Through Thick And Thin
Hello, I'm Your Conscience
Keira was already seated by the window at the coffee shop, two lattes on the table in front of her. She remembered that Zacky liked his coffee black (and only a little like his metal, thank you Mindless Self Indulgence). As soon as she spotted him, she grinned and got up out of her seat, leaning over to kiss him softly.
It was hope- that there was someone out there aside from Brian who hadn't quite given up on Zacky, and the girl he planned to take care of.
"Hey, sweetheart. You didn't sound so good on the phone, so I got you coffee, and I'm here to listen and not to judge" she said firmly, slipping into her seat and leaning over to him, all ears at what Zacky had to say. Wildly he thought about making up a story that he was fine, and that she shouldn't be worrying about him at all- but she would see right through it.
If Brian could, then so would she.
"The birth Mom turned up today, and as if I wasn't freaked out enough, it turned out she's one of my best friends- and married to the lead singer of the band" Zacky blurted out, unsurprised when Keira fought to contain herself. She was a fan, she'd admitted it when they first met. She probably knew all about Val and her relationship with Matt and now she'd been dragged into their crazy world- and probably would never leave again.
"So Val is the mother- but what about Matt? It's his baby- he has a right to know that his best friends taking care of it, and acting as though it's theirs"
"That's the problem, Keira, it's not Matt's. Val had an affair while we were touring, and somehow managed to hide the fact that she was knocked up for nine months"
This was playing out like a soap opera, Zacky thought, as this time Keira let her jaw drop and her eyes cloud over with confusion. But she didn't judge, just like she'd promised she wouldn't and stared down into the dregs of her lukewarm coffee for inspiration before replying.
"Matt deserves to know about this, Zee, even if it's going to hurt a lot of people. Val knew what she was getting herself into, and if she didn't think she could get out- it wouldn't have happened in the first place. As his friend, I think it's up to you to tell him what's going on, even though it's going to tear them apart"
"Are all British people this wise- or is it a trait you've inherited from hanging out with me?" Zacky asked with a smile, happy that he could find humour in even the bleakest of situations.
Keira smiled and shrugged, the colour that had drained from her cheeks as Zacky had confessed his dilemma to her returning.
"It's a British thing, I assure you" she giggled, drinking deeply from her coffee cup as Zacky's phone began to buzz in his pocket. He wondered whether Linzee had gotten hold of Brian's phone, or any phone for that matter, and was texting him nonsense. He'd almost had to spend a night in a jail cell after she mistakenly dialled 911 and spent ten minutes speaking gibberish to an officer- all under Brian's watch, Zacky never hastened to add.
That man was going to turn his child into a delinquent, he just knew it.
But the text instead was from Brian. It read,
"Matt here. U need 2 tell him- come home! Also, L coming down w/ fever- do u need me 2 call dr? Bxx"
"Matt's at my house, I need to go back and tell him everything. Linzee's coming down with a fever too- God, drama really is my middle name" Zacky grumbled, getting out of his seat and handing Keira a five dollar bill to pay for his coffee, which she turned away.
"My treat. And, if you want, I can come back with you. If you and Brian want to talk to Matt, I can watch Linzee for a bit" she offered, and Zacky kissed her again, before nodding. Without another word, the two of them walked out of the coffee shop and made the five minute walk back to Zacky's house.
They held hands the whole way there, and Zacky counted three fans who gave him strange looks, and dirty looks in Keira's direction. When they reached his house, he saw Matt's truck parked in the driveway, and crying coming from inside the living room. As the two of them walked in, Zacky spotted Brian walking around the living room, trying to keep Linzee calm, who was sniffling unhappily.
"She started burning up about twenty minutes ago. I've tried ice, but she won't cool down" Brian said as he passed the baby over to Zacky, who held her close.
"My poor little babygirl- are you sick? Don't worry, Daddy's gonna make you better. I just need to find Uncle Matt first..." he soothed, kissing the top of her fiery forehead and glancing around for his said friend. Brian, who had looked concerned at the way his sort of niece was acting, suddenly noticed Keira standing next to Zacky and held out his hand.
"We weren't formally introduced. I'm Brian, Zacky's band-mate, babysitter and child corrupter" he announced, making Keira smirk at him. Even he could charm the panties off the girl Zacky was dating- it was in the Haner blood he guessed. Matt suddenly appeared from the kitchen, beer in hand and looking slightly calmer than his friends.
"Oh, Keira, this is Matt. Matt this my girlfriend, Keira" Zacky said, as Keira walked over to shake the main man's hand. Zacky needed to get Matt alone so he could tell him what was going on, but with the drama with Linzee, it was going to be impossible. He stared pointedly at Brian for a moment, waiting for him to catch his eye and when he did, Brian began to speak.
"How about Keira and I go take Linzee to the doctors so we can find out what's wrong with her, and you guys can catch up?" he suggested, and before anyone in the room could protest, or even agree, Brian had lifted the little girl out of Zacky's arms, wrapped her up in a blanket and pushed Keira out of the door with him, towards his car. Matt and Zacky stood in silence for a moment, before Zacky began to talk. It was better to get this out now than never.
