Two Vibrant Hearts

I’m surprised I didn’t get into a crash. I’m surprised I didn’t make myself get into a crash.
I was on my way home and was plummeting at an indescribable speed from my high from last night. After Matt has dropped the L bomb on me—one of which I quickly reciprocated—we both fell asleep tangled in each other’s arms. But now last night was over and I had to return home where I would no longer get to fall asleep tangled in Matt’s arms expect those rare occasions at Jimmy’s or my place. And on top of the high quickly leaving me, I remembered what I had done out of pure impulse just mere days ago: I had made the decision to tell Brian. All this weekend I was almost okay with the idea, but now that Matt proved he more-than-likes me, I’m absolutely horrified about telling Brian. All I can think about is if Brian randomly comes out and professes his undying love to me and asks me to stay with him. I think I’d have to kill myself.
“Okay, Brian, I’m sorry, but I’ve been somewhat-sorta-not really-but-still cheating on you, I’m sorry.” I said to myself as I drove down the deserted highway, my knuckles turning white like they do whenever I drive nervously. “Shit. That’s so fucking lame. Okay, uh….” I was cut off by my brain-storming by my phone blasting Saria’s Song from Legend of Zelda. I immediately ripped the phone from my bag and answered it.
“Hey Ki-”
“Zacky!” I screamed happily, my mind temporarily jumping from my boy issues to Zach.
“Well someone sounds excited to hear from me.” He chuckled, which made me smile.
“Hells yes I am.” I exclaimed loudly. Zach let out another laugh and I could hear him smiling.
“Are you on your way home from San Diego?” Zach asked.
“Yup.” I said, popping the ‘p’. “Why? Does someone miss me?”
“Yeah, I kind of do.”
“Well of course you would, you practically jumped off the face of the earth.” I scoffed. He let out a small laugh and I smirked.
“I guess you’re right about that one.” Zach admitted. I was about to ask why, but he beat me to it. “I get I’ve just been kind of a loner lately. Like I haven’t been trying to but I just haven’t felt like going out and socializing.”
“I know what you mean.” I agreed, nodding my head. In general I didn’t feel like going out, not since Matt and I got back together. I couldn’t be seen with him so there was no point in being seen other than by Jimmy and Matt and sometimes Emma.
“I’ve heard. I called everyone to see what happened while I was M.I.A and I heard that you were also M.I.A. The only person that said they saw you at all in the last two weeks were Jimmy.” Zach informed me. I was flooded with guilt and loneliness, deeply missing my friends as I listened to Zach. “I mean Emma said she saw you a few times but you were freaking her out so she didn’t like going back home.”
“Well it’s nice to know I was freaking her out,” I mumbled to myself, thinking back to the few times that Emma came home to the apartment, even when Matt wasn’t there. I knew that I was really jittery and freaked out when she came home while Matt was hiding in our closet, but other times I’d just be on the computer or watching old movies by myself. But never the less, she always left five minutes after she came home, even on the days when I was just watching a movie. Maybe it was just me.
“Anyway, since both of us have been M.I.A and you’re on your way back from San Diego, you should come over.” Zach suggested.
“Yes, yes, a million times yes.” I replied quickly, buzzing in my seat. Zach let out another one of his small chuckles, which I had missed dearly.
“Why are you so excited to see me?” Zach snickered. I chewed on my lip.
“Because you’re my almost-step-brother.” I replied, scoffing. “I mean, I was supposed to hang out with Bri today but I’ll just call and plan for another time.”
“Well I mean if you already have plans-”
“No, no. Now I need to see you. I miss you.” And also you might be getting me out of telling Brian something I don’t want to. But you know, mostly the first one.
“Okay, okay.” Zach laughed. “I’ll see you in a bit then.”
“M’kay. See you in a bit.” I hung up and dropped my phone on my lap, immediately doing a nerdy dance. “Just got out of talking to Brian. Time to celebrate.” I continued to flail my arms weirdly for a few minutes before putting them down. Although I had stopped dancing, I was still jittery. Now I just had to cancel with Brian. I grabbed my phone from my lap and pulled up the voice recorder thing to send a message to Brian without having to take my eyes off the road.
