Project: GRR.

"So, Summer, what's all this about a new boyfriend?" Katie asked cheerfully, ignoring the shocked look on her best friend's face. Freddy and Zack looked up from their coffees at this news, clearly not having heard it before, and Summer glanced around, panicked for one of the first and only times in her life.

"Uh… uh…" she stammered, trying to ignore Freddy and Zack's accusatory looks. "I… I don't…"

"Yeah, what new boyfriend, Summer?" Freddy interrupted, glaring at the dark haired young girl. "You never told us about some new guy in your life!"

Summer lifted her head, looking Freddy directly in the eyes for the first time since she'd entered the dark little coffee shop. "I never told you because I knew you'd have exactly this reaction," she replied, quietly but clearly. "You never approve of any of my boyfriends, and that goes for you as well, Zack."

Zack looked down at his worn black Converse, a little ashamed, but Freddy just folded his arms and leaned back in his seat.

"Don't lie, Summer," he said easily, taking a sip of his black coffee, which none of the other three could stand to drink. "We all know it's just 'cause you're ashamed of us."

"I… I am not!" Summer flushed slightly, knowing that her friends would have noticed the slight hesitation that came there. The slight colour in her cheeks brought Freddy's statement to Zack's attention, and he sat up a little straighter, scrutinising Summer.

"Oh my," he said quietly, appearing a little taken aback. "You actually are. Freddy's right for once."

Katie peered at her friend, too, and Summer covered her face with her hands and curled up in her seat, embarrassed by all the attention. "I'm not ashamed of you guys," she mumbled from behind her fingers. "I just don't think you'd get along with Ryan, that's all."

"Ooh, like Ryan Ross? Is he hot?" Katie asked immediately, bouncing in her seat and ignoring the dark looks she got from the boys at her musical reference.

"Um, I guess he looks a little like Ryan Ross, yeah," Summer mused, happy at the slight subject change. "Dark eyes, the same kind of hair… but Ryan - my Ryan - is a lot more… I don't know. Special."

"Aww," Katie grinned happily, but Freddy narrowed his eyes, having picked up on one of Summer's rushed phrases.

"'Your Ryan'?" He grimaced, pulling a face. "So he's yours now? So much for 'new' boyfriend; I'm not falling for that one. So how long has this been going on?"

"First of all, Freddy, you started your last three sentences with 'so'," Summer pointed out quietly, but Freddy just ignored her. "Secondly, we've been officially dating for nearly three months now. It will be our three month anniversary tonight."

"So why don't you invite him over and we can all meet him?" Freddy replied quickly, sitting back in his seat with the air of one who has just delivered an unmistakeable challenge.

Summer frowned, glancing around. "Are you serious?" When she got no reaction, she became slightly more panicked. "But… But you always said that you hate it when people celebrate stupid things like three months!"

No one argued and eventually she subsided, accepting defeat. "Fine," she mumbled, folding her arms sulkily, and a slow smile spread across Zack's face as he realized how similar she looked to Freddy's pose, a few moments earlier. "We'll meet you here, tomorrow, at six. But he's bringing his friends too."

"That's great, Summer," Freddy said cheerfully, leaping up and grabbing his jacket. "Just great!"

Summer gave them all one last desperate look before leaving the coffee shop, Freddy following close behind. Katie suddenly became unusually shy, appearing to be more interested by tracing designs in the frothy cream of her cappuccino. She glanced up to see Zack's dark eyes fixed on her own, and an unfamiliar blush stained her tan cheeks.

"I've got to go," she gabbled quickly, throwing a five dollar bill down on the table and rushing from the shop, leaving Zack alone with his thoughts.

Katie did look beautiful when she was embarrassed, he mused, reaching for the pen and pad of paper on the table. If only she'd hang around long enough for him to tell her.