Zacky’s POV
I couldn’t believe my eyes, did that really just happen? I mean… I looked back at the scene, Joe had disappeared from Olivia’s side now too and Dean sat there with his arm around Olivia’s shoulder, drinks in hand, him kissing her. SHIT!

I had been all out on my charm offensive and I would have succeeded, if that guy wouldn’t have gotten between me and my goal.
What does this guy have on him that the girls were fallin’ to his feet?

I mean, it’s not only now… I already noticed at the BBQ, that Joe liked that guy, maybe not as much as Matt… but the girls at least liked to have him around…
And well Jacky, we all know how Jacky and Dean were involved before…
I think I could understand now, why Brian was so fixed on this guy and hated his ass… but he was in a worse situation than me…
I mean he still had to act normal around him, since Jacky insisted that the guy was still her best friend… Playboy or not…

I sighed, my chance was gone… But that was a good option finding another talking partner, and who would be better than my best friend… if he would finally find the time to talk to me… and not have his head or other parts of his body between Jacky’s thighs.
I walked into the living room, seeing Brian sitting there alone, his eyes fixed outside, when he grabbed his bottle of the table.

“Hey man… all alone? Nice for a change...” I set down beside him and he nodded shortly.
“Yeah.. what’s up? Weren’t you working on that little piece of ass called Olivia?” Brian asked now his eyes moved over to me.
“Yeah… past tense…” I replied and drowned the last sip of my beer, before grabbing a new one.
“What happened? Normally when Zee Vee has a girl on his list, he gets it, right?” Brian asked and I rolled my eyes.
“Well, normally… that fucker isn’t around, ruining my plan.” I said between greeted teeth.
“Wait… what?” Brian turned fully towards me and lifted his eyebrow.
“Who are we talking about?”
“Your girlfriends fuck buddy.” I replied and regretted a moment later.
“Don’t freaking say that, you may be my best friend but I am still able to punch the shit out of you, Vengeance.” Brian growled and I held my hands up in surrender.
“Sorry, I’m talking about Dean. That fucker… I now understand your complaining about him. That guy seems to have some spell over women… I mean… I already had her… I was this close” I held my fingers only inches apart.

“And?” Brian asked curiously.
“And that guy walks in, holds out her drink for her and gone she is… I mean what the fuck! You should better keep an close eye on Jack… I don’t trust him.” I narrowed my eyes for more effect and Brian turned his eyes back to the terrace, looking at the party scene.
“I know, right? Jacky says to trust him… but I don’t know.” Brian took another beer of the table and took a long drink, I followed his sight and saw Jacky and Johnny dancing together, but I also saw Jacky having her eyes on Dean and Olivia… who were dancing next to them… more than a normal innocent dance.
Jacky doesn’t seem too happy about that, or was I imagining things?

Should I say something to Brian? Or would he just get pissed at me barging into his business?
And since when did I have to think about things like that… I mean he is my best friend, we normally work in sync… but that seems like ages ago… and I missed that.
Missed that I didn’t know what was going on in my best friends live anymore.
“Damn, that asshole… He has no rules or shame.” Brian said, then turned back to me.
“Should I play the cock-blocker? So you can have your go again?” Brian asked and I smiled.
“Nah, thanks… That’s done. I rather spent some time with people I really care about… and if she rather spends her time in his company… I don’t care.” I said, still a little sad but also relieved that I could now have some time with Brian and catch up on our friendship maybe.
“How come you and Jacky are not together, why are you not dancing there outside?” I asked and waited for Brian’s reply.
“After all the action, I wanted have a moment for myself… and Johnny can have fun with Jacky’s energy now, you know I’m not much for dancing… and anyway I’ll take over the important part later.” He winked at me and I gagged.
“That’s gross…” I grinned and Brian chuckled “You are just jealous.”
“Maybe.” I admitted in the end.

