The Aviators

“He was out for ten minutes that was it. I was about to leave the room to go back to Syn and JD, and he just fuckin’ woke up again. Mad as Hell, Val. He wanted to come get you right there and then.”

Jimmy is regaling me with last night’s-this morning’s events that lead to them coming to get me. To save me. We’re in the kitchen at the Sanders’ house. Matt’s parents are out and it’s just us…us being Jimmy, Brian, Matt, JD and me. I’m sitting next to Matt at the breakfast counter, eating breakfast. No surprise there…considering it’s called a…. Anyway, what was I saying? Jimmy was telling me about last night…with the others interjecting on the way.

“Yeah,” Brian speaks up, “so we kinda gave in and got to the Guild as if there was a fire in our pants.”

“There was a fire in Shads’ pants,” Jimmy smirks.

Matt, who has one arm slung around my shoulders, snorts as he retorts, “What the fuck? No.”

“You know what I mean, Matt,” Jimmy grins at him. Matt just rolls his eyes. I lean my head against his shoulder as he gets his piece in.

“Yeah, anyway, it was just frickin’ madhouse. Security guards didn’t want to let us in, but then JD flashed some plastic at him and we were in, just like that.”

“Advantage of being on their payroll,” JD comments drily.

“True…how much do you get?”

“Enough to be worth the risk.”

“Oh.” Matt looks surprised then he frowns. “So, a shit load?”

JD actually grimaces as if he’s tasted something bad. “Yeah, it’s risky business doing what we do.” I glance at him curiously. But, it’s Matt who asks the pertinent question.

“You and…Robert?”

“Yeah.” JD nods carefully; he knows, as we all do, how much anger Matt feels toward the other man.

“Damn…”

“Yeah, it gets that way. Still, we’ve done good. So, I always think as long as that happens, I’ll keep at it.” JD scratches at the back of his neck, glancing up at the clock on the wall. “Speaking of which…I’d better go. There’s some things I need to sort out.” He pushes away from the wall where he’s leaning and nods to Matt. “You’ll be hearing from me soon. And don’t worry, I’ll be back in the studio whenever you need me next. That isn’t just a front.” He smiles as he makes that last statement.

Matt chuckles, “Good to hear. Think you might do that fulltime, ever?”

“Maybe if the other stuff wears me down. Maybe.” JD tips his fingers in a salute and leaves.

I watch him go, my mind still too full after last night’s events. Still not sure how I’m supposed to feel after everything. But, I guess it’s good that Matt, Brian and Jimmy are here, and JD to an extent. They can do all the thinking about it. I can just rely on them, for now.

“Val. Val?” Matt’s trying to get my attention; I stop my pondering and glance at him. He smiles. “Wanna get out of here? We could go to the beach.”

Jimmy interjects before I can answer, “Maybe you should swim in the pool…might not be the greatest idea to go wandering out in public after our little rescue operation.”

Matt looks at his best friend with a grimace as if he’s tasted something sour. I can tell he doesn’t like being told what to do, but as his brow furrows the drummer just gives him a pointed look. Matt sighs and nods.

“Yeah, you’re right.” He looks at me again, a sheepish grin touching the corners of his mouth. “Sorry, Val. Looks like we’ll have to finally use the pool.”

I giggle, “Well, you did clean it out…seems such a waste not to.” He laughs and squeezes my shoulders. I wiggle out of his hold and head for the door. He gets up and follows leaving Jimmy in the kitchen. Brian follows us as well, heading for the front door saying he’ll catch up with us at the studio.

* * * * *

I gasp, spluttering as I’m caught off guard by Jimmy who has just literally thrown me into the pool. Surfacing, I start to glare at the drummer but instead find myself laughing as Matt shoves the taller male in next to me. Jimmy flounders next to me and mutters curses at his friend. Matt just smirks as he wades in from the steps.

“That’s for throwing Val in,” he chuckles. Jimmy splashes him and swims over to the other side. Matt joins me in the middle, treading water as he wraps his arms around my waist. I lean back against him, feeling secure in his grip. He smiles and nuzzles into my neck; I shiver at the contact.

Jimmy rolls his eyes and laughs, "Go get a room!"

"You get out!" Matt retorts. "This is our pool." I blink at his use of the word 'our'. The fact he's including me makes me feel warm inside; I smile up at him. He flashes his dimples at me, wriggling my body gently. Then he looks back over at Jimmy. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Jimmy snorts, “Studio in your dad’s garage? You should be too.”

Matt rolls his eyes as he rocks me gently from side to side. I lean back into him, allowing my legs to float a little. The drummer lifts his eyebrows.

