Brian stop fucking cheating! I growled, elbowing him in the ribs, he was trying to cheat at guitar hero again, he claimed it was easier for me because I had the lefty flip on, I said bullshit, just cos I play left handed doesnt mean the game makes it easier for me to play, if anything its harder.

Riley! I yelled.

What? She hollered in my ear, making me jump.

Get me a beer?

A beer what?

Please I grinned up at her.

Good boy Whether she was being patronising or not I dont know, but getting Rileys praise or approval was always something that made me happy.

Get me one too please? His voice was sickly sweet and I knew that she was gonna go running for it. Even though he was my best friend I sometimes wondered if he knew just how much she liked him, he must have known, she always did everything that he asked of her and more, she always went the extra mile for him, sometimes I wonder if he knew and he was just trying to string her along.

But then I realised that this was Brian, he wasnt capable of being that harsh to someone, he was a teddy bear.
Just then Riley appeared with our beers;

Thanks babe I said, Brian smiled at her and grabbed his beer off of the coffee table, Riley disappeared off into the kitchen again and Brian and I went back to the game in hand.

Dude Im fucking bored He said when the game was over

Same here

We need to go out

Yeah but where are we gonna go?

The arcade? He asked after thinking it over for a moment.

Sounds good

Ill go ask Riley if she wants to come with us He said disappearing into the kitchen.

I started to put the controllers away, switching the Xbox and the Tv off and everything, I shut the cabinet and went to put my shoes and a hoodie on, when I came back out Brian was back and Riley was pulling a baggy purple hoodie on over her head. Then I realise it was mine.

Isnt that mine? I said checking my hair in the mirror.

Yeah

And youre wearing it because?

I have no clean hoodies

So you think thats an invitation to wear mine?

Yeah

I dont wear your hoodies when mine arent clean I said with a grin

Please Zack we know you never wash them anyways Brian said

You two are ganging up on me, one word for you. Mutiny

Oh hush up about washing clothes; I do all your laundry anyways

Not all of it I grumbled as we left the apartment, slamming the door behind me.

X-X-X

Guys Im going to the car to get more change Riley said to us, we were playing guitar hero again, but with the guitars this time.

Okay get me ice cream

Get your own ice cream Vengeance She said slapping me upside the head as she left. I was tempted to go with her, I didnt want her walking around on her own when it was that dark outside, but Brian was beating me and I was preoccupied.

Why dont you just tell her that you like her? Brian said suddenly.

What?

Tell Riley you like her He said. What the fuck, how the fuck does he know?

Why would I do that? I said not looking at him, continuing with the game.

Dude youve liked her for so long, even Johnnys worked it out

I dont like her Brian, if I did I would have told her by now

Look all Im saying is, is shes gonna work it out eventually

Would you just drop it? I dont like Riley as anything more than a friend, shes been my best friend since I was five and I dont intend to change that any time soon okay?

Alright man Im ju My cell phone ringing cut him off, I pulled it out of my
pocket, the caller ID told me that it was Riley, I answered immediately.

Riley?

Zacky can you come meet me out the front?

Sure why?

I just have this horrible feeling that-- She was cut off by something, I heard a scuffle on the other end of the line and then a horrible ear shattering scream and then the line cut off.

Brian we have to go I said making for the exit.

What happened? He asked running after me, I exited the arcade, I knew she wasnt far away, and I could hear her muffled screaming coming from somewhere close by, the next alleyway was where I found her, struggling against some guy.

I jumped on him, knocking him to the floor, getting a couple of good punches in there before he punched me hard in the lip, splitting it.

I heard Brian and Riley talking as we continued to wrestle; he hit me once more in
the stomach before he got away.

Son of a bitch I coughed and spat the blood out of my mouth, wiping it on the back of my hand. I looked up to see Brian had Riley in his arms and I felt a stab of jealousy in my aching stomach. After the conversation we had just had and everything he had

Notes

Title credit: Dead or Alive - Whitesnake