Friends and Alibis

“So it’s two weeks before the weeding.” Matt told me nonchalantly over the phone. We had been talking for at least an hour and I was pretty sure that this was his initial reason to call, he just didn’t know how to bring it up.

“Uh-huh.” I mumbled. My mood hadn’t improved since the night before, obviously. But who could blame me?

“..And time’s getting short.” He tried again.

“Uh-huh…” He wasn’t going to get a straight answer out of me even if he tried for another hour.

“…And right now our goal is even farther away than before we started our plan.” He mused.

“Uh-huh.”

“You really don’t care at all, do you?”

“Right now? No, I don’t. I probably just fucked it up with half of my friends, I’m just absolutely amazing right now.”

“Half of your friends? I didn’t know Zack counted that much.”

“He doesn’t.” I groaned. “Brian’s still mad and so is Katelyn, of course, because I had a fight with her lover, sorry, boyfriend.”

“Well, Jimmy and I are pretty much still in with this whole plan and we’re willing to help.” He told me.

“What’s there left to help with?” I groaned.

“Oh, if you knew. Get off your butt and meet us at Jimmy’s in an hour. We have things to discuss.”

I groaned in annoyance but knew that I had to get up. I was pretty sure that if I didn’t show up, they would. But I still had time and I definitely wasn’t going to doll myself up for their attempts at bringing me back into the game. So I slept for another half hour before getting up and driving over to Jimmy’s without a rush.

I went in without knocking and was greeted with 3 men lounging around Jimmy’s living room.

“We’ll don’t you just look lovely today.” Jimmy muttered and Johnny laughed. “Which cave did you just crawl out of?”

“Shut up, you’re not a beauty queen yourself.” I shot back and dropped onto the couch beside Matt, who just rolled his eyes and laughed.

“Well, since you’re just really cooperative today, we’ll give you three options.” Matt stated.
“Alright…” I eyed him warily.

“The first proposition we have for you is that we’re going to lock you and Zack up in a room and will only let you out after you’ve reconciled.”

“No… Just... That’s the reason things are the way they are right now, just no.” I fumed.

“Okay… Then proposition number two-“

“Matt, stop!!” I snapped, and by the looks of it none of them had anticipated it at all. “I’m not going to take any of your propositions. I feel like the worst person on earth because of this whole plan and I know that everyone thinks it’s for the better to split them up, but have you ever thought that maybe he actually is happy with Amelia? I’ve known Zack for a while and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t let himself get pressured into a situation like this. So just stop it, for god’s sake and leave me out of it!”

I sat back and looked at them with a scowl. Even I was convinced about the things that I had just thrown at them. I was pretty sure Zack wasn’t as happy as he could’ve been. And I was pretty sure that the guys knew that I knew that, too.

After I visibly calmed down, Matt spoke again, albeit warily. “Okay... You’re right.” I relaxed and let my posture soften. “It’s your choice and we respect that.” I nodded.

“Thank you.” I mumbled and stood up. “I’m gonna go.” I told them and walked out of the door.

This emotional burst threw me off the rails. The only thing I craved then and there was physical closeness and one big order from In’n’Out.

Notes