„Oh come on!” Square, square, square! Fucking square! „Matt, this fucking game is jacked!” I threw the controller over the coffee table, leaning back in the couch, pouting.

He laughed out, „C’mon Hills, all you have to do is shoot them,”

„How the fuck can I shoot them if I’m out of amo?”Are you fucking kidding me? At least Chris’s games were the ones where I didn’t die eight times in the last five fucking minutes! „Don’t you have something easier?”

„This is easy, look – one hand...” he held up his left arm, showing me his ridicilously awesome gaming skills. How was that even possible? He cleared the level, are you serious?

„I meant something where I can’t die.”

„This is call of duty,” He explained carefully and slowly, like talking to a retarded kid, „You can’t die if you know how to play.”

„Arghh, you suck...” I crossed my arms, glaring at him. Why did I even agree to play this shit, was beyond me. Lady was laying on the couch next to me, completely ignoring my raging self. Matt’s Bella walked up to us, laying her muzzle on my thighs and watching me deeply in the eye. What do you want? She cried. „What’s with her, Matt?”

He turned away from the big tv to look over his labrador. „She’s waiting for Bailey.”

„yeah, me too...” I smiled lightly, before scratching her between ears. „Speaking of which, where the fuck did she go? I’m already here for at least an hour...”

„Beats me,” He shrugged at the exact same moment when the heavy wooden front door opened. Fucking finally! But nope, no Bails, just the cocky bastard Synyster Gates.

„’Morning.” He greeted going straight for the fridge.

„Mornin’...” Matt took back the greeting while killing a couple of zombies. When Matt told me you can kill actual zombies in the Black Ops, I figured something like Resident Evil shit, not... this! I can’t believe he could play this thing for days.

Hearing Brian’s voice Lady shot up her head, looking back at him and then at me. Don’t even start, dog... Lady sat in silence, for at least two seconds and then, of course, she barked. Bringing Brian’s attention over to me. „...if I would’ve known you’re here, I would’ve brought you a souvenir from hell.” He chuckled, popping a Heinecken open and flunking himself down on the armchair.

My eyes lowered on my wristwatch, „You have exactly two hours to run back, before Hell closes for refurnishing,” I smiled. And for all I care, you can stay there.

„If I wouldn’t know better I’d say you’re sending me to Hell... again,” Well, that clearly means you don’t know any better, „But that would mean you’re repeating yourself which is kinda lame.”

„Okay... I’m sending you to go and fuck yourself. Better?”

„Not really, but it’s your call,” He smirked in the bottle.

„So what’s up, Gates?” Matt spoke from in between killing some zombies.

„Alice has a spa day,” He shrugged lightly. So the chick’s called Alice... Good to fucking know. „That’s not really my scene so I figured to come by.”

„A fucking spa day?” Matt laughed, amused, „She tried to drag you along?”

„She did. Even had planned some couple treatment shit...” A spa day? You had to be fucking kidding me. Gates and spa? Yeah, like that’s going to happen. I rested my feet on the coffee table as soon as Bella went away and decided to whine to mister Gates. He mirrored my previous actions and scratched her between the ears, not making too much attention to the animal.

„So what’s the plan for today?” He asked looking from Matt to me and back.

„Call of duty.” He shot out within a heartbeat. I couldn’t bare but roll my eyes.

„And you?” Brian fixed his eyes on me. Was I getting this the right way? He’s interested in my daily activities?

„She’s waiting for Bailey,” Matt replied on my behalf.

„Okay, cool... That means you both are up for whatever,”

„Whoa, hold up, Gates, I told I’m busy,” Matt argued.

„Yeah and I have the thing that I have to do,” What thing, Meg, what thing? We all knew Bailey’s not returning anytime soon and she’s probably long lost forgotten about needing to go to studio today.

„What thing?”

„You know... the thing...”

„No, I don’t know, care to explain?”

„The thing, which includes and revolves around many other things.” The thing which keeps me from spending my precious time with you.

„Uh-ha...” he eyed me patiently, „Listen, I met Bailey outside HB ink, so she’s not coming back anytime soon.”

„Well... that’s just great...” I bared with Matt and the stupid Call of Duty just to find out Bailey’s getting inked. Cool. Fucking awesome.

„And what do you suggest we do, Syn?”

„How about we go to the beach?”

„Beach?” Matt frowned. The... what?

„Yeah, Jason told there are some hella waves today.”

„You mean you’re willing to get cold and wet...” I looked at him with an arched eyebrow. He smirked on the last word. Oh come on, get your fucking head out of the gutter!

