*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

I finished the game with Johnny and the girls and quickly made my way outside for a cigarette as Amanda and Jenny went to the bathroom again. I leaned against the building as I inhaled the first drag before Matt and Brian came out.

“Hey Zee. Havin’ fun?” Matt said as he took the lighter from Brian.

“I guess.” I shrugged taking another drag.

“Hmpf.” Brian scoffed at my answer before leaning against the building on the other side of Matt.

I didn’t realize it until now, but ever since we left the House of Blues, Brian had been pretty much avoiding me the entire night. He wouldn’t look in my direction and he didn’t strike up his usual drunk conversations with me or try to get me back to the table with the rest of the group.

“What’s with you?” I leaned forward asking Brian.

“What’s with you?” he retorted coldly still avoiding my glare.

Matt pushed off the side of the building to stand in front of us both, probably to get in a position if we started fighting. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time we had gotten into it.

“What Brian? You got a stick up your fucking ass?” I snapped at him, the liquid courage taking over some of my emotions.

“Are you a fucking idiot?” Brian snapped back waiting for an answer. “What’s the point? Nevermind.”

“No! What Brian? What the fuck did I do?” I yelled at him.

“You’re an idiot Zack. I’d kill for what you have in front of your face but you’re just pissing it all away.” He said exhaling the smoke.

“Huh?”

“I’d kill for Michelle to come to our shows and hang out with us all the time but she’s always so busy with ‘work’.” He said making the quotations in the air, “And, here you have Chloe, whom you claim to be the love of your life, here supporting you, promising to come to the shows, even helping Val when she’s not even dating you and you run off with some blonde bimbo all night long. What a fucked up way to repay her for her loyalty to your stupid ass. She even gave you a place to live.”

“What?!” Jake yelled walking up the sidewalk to us.

Matt’s face was shocked and I didn’t know if it was from Brian’s outburst or from Jake’s. Matt took a step back as Jake headed right at me, getting into my face.

“What the fuck is he talking about Zack?! You’re living with my sister and you’re out here with some fucking groupie?!” he yelled.

“Look I’m just playing wingman for Johnny I swear. I don’t even like the girl.” I said putting my hands up in surrender.

“Sure doesn’t fucking look like it! You didn’t answer me though… You living in my sister’s house?!” Jake asked again angrily.

“She let me move int-” I couldn’t even finish before a red-faced Jake stormed off back inside the bar.

I threw my cigarette into the parking lot and chased after him into the bar. He marched up to Chloe who was laughing with Jimmy and Val, grabbing her arm and yanking her from her seat at the booth.

“What the fuck Jake?” she yelled at him as he pulled at her.

“Take your hands off her.” I said pushing his arm away.

Jimmy stood from the table as Matt and Brian came up from behind me, a mixture of confused and concerned looks on their faces.

“Oh you suddenly give a shit! Fuck off Zack, she’s my goddamned sister and I’m not hurting her!” he mocked me before turning to Chloe, “He’s fucking living in the house?!”

She stammered, “Jake, I… I let-”

“He’s fucking living in the house and he’s over here getting ready to take home some other fucking chick?! You’re fucking kidding me Chloe?! I thought you were smarter this time around?!” He yelled at her.

“Jake please, let’s just go outside. You’re making a scene.” She begged him, pushing towards the door.

“I told you Jake, I’m not even into her. And what does it matter if I’m living there?! It’s her house not yours!” I yelled when we all got outside into the parking lot.

“What does it matter?! WHAT DOES IT MATTER?!” Jake screamed as he threw his arms up in the air pacing back and forth wildly. “Chloe Marie Edwards, you….” He waved his finger at her threateningly.

Chloe pushed my chest backing us away from everyone as Matt tried to calm down Jake.

“What the fuck does it matter to him that I live at your house Chloe?” I asked her this time.

“It matters a lot Zack.” She replied looking up at me.

“Why?! What are you not telling me Chloe? What say does he have in what you do? He’s your brother, you don’t have to answer to him?!” I yelled getting animated.

“In a way I do Zack. You just don’t understand.” She said sighing heavily and looking down at the ground.

“Explain.” I said sternly crossing my arms over my chest. “What the fuck are you keeping from me this time?!”

Jimmy came up and put an arm around Chloe who started to tear up, “Don’t fucking yell at her dumbass.”

“Fuck off Jimmy. This is between us.” I snapped.

Jimmy turned to go before Chloe stopped him, “No Jimmy stay. Zacky, I can’t ignore my brother. You don’t get it. Jake was there for me and for Jay, when we needed help. He helped keep me and our son off the streets of New York when my parents turned their back on me.”

