“Do you mind if I invite Matt over to hang out for a while?” I asked as I cooked up lunch. Emma sat on the counter as I cooked us a pizza, playing with her phone. She tilted her phone a few times before grimacing and looking up at me.
“If you plan on having sex while he’s here then yes I would mind.” She stated before looking back at her phone, most likely starting up another game of what I assume is Temple Run. I narrowed my eyes at her and made a face.
“Why would I have sex while you were here?” I asked incredulously, feeling slightly offended. She shrugged and looked up at me through her bangs.
“To prove that you’re not secretly dating Zacky.” She explained. I glared at her and clenched my hands. I growled and sighed exasperatedly.
“For the last time, Zach and I are not dating!” I yelled angrily. She just rolled her eyes and I stomped over to the couch to grab my phone. I looked at her and ground my teeth together. “I’m calling Matt; get the pizza out when it beeps.”
“Sure thing, captain.” She cooed, trying to irritate me. It worked. I slammed the door of our bedroom shut and groaned loudly before laying myself across our bed and pulled up Matt’s contact. I began calling him and he answered on the fourth ring.
“Hey there, Kid.” He greeted. I smiled at the sound of his voice, my previous anger dissipating.
“Hey Matty-bear, what’s up?” I replied happily. I closed my eyes and listened to the other line, waiting for Matt to speak.
“Nothing much. Just made myself some lunch. You?” He answered, the smile clear in his voice. He was happy to hear from me too.
“Just yelled at Emma while making us some lunch.” I chuckled. He chuckled too and let out a sigh. I took a breath before sitting up, suddenly feeling nervous. “So I was wondering if you wanted to come over today for a little bit. We could watch a movie or play a board game or something.”
“Just me and you?” He questioned. I pursed my lips, suddenly feeling worried.
“And Emma, but she wouldn’t bother us.” I stated, chewing on my lip. It was silent on the other line. My heart started pounding, and I began to feel a little angry; it shouldn’t take this long to say whether he wanted to come over or not.
“I’m sorry, Kid, I have this-“
“You know what? Just save it Sanders.” I snapped, anger suddenly filling me. He was trying to make an excuse not to see me. Again. I tightened my jaw and clenched my hand together. “If you don’t want to see me just say it instead of making up some bullshit excuse. We all know you’re not doing anything.”
“What’s up with you, Kid?” Matt asked, his voice getting hard and defensive. I growled.
“What’s up with me is that every fucking time I want to hang out with you alone or without everyone else there you always make up some bullshit excuse not to see me.” I spat, anger rising quickly. “If you don’t fucking like me then quit leading me on.”
“I do fucking like you. I just always have shit to do when you ask.” Matt retorted, his voice hostile. I scoffed.
“No you don’t! You never have shit to do when I ask; you just never want to be alone with me.” I yelled, the urge to punch something growing within me.
“I don’t need this shit. Just go hang out with Zach or something.” Matt growled. That made me crack.
“What the fuck does Zach have to do with any of this? He’s just my fucking friend!” I screamed, jumping up from my bed. I heard footsteps come up to the door but stopped right outside of it.
“Whatever. I’m going.” Matt said, his voice full of anger.
“Fine. Asshole.” I spat as I hung up. I let out an angry screech and the footsteps retreated from outside the door. I picked up my phone from the bed where I threw it and called Zach.
“Hey Ki-“
“Call everyone to come to my house. Except Matt.” I ordered, my eyesight going red. “And bring a shit-ton of alcohol.”
“We’ll be there soon.” Zach answered before hanging up. I threw my phone across the bed once again and stomped out to the living room. Emma stared at me in fear from the couch, a piece of pizza in her hands. I sighed loudly and looked at her.
“Everyone besides Matt is coming over with alcohol.” I said calmly. She nodded.
“Sounds fun.”
~
(Matt POV)
“Another whiskey on the rocks, please.” I slurred, looking at the bartender. He gave me a worried look but nodded and started making me another drink. I sighed loudly and tilted the empty cup in my hand, watching the ice spin. The bartender slid a new drink in front of me and I picked it up, quickly downing the drink.
“Hey man, are you okay?” The bartender asked, concern clear on his face. “You’ve been inhaling whiskey for the past hour. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah man, just dandy.” I mumbled, my voice slightly sarcastic. He pursed his lips and began making another drink. He leaned against the counter and lowered his head towards me.
“Girl problems?” He asked, his voice low. I brought my head up a little and looked at him. He looked curious and I sighed, staring back at the empty cup in my hand. I nodded and looked back at him. He stood up and nodded. He handed me another drink and I took it, drinking it a lot slower than I have with my other drinks. “Man, girls are so frustrating.”
“Tell me about it.” I muttered, a picture of Kid flashing through my mind. Our conversation from earlier flashed ran through my head and I shuddered at the thought. I gulped down the drink and put my head in my hands.
