Broken Arrow

A couple of black pillows landed on my bed.
"Brian, what do you think you're doing?" I asked.
Another set of pillows, red this time, landed beside them. "We're sleeping in here!" Jimmy smiled.
"Guys, really?" I rolled my eyes, picking up my Skeleton Onesie from the chair in the corner and stepping into it, buttoning it up.
Brian smirked at me.
"What?"
"You look really cute in that thing." He chuckled. "You look like a little fourteen year old."
"He's right." Jimmy laughed.
I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."
"Not that you don't anyway, Short Shit." He teased.
"Hey, only Matty can call me Short Shit." I snapped playfully. "Even though Johnny's the original Short Shit."
"Johnny's the Male Short Shit." Jimmy stated. "And you're the Female Short Shit, so it works out okay."
I rolled my eyes again. "Whatever."
"So." Jimmy said, plopping himself down on the end of my bed. "What'd we think of my Prank?" He asked, propping his elbow up on his pillows.
"Fucking Priceless." Brian said, scooting in beside me at the head of my bed "You're a crazy bastard."
"You ruined it though!" Jimmy whined. "You gave me away too soon!"
"Julia was shitting herself!" He defended. "I felt bad for her."
"Look at you, suddenly so sensitive." Jimmy teased. "Don't become a fucking soft cock."
"Fuck you." Brian smirked.
I laughed.

Friendly little reminder, once again; Guess who's