“I get that but what does that have to do with now?” I asked.

“Zack that house is as much mine as it is Jake’s. I can’t afford it alone and Jake wanted me to bring Jayden home so badly that he helped buy that house so we’d have somewhere to live. Zacky, Jake pays for most of the mortgage so he has every right to say who lives in it. I can only say so much about it to him.” She said a few tears streaking down her cheeks.

“Chloe, please don’t cry. You know I hate when you cry.” I said stepping forward to wipe her cheeks.

“Don’t fucking touch her! I want you out of the fucking house by tomorrow! You hear me you fucking piece of shit!” Jake screamed drunkenly from behind Matt who was holding him back.

Chloe turned and went up to him pushing him back from Matt, “Jake shut up! You don’t even know what you’re saying!”

“I know what I’m fucking saying Chloe. Fuck that guy! I won’t let him sit here and hurt you by flaunting his fucking rockstar status in your face with his fucking groupies! He’s a fucking scumbag!” he shouted from where she pushed him.

“Jake go get in the car! I’m taking you home! NOW!” she yelled at him.

“I’ll fight his fucking ass now. He fucking hurt you Chloe and I won’t fucking have it!” He roared putting his fists up and stepping closer, bumping Chloe.

As shocked as I was at Jake’s rage towards me, I wasn’t about to back down from the challenge, “I don’t want to fight you Jake but if I gotta then I will.”

“Let’s go Zack! I win you fucking get out of my fucking house and leave my sister and my nephew alone forever. You win you can stay.” He said jumping up and down.

“NO! This isn’t fucking happening! You can say whatever about the house but you WILL NOT dictate his role in Jayden’s life Jake! Now get in the fucking car and wait for me!” She screamed at him.

“This isn’t fucking over Zack! I don’t give a fuck who you are to Jay! I’ll fucking kick your ass!” Jake screamed as Matt and Brian hauled him towards the car per Chloe’s instructions.

I was pacing back and forth by now, adrenaline pumping, ready to fight as I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to quickly turn around defensively.

“Whoa man! I was just seeing what the hell is going on?” Johnny said putting his hands up surrendering.

“This is your fault!” I jabbed my finger in Johnny’s chest, “If you hadn’t asked me to be your fucking wingman I wouldn’t be in this mess! ‘Oh, help me out with these girls Zee.’ ‘You can get her friend. She’s your type.’ Fuck off Johnny!” I said storming off towards the van.

“Zacky! Wait!” I heard Chloe call as she ran after me.

I stopped and turned, waiting for her to catch up, “Chloe this-”

“Zacky, I’m sorry. Please come home tonight? I’ll talk to Jake when he’s sober. He’s thinking he’s seeing something he’s not. He doesn’t understand where we are with things. He’s just being my big brother…” she explained.

“Chloe, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to come back to your house tonight. I’ll find somewhere else to stay.” I replied sadly, the anger fading away as I looked at her hurt expression.

“Zack you don’t need to. Just come home. You live there too no matter what Jake says.” She pleaded.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Chloe. Be careful going home. Do you want me to call you and Jake a cab?” I offered.

“No, I can drive. I didn’t drink that much and this has sobered me up. Please just come home to your own bed.” She said holding my hand as everyone else in our group headed towards the van, including Jenny and Amanda.

“Chloe, just go home.” I said before letting go of her hand and walking off.

*~*Chloe’s POV*~*

My vision blurred as the tears fell from my eyes as I watched Zacky walk off. What was a great evening was now ending terribly. I saw them all pile back into the van, Jenny and Amanda getting in the back with Johnny and Zacky.

Maybe that’s why he wanted me to go home. So he could have fun with Amanda…

I couldn’t watch them leave so I turned on my heel, and angrily made my way back to Jake’s car. He seemed to be passed out in the passenger seat when I ripped the door open forcefully throwing myself down in the driver’s seat.

“Give me your fucking keys you fuckass!” I yelled at him, whacking him open handed in the chest.

“Here… Bitch.” He said handing me the keys between his gasps from the blow.

“Fuck you Jake… I’m so fucking mad at you.” I said as I started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

“For what? Standing up for you? He’s making you look like a fool in front of your friends Chloe!”

“No he isn’t.” I said focusing on the road.

“Do you even know how I found out? Brian was pissed off and chewing him out for basically ignoring you for some groupie all night.”

“He wasn’t ignoring me, he was enjoying his night and I was enjoying mine. Until you ruined it.” I replied.

