Texas Was You

My eyes fluttered open and I stretched my arms over my head, accidentally hitting my bedroom walk. Yep, I started my day by being a klutz. I rolled over on my stomach to reach for my phone on the bed side table. 9:05 am. I dropped my phone on my bed, closing my eyes, I was so thankful it was Saturday. My week had been hell. With Jason continuing to pop up and issues at the dealership, today was much needed. The generic ring tone blared from my phone.

"Hello?" I grumble into the phone, not even checking to see who called. I had blocked all of Jason’s numbers for the most part.

"Good afternoon sleepy head!" Zack’s smooth voice came through my phone.

"Afternoon? It’s 9:05-ish"

"No, it’s 12:25-ish." I pulled my phone away from my ear, looking at the bright screen through one squinted eye.

"Ugh, I must have fallen back asleep. What ya need?"

"Just curious as to what your plans are for the day."

"Nothing. My plans are to do absolutely nothing today."

"Oh, well never mind then." I heard the smile on his face. "I was going to invite you to a barbecue, but it seems that you already have made plans with Mr. Couch." I laughed way harder than I should have.

"I think Mr. Couch will be fine without me for a night."

"So, is that a yes?"

"Mhmm. " Zack gave me the time and address, but I told him he needed to text it to me, because I was half asleep still and would not remember it when I got ready to go. The barbecue was going to be at his friend Brian’s house at 6:30. He added some extra instructions in, bring a swimsuit and drinks of my choice. I was so glad it was summer, but I wanted to be home so I could go tubing. I Google mapped Brian’s address while I was still in bed. His place was only a twenty minute drive from mine.

.~.~.
I threw my purse and swim bag on my passenger seat before crawling into my truck. I cranked the ignition and put the air condition of full blast. The California sun turned my black Ranger is to a oven. I set my GPS up and found a song to listen to. As I pulled out of my apartment complex, I rolled down both windows and turned my stereo up.

I stopped and grabbed me a six pack of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black before heading to Brian’s house. Yes it was bitch beer, but I liked it. I pulled up to Brian’s huge two story house. There were several cars parked in the driveway in front of the 4 car garage and one along the curb. I pulled up and parked behind a white Chevrolet Tahoe. I sat in my truck, examining myself in the rear view mirror. I had minimal make up and my hair was thrown up in a pony tail. No need for anything fancy if I was getting in the pool. I adjusted the straps of my swim suit on my neck, trying to get the knot off my spine. From the corner of my eye I could see two men walking to my truck, one of which was Zack. I turned down my stereo as Zack leaned against my door. The other man stood on the sidewalk by the passenger door, peaking through my window at me.

"Well did not expect this." Zack said, motioning to the truck.

"What did you expect?" I said as I rolled my windows up and cut the engine off. I grabbed my bags as Zack opened the door for me.

"I do not know actually. You’re unusual. I like that." I smiled. "Caty, this is Johnny, also known as Johnny Christ, he is our bassist."

"Zack, I’m Texan, not unusual." I turned to Johnny and smiled.

"So you’re the Texan he keeps talking about."

"The Texan?" I faced Zack as he blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I like it."

"Well let’s go meet everyone and join the fun!" Zack wrapped his arm around my waist before guiding me inside. He let me put my stuff down and drinks in the fridge before grabbing one for myself. As I was putting stuff down, we heard Johnny go outside and announce very loudly that the Texan has arrived.

"Did you tell everyone?" I laughed, twisting the top off of my drink and disposing of it.

"Well, they are my brothers. Ready to meet them?" I nodded. Zack laced his fingers with my free hand and practically drug me outside in excitement. He went around naming everyone with their birth name and then their stage name and their relation. Apparently, all of Avenged was here, the barbecue was being held at one of the member’s house, and I was already confused on names. Val brought me out of my confusion by coming up and hugging me.

"Hey girly! I’m so glad you came!" She dragged me back inside away from all the guys. I felt Zack's eyes following us the whole way.

"Uh, hi Val." I was caught off guard.

"So, I know you and Zack went on a date. That boy can’t keep anything from me." She jumped up to sit on the counter.

"Yeah, we did. I’m sure you heard his side of it then." She nodded. "I’m assuming you want my side of it." She nodded again. "If I didn’t enjoy it or his company I wouldn’t be here. I’m a major hermit. But seriously, there is something about him that’s just attracts me to him. He makes me feel like a school girl again." I smiled as I watched him through the kitchen windows.
"That’s great!" She was so excited. "He likes you. It’s nice seeing him happy. Plus, I like you too, so that’s a plus! His last girlfriend and I did not get along." Val jumped down from the counter and grabbed two beers. "Let’s go have some fun in the sun!"

