one of this. Even Dewey. Especially Dewey. Lest I cut you open, rip out your intestines, fill you with flowers and send you to your parents as a nice GIFT!'' Zack had actually bodily lifted Freddy from his seat by the end of his rant, Freddy was in shock, Zack was…damn scary when he wanted to be.

``Dude! Dude lemme go! I promise! No one shall find out, and…Dewey? Ha! Why does he need to know?!'' Freddy laughed nervously as Zack's glare cut through him, apparently satisfied with his answer a minute later Zack dropped him and stood up, ``Dude…take a chill pill. It's cool ok, I'm saying nothing. Nada. Zip.''

Zack didn't grace him with a reply, he just walked out of the room and made his way upstairs to his room, a few seconds later Freddy heard the door slam.

***

``So…again…what are we doing spying on Zack Attack?'' Dewey was leaning against the wall next to Zack's room looking very exasperated with Freddy…who was currently pressing an ear to the bedroom door.

``We're not spying, we're helping.'' Freddy answered in a whisper, though since Zack was singing to himself again he wouldn't be heard anyways. Dewey scratched his head and sighed before slunking down to sit against the wall.

``Of course we are, even though I'm not entirely sure why he needs our help.''

Freddy grew impatient, ``Look, Zack really likes someone…but he won't say who and he won't talk to them about it…I think it's making him depressed so I'm gonna help…are you in or not!?''

Dewey was staring at Freddy in shock, Zack…liked someone? The vocalist felt a sting of pain somewhere in his chest, he shook it away valiantly…this is what he had always wanted for Zack after all, what he had always predicted would happen. Dewey despaired as he found that only made the pain worse.

``Y…yeah, sure. I'm in. I guess.'' Dewey stood up again and forced a grin. It was then that they heard the lyrics to a new song come from Zack's room.

`We're drifting apart
But I want you to know
Wherever you are I belong
Love's singing our song
But we fail to sing along
Wherever you go I will follow

So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you don't let it I won't let it go

You try to be strong
But you're always so alone
Whatever I do I do it wrong
Death sings our song
And we eagerly sing along
Whatever you do I adore
I adore

So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
Oh no

Don't let go of life
Let go of love
Let go of all we have

So don't let go of trust
Let go of lust
Let go of all we share
All we share

So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you don't let it I won't let it go

So please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
Hey my darling
Please don't let it
Please don't let it go
'Cause if you won't let it I won't let it go
Oh no'

Dewey stared holes in the door for a few minutes, then turned to Freddy and spoke in a painfully miserable tone.

``Yeah. I'm in.''

***

A/N: Oh noes! Zack is upset and his secret is no longer that secret. Dewey is upset and Freddy is making it worse! What's gonna happen to em now…