“Wake the fuck up Chloe. If Brian, of all people could see it, then why can’t you? You’re loyal to a man that pushes you aside for a girl he met after a show. You’re the mother of his kid and he says he wants to be with you and all that bullshit but the first chance he gets he’s getting fresh with some fucking groupie. Chloe, I don’t want you getting hurt, open your eyes!” Jake yelled at me.

“It doesn’t matter what he’s doing or with who. It’s none of my business. I told him he can do whatever he wants. We aren’t together. How many times do I have to tell you and everyone that? It doesn’t bother me if he’s with some other girl.”

“Who are you trying to convince Chloe? Me or yourself?” Jake asked.

“Fuck off Jake.”

“Yeah, I thought so.” He said leaning the chair back.

I turned the radio up while I drove us back the hour long journey to Huntington Beach. Jake didn’t say another word to me the trip back, instead falling asleep with his arm over his face. I pulled up to Jake’s house before realizing that I had no way home. I shoved him awake before getting out of the car and opening his front door for him.

“You staying?” He asked groggily rubbing his face as he stumbled up to the door.

“No.” I replied coldly dropping his keys on the coffee table.

“How are you getting home?” he asked.

“Don’t fucking worry about it. You’ve done enough for me tonight.” I said slamming his door behind me and pulling out my cell phone as I walked down to the sidewalk.

I opened the screen to see my happy little boy’s smile and I started to instantly cry as I walked down the sidewalk towards the town center down the street from Jake’s house. Jayden looked so much like Zacky and the mixture of the alcohol and the blowout with Jake left me in an emotional state. I knew I loved Zacky still and looking at my son only reminded me of the painful years I was gone and the mistakes I had made. I made it to the town center and sat at a bench under the street lights, contemplating my next move.

Should I call him and try to fix the damage Jake caused? Who am I kidding, he doesn’t care by now. He’s probably busy hooking up with Amanda… I need to get home…

I looked down on my phone and dialed, “Yeah, I need a cab…”

*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

Jason drove us back over to the House of Blues to pick up the trailer that they had let us leave behind and to let Jenny and Amanda get their car. I got out of the back extending a hand to help Amanda and Jenny out as Johnny jumped out last. Jimmy slid off the seat in front of me and put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from following the girls and Johnny to Jenny’s car.

“I think it’s best if you don’t go with Amanda.” Jimmy suggested quietly.

“I wasn’t planning on it.” I said fishing out a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it as I watched Johnny talk with the girls.

“You really want to make this work with Chloe don’t you?” Jimmy asked.

“Jimmy I love her. I always did. I don’t think it’s ever gonna change.” I said.

“Are you going to go home to her then?”

“No. Brian’s right, I’m a dumb ass. I can’t go back there.” I replied. “I’ll stay at Matt’s.”

“I don’t think you’re going to want to…” Jimmy said nodding to the direction of the van where Val was straddling Matt’s lap on the seat.

“I don’t know, I’ll figure something out. I just can’t go back there right now. I’ll go and get my shit in the morning.” I answered.

“What about Jayden? How are you going to explain you packing everything up again and leaving to your son?” Jimmy asked stealing my cigarette, “Let Chloe talk to Jake.”

“Hey! Zack! Come on!” Johnny yelled across the parking lot to me.

“You really shouldn’t but we won’t stop you if you do.” Brian said clapping a hand on my shoulder, letting me know that he wasn’t as pissed off anymore.

“I’m not coming Johnny!” I yelled back.

Johnny ran over to where we were standing, “What?! You aren’t coming? What about Amanda? Come on man, a lay to help you forget the drama tonight.”

“I need to stop forgetting Johnny. It’s not about just me anymore.” I told him.

“Chloe told you she doesn’t care right? I know you and you need a good fuck right now.” Johnny said before I cocked back and punched him square in the face.

“Fuck you Johnny. I care and you have no idea what it’s like to be me right now. I’m going back to Huntington with the guys. Maybe you can get Amanda and Jenny in a threesome.” I said before tossing the rest of my cigarette on the ground and turning back to the van.

“Really bad timing Gnome.” Brian said patting Johnny’s shoulder as he headed back to the van.

“Fuck man! That fucking hurt!” Johnny screamed at me as he held his hands over his face.

I didn’t bother turning around as I flipped him off and climbed in the backseat of the van.

“You should know better. Chloe is not just some girl to him.” Jimmy told him before stamping out his cigarette, “Have fun and good luck Gnome! Call us in the morning if you need a ride.”

Notes

Okay my lovelies! Here is yet another chapter! I think I might just post my new story up on this site too even though I hate this site some days... Comments are always appreciated! Much love and Aloha! <3 <3 <3 XoXo