“What happened?” The bartender pressed. I huffed, getting slightly irritated that he was being so nosy. But, he was serving me alcohol, so I ignored the slight anger I felt and straightened up on the stool I was sitting on.
“Just got in a fight with my… love interest.” I explained, crinkling my nose at the fact that I couldn’t just call Kid my girlfriend. The bartender raised his eyebrow, obviously picking up on the fact that I hadn’t said girlfriend.
“Well, what’s keeping you back from making this love interest your girlfriend?” He asked. I sighed again and shook the empty cup, asking for another. He nodded and began making yet another drink, but continued to stare at me.
“I don’t know, it’s complicated,” I answered, grimacing. He was about to say something when the door to the bar opened.
“Hey Sanders.” A familiar voice called. I turned my head and saw Jimmy walking towards me, an unreadable expression on his face. He sat down next to me and stared at me.
“Jimbo! Buddy! How are you doing my man!” I yelled, the alcohol finally taking affect. I pulled Jimmy into a hug and he just sat there. “What are you doing here?”
“I went to your house to talk but you weren’t there, so I came here.” He answered. He glanced at the bartender and nodded. “Can I get a UV blue?”
“Make that t-two.” I stuttered. Jimmy shook his head and put his hand on my shoulder.
“You’ve obviously had enough alcohol Matt.” Jimmy muttered, staring at the bar counter. I blinked in surprised as I realized that the counter was covered with cups. I looked up in shock at the bartender and he nodded.
“Oh shit, when did I drink that much?” I asked, squinting my eyes as I tried to count the cups. 14.
“Matt, why the hell are you drinking so much alcohol?” Jimmy asked, rubbing my shoulder. I just shrugged and he sighed, concern covering his face. “You haven’t drank this much since you and Gayle broke up. And that was ten years ago.”
“How old are you two?” The bartender interjected, raising his eyebrow. Jimmy looked at him, irritation crossing his face. The guy slid the UV blue to Jimmy and he downed it before looking back at me.
“Twenty-eight.” Jimmy said flatly. The bartender gave him a look, but Jimmy ignored him.
“He’s been talking about some love interest.” The bartender stated as he began cleaning up all my cups. Jimmy eyebrows raised.
“Kid? You’re risking alcohol poisoning because of Kid?” Jimmy asked in disbelief.
“Is the chick’s name really Kid?” The bartender questioned, giving Jimmy a look. Jimmy sighed in exasperation before looking at the bartender, anger crossing his face. I blinked in shock; Jimmy usually never gets angry.
“No. Her name is Jessica but she likes being called Kid. I’m trying to have a serious conversation with my friend, so please just butt out.” Jimmy snapped. The guy gave him a look and put his hands up.
“He needs to pay first.” He muttered. I reached for my wallet when Jimmy slapped a 50 on the counter and grabbed my arm. He pulled me towards a booth and had to practically hold me up since the alcohol was really getting to me. Jimmy shoved me into the booth and slid to the other side.
“Matt, what the fuck is going on with you and Kid?” Jimmy spat, hostility thick in his voice. I blinked at him blankly.
“I don’t know. Why?” I answered. Jimmy glared at me.
“Because she invited us over and before we even got there she was pissed out of her face. We tried to act normal, but obviously something was wrong, since Kid was inhaling alcohol as though she were going to die.” Jimmy began, his voice going low. “And then, she almost took Johnny’s head off.”
“Wha-how?” I asked, sitting myself up a little.
“He asked why you weren’t there and she threw a fucking bottle at him.” Jimmy whispered roughly. My mouth dropped.
“She… she threw a bottle at Johnny?” I stuttered, in utter shock that Kid could even get mad enough to throw something at someone. Especially Johnny.
“Yeah. She cussed him out for mentioning your name and practically lunged at Zach when he told her to calm her shit.” Jimmy continued, fear covering his face as he spoke. “Luckily Brian grabbed a hold of her before she ripped Zach’s throat out. After that she burst into tears. I think everyone’s afraid of her now.”
“…Wow. This… this is all my fault.” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I slumped into the booth and closed my eyes. I put my hands to my face and let out a shaky breath. “If I would have just said yes to coming over she wouldn’t have tried to kill Johnny and Zach.”
“Matt, you and her are both stressed about this. It isn’t your fault.” Jimmy sympathized, rubbing my forearm. I slammed my head against the table and Jimmy jumped.
“I tried to make up a shit excuse not to see her and told her to hang out with Zach instead. How isn’t this my fault?” I moaned, my head throbbing. Jimmy shifted uncomfortably.
“Matt, what’s going on with you and Zach? You’re acting very hostile around him.” Jimmy questioned quietly. I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it.
“Nothing’s wrong. They’re just such awesome friends I think she should hang out with him instead of me.” I mumbled, not bringing my head up.
“I don’t they’ll be doing that a lot now.” Jimmy whispered. I looked up at him and he looked worried and upset.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because when she lunged at him Zach called her a crazy bitch and left her apartment.”