“Yo, Brian… Tell me… I mean I don’t wanna go all girly on you, but something is different.. I can’t read you anymore… not like we used to… I kinda miss my best friend.” I said finally what was going around my head for a couple of days now.
“Shit.. I know.. I’m sorry… You just have to understand… What Jacky and I have… that’s it. I really mean it, never have I felt like that before. She is the one, I just need to be with her, whenever I can… It’s like an addiction I can’t control, I don’t want to control… But we can hang out, I mean… you could also-”
“Join us?” I asked with a smirk.
“Yeah… but not like you think.” Brian laughed and I joined in.
“I’m kidding, you know that right? I wouldn’t get between you and your girl…She is special and suits you really well… I mean… fuck… I think you really found the one, huh?!” I told him honestly, and Brian nodded.
“I know, asshole. And I know you love to tease… and that’s okay, as long as it stays that way. And yes you summed it up pretty well.” Brian grinned and clapped my back.
“How about we plan a nice men’s day next week… I can ask Matt to have an eye on Jacky.. or Arin, if she stays here.. and we head out watching a Baseball game? Have some beers? What you think?” Brian suggested and I grinned.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” I got up and dragged Brian up with me.
“Now come on, I think you should keep an eye on your girl… I don’t know if she likes the way the situation with Dean and Olivia is going, if you ask me.” I looked outside again and Brian followed my glance, before storming of ahead of me… maybe the night would get better in the end.

Arin´s POV
I leaned against the wall of my little drum room, as I watched the little redhead completely kill it on my drums. I couldn’t really believe Matt had invited her here, should have known he would see it when he met her. I loved the drumkit I got, and it had been a big part of the reason that I loved to come into that music store, but the other part of the reason was sitting behind it, adjusting a few things to make it all perfect after she gave an incredible solo. I have had a crush on her from the moment I laid eyes on her, but the time never had seem right to ask her out.
Ah, who am I kidding, I just never had the balls for it… And here she was, in my little domain, with my new drum set, and on my birthday, must mean something right?

“What are you dreaming about?” her soft voice made me look at her. Her smile was mesmerizing and I smiled back. “Come on, get your ass here and show me what you got!”
She got up from the little stool and moved a few steps backwards to let me take place, handing me the custom made drumsticks I got from her.
I carefully started to drum, slowly, not really giving in to the inner beast I know was luring in the shadows.
She let out a light giggle and I turned around to her.
“I knew I would have to teach you a thing or two, but you aren’t in the store anymore, I just know you have way more than this” She leaned over my back and I could feel her body pressed to mine, making my heart skip a beat. Her mouth was close to my ear, and I could feel her breath on my skin as she spoke the words that made me gasp for air “Let the monster out, Arin, I know it wants to come out to play”

Oh, I would let the monster out, but not the drumming kind.
I turned the stool and caught her when she stumbled, almost falling to the ground and I pulled her on my lap. She stared into my eyes and licked her lips
“Arin… what do you think you are doing?” her voice was barely a whisper, but I heard her loud and clear.
“Something I should have done ages ago” I let out just as quiet, before I let my lips crash on hers, demanding entrance the moment we touched. Her arms snaked around my neck as I pulled her closer to me and let my hands wander under her shirt. A little moan escaped her as I put my hands over her tight jeans. I grabbed her tightly and stood up. I pushed her to the wall as our kisses grew even more hungry.

“Shit… you SHOULD have done that ages ago!” She breathed with a large grin on her beautiful face.
“Wanna see my room?” I winked, as I let her slide down my body, still holding on to her.
“Another room? You are a lucky man”
“Am I?” I grinned as I opened the door and made my way to the stairs
“If you play you cards right, you will get even luckier” She quickly got ahead a few steps, making her a little more on the same level as me, as she pulled me down in another kiss. Damn, she was hot.
“You know I have a thing for tall, handsome drummers?”
“Well, look at that, I happen to know one of those. Wanna meet him?”
I didn’t wait for her answer, just grabbed her hand, dragging her to my bedroom.

Did I mention already? BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER!

