MJ’s POV

I sighed and leaned my elbows on the bar, stretching out my back for the first time all evening. It hasn’t really been busy but I haven’t stopped moving since I got here. I guess part of me was afraid to stop moving because I would think about going home by myself tonight. Have you ever been in Brian’s house alone? Its big, its scary, and very, very lonely. Sure, Pinkly was there, but was she really going to keep me in good company and occupy me for three days? No, she’s a fucking dog—a cute ass dog—but a dog nonetheless. The truth was, I missed Brian and I wasn’t even home yet. I knew I was going to be miserable as soon as I walked out the doors. I missed that smile, those deep browns, the way he teased me, the touch of his skin against mine, the warmth he offered me every night, and lets not forget his amazing smell. That itself was addicting and just smelling it all over the house was pure torture.

I frowned as I made myself a cup of coffee. I still had an hour left until three and the only people here were the small group in the back room, Charlie and Steve, and Dice, who was close to passing out on the bar. My phone had been blowing up in my pocket all night, but it wasn’t the person I wanted to hear from the most.

I groaned as I pulled my iphone with the cat cover out of the back pocket of my jeans. It was Zacky…again. He had been blowing up my phone for the past week. I mean, sure he was fun to talk to and a great friend of mine, but texting me almost every hour was a bit obsessive. Didn’t he have other things to do?

“What’s with the long face, babe?” Dice slurred, her face planted to the sticky surface of the bar. She looked like a mess and I knew she was missing Matt just as much as I was missing Brain. She would never admit it, but I knew.

I set my phone down on the bar without reading the text from Zacky and put my head in my hands. “Have you heard from Matt?”

“Yeah, why?”

I groaned, pulling my hair slightly. Why was everyone else texting except for Brian? I hadn’t heard from him since he kissed me goodbye this morning for good hour. I’d even gotten a drunken text from Jimmy that I had no idea what it said—and let me tell you, Dice and I laughed about it for a good five minutes trying to figure out what it said. We decided that he was convinced that there were aliens in the woods that were trying to steal his Jager and knives.

A deep crease formed between my brows as I looked up into her green eyes. “I haven’t heard from Brian…” My voice was soft as my eyes dart away, trying to avoid the moisture that was starting to pool there.

“Did you try texting him?” Did I look that dumb?

“Of course I texted him!” I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. “I’ve only texted him about eight times and still I’ve got nothing!” It was true. I had texted him everything from How’s it going? to I miss you to Are you still alive? I know it sounded a bit desperate but it had been twelve hours since I’d seen or heard from him and I hadn’t gone this long without talking to him before—even when we weren't technically together. It seriously sucked. “So why can Zack fucking text me all day and Brian cant even be bothered to check his messages?”

“Because Vengeance is a slacker? I don’t know what to tell you, doll face,” Dice laid her head back down on the bar top, sipping her jack and through a trail of straws she’d formed together. It was actually a pretty genius thing to do. “Maybe Gates doesn’t have service?”

“But everyone else does?” Okay, so maybe Brian didn’t have the best phone because he refused to update his technology. I mean the guy didn’t even own a computer—get in the 21st Century, dude. Hell, then at least we could Skype or FaceTime if he had an iphone. “God, why does he keep fucking texting me?” I groaned as Zacky’s picture showed up on my screen again with a new text. It wasn’t that I didn’t like talking to him—I just wanted to talk to Brian.

“Maybe its because you keep texting him back. Why are you texting that slouch anyway?” I was impressed how sober Dice sounded when I knew that she was fucking plastered. There was no way I was letting her go home by herself tonight. Nope, she was coming home with me. “Make me another,” she tapped the side of her glass as I sighed.

“Last one,” I shot Red a pointed look, putting more ice in the glass and topping it off with Jack. “And I don’t know. We’re friends and he’s fun to talk to…” I sighed, still not looking at the newest message.

“Does he know that?”

I raised a questioning brow at her, not sure what she was talking about. “Does Zacky know what?” Fuck there was another new message.

Dice sighed and graced me with a patient look, obviously hearing my phone ding again. “That your just friends…seems like he thinks you’re going to drop Gates and go with him,” she said slowly, like she was spelling it out for me.

My jaw dropped as I shook my head at her. No, he couldn’t think that, could he? “There is no way I’m leaving Brian….I-I love him,” my voice squeaked because it was so high pitched. “He knows we’re just friends.”

“Then why is he calling you babe and saying he wishes you were there?” I blinked as few times before pulling my phone away from Dice, reading the new message for myself. I didn’t see anything that looked like he was flirting or trying to pick me up. This was the way he always texted and talked to me—It was just his personality.

