Friends and Alibis

The door opened and revealed Zack in boxer shorts only and with wet hair. The more mature version of him anyway.

"Yeah?" He asked, sounding pissed and definitely not recognizing me. Wow, talk about awkward.

"Hello, Baker." I answered with fake smugness and a small grin forming on my face. But he just looked as confused as before while looking me up and down. After a little pause he spoke up again.

"Look, I've got no time for fans at the moment, so..." he said his voice drenched in annoyance when he started to close the door. More awkward.

"Wow, you sure know how to welcome someone back home. Your mum hugged me at least." I yelled the last part and he stopped closing the door halfway through only the swing it back open with full force. He eyed me with suspicion until realization hit him and his face held the same expression his mother's had held.

"Oh my god! May?!" he asked, leaving his mouth wide open.

"The one and only!" I answered, relieved that he finally recognized me.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry! You look so different and...Oh my god, come here!" he rambled and pulled me into a tight hug. I just chuckled at his reaction and held him even tighter. Who wouldn't, when you're hugging a half naked good looking man? And boy, did he smell good.

He pulled away all too soon, much to my disappointment, and led me inside where we both took a seat on his couch. But he abruptly stood up and I thought I could see him blush just a tiny bit.

“I’m just gonna… You stay put, I’ll… put clothes on.” He rambled and I had to let out a soft laugh when he almost sprinted up the stairs to, where I presumed, was his bedroom.

While I waited for him I took in my surroundings. His house was comfy and, funnily enough, spotless. Talking about change, that was definitely a good one.

It didn’t take him long before he came down the stairs again and plopped down on the couch beside me where he just stared at me wide eyed until he collected himself again.

"You look so different." Was all he said.

"I know... Boobs!" I answered jokingly with a laugh.

"Yeah..." He nodded, probably more to himself than anyone else. "N-No! I-I mean... That's not what I meant, it's just... you know what I mean!" He stuttered while he blushed and I laughed.

"Yeah, I know. A lot can happen in ten years. I mean, look at you. You're in a successful band!" I said, still in awe at that.

"Yeah..." he chuckled and shook his head as if he couldn't quite believe it himself. "Speaking of the band, please let me call them and surprise them with you!" I nodded, telling him to go ahead and he grabbed his phone from the table.

He dialled and held the phone to his ear. "I'm calling Brian." He informed me and I nodded.

"Hey, Brian." ... "Yeah, fuckwad, I know I'm late. I have a clock and eyes. Is everyone there already?" ... "Good. Change of plans, you're all coming over." ... "Yes, I'm serious. I've got a huge surprise." He smiled at me. "No, I'm not fucking with you. Get your asses over, I'll be waiting." He put the phone down and smiled at me.

"They're going to be ecstatic." He laughed softly to himself.

"I don't know..." I answered and he looked at me with a confused expression. "If you're anything alike, they won't even recognize me." I laughed at him.

"But I am ecstatic now!" He defended himself and I laughed. We talked until someone knocked on the door as if it was a drum. Zack jumped up and walked towards the door, yelling. "Jimmy, stop it or you'll be the last one to see the surprise. I'm not, I repeat, I'm not joking!" The knocking stopped on cue and I watched him disappear into another room. "Kids..." He muttered to himself before I heard him opening the door and greeting them.

"Dude, I really hope the car in your driveway belongs to a girl." I heard someone say, probably Brian.

"Yes, it actually does." Zack answerd plainly, though he probably tried to suppress the grin on his face.

"Sweet, finally came to your sense and brought home the right girl?" Matt teased and I heard a smacking sound and a muttered 'shut up'.

The sound of footsteps came nearer to the living room where I was soon greeted by four familiar faces.

"May!" Jimmy yelled and smothered me with a hug until we both almost fell from the couch, laughing like maniacs.

"Yep, definitely the right girl." I heard Brian whisper to Matt before they both greeted me with a bone crushing hug.

"See! They recognized me!" I yelled to Zack while I was still stuck in between Matt and Brian. He just laughed and shook his head.
Matt and Brian released me and I turned around to be faced with the fourth guy.

"Jonathan Seward, we meet again." I said and he pulled me into a hug.

"Wait, how'd you know each other? He was” He stopped to count, “ ...thirteen when you left." Zack asked and the rest of them looked at each other in confusion.

"I tutored him in maths for about two years." I told them.

"Right, you were the math genius." Brian said with a laugh.

"Yeah, there was a reason I was the one who did your homework." I responded with my eyebrow cocked.

When we finally stopped hugging and all sat down, they all stared at me like they still couldn't believe that I was there. It somehow flattered me to know that they really missed me. Jimmy's reaction was the best evidence.

"So..." Matt started. "Don't take this the wrong way, it's really good to see you again, but... what exactly are you doing here?"

"I live in Huntington." I told him with a smile.

"How long have you been living here?" Jimmy asked with a shocked expression. I counted on my fingers before answering.

"Officially, for about 18 hours." I answered, knowing that he'd have been mad if I had been here for a while and not contacted them earlier.

They just nodded in relief and we started talking about everything I had missed, such as how they became a band and got signed.

"No, but you should've seen how-" Jimmy was cut off by the sound of the door opening and everyone turned their head towards the front door.

"Zacky, are you home?" A woman yelled.

"Yeah!" He yelled back and the rest of the guys just looked at each other with a certain look while I felt sort of confused.

"Get your ass up and help me with the groceries!" The woman yelled and Zack wasted no time to hurry out of the door.

"Who was that?" I whisper-yelled at the guys who just sat there with the most annoyed look they could come up with.

"Our worst nightmare." Brian muttered and rolled his eyes, leaning back.

"What?"

"Zack's fiancée... We don't like her." Johnny explained.

"Understatement of the year here!" Jimmy groaned, throwing his head back.

Notes