Zacky’s POV
So, the night didn’t get any better yet… But that was okay, I mean it’s Arin’s birthday… and he was having fun apparently.
And everybody had a good buzz going on as it seemed… The girls, Brian and Dean were talking in the far corner of the garden. Brian wasn’t looking all that happy, but Jacky didn’t seem to notice or care much about it, and she kept pulling him to her.
Johnny was trying to manage the music… Arin had disappeared with that girl I saw him talking to earlier … lucky guy that kid.

To endure all the happiness around me, I needed another drink, a stronger one that is sure.
I walked into the kitchen, seeing Matt standing on the counter, different bottles before him, swaying to the loud music blasting from outside.
Ah Matt had given in to the power of booze too.
Maybe I could finally find out what his problem with me was these past days…
And if he thought I wouldn’t notice the way he was looking at me or making remarks, he was dumb.
“Yo, Matt… Can you give me a Coke with Jack, double it up, okay?” I asked and Matt looked up seeing me and narrowed his eyes.
“Help yourself, Zack.” He said curtly and with a slight slur and I rolled my eyes.
“Why so grumpy? It’s a party, you know? We are all friends… we have drink, you got a girl… What’s your problem? Or are we not friends anymore? Maybe then you should tell me what I did wrong, because I didn’t get that memo, my friend.” I let the ‘my friend’ sound sarcastic and Matt looked at me a little surprised.

“Forget it okay… I don’t wanna talk about it.. It’s a party… Just leave it be.” Matt said again and the alcohol made his words come out very slow.
“I cannot forget that my friend seems to have a problem with me… Maybe I can fix it, if you tell me what I did?” I tried again, grabbing the bottle of Jack from Matt’s hands.

“That’s mine.” He narrowed his eyes and wanted to grab it back, but I held my hands farther away and out of reach.
“I’ll give it back, just let me make my drink real quick.” I quickly went around the table and Matt looked even more pissed now. What was wrong with him? And why wasn’t he talking to me?
“Don’t you sleep enough during the nights or had a bad dream or what is your problem?” I asked while finally being able to pour my drink and handed the bottle back.
“Dream.. you are one to talk about dreams.. ass” I heard him mutter and I must have hit a nerve.
“You had a dream?” I asked carefully and waited and Matt head snapped up.
“Not I had a dream but my girlfriend had… and you showed up there. Can you tell me what you did to her that made her dream about you?!” Matt finally snapped at me and I got a face wide grin on my face, this night was getting better by the minute!

“Wait a second, what?” I asked and Matt seemed to realize what he just said.
“Freaking hell! Shit!” He cursed. “You haven’t heard that!” He pointed a finger at me.
“Oh hell yeah, I heard that… What did she dream? What was it? When was it? Just a couple of days ago?” I asked and quickly ran out of Matt’s reach, who started to chase me now.
“No, in the beginning… ass. Now stop!” Matt yelled and I really had to get more information on that.
“Maybe I should ask Joe directly about it… have we been in her room? In her office maybe?” I asked to tease him even more.
“You damn… ZACK!” Matt yelled and nearly got a hold of me.
“JOOOOEEE!” I yelled and in that moment she walked right in from the terrace and I stopped and hid behind her, using her as shield.
“What is happening here? And where are our drinks, Matt?” She asked and I laid my arm around her just to tease Matt a little more.
“Zack, I’m warning you.” Matt took a step closer.
“Matt, what is this about?” Joe asked and looked at Matt and then me.

I leaned my head closer to Joe’s ear “Did you enjoy the dream with me?” I whispered and saw Joe’s eyes widen, then her cheeks turning red and Matt making a step forward but I quickly ran out into the garden before he could grab me, I could only hear Joe’s yell “YOU TOLD HIM?!”

Notes

The green eyed monster called jealousy, the drum monster called Arin.... Monsters going around for everyone!

The Kid is getting some, Zacky is having fun.

What do you think about the chapter lovelies? Did you like it? :D