„Yeah, why not?” He emptied the bottle, before it landed on the coffee table with a thud. „You’re looking kinda pale lately. You could use some sun.”

„I’m always pale, dude!”

Suddenly Matt placed the controller on the table, turned off the tv and stood up, „Well, what the hell are you still sitting around then? Let’s go to the fucking beach...”

„Are you fucking serious, Matt?” I raised my head, staring at him, incredulous. The fact that I lived by the beach didn’t mean I particularly liked the sun, the sand, the water and the surfer dudes.

„yeah, why not...” He picked the empty bottles from the table, before going to the kitchen. „Should I text the guys?”

„Sure.” Brian too stood up. You can’t be serious about this... And Lady... that goddamn backstabbing bitch, she jumped off the couch, also waiting for me to go with them. No! Dog, we’re not going with them. „C’mon, Meg. I promise you won’t even have to go near the water.”

„Yea, right. I know you.” My eyes squinted on him.

„You have a fucking killing machine protecting you now, I doubt I could get around her even if I wanted.” Yeah, the killing machine is on your side, asshole!

„Fine, but cough up your phone.”

„What? Why?”

„You have that cool Simpsons game.”

„I erased it.” He frowned.

„It’s an online game. If I install it back, nothing’s lost, so – chop, chop...” Was he really considering giving me his phone? Was he fucking mental? It was probably crawling with some horny texts.

„I’ll give it when we’ll pull up to the beach.” Cool. Wait... what?!

____

„Now will you give me your phone?” I rested my boot on the dashboard, not even thinking I would ruin it with the sand that was falling for it. Didn’t seem like it minded tho. We were outside Ralph’s, waiting for Matt who went beer hunting.

„We’re not at the beach yet.” He said, throwing a glance at the rear-view mirror, holding his knuckles up to his mouth. Before going to Ralph’s, he had driven my back home, insisting I put on a bathing suit. I mean, what’s wrong with my skinny jeans and the leather jacket? It’s not like I’m a sun person after all. So now I’m sitting here, wearing a black bikini top, some plaid button down shirt and worn out denim shorts. This was the closest anyone would see me in a bikini, so he’d consider himself lucky.

„Come on, just give me your phone!”

He sighed, before reaching for his pocket, „I still don’t get why you can’t install it on your phone,”

„That’s because my phone is a piece of shit,” I said taking his iPhone 6 and browsing the app store for the Simpsons game. While it loaded, I looked over our designated driver to see him leaned back in the seat with closed eyes. Why the fuck was I even in one car with him and doing stuff like nothing ever happened between the two of us? But more importantly, why was he acting like everything was cool? He didn’t even mind Lady tagging along, who by the way enjoyed Brian’s company I’d say a bit too much. I got back to the game. „Okay, what was your password?”

„I’m a dick 69... All together.” I snickered hearing him mutter the pass. I was surprised he still remembered it.

As soon as I opened the app and was about to collect all the money, a text appeared on the screen.

I’m nearly done here. Can you pick me up later? We could go to that restaurant by the beach, what do you say? XOXO, Alice.

„What the fuck does ‘XOXO’ mean?” I frowned, reading the message.

„Hugs and kisses times two.” He mumbled, „Why? Alice texted?”

„Yea... What restaurant by the beach? What the hell is she talking about?”

He snatched the phone from my hand just to give it a second of his eyes, before giving it back, „Tell ‘er I’m busy.”

„Can I cuss?”

„No.” Brian said closing his eyes once again.

„Can I call her a bitch?”

A small smile grew on his lips, „No.”

„Can I crack a ‘your moma is so fat’ joke?”

„No.” Brian opened his eyes at the same moment when the back door opened and Matt climed in, carrying two six packs.

„Okay, we’re set to go. Vengeance will be waiting at the parking lot.”

„Cool.” Brian replied, before starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot.

„Can I send her a picture of blue balls?”

„No.” He turned his head to look left, before pulling out on the street. „Just tell her I can’t pick her up.”

„You’re no fun...” I pouted, hitting some keys in order to type a text. Me and my dick are on a roll. Super busy. Yolo. Aaaand... send.

I received a text just moments later. Ur funny babe. Where r u? Xoxo.

„And again with the x’s and o’s!” I exclaimed. Was this chick stupid or what? Once again he snatched the phone out of my sneaky little fingers.

„Me and my dick...” he laughed, before giving the phone back.

„What is this all about, guys?” Matt leaned forward, wrapping his arms around the back of my seat. „I want a good laugh too!”

„It’s just... Alice, man,” Brian shook his head, a wide smile on his face, „Seems like Meg gets a kick out of trying to insult her.” He said and before I could try and cause anymore damage, he had pulled to the parking lot of the beach. I noticed Zacky standing outside his Audi, having a smoke and laughing over something with his girl.