Hey Bri. So sorry about this but Zach just asked me to hang out and I completely forgot about us until after I said okay. Sorry. x –K
I sent the text and took the exit into Huntington, arriving quicker than I anticipated. My phone buzzed in my lap and I felt compelled to look at it, but I wasn’t going to risk my life to look at my phone. I drove as above the speed limit as I could without getting pulled over in the direction of Zach’s house, not bothering to stop by my place first. I needed to shower but I’m sure Zach wouldn’t mind me taking one there.
I pulled into Zach’s block and stopped on the curb a few houses away to check my texts and tell Jimmy and Matt that I got in safely before pulling up to Zach’s house. I needed to get rid of any evidence of this weekend, so that meant I’d have to delete the conversation between the three boys before I could see Zach. I first checked Brian’s text, involuntarily holding my breath as I opened it.
That’s okay, Kiddie. Maybe tomorrow or something. Have fun with ZV. x –B
I let out a loud breath of relief, the worry of telling Brian temporarily escaping my pores. I quickly sent a text to Matt and Jimmy telling them I returned safely and waited impatiently for them both to reply that they were glad, they’d see me soon, and they loved me. Just for kicks I texted Johnny and Emma, which both said they were happy and that we all needed to hang out soon. I told them I was up for it, hoping it would give me more time to prepare mentally and emotionally to drop the potential H-bomb on Brian.
With that, I turned my car on and pulled into Zach’s driveway, which looked unusually empty without another Escalade in the driveway. Normally there was always one other guy at another’s house, usually a guitarist. But now there was only Zacky’s black Escalade and my black Porsche Panamera. I got out and locked my car, sticking my keys in my worn out black hoodie. I walked up to the door and cautiously opened it, afraid about what I’d walk into.
I didn’t walk into what I expected. The house was clean, and so was Zach. I was picturing the house being a total mess and Zach weighing twenty pounds more, but I was wrong. His house was slightly dirty like usual and Zach was lounging on his couch watching some house-building show. Zach heard my shut the door and he stood up, walking towards me with open arms. I opened mine as well and he pulled me into a tight hug, immediately burying his face into my hair. He held me tightly against him for a long time I just snuggled against his chest. I had genuinely missed Zach, almost like I had genuinely missed my real siblings. I’m sure I’d see them sometime soon, which was contrary to seeing Zach a lot more often, but it still felt as though we’d been away for far too long.
“So I was thinking, since I couldn’t think of anything better, we’d watch a bunch of those stupid Disney and DreamWorks movies that you find so entertaining until I can think of something better for us to do.” Zach mumbled against my hair, his voice muffled as his warm breath ran down my skull. I scoffed and pulled away.
“Don’t lie; you know you love DreamWorks movies.” I argued, shaking my head. Zach groaned a little and rolled his eyes.
“I will admit to nothing.” Zach claimed. I lightly punched him in the stomach and pulled away, making my way to his bathroom.
“Whatever, liar. I’m going to shower and then we can start watching your favorite movies.” I called as I walked into his bathroom.
*
It was nearly silent in the living room. Finding Nemo and the slow and soft beating of Zach’s heart were the only things that I could hear. I was laying between his legs on my stomach with my head on his chest, his arms wrapped around me. I admitted to falling asleep a few times, and I’m sure that Zach had done the same. But I knew from his breathing pattern that he was awake and I could feel tension radiating off his skin.
“So have you heard from your mom about the wedding recently?” Zach’s voice cut through the silent, making me slightly jump. I relaxed and molded back into my original position. I shook my head.
“No. Now that I think about it, she hasn’t said a word to me since your dad came to visit.” I mumbled, realization washing over me. I don’t know what I was really feeling, but I knew I was somewhat upset by it.
“Me either, with my dad I mean.” Zach added, sounding sullen.