“He-he always says stuff like that,” I shook my head, not believe what Dice was saying. Zacky and I were just friends and that’s it. I had no other feeling for him besides him being like a brother to me. “He is just friendly. He’s never asked me anything that suggested he wanted to get in my pants or-or be my-my boyfriend,” I hissed like it was dirty word to have Zacky be my boyfriend.

“Whatever you say,” Dice yawned, her eyes drooping slightly with the straw still in her mouth. “Just when Gates finds out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I gaped at Dice again, my head shaking back and forth frantically just as I received some fingers for another drink at the end of the bar. I quickly moved to make the drink so I could question her further. What the hell did she mean? Brian knew we were friends I was pretty sure. He knew we talked, right? How could he not.

“What do you mean?” I said when I came back, leaning closer to Dice only for her to let out a light snore. “Dice!” I pushed her shoulder but still nothin’. “Fuck, Dice! You cant just say something like that and then pass out!”

“Shut up, Matt…I love you…” she mumbled in her sleep and now I was really shocked. She actually said those three little words. I couldn’t believe it! I forgot about the topic at hand and pulled out my phone to take a picture. Not only did she look hilarious but I’m sure Matt would love to know she is missing him.

Just as I opened my messages, another one popped up from Zack.

We’ve got a good start on ideas for new songs. How’s working going? ~Vengeance

Well, I’m sure this picture would answer the question to that. I sent the picture of passed out Dice to Matt, Zacky, and Brian at the same time, knowing they would all get a kick out of it. Once I was done sending that mass text, I pulled up Matts name and sent him another.

I think someone misses you…but don’t tell her I said so. ;) Don’t worry I’ll take her home with me tonight. <3 MJ

“MJ, what is up with Dice?”

I looked up to see Max behind the bar with me for the first time tonight. Where the hell had he been? He opened with me and then disappeared. I don’t know, I was too tired to ask questions anymore.

“She’s passed out,” I snickered. “Can I take her out to my car?”

Max chuckled and pulled out his own phone, knowing that it would be great blackmail to get her to follow directions. But what he didn’t realize was that Dice didn’t give two shits what people thought about her. That’s was one of the things that made her Dice. “You know what, it’s really slow tonight. Why don’t you just go home early? I’ve got this.”

“Are you sure?” I questioned, but I was already grabbing my keys and my jacket from under the bar.

“Yeah, get her out of here and sobered up,” Max chuckled as I walked around the bar just as my phone sounded again. I stopped next to Dice to read the two new messages.

I guess that is one hell of a night then. Are you staying home alone? ~Vengeance

I sighed and ran my hands over my face before I typed out a short answer.

Nope, its girls night. <3 MJ

Well, you better send some pics of that girl on girl action. I’d pay money to see that ~ Vengeance

Girl on girl action? Did he really think we did that when they weren’t around? I rolled my eyes at the thought, knowing that Brian would love that image. But was Dice right about Zacky? Did he think that there was more than friendship between us? I hoped not because I didn’t want to have that conversation or hurt his feelings. He was a nice guy but I didn’t want him to come between Brian and I.

I averted my attention to the other new message—Matt. Come on, where the hell was my boyfriend?

Thanks MJ. Let me know when u guys get home – Shadows

Will do. Tell Bri to check his messages <3 MJ

Well, if I thought it was going to be hard being home without Brain, it was nothing compared to trying to get a heavily intoxicated Dice in the car, into the house, and up to bed. By the time I got her heavy ass up the stairs, I was exhausted. Fuck it, she’s sleeping in my bed because there is no way in hell I am going to get her to the guest room.

“Alright, Dice, here we go,” I said, pulling the comforter over both of us after I kicked my pants off. She rolled and wrapped her arms around me with her head on my shoulder. It reminded me a lot of when we were kids and I snuck her into my room so she wouldn't have to sleep at her foster parents' house. We would cuddle like this all night long to make sure no one separated us.

“Thanks, Blondie,” Dice mumbled in my ear before sleep took her again. I’m sure both Brian and Matt would love to see this…plus it would make an excellent Christmas card this year. I quickly pulled out my phone and took a selfie of me planting a big kiss on Dice’s cheek as she cuddled me in her sleep. It was great picture and I had no qualms about sending it to all the guys.

Good night, boys! Hope you’re writing your assess off so you can come home soon. We miss you! <3 MJ

I wrote at the bottom of the picture before turning off the lights. I just hoped that I hadn’t done anything to piss off Brian. With a small frown, I closed my eyes and cuddled into Dice's side, though it was nothing like lying next to Brian. Eventually the exhaustion took over my misery and I drifted off into darkness.