“We need to get this album done…”

“I know, Rev,” Matt sighs as he smooths a hand along one of my arms. I peek up at him, noting the distant expression in his eyes. His mind is far away, and the little crease in his brow is evidence enough that he’s anxious over everything.

“Matt?” I ask softly. He blinks and meets my eyes. I smile at him. “It’s going to be okay, sir…” I know, I can’t help but address him that way. He smiles and nuzzles into the back of my neck. He says nothing though and then the quiet is broken by Jimmy splashing us and Bella barking from the side of the pool.

I laugh as Matt breaks away from me and attempts to tackle his friend in the water, the two men going under in a tangle of limbs. Bella keeps barking, her voice getting louder. I frown looking over to her. The tone is changing, that deep protective sound coming through. Matt’s head breaks the surface of the water and he grimaces, also looking over at the blonde dog.

She’s run over to the gate and is jumping up at it, growling now.

“What the fuck’s up with her?” Jimmy asks. Matt shakes his head and springs deftly out of the pool and goes to her, pulling her away from the gate and peering through the latch hole. His expression darkens and he pulls back.

“Get Val into the house, Jimmy…it’s…” Matt scowls, peeking through again. “I’m not sure…but it doesn’t look good.”

Jimmy nods and without ceremony scoops me into his arms and carries me out of the pool. I cling to his shoulders, making no noise to ask what’s going on. I’m bound to find out soon, and as it is, I probably don’t even want to know.

We go into the living room; Jimmy sets me on the sofa where my journal happens to be laying. Jimmy notices it and picks it up, handing it to me. I smile softly at him and settle down, opening it to the last page, and blinking to see another message inside, not in my handwriting.

Valary,

We love you. All of us. You gotta trust us when we tell you this. And, Matt…he loves you more than he’s willing to admit. If he could, he’d spend the rest his life with you. No kidding. He’s seriously in deep. He was a fucking mess when he found out you were gone.

I’ve never seen him like that over a girl before. I mean, he had girlfriends…and…well…your sister. Your sister and him…they had a thing once. Not sure if he ever told you that? When we were in school. Only lasted about two months, but. God knows why they even got together in the first place. Then Chelle hooked up with some rich jerk…and Matt was cut, but he just started acting like a bigger ass to her to hide it.

And then she fell for Syn…I think Matt resented her for that. But, he was happy for Syn…we all were. But, yeah…Matt didn’t go out with anyone else after that, really…just casual flings. And then being in the band…who the fuck wouldn’t wanna be with a guy in a band? But, to be honest, he wasn’t happy. Not until you came along.

Funny that you’re Michelle’s twin…full circle, I reckon. Full circle.

Jimmy

I stop reading and blink hard in surprise. Jimmy notices my look.

“What is it, Val?”

I swallow hard before whispering, “Matt had a thing for my sister?”

Jimmy flushes but to his credit doesn’t deny my question. “Yeah…he did. I think he was kinda attracted to the fact that she was a bitch to him. But…he was young and immature then. We all were.”

I look down, unsure of how to process this piece of information. “What about now?”

Jimmy smiles, “You read the rest of that message?” I nod. He goes on, “Then you don’t need to worry about that. He’s all about you.”

I feel my cheeks go pink, then murmur, “But…it’s no wonder he and Chelle don’t like to talk about what went on between them…” I trail off and look toward the door as Matt comes back into the house. He’s looking a lot more relaxed than before. “Sir?”

He gives me a look, “Valary, stop calling me that.”

“Sorry, habit…”

Jimmy adds, “Give her time, man…anyway, what was the problem?”

Matt shakes his head as he goes to the window and looks out. “It was Robert.”

I shiver and set my journal down, watching him. He glances over at me and smiles. “He wanted to say how sorry he was about all this. And that he understands why I…lost it.”

“We all understand that,” Jimmy retort. I nod in agreement. Matt grimaces and returns his gaze to the window.

“He thinks we won’t be bothered by the Guild for a while, at least. He and JD have enough to start the next phase of their assignment…whatever that means.” Matt rubs at his scalp then turns and joins me on the sofa. I shift a little as he sits next to me. He tilts his head at me; I just smile at him. He exhales, in a rough sound then hugs me close again.

Jimmy smiles at us then glances at his phone. “So…when’re we heading to your parents?”

Matt flaps a hand at him, pulling me closer in the circle of his arms. “Later, Rev…”

Jimmy nods and gets up. “Well, I’ll give you some privacy, then. See you later.” I peek over at him and give a little wave. He winks at me, nodding to Matt before walking out.

Notes