Not a bad thing

Izzie’s POV
Lynn and I were getting ready to leave for Brian’s. I was already dressed and ready to go, but Lynn was running around her house, trying to find her shoes. “Maybe I should change into something else. This is too casual.” I sighed, in the past 20 minutes we had this discussion 4 times. “You are not going to change. It will just be us, Brian, the guys and Elisabeth. No need to make a big deal of it. It is just a BBQ. Brian told me that if you wanted to swim you could bring you bikini”. He also said that she could go skinny dipping if he was in charge of it, but I decided to just not tell her that. I don’t want to watch her all night, wondering if she is getting into trouble, with Brian, for sure.

Brian and I discussed the party this morning when we met up for breakfast. We are starting to get to know each other again, and it’s a little weird to have to get to know your best friend, but it also feels really good. We clicked back then, we click now. It’s nice to know that the bond is still there. Brian was really excited for me to meet his bandmates, or brothers as he calls them. I figure that’s how close you get when you are in close quarters all the time. I told him about my job and what I have done in the past years. I also told him about Eric, I couldn’t believe it was only a week ago since I caught him cheating. So much had happened since then.

I didn’t tell him about Chris though. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. What if he hates me for getting back to him? I was such a mess back then, Brian had to get me through it and I was running back into his arms once more. I shouldn’t have done it, I mean, do you see me happily married to Chris at the moment? Hello serious trust issues. Ah well, I decided to not think about it today and just have fun.

For as long as that’s possible at a party with a girl that hates my guts. I sighed. Brian told me Lizzy will behave and that she had some pre assumptions about me. He cleared it up, he said and she was looking forward to meeting me. I just couldn’t imagine it, but hey, if Brian says so. He always gets what he wants, so if he wants us to get along, we probably will. He was like that.

Lynn was still running around the house, she had her shoes on now, but didn’t know which bikini to take with her. I had mine in my car already. “Come on Lynn, we could have been there 30 minutes ago!” She finally appeared with a bag in hand. She had changed her jeans for a jeans skirt, just like I was wearing “Yes? Ready to go?” We walked out the door and I put her bag in the car, while she was locking the door. I turned up the music and started the car. Lynn crashed on the seat next to me “Let’s see how this rockstar lives then!”.

Brian’s house was a 15 minute drive from mine. I can’t believe we were this close all the time. But he already told me, he had mostly been touring during the time I lived here now. Brian’s house wasn’t hard to find, it was the nicest in the street and as I drove up the drive way I saw 6 people waiting. “Better get out of the car gracefully” I heard Lynn mumble. I was normally the one getting insecure, not her, this wasn’t good.

Matt’s POV
I saw Izzie and her friend get out of the car. I think I was staring. I must have been. Izzie was wearing aviators. Not just any aviators, the female version of mine. I blushed a little. I didn’t even know this woman, but this moment felt so... intimate. “Hey Shadz, look at her! She’s the female you!” Johnny joked. “Look at her car” I heard Arin say quietly “Now I get why Brian is so attached to his black-white striped Schecter”. Her car was this old beetle, black, with white striping. Brian had this big grin on his face and looked at Arin “That car was the inspiration, but don’t tell her, I want to show her myself”. I was still looking at this woman. How could she already make me feel like this? I haven’t spoken one word with her and she was already making me blush.

Brian walked up to her, giving her a hug and a kiss. I did see what Lizzy meant yesterday, when she had mumbled that this friendship was different. I could see it in Brian, he was different around her. He looked at her the same way he looked at Lizzy. How did he pull this off? Being such good friends with girls and have all these girls in his bed too? I had nothing to complain about the “in the bed”- part, but there wasn’t anyone worthy enough to stick around. Not any girl I would really want to more spend time with, than the one night stand or occasional few night stands. But Izzie already made me feel different. Was this love at first sight? It couldn’t be, right? Something like that doesn’t exists. Brian was holding Izzie and led them towards us. We were just standing around, waiting for him to introduce us.