“It’s probably because we were all upset by their news.” I slurred against his chest, feeling uncomfortable with this conversation. I knew it was something we should talk about, but I didn’t want to think about my mom getting remarried. I didn’t really want to think about my mom, period. “But I don’t get why they wouldn’t talk to us about how the wedding plans are going. We have a reason to be upset with them and they should accept that as well as let us in on the news.”
“Didn’t your mom say that your dad was okay with it?” Zach recalled. I nodded.
“And my sister and brother, but they have every right to be happy about this," I sighed, slightly frustrated. "They didn't have to live with her while she was getting over the divorce."
“Should we call them?” Zach wondered. I chewed on my lip.
“I don’t know. Maybe not. We should just wait until they call us.” I answered. “If they wanted to talk to us they would.”
“I guess you’re right.” Zach murmured. I stared at the wall, frustrated and tired. I hated thinking about my mom. Zach noticed my discomfort and sat up a little. “Hey, let’s do something.”
“We’re watching movies.” I said, my face smooshed against his now bent chest. Zach chuckled and shook his head.
“I mean something other than this. This is making me want to go to sleep and we can’t have that.” Zach announced. I shrugged.
“What is there to do?” I questioned, turning my head a little to look up at him. He tilted his head up, chewing on his lip as he thought. I stared at him for a minute before I could literally see an idea cross his mind.
“I got it.” Zach proclaimed. He looked down at me and I raised my eyebrows. “You said you wanted to learn an instrument, right?”
~
“Kid!” Zach screamed, his eyes filled with horror. “Put. My electric. Down.” I let out a frustrated screech and lowered one of Zach’s electric guitars from above my head, which I had been raising in a plot to smash it out of anger.
“I give up. I can’t play guitar. I can’t do it. I quit.” I growled as I roughly put the guitar on his couch, wanting deeply to break it. I paced his basement, chewing angrily on my nail as I tried not to break something. Zach watched in half-amusement and half terror.
“You can do this, you just lack the patience it takes to play guitar.” Zach pointed out. I glared at him and he smiled. He ushered me over to sit next to him and I groaned. I slouched my back and stalked over to him, plopping myself on his bench. He grabbed his guitar and set it gently off my lap. “We’ve been at this for an hour, Kid. You can do it. Now show me what you already know how to play.” I sighed angrily before putting my fingers on the frets that I knew and played the bits of songs I knew. I played a piece of Awake and It’s Not Over by Secondhand Serenade, the chorus of Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple and the main tune of Coming Back Down by Hollywood Undead.
“You know why I can only play certain parts of these songs, Zach?” I asked as I faded out of Coming Back Down. Zach gave me a questioning look and I sat up straight. “Because I can’t play chords. My fingers are too short and stubby to put one finger on the third fret, one on the first, one on the second and one on the fourth in that order.”
“I’m not quite sure that’s a chord.” Zach mumbled, furrowing his eyebrows. I glared at him.
“I’m just trying to make a point that if it takes my fingers stretching farther than a slut’s legs I can’t do it.” I huffed. Zach chuckled and rolled his eyes.
“It just takes—”
“Practice. I know.” I groaned. Zach smiled and kissed my cheek. My lips twitched and he gave me a hopeful look.
“Come on. You’re not leaving here until you learn how to play a song. Pick one.” Zach announced, determination in his voice. I sighed and thought about some songs that would be good to learn.
“Um… Dear God?” I said questioningly. Zach shrugged and stood up.
“Do you want an acoustic?” I shook my head and he raised his eyebrow. I just shrugged and he mimicked me. “Okay. Let’s get started.”

Notes

Update guys! It's just a filler but there's only six chapters left! I'm finishing up on 77 and will be starting 78 immediately after. I don't know when the story will be finished but hopefully after I get out of school this Friday I'll use the two weeks of freedom I have to finish it. I can't believe it's almost done! Enjoy this chapter and perhaps in a few days I'll put up another chapter. :) - Jessi