Hostage

Zack’s POV

The rest of the day went pretty quiet, I drove with Alicia to the police station to sign her last adjustments to her statement and after that we just went back home.
We watched tv and relaxed on the couch without much talking and doing anything, in the evening we ordered food.
Alicia seemed a little absent, but that was since she came back from her girls talk with Caroline.
“Are you okay?”
“You are asking that for the third time now, Zack. Yes, I am okay.”
“Alright, I was just…” Alicia turned towards me and laid her head on my chest. I began to stroke her hair and thought back to my talk with Matt earlier.
He didn’t really answer my last question but I knew now that he and Val were not a couple, he also seemed to be worried if I knew that he and Alicia have been close.
But was he worried because he didn’t want to hurt me and my feelings as a friend or was something else behind this?!
I sighed loudly and Alicia looked up to me…

“What are you thinking about the Party thing? You didn’t seem too happy about my idea earlier.” I asked her to come to a different topic and different thoughts.
“I don’t know… I am afraid that they will all look at me wrong, because of the end of the last one.” Alicia said shyly.
I pulled her closer, capturing her lips softly with mine, to show her that I wanted her there, no matter what the others thought.
“They won’t. Maybe, we will just not be at someone’s home, we could go to a club together. Then we won’t be all in the central, but everybody can talk and have fun with everyone. They are my best friends, you know.” I tried to convince her.
“Yes, I think I like that idea better.” Alicia yawned and I looked at the time.
“Come on, let’s get to bed, you heard that we will be meeting at the studio tomorrow. Will you come a long? I could show you around? Then we could also tell the others about the plan with the club?”
“Sure, okay.” Alicia nodded and we both got ready for bed.

I lay myself down beside her, she looked up to me, and she looked so exhausted.
Maybe now the whole tension of the last days or maybe even weeks came down on her?!
I pulled her body towards me, and with my right arm I stroked her hair away from her shoulder and let my fingers glide over her skin softly.
“Good night.”
“Good night.” She leaned up to me and I sealed her lips with mine.

It didn’t take long, until Alicia’s breathing was even and deep and she had fallen asleep.
I didn’t forget my plan on listening to her mumbling in her sleep, maybe it was something important, what if it was something that she should talk about?

“Help, please…” I woke from my sleep to Alicia’s voice. Oh no, I have fallen asleep…
I switched the light on my phone on to look for Alicia, she lay on the left side of the bed, her knees high on her chest, her hand fumbling in her sleep.
She was still murmuring and I leaned closer, pulling her body to mine.
Her voice went quiet as soon as I had her in my arms, but my suspicion was right…
Was that happening every night?

“Ssshhh, Alicia. It’s alright. It’s me Zack, I am here.” I stroked her hair and suddenly her eyes snapped open and she looked at me, first she frowned then she seemed to recognize me.
“What happened? Is everything okay?” Alicia asked and I wondered that she didn’t realize, that she had been talking and crying in her sleep.
“Everything is fine, I just woke up…” I laid my head back down, and Alicia did the same.
Should I talk to her about this?

Matt’s POV

I sat in the studio I had been here for hours already writing down words on my notepad but nothing made sense really…
Just broken sentences or one word that I scratched out again the next moment…
“Yo Matt, you are early.” I heard Johnny’s voice behind me.
“Hi, yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”
Johnny plopped down on the couch opposite of me.
“You came alone?” I looked up to him.
“Nah, Arin and Kim are outside parking the car. Will be here in a minute.” Johnny said and bends forward to look on my notepad.
“Nothing.” I shook my head and laid it on the table.

The door opened and I heard more than two voices entering the room.
“I’m fine really.” Alicia voice sounded behind me and I suppressed the urge to turn around and look at her.
“I will grab some chairs from next door. Arin, come on and help me.” Zack announced.
Someone tapped my shoulder and I looked up to find Kim standing next to me.
“Kim, hi. Good to see you.” I hugged her and saw behind her Alicia standing.
I breathed deeply in and out and hugged her as greeting as well. “Sit down, here.”
I held my stool out for her and she sat down with a small frown and I waited for Zack and Arin to arrive with the new chairs, while Brian and Chelle came through the entrance and Brian plopped down next to Johnny, with Chelle on his lap after the greetings were done.

After a small round of small talk and everyone was sitting we started to discuss the main topic.
Brian told us he had done a lot of songwriting during and after the last tour and he wanted us to see the stuff he got.
So we planned out the schedule when we would have time to sort through all our ideas and would need the main studio again, we called our producer and planned some meeting with them as well.

I looked over at the girls, sitting in a small group of three and talking.
“Babe, come over… Zack got an idea.” Brian announced and I must have missed the idea since I was staring at Alicia the whole time.
Her eyes met mine and I mouthed ‘You okay?’
She frowned and then nodded.
“Yeah, girls come on over.” Zack grinned and when the girls walked over Zack pulled Alicia onto his lap and I averted my eyes.
“What idea?” Kim asked standing beside Arin.
“We want to go to a club together, coming Friday. We will ask the others as well, so a group partying. You all in?” Brian announced.
“Yes, sure. We haven’t done that in a while, good idea.” Arin nodded and grabbed Kim’s hand and kissed her knuckles.
Again I looked down, couldn’t stand the intimate gesture.
Weird I never had that problem before.
“Matt?” I looked up meeting Zack’s eyes.
“Yes, sure. Why not?” I nodded and when he didn’t look away I got up from my seat.
“Are we done?” I asked not looking at one particular.
“Yes, guess so. We can talk about the details for Friday, later?” Arin asked.
“Yes, I will just call everyone and send you guys a message.” Brian announced and pulled Michelle in for a kiss.
I nodded and opened the door to get out, I had the need to get fresh air to be out of this room.

I walked towards my car, not turning back when I heard Zack call my name.
“MATT! Wait a second.” Zack jogged towards me, but I didn’t see Alicia.
“Yeah?” I frowned at him and he looked a little uncertain.
“I have a question. I don’t really know what happened between you and Alicia and since we didn’t finish our talk yesterday, I have another idea. I think you two need to talk something through and…” Zack looked around, Alicia was only a couple of feet away.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner on Tuesday, I have a business meeting with some of my staff in the evening at VU and I won’t be home… but you two need to talk and I think it would be best if you were alone.”
I gaped at him and saw Alicia also turn towards Zack with a surprised look.
“You want what?” I frowned at him.
“Don’t make this complicated, I feel the tension and the awkwardness between you and I think you should talk and I guess it would be better if I am not there. I mean… I might also don’t wanna hear everything that you will talk about, but I trust that you two will come to terms with each other so you can act normal again, as friends?” Zack asked and my frown must get even deeper and my mouth was still hanging open.
“I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“Yes, I agree with him.” Alicia nodded at me and Zack rubbed his face.
“But I think it is. Please, just do it for me. Tuesday, around seven? At my place? Or yours?” Zack looked from Alicia to me.
“Yours.” Alicia and I nodded at him.
“Good, thanks. Then we see us on Tuesday.” Zack clapped my back, walked away and laid his arm around Alicia.
I saw Alicia talking to Zack but couldn’t understand what she was saying, but Zack just smiled at her and shook his head.
Did I really just agree to meet with Alicia alone in Zack’s house?
This would mean trouble… but didn’t I plan on talking to her alone anyway?

Notes

Uh-Oh! What's going to happen now?

Comments :)