It felt like no sooner than I had drifted off to sleep that my screaming phone woke me up again. “Fuck,” I hissed, pulling away from Dice and grabbing the phone of the night side table.

“Turn it off!” Dice groaned as I answered without even looking at who was calling.

“Hello?”

Zacky’s POV

“So do we actually have anything to work with on this list?” I asked, looking at Matt over the glow of the fire. It was somewhere well after midnight and my buzz of the evening was starting to wear off. Not to mention that my head wasn’t really in the game here. I was still too busy thinking about my conversation with MJ.

Okay, so I knew it was wrong to be texting Gates' girl, but I couldn’t help myself. MJ was an awesome girl and I just couldn’t get her off my mind. I mean, what other girl do you know that would make everyone’s favorite cookies every week and bring them in; put up with all our shit and still like us; can party like the rest of us; and have a heart of gold? That’s right, there was no one else like MJ and I was still pissed she chose Gates over me. I knew deep down that I was better for her than he was and that in the end Gates would end up screwing her over like he always did. MJ didn’t deserve that crap, so if I could show her that and get her out of there before she got hurt, I would. Plus, it felt so good to text her like this all week.

“Yeah, I think I like the riff Gates came up with last week, you know this one,” Matt said, playing riff on the acoustic in his lap. “I was thinking kind of a salute to the soldiers you know…about being away from their families. Something like… Yeah, you've been alone…I've been gone for far too long….But with all that we've been through…After all this time I'm coming home to you.”

Sounded like yet another song about Dice to me, but I let him go with it. It was pretty damn catchy and it was then that a riff popped in my head to go with it. “Yeah, like this?”

“I’ve reached towards the sky….said my goodbyes….my hearts always with you…” he sang as I played. “Fuck yes, finally something that doesn’t fucking suck!” Matt set down the guitar and began writing down some lyrics. I just hoped that the other assholes were getting shit done. Maybe we could actually enjoy our time here instead of working the whole time. That is if they didn’t get butt hurt and wanted to run home as soon as we were done.

We’ve got a good start on ideas for new songs. How’s working going? ~Vengeance

I shot the text out to MJ since I hadn’t heard back from her in about an hour. I just hoped she was holding up all right by herself at work, knowing that she didn’t like to be alone. MJ was like me in that she needed people around her to make her happy. Sure she was an introvert, but it was her friends and family that brought out the best in her.

“Who the hell are you texting…again?” Matt said, looking up at me from his lyric book. He glanced at me before the sound of Jimmy’s laughter echoed out the door.

“Mind your own damn business, Shads,” I grinned, not wanting another lecture about texting MJ. I knew that Gates would be pissed but I couldn’t stop myself. It just felt right talking to her. It was then that a country-sounding riff came lofting out the door followed by Gate’s voice. “Well sounds like we’re not the only one who has something.”

“Thank fucking god,” Matt let out a relieved sigh, listening to Jimmy and Brain play as he patted my shoulder. It was then that both of our phones vibrated at the same time. We both looked down to see a picture of Dice passed out on the bar and I laughed. However, Matt wasn’t laughing.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…” Matt looked down at his phone to see who it was and I knew the jig was up. He was smart, even with a few beers in him. “You’re still texting MJ? If Gates finds out you’re a fucking dead man!” he hissed, his hazel eyes narrowing at me. “I told you to back the fuck off.”

“You’re not my parent,” I scoffed, blowing out a cloud of smoke, pointing my cigarette at him. “I can text whoever the hell I want.” I wasn’t some kid that needed to be scolded. “Besides, its not exactly one sided. She’s texting me too.”

“Yes, but we both know what your intentions are compared to hers,” Matt looked like he was about to jump me from across the table and I didn’t exactly understand why. Wasn’t he dating Dice? Why the hell should he care what MJ does?

“What exactly are my intentions, Shads?” I smirked at him as I leaned back in my chair, daring him to continue this.

Matt let out a frustrated growl as he stood up, setting the guitar on the glass patio table. “Don’t fucking mess with me, Vengeance.” He pointed at me, shaking his head. “She’s not yours, she chose Gates. Move on and get over it!” he said before storming off towards the lake. Why the hell is so touchy?

I scoffed, taking in a long drag. As soon as I surrounded myself in a cloud of smoke, Gates stumbled out the door.

“Dude, give me your phone.” Gates slurred, wavering back and forth. He was drunk out of his mind.

“No way,” I breathed, my cigarette between my lips. “Use your own.”

“I don’t have any fucking service…come I have to call MJ.” I sighed just as the phone vibrated again. I looked at the text to see a picture of Dice and MJ cuddled in bed. “Come on!”

Notes