Change My Ways

“Thanks for letting me borrow some of your clothes. I promise I’ll give them back clean.” I smile, at Valerie, as I come into the kitchen. She looks up from the drink she’s mixing.

“Oh, girl, you can keep those. You look better in them than I did.”

“I’m sure you looked fine. I can’t just accept them, anyway.”

“You can, and you will.” She continues making some more drinks.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I bought that outfit, thinking I could pull it off, but I just didn’t like it, once I got it on. I was going to return it, but I’d rather you get some use of it, if I can’t.” She smiles at me.

“Well, thank you.” I smile back. “So how long have you and Matt been engaged?”

“Not for very long. We’ve been dating for a while, though.”

“Aww. You guys are really cute together.”

“Thanks. You and Zach sure make a cute couple, too. Did he finally ask you to be his girlfriend?”

“Umm… not yet.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I thought I heard him talking to Matt about it yesterday. He really likes you, girl. It’s been a while, since I’ve seen him this happy. Not since Gena, at least.”

“Gena?”

“His ex. “

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you guys hadn’t talked about that stuff yet. I need to keep my mouth shut, I guess.”

“No, it’s fine. What happened with them?”

“Well, it’s not really my place to tell you, but she really broke his heart. She cheated on him several times, while he was on tour. It took him a while to recover, after that. He was ready to propose to her, and she just threw him away like he never meant anything to her. She was such a bitch, but you heard none of this from me.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“That’s all I’ll say, I’ll let him tell you the story himself, when he’s ready.”

“I understand.”

“I’m really glad he found you, though. Even though, Brian isn’t too happy about it.”

“I guess, he’ll just have to get over it.”

“Brian can be a really great guy, when he wants to be, but other times, he can be a real ass.”

“I second that.”I say, and we laugh. “He was kissing that girl one second, trying to make me jealous, I guess, and the next, he’s in here telling me that he wants to pleasure me.” I blurt out, and immediately regret it. Valerie drops what she’s doing, and just stares at me.

“He told you that?”

“Not in those exact words, but he told me that Zach could never satisfy me, like he could.”

“That mother fucker.” Valerie wipes her hands on a towel, and walks outside, I’m sure, in search of Brian.

“Valerie!” I yell after her. I don’t want Zach to know what happened, I really don’t want to cause any more fights tonight, or ever, for that matter.

“Brian!” Valerie yells at Brian, when she sees him.

“Yesss.” Brian slurs, as Valerie stops in front of him.

“How dare you throw yourself on Elody like that! Especially, when you’re sort of seeing my sister!” She yells at him. Oh great, that girl was her sister. I thought that they looked sort of similar. “Where’s Michelle?”

“She went home. She’s mad at me.”

“I can’t believe you, Brian. This is low, even for you.” She turns on her heel, and walks away. She walks back inside, as Brian just glares at me. I look over, to see Zach getting up from his chair next to Johnny. He walks over to Brian.

“What is wrong with you? I thought we were supposed to be friends? You can’t just throw yourself on my girl, like that.”

“Your girl? She told me you guys weren’t dating.” I see Zach sort of step back, after Brian says this. “Yeah, that’s right. Hurts, doesn’t it? She isn’t yours just yet, Zach, and that means she’s still fair game.” Zach tries to throw a punch at him, but Matt steps in, and stops him.

“You two have got to stop this shit, right now. You’re friends, so act like it. Stop acting like teenage boys, you’re both being selfish. It’s Elody’s choice who she wants to be with, and she chose Zach, so you need to respect that, Brian. Please, the both of you, calm down, and just enjoy the party.” With that being said, Zach turns around, and walks toward me. I can tell he’s hurt, after Brian said what he did.

“Zach.” I say, as he walks by, but he just ignores me, and goes in the house. I follow him inside, and into the living room. “Zach?” I say, again.

“I’m sorry about Brian.” He finally responds.

“I’m sorry, too. I should’ve told you what he did, but I didn’t want to cause you two to fight again. Every time you guys are together around me, it seems bad things happen.”

“It’s my fault.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes. It is. He wanted to be with you. I should’ve respected that.”

“He had his chance, and he messed up. That’s not your fault.”

“You don’t get it. He had you first, and I came in, when things went bad, and swooped you off your feet. I should’ve known when to leave well enough alone.”

“I’m sorry, did you not just hear Matt explain that it’s my choice who I want to be with? I chose to be with you, just as much as you chose to make a move.”

“Be with me? You haven’t chosen to be with me. You’re not my girlfriend, Brian has that right.”

“You haven’t…”

“I know I haven’t asked, but I just assumed that we were together now. I called you my girlfriend, and you didn’t stop me, then, you told me you thought it was cute. Then, you turn around and tell Brian that we aren’t together. Are you trying to send mixed signals?”

“I’m not try…”

“I can’t deal with this shit. I had enough of this with my last girlfriend. Always doing things for her, and she never once appreciated it. She used me, until there was nothing left, and then she left me alone. I can’t risk getting hurt like that again, so if you’re just going to play games, you can go home.” He says, seriously. I can’t believe my ears. I thought Brian had hurt me, before, but that doesn’t compare to what I feel right now.

“Zach…” Valerie comes into the room. She must’ve heard what was going on, she was just in the other room. “You know you don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do. You know how much Gena hurt me, I can’t go through that pain again.”

“Please think about what you’re saying…”

“I know what I’m saying.” Zach looks from Valerie, back to me. “If you won’t leave, I will.” He says, grabbing his keys, and cell from the mantle, and walking out the front door. I hear a car door slam shut outside, and tires squealing, as he pulls away. I let my emotions get the best of me, my knees grow weak, and I sink to the floor. Valerie kneels down next to me, and hugs me.

“I’m so sorry, honey. He doesn’t mean that, he’s just hurt because of Brian. I’m sure he’ll come around. You can stay here tonight if you need to.” She rubs my back, soothing me, as I cry into her shoulder. I barely know this girl, but she already seems like great friend.

“What happened here?” Matt asks, coming into the room, followed by the rest of the guys.

“Zach happened.” Val says, subtly.

Notes