"Matt, we need to talk" Zacky started, sitting down on the couch and gesturing for his band mate to follow.
"Those words are never good- so if you're planning on breaking up with me..." Matt began, smiling as he made a joke. Zacky wasn't in the mood for smiling, and he was pretty sure Matt wasn't going to be either when he heard what his precious wife had done.
"Linzee's birth Mom came over yesterday and, um...this is kind of hard to say..." he started, unsure of how to break it to Matt that Linzee's mom was his wife.
"Spit it out, dude. I'm not here to be left hanging" Matt complained, leaning backwards in the couch and looking relaxed. That composure wasn't going to be around for long.
"It was Val. She's Linzee's Mom- and she left her on my doorstep. She told me when we were on tour, she'd slept with someone else and Linz was the product of that one night stand. She managed to hide it for nine months and...then she left her" Zacky blurted out in one, watching heartbroken as his friends expression began to crumple.
"You mean...Val, she...with and Linzee...oh my God..." he stuttered before his face fell into his hands. Matt loved Val with all his heart, and had done so since Middle School. He'd always made sure on tour, even with all the groupies that threw themselves at him, that he'd stayed faithful to the woman he loved- and now she'd turned the tables and slept with someone else.
"But why didn't she tell me?!" he almost yelled, looking for something or someone to punch. Zacky knew what Matt was like when he was angry, and he didn't really want to be on the receiving end of that.
"She was scared, Matt. It's not exactly easy to tell someone 'Hey, I'm pregnant with someone else's baby', especially not your husband. You're my best friend, and I wanted you to know. Even though she told me to stay quiet, I needed to be honest. I couldn't have a secret like that on my conscience"
"Well maybe your conscience needs a kick up the ass. Why didn't you call me after she left?" Matt replied softly, the anger slowly seeping out of him as it was replaced by a mixture of betrayal, hurt and misery.
Zacky wanted to reply, but like so many of his important conversations, his cellphone interrupted him. The loud tinny guitars filled the silent room, and as Brian's number flickered up on the screen he smiled. Maybe he was going to tell him what was wrong with his daughter- the doctors wasn't that far away from Zacky's house.
"Brian? I hope you found out what was wrong with Linz, there's nothing in these---"
"Zacky Baker?" a mysterious voice that definitely didn't belong to Brian asked down the phone, and almost instantly Zacky tensed. Had something gone wrong?
"Yeah, that's me. Is everything OK- what's happened?" he asked hurriedly, watching as Matt raised his head and stared at his friend in confusion.
"Mr Baker, I'm afraid there's been a car accident involving your friend Brian, a woman..." the person on the other end of the line paused.
"And a little girl"
It was hope- that there was someone out there aside from Brian who hadn't quite given up on Zacky, and the girl he planned to take care of.
"Hey, sweetheart. You didn't sound so good on the phone, so I got you coffee, and I'm here to listen and not to judge" she said firmly, slipping into her seat and leaning over to him, all ears at what Zacky had to say. Wildly he thought about making up a story that he was fine, and that she shouldn't be worrying about him at all- but she would see right through it.
If Brian could, then so would she.
"The birth Mom turned up today, and as if I wasn't freaked out enough, it turned out she's one of my best friends- and married to the lead singer of the band" Zacky blurted out, unsurprised when Keira fought to contain herself. She was a fan, she'd admitted it when they first met. She probably knew all about Val and her relationship with Matt and now she'd been dragged into their crazy world- and probably would never leave again.
"So Val is the mother- but what about Matt? It's his baby- he has a right to know that his best friends taking care of it, and acting as though it's theirs"
"That's the problem, Keira, it's not Matt's. Val had an affair while we were touring, and somehow managed to hide the fact that she was knocked up for nine months"
This was playing out like a soap opera, Zacky thought, as this time Keira let her jaw drop and her eyes cloud over with confusion. But she didn't judge, just like she'd promised she wouldn't and stared down into the dregs of her lukewarm coffee for inspiration before replying.
"Matt deserves to know about this, Zee, even if it's going to hurt a lot of people. Val knew what she was getting herself into, and if she didn't think she could get out- it wouldn't have happened in the first place. As his friend, I think it's up to you to tell him what's going on, even though it's going to tear them apart"
"Are all British people this wise- or is it a trait you've inherited from hanging out with me?" Zacky asked with a smile, happy that he could find humour in even the bleakest of situations.
Keira smiled and shrugged, the colour that had drained from her cheeks as Zacky had confessed his dilemma to her returning.
"It's a British thing, I assure you" she giggled, drinking deeply from her coffee cup as Zacky's phone began to buzz in his pocket. He wondered whether Linzee had gotten hold of Brian's phone, or any phone for that matter, and was texting him nonsense. He'd almost had to spend a night in a jail cell after she mistakenly dialled 911 and spent ten minutes speaking gibberish to an officer- all under Brian's watch, Zacky never hastened to add.
That man was going to turn his child into a delinquent, he just knew it.