Brian killed the engine and Matt got out of the car, holding the door open for Lady. Once he opened the door, I realized how much I wanted to remain in the air conditioned car. The heat outside was ridiculous! Nope, na-ah. There’s no way these jackasses are gonna get me out of here. Brian pulled out a cigarette from his Marlboro’s, before throwing the pack across the dashboard. He stood in the open door, lighting up a smoke, „Get out, Meg,” He blew out the smoke and I just crossed my arms and shook my head – no. Just then I noticed his shirt carelessly waving around his torso, being unbuttoned and fully exposing his tanned skin. I quickly turned away.

„No, Haner, I think I’ll stay here.”

„Get out of the car,” He said looking somewhere over the roof, sliding one of his hands in the pocket of his shorts, while the other raised the smoke to his lips.

„No. And you can’t make me.”

„Hey, Shads?” he shouted, „Can you take my board?” Brian walked around the car and I heard Matt taking Brian’s surfing board off the roof, before Haner opened my door, placing his cigarette between his lips and leaning in just to drag me out of the car. Once I was out, he threw me over his shoulder like I weight absolutely nothing, before starting off towards the beach.

„Lookin’ good, Meg!” I heard Zacky shout, before everyone exploded in laughter.

„That’s the kind of view I was missing!” Matt joined in in the moment when Brian had turned around to face them.

„We’re hitting for the old spot?” he asked, wrapping his arm around my bare legs.

„Yea, less crowded!”

„Sweet.” A cloud of smoke errupted around us, „Lady come,” he ordered and I saw my dog running like crazy just to catch up with him. You have to be fucking kidding me...

„You know I can walk...” I said, annoyed bracing my elbow against his back and holding my head in my hand.

„Now what fun would that be?” he chuckled, kicking away the cigarette butt. I couldn’t miss the looks people were giving us and despite the fact I could feel his hand nearly on my ass I couldn’t bare, but feel slightly irritated. It felt like an eternity before he stopped walking, or at least hundred thousand years... and a half.

„Okay, you can hop off now...”

„thank god...” I whispered, before getting off his shoulder, feeling little stumbly once my feet landed in the hot sand. He shot a hand up to me, realizing I was about to fall.

„Easy...”

„I’m okay,” I held out a hand, not being able to miss the concern in his eyes.

„You had breakfast this morning, right?” He eyed me carefully, „Hell, what am I even asking, you never eat breakfast! Lucky for you I have this,” His hand reached for the pocket of his shorts, pulling out a pack of twinkies.

„Oh my god!” My eyes grew wide since I hadn’t seen that mirracle for a very fucking long time. Subconsciously I threw my arms around his neck, before slowly backing off once I realized what had I done. „I mean... uhmm... thanks.” I jerked the sugary goodness from his hand, opening it in a heartbeat and taking a good chunk out of it. Brian laughed.

„You look like a wild animal with that thing in your hands,” Zacky said as he, Meaghan and Matt came into my notice, carrying a lot of shit.

„And you really don’t care that it probably tastes like Gates ballsweat...” Matt laughed.

„I don’t fucking care, Matt... Fucking Twinkies!” Brian went around me and took his board from Matt.

„The waves are looking fiiine,” Zacky let out a whistle, watching over the ocean while still holding his arm wrapped around Meaghan who was already in her very much revealing bikini.

I noticed Brian loosing his shirt, showing off his great body to everyone. But then I noticed something else as I walked up to him. He didn’t notice me, because he was looking over the ocean so he jumped a bit when my cold hand drew over his side. Property of mrs Gates. I exploded in full blown laughter with my mouth full. „Shit,” I swallowed the twinkie nearly choking on the piece, before continuing with the great laugh. He looked down at me, confused. „I can’t fucking believe you had it inked...”

„Don’t tell me you noticed just now...” Just now? „I have it like for two years at least.”

What? This was just rich! „Seriously? But then again, I, in fact, need glasses.” I shrugged, taking the last bite of the twinkie. „i still can’t believe you have it...”

„I promised I’ll make it and I did,” He gave a little shrug to his shoulders, „I keep my promises,” he said in a low whisper, that really did something to me.

„Come on Gates, even grandma Haner is faster than you!” Matt shouted already sitting on his board. Jeez, he was quick!

Brian looked down at me for one last time, a half smile on his lips, before he ran for the ocean.

I took a deep breath. What the hell am I getting myself into? ...again?

Notes

I'm trying very hard to set them back together, but Meg is simply being a bitch. -__-