I'd Do Anything For A Smile

Zacky glanced at her once again, a shy smile crept up on his lips by reading the text from her. The girls now were in the kitchen together, making dinner for the guys. Zacky assumed Meaghan isn’t someone who loved dwelling in the kitchen but he thought it was adorable for her to help the twins and Lacey in there.

His phone beeped of text again.

Don’t underestimate me, vengeance. I can cook a horse. :P – M

He snorted a chuckle and peeked at her. She was putting her phone away and reacting to what Valary had said. They were quite far from each other – Zacky in the living room with all the guys, playing poker again with Ric.

A horse? The only horse you’ll be getting tonight is my horsepower baby.- Z

He pressed send and suddenly felt a presence beside him. He looked up and flinched. Arin was towering over him with his bloodshot eyes staring sharp.

“Jesus, you scared me. What the hell happened to you?”

“Zack.”

“Wh-what?”

“Buy me a drink.”

“Buy you a – why?”

“I’m suicidal.”

“What??”

“That was a joke.” But his face stayed serious. “I need a drink. I need to get drunk. I need a whore.”

Zacky sighed heavily and stood up, luring his arms over Arin’s broad but skinny shoulders.

“Arin, I thought spending a day with Val made you open your eyes? Turns out you never changed.”

“Shh..don’t let her know. The last thing I need is those girls nagging at me all at once.”

Zacky laughed slightly and glanced over his girl. Meaghan was animatedly chatting with the girls so he decided to give in to Arin.

“Okay. Let’s go. But don’t get too drunk okay?”

“You’re driving.”


Both of them made excuse to go out and ‘buy some snacks’ so that the guys didn’t suspect that they were going out drinking secretly. Arin felt like Zacky of all people would understand how he felt because he was dumped too.

“Here. Beer’s enough?”

Zacky laid down a pint of beer on the table and shoved it to him. He took a swig almost immediately.

“For now.” He claimed.

Zacky took a sip of his own beer and narrowed his eyes at Arin. Ever since they got back from fishing Zacky found him isolating himself away from others.

“Dude, you wanna tell me what happened?”

Arin downed his beer in one go and hissed, wiping his mouth. “Can I get a bottle of JD in here?!” he yelled then, ignoring Zacky’s question.

“Hey, kid! What the hell is wrong with you today? Did you saw your ex or something?”

Zacky urged and felt surprised that his guess was bullseye. Arin leaned back to the leather seat and nodded weakly.

“No shit. Did she saw you?”

Arin shook his head.

“Did you..even..talk to her, at all?”

Again, his head shaking side to side, dreading if he really went there and talked to her, what would she say? I don’t need you anymore, Arin. I’ve found someone else.

“Man, you’re a wreck. Even if it takes 7 Val to fix you, you won’t be the same again.”

“Word.”

“Unless…”

Arin looked up to Zacky’s green eyes. “Unless what?”

Zacky leaned forward. “Unless the antidote is, you talking to her. There’s no other way, kid. You gotta talk to her. Figure this out. If she doesn’t want you anymore, then fine. Move on with your fucking life. But what if she does?”

“I saw her with another man.”

“Oh fuck.”

The bartender came by and placed a bottle of JD in front of them. She arched her back teasingly and winked at Arin who smiled a slur and attempted to follow her from behind.

“Wait, wait! Where are you going?”

“That bartender…clearly wants me.”

“Dream on, dude. She does that to everyone.”

Arin groaned and poured himself a shot of Jack. Zacky watched him intently while the liquid spilled over the small cup and drained the table.

“Hey, dude watch it!”

Arin gave up pouring and swigged the bottle down his throat making Zacky’s jaw dropped and he did nothing to prevent it.

“So what’s up with you and Meaghan?”

Zacky was halfway into drinking his own beer but halted at the question. He didn't answer and just let Arin slurred to another question.

“You ever hear about her friend? What’s her name…Tony or something..”

“You mean Tina?”

“Yeah..yeah..that chick..think I should call her right now? I could use some booty…”

“Hey, hey! No, Arin!” As soon as Arin drew out his phone, Zacky grabbed it. “No drunk calling or texting right now. You’re gonna thank me later.”

Arin didn’t fight, instead he just glared at Zacky in slur and chuckled darkly.

“Thank God I brought you here huh. You should know about all these…ex-girlfriend fuss.”

Zacky rolled his eyes. “Yeah and I’m over it. I’m pretty sure you can to. Just move on already man.”

“Not that simple Zack..she..she..she was the one, you know. And...we didn’t…cheat on each other,”

Zacky felt like he was stabbed a million times by that indifferent remark from Arin. That kid didn’t know what he was saying, he just blurted out whatever came to his mind.

“We were perfect,” Arin continued. “But then…she left me.”

“Look, she left you for a job, right? You would’ve done the same if you have the chance.”

“No! I won’t! I….won’t…maybe.”

Zacky took a deep breath and sighed out heavily. “Arin, if you guys are together right now, you’re gonna have to ditch her eventually to go on tour.”

“I could…bring her.”

“Yeah you could, but then will she adapt to your new lifestyle?”

Arin glared at him from behind his messy and curly locks. He didn’t have much space to think about that. Yeah, why couldn’t he accept her for what she is, in return she accepts him for what he does?

“You suck Zacky. Give me my phone back!”

Zacky shook his head and proceeded to drink his beverage. Arin got up and leaned over, knocking on his empty glass, making it fall to the floor and shattered. A few customers turned to look at them but Arin just continued to fight for his phone.

The previous bartender scurried over with hands on her hips.

“What the hell? That glass costs you 15 dollar.”

Arin looked up to her and slurred a big grin. “Heyyy you’re backk!”

Then he lunged himself towards the girl and landed his face on her breasts, in fact, he passed out on her. The bartender backed away at once, making Arin dropped to the floor, unconscious.

“Your friend is drunk and an asshole. I suggest you bring him home.”

Zacky apologized and paid for the beer including tips and the broken glass before he picked Arin up and swung the kid’s arm around his shoulder.

Notes

A/N: yeah i know the story is getting crappier and crappier by minutes..thanks for staying..i'm continuing this anyway :)