Izzie’s POV
“Izzie, these are my brothers and my honorary brother Elisabeth” the girl smiled at me. This was progress comparing to the last time we “met”. “Guys, this is Izzie” they all said hi as Brian started to introduce them to me individually. “I will just start by introducing you to Elisabeth, because she is a girl and a girl should go first... In everything” He winked at Lynn. Oh God, I felt Lynn shiver next to me. I could see where this is going. “Elisabeth and I have been friends for a long time and no, we never dated. I learned my lesson not to date my best friend.” Wink again, but now at me. I smiled. “You can call her Lizzy, because Elisabeth is just way too long. I think you two will have a lot to talk about later on.” He pointed at himself, making both Elisabeth and me chuckle. “The short one next to Lizzy is Johnny, or short shit as we are calling him. Johnny plays the bass and thinks he’s the coolest. I think he just wasn’t good enough to learn and play a real guitar.” Brian laughed and Johnny punched him in the shoulder first and shook my hand after.

“This tall quiet one is Arin, he is the new kid, and plays the drums. He is amazing and he fits our group really well. Arin is a hopeless romantic and isn’t afraid to show it. Chicks dig him.” Another handshake and a shy “Nice to meet you” from Arin.

The one with the beautiful green eyes looked at me and shook my hand. “This is Zacky V. He is my partner in crime on the stage. He plays the rythym guitar and makes me look really good when we’re out there.” I smiled at Zacky and saw Lizzy twitch. What the hell? Did I just blow any chance of getting along with her by smiling at Zacky? Was I fishing in her pond or what? Brian continued.

“And last but not least, the leader of our little pack. M. Shadows, or as we just call him, Matt. He is our singer and he can roar very well. You would only rarely see him without his aviators. But you know how that feels I think” Brian smiled at me, looking at my sunglasses. I loved my aviators and Matt had the same as me, only the man version. Matt took my hand in his to shake it and I felt electricity pass between our hands. I looked at him, shocked. He felt it too, I could see it in his face. “Nice to meet you Izzie, Brian told us a lot about you”. His deep voice made me shiver, the dimples in his smile made my knees weak. He must be bad news, why would I feel so attracted to him otherwise? My track record of choosing men wasn’t flawless. Lynn noticed our little moment too and looked at Matt with piercing eyes. I think she was already trying to figure out what was wrong with him. So was I. I was planning to keep my promise and let Lynn choose the next man I would date. Starting with one of the friends of my long lost best friend, probably wasn’t a good idea. I glared at Matt once again and then looked around in the group. “Hi, nice to meet you all. This is my friend Lynn, and just so you know, she is already a fan” I smiled and turned to Lynn, who was stepping forward to greet everyone.

“Let’s continue this in my backyard where there are food and drinks!” We all followed Brian into the house. Everyone was walking towards the backyard, but Brian stopped me. “Do you want the tour?” I looked at Lynn, she seemed to be in a conversation with Johnny and Arin already, so I didn’t have to worry she would feel alone. “Yes, please, I’m very curious how you live. Lead the way!”

Brian showed me around his big ass house. 6 extra bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and then his own “wing” with his own bedroom and ensuite bathroom. All the rooms were decorated in different music theme. He had, of course, the rock room, a jazz room, a Dixie room, a classical music room and a reggae room. The last one he showed me was my favourite, it was the pop room. He had this beautiful Justin Timberlake painting hanging on the wall and bright colours everywhere. As in every room he showed me, the details were subtle, but you would see right away what kind of room it is. Brian laughed when he saw me staring at the painting. “I know you would like this one, I thought of you when I asked the decorator to do this room. You with your horrible music taste!” I punched his arm “That’s not fair, I was 16!” Brian tilted his head a little “Do you or do you not own Justin Timberlake’s latest album?” I looked at him, trying to lie, keeping a straight face. “No, I don’t”. He grinned “Liar”. “Okay, okay, you are right, I do own the latest, both of them, but they are really good. And to defend myself, I listened to your music the past few days and I like it. Not the first two albums, but from city of evil on... I can totally listen to it” Brian’s smile grew wider and wider “You listened to my music?” “Of course I did! I needed to know what you guys are about. And for your info, I listen to a lot of music now. Different music. I’m eclectic you might say, as long as there is music. I can’t stand the silence”. Brian nodded “I know that feeling, it has always been this way with us huh? Both crazy about music?” I smiled. “I remember the cd you made for my car, just because you hated the music I was playing.” “The one with Duran Duran on it?! Oh, Oh, Oh, And… “ Brian took a big breath and started to sing in a high pinched voice “I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world” Tears streaming down my face of laughing that hard. It still did the trick. “I really missed this, Bri. I missed you”. He pulled me into a hug and we just stood there for a while “I missed you too Izzie, please stay this time”. He guided me out of the room “Come on, I want to show you something”.

Notes

It's the weekend! Plenty of time to comment ;-)