Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows

Zacky ran a hand through his hair as he got out of Matt’s car. He stood staring at the house in front of him as he moved to get his bags out of the car.

“Don’t worry about getting in the way. This house is too big for just me and Val. It’ll be sick having someone staying with us,” Matt said as if he were reading Zacky’s mind.

Zacky smiled up at him and sighed. “If you say so,” he mumbled as he walked toward the door. He still felt like he was intruding, but Matt was the only person he could trust to not rub this in his face.

Matt sighed as he opened the door. He took a step toward the house as the door opened to show Val smiling sadly in the front hallway.

“Hey, Zacky. Lemme get your bags,” she said as she took the bags out of Zacky’s hands, walking back inside and upstairs before he could protest.

Matt sighed and wrapped an arm around Zacky’s shoulders. “Chin up, dude. We’re going drinking tonight. Get shit off your mind,” he said with a grin.

Zacky smiled and nodded, glad Matt hadn’t talked about what had happened. He was still in shock that Gena had kicked him out. His heart felt like a part of it had been ripped out and yet he still wasn’t that upset. Had Gena been right? Had she really been his sloppy seconds?

Matt sighed and ruffled his friend’s hair. “Don’t think about it, Zack. It’ll just make it worse. We’ll go out with the little Shit and have some fun,” he said softly.

Zacky smiled slightly and nodded. “Yeah. Lemme just get changed,” he mumbled as he walked into the house and up the stairs.

Matt sighed and walked toward the kitchen. He leaned against the counter looking up the stairs in the direction his friend had disappeared.

“He’s really upset, isn’t he?”

Matt blinked and smiled as Valary walked into the kitchen. He frowned slightly and shook his head. “That’s the weird part. He’s…almost indifferent. Like it hurts, but not too much,” he said softly.

Val nodded and sighed. “He really does love Brian, doesn’t he?” she said looking up at her husband.

Matt sighed and shook his head. “I don’t think he knows anything anymore. Maybe once he did. Maybe once he loved Gena, too. Now his head’s too much of a mess. He needs a night out. A night away from everything.”

Val nodded in agreement smiling wider as Zacky walked downstairs. He’d run a comb through his hair, changed his clothes and looked all together much less dead. He smiled slightly and played with his snakebites.

“You ready, dude?” Matt said, grinning at Zacky. He pulled a leather jacket on and adjusted his hat.

Zacky shifted slightly and nodded. “Yeah. I guess. Where’s Johnny?” he said quietly. He looked almost empty, a shell of the kid who’d grown to be Matt’s best friend.

Matt laughed softly before kissing Val quickly. “Probably drinking already. Let’s get the fuck out of here!” he said with a grin as he led Zacky out to his car.

The drive to the bar was quiet and almost awkward. Matt sighed not sure how to ease the tension. He knew drinking and just having fun was what Zacky needed, but he couldn’t help thinking seeing Brian would do the trick better than anything. He’d tried calling his friend more than once and his phone had gone straight to voicemail each time.

“I need a fucking drink,” Zacky muttered as he got out of the car and walked into the bar. Matt snorted and shook his head as he followed him looking around for Johnny.

“YO! MATT, ZACKY! OVER HERE, YOU STUPID FUCKS!”

Matt and Zacky let out a collective groan as they walked toward Johnny. “Lay off the shots, ya shit,” Matt muttered as he grabbed one and downed it.

Johnny scoffed and reached for the other shot on the table, yelping as Zacky slapped his hand and took it from him. “Yeah, well….shut up Matt,” Johnny mumbled.

Matt rolled his eyes and laughed softly. “So, anyway... what are we drinking to, boys?”

“Never needing an excuse to make fun of Johnny?” Zacky suggested quietly.

There was a short pause before a huge grin broke across Matt’s face. “Fucking A right, man!”

Zacky laughed and a grin spread across his face. The sight of his friend’s happiness made him relax completely. He lifted his glass and downed his shot in perfect unison with Matt.

“Why does everyone fucking pick on me?” Johnny whined, glaring at Matt and Zacky.

“Simple. 'Cause you’re a little Shit,” Matt answered getting a giggle from Zacky.

“I’M NOT A SHIT!” Johnny whined his voice hitting a pitch that made both Zacky and Matt wince.

“Holy fuck, Johnny, shut up,” Zacky muttered, smacking the small bassist upside the head. Johnny squeaked and glared at Zacky, getting a chuckle from Matt.

“All you guys ever do is make fun of me, man. I’m so freaking sick of it,” Johnny whined as he downed another bottle of beer.

Matt rolled his eyes and took a long drink from his beer, throwing a sidelong glance at Zacky. “It’s 'cause you make yourself an easy target doing shit like this,” Matt answered as he leaned back in his chair.

Johnny opened his mouth to answer before he frowned, realizing that Matt was right. A triumphant grin spread across the singer's face and he downed the rest of his beer before waving to the bartender for a few more.

Zacky rubbed the bridge of his nose before pulling his hand up to play with his septum piercing, a nervous habit he’d picked up because it was harder for Brian to realize his true feelings. Matt glanced up at him and raised his eyebrow, a silent way of asking if the guitarist was okay. Zacky smiled tiredly and nodded motioning for Matt to hand him another beer. The singer obliged though not entirely believing his friend was okay.

“I hate it when you guys have those stupid silent conversations. Makes me feel left out,” Johnny mumbled, reaching for a beer. He frowned as Matt smacked his hand and took it from him.

“Slow down, Johnny. We don’t need you any stupider than you already are,” Zacky said, playing with his snakebites to keep from laughing. Matt snorted and almost choked on his beer.

Johnny frowned about to answer before he took a sniff of the air. “Dude, something stinks. I think it’s me!” he said frantically trying to find the source of some strange smell.

“Oh, God. He’s gonna start stripping. Get him to the car,” Matt muttered as he paid for the drinks. Zacky nodded and grabbed Johnny’s arm leading the squirming bassist toward Matt’s car.

As they finally managed to get Johnny into the car, the bassist peeled his shirt of and began smelling his stomach and under his arms. Matt rolled his eyes and him and Zacky got into the front seat before he drove off.

“Dude…my nipples stink,” Johnny mumbled as he tried to smell his chest.

“Yeah. Your face stinks, too, Short Shit,” Matt said with a grin.

“What?! It does?!” Johnny squeaked as he started frantically trying to smell his cheeks.

“Yeah. It smells like dumb-ass.”

Johnny paused and glared at the back of Matt’s head. “That’s so not funny, dude.”

Zacky shook his head, a huge grin spreading across his face. Matt had managed yet again to take his mind off all the pain and all the stress that was running through his head. He was more than grateful for his best friend.

“Hey, Matt?” he murmured, glancing over at the singer.

Matt glanced over at him for a minute before looking at the road again. “No need to thank me, dude. You needed this,” he answered, ruffling Zacky’s hair.

Zacky grinned gratefully and leaned back in his seat. He loved his friends more than anything. Maybe now he could face Gena in the days to come. Brian, however, would be a different story.

Notes