But the text instead was from Brian. It read,
"Matt here. U need 2 tell him- come home! Also, L coming down w/ fever- do u need me 2 call dr? Bxx"
"Matt's at my house, I need to go back and tell him everything. Linzee's coming down with a fever too- God, drama really is my middle name" Zacky grumbled, getting out of his seat and handing Keira a five dollar bill to pay for his coffee, which she turned away.
"My treat. And, if you want, I can come back with you. If you and Brian want to talk to Matt, I can watch Linzee for a bit" she offered, and Zacky kissed her again, before nodding. Without another word, the two of them walked out of the coffee shop and made the five minute walk back to Zacky's house.
They held hands the whole way there, and Zacky counted three fans who gave him strange looks, and dirty looks in Keira's direction. When they reached his house, he saw Matt's truck parked in the driveway, and crying coming from inside the living room. As the two of them walked in, Zacky spotted Brian walking around the living room, trying to keep Linzee calm, who was sniffling unhappily.
"She started burning up about twenty minutes ago. I've tried ice, but she won't cool down" Brian said as he passed the baby over to Zacky, who held her close.
"My poor little babygirl- are you sick? Don't worry, Daddy's gonna make you better. I just need to find Uncle Matt first..." he soothed, kissing the top of her fiery forehead and glancing around for his said friend. Brian, who had looked concerned at the way his sort of niece was acting, suddenly noticed Keira standing next to Zacky and held out his hand.
"We weren't formally introduced. I'm Brian, Zacky's band-mate, babysitter and child corrupter" he announced, making Keira smirk at him. Even he could charm the panties off the girl Zacky was dating- it was in the Haner blood he guessed. Matt suddenly appeared from the kitchen, beer in hand and looking slightly calmer than his friends.
"Oh, Keira, this is Matt. Matt this my girlfriend, Keira" Zacky said, as Keira walked over to shake the main man's hand. Zacky needed to get Matt alone so he could tell him what was going on, but with the drama with Linzee, it was going to be impossible. He stared pointedly at Brian for a moment, waiting for him to catch his eye and when he did, Brian began to speak.
"How about Keira and I go take Linzee to the doctors so we can find out what's wrong with her, and you guys can catch up?" he suggested, and before anyone in the room could protest, or even agree, Brian had lifted the little girl out of Zacky's arms, wrapped her up in a blanket and pushed Keira out of the door with him, towards his car. Matt and Zacky stood in silence for a moment, before Zacky began to talk. It was better to get this out now than never.
"Matt, we need to talk" Zacky started, sitting down on the couch and gesturing for his band mate to follow.
"Those words are never good- so if you're planning on breaking up with me..." Matt began, smiling as he made a joke. Zacky wasn't in the mood for smiling, and he was pretty sure Matt wasn't going to be either when he heard what his precious wife had done.
"Linzee's birth Mom came over yesterday and, um...this is kind of hard to say..." he started, unsure of how to break it to Matt that Linzee's mom was his wife.
"Spit it out, dude. I'm not here to be left hanging" Matt complained, leaning backwards in the couch and looking relaxed. That composure wasn't going to be around for long.
"It was Val. She's Linzee's Mom- and she left her on my doorstep. She told me when we were on tour, she'd slept with someone else and Linz was the product of that one night stand. She managed to hide it for nine months and...then she left her" Zacky blurted out in one, watching heartbroken as his friends expression began to crumple.
"You mean...Val, she...with and Linzee...oh my God..." he stuttered before his face fell into his hands. Matt loved Val with all his heart, and had done so since Middle School. He'd always made sure on tour, even with all the groupies that threw themselves at him, that he'd stayed faithful to the woman he loved- and now she'd turned the tables and slept with someone else.
"But why didn't she tell me?!" he almost yelled, looking for something or someone to punch. Zacky knew what Matt was like when he was angry, and he didn't really want to be on the receiving end of that.
"She was scared, Matt. It's not exactly easy to tell someone 'Hey, I'm pregnant with someone else's baby', especially not your husband. You're my best friend, and I wanted you to know. Even though she told me to stay quiet, I needed to be honest. I couldn't have a secret like that on my conscience"
"Well maybe your conscience needs a kick up the ass. Why didn't you call me after she left?" Matt replied softly, the anger slowly seeping out of him as it was replaced by a mixture of betrayal, hurt and misery.
Zacky wanted to reply, but like so many of his important conversations, his cellphone interrupted him. The loud tinny guitars filled the silent room, and as Brian's number flickered up on the screen he smiled. Maybe he was going to tell him what was wrong with his daughter- the doctors wasn't that far away from Zacky's house.
"Brian? I hope you found out what was wrong with Linz, there's nothing in these---"
"Zacky Baker?" a mysterious voice that definitely didn't belong to Brian asked down the phone, and almost instantly Zacky tensed. Had something gone wrong?
"Yeah, that's me. Is everything OK- what's happened?" he asked hurriedly, watching as Matt raised his head and stared at his friend in confusion.
"Mr Baker, I'm afraid there's been a car accident involving your friend Brian, a woman..." the person on the other end of the line paused.
"And a little girl"
11/4/13