Zack was in just his swim trunks sitting on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water. I admired the tattoo on his back. Vengeance with the number 7 to look like a jersey. I sat down next to Zack, putting my legs in the pool too. The cold water felt great on my legs and I could not wait to get in.

"So, I have a question," I piped up. "I’m not trying to be rude, but is this so called barbecue just hot dogs and hamburgers?" I laughed and I turned to look at the rest of the guys. "Because, that is not a barbecue."

"Actually, no, I make some bad ass ribs." Brian said towering over me.

"I’ll be the judge of that." I winked at him. Brian bent down, picked me up my under arms and dropped me in the pool. I resurfaced laughing while everyone else was in shock, curious as to how I would react to that. When they saw I was laughing, they all joined me.

"Alright, you're lucky I brought extra clothes Brian, but game on." I smirked. The rest of this day was going to be a blast.

.~.~.
The night wound down. Beer was drank, fun was had and food was eaten, Brian was right, he did make some bad ass ribs. I managed to push Brian in the pool with the help of a drunk Johnny. I got to know everyone. They were all great people to be around. I was jealous though. I wish I had a group of friends like this of my own. Even in Texas, I did not feel like I was part of my own group. We all sat outside under the moonlight and mood lighting of Brian’s backyard, music playing softly from somewhere. We were all stuffed, yet we still snacked on the left over food.

Matt and Val shared a patio couch. Brian sat in a patio chair, with his fiancée, Michelle who was Val’s twin sister, on his lap. Johnny was in a beach chair next to the edge of the pool. Arin had gone inside and passed out already. Zack was lying in a beach chair as well, and I was snuggled up in the chair with him. His arm wrapped around me, aimlessly drawing shapes on my shoulder. I sat and listened to them talk. They fondly reminisced about a guy named Jimmy, he was the drummer before Arin, and then they would make fun of Johnny, then random conversations. It was fun listening to them. I had started to doze off when Johnny’s voice startled me.

"Caty, tell us a little bit more about you." I felt like I was being interrogated, I always hated that question. Zack rubbed my back, I guess he felt me tense up.

"Well, um, I’m a country girl at heart, always will be. Growing up my brother dragged raced his Ford Mustang, which made me fall in love with fast vehicles. Then as I got older, I got into mudding, which was always a blast until you had to clean the ATVs. I never really played sports, but I like baseball. Um, I’m a slight nerd, I love Legend of Zelda and I aspire to be a Ninja Turtle." Everyone laughed at the Ninja Turtle comment, causing me to blush.

"Don’t worry Caty. Imagine Matt playing Zelda on the Wii. It’s hilarious." Zack laughed.

"Hey! I didn’t design the game! That flapping is stupid!"

"Don’t worry Matt, I agree with that, though I do love Skyward Sword, but some aspects were annoying."

"Thank you!" Matt and I laughed. "Well guys, Val and I are going to head home. Nice seeing you again Caty, we hope to see more of you." We said our goodbyes and they left.

Brian stood up from his chair, Michelle had gone to bed already, and walked over to Johnny, who was now passed out in the beach chair. Brian flipped the chair so Johnny fell in to the pool. Johnny came up flailing his arms like a maniac all why he screamed in shock. He stood up in the pool looking at Brian.

"What the fucking hell dude!" He yelled just causing us to laugh more.

"Well, I didn’t think you wanted to sleep outside, also payback for helping Caty. But on that note, I’m going to bed and locking the door. Zack, you good to drive or are you staying here?"

"I’m good." Zack responded.

"Caty, you’re welcome to stay if need be. I don’t let friends leave drunk."

"Thanks Brian, I’m good though."

"Alright, night everyone." He disappeared into the house. Johnny mumbled something as he got out of the pool. Apparently he would be staying here along with Arin.

Zack and I stayed lying in the chair. I looked up at him; he was staring into the night sky. I smiled to myself, enjoying the moment. Zack looked down at me, sleep glazing his eyes.

"Ready to go?"

"Not really, but if you want to go home, then I guess I’ll head home too."

"Stay with me tonight, please? You can leave your truck here and ride with me. Bri won’t mind." His voice was getting raspy from the combination of tiredness and smoking.

"Uh, alright."

"Yay!" He wrapped both his arms around me, pulling me on top of him. We stared into each other eyes before I leaned down to kiss him.

Notes

Well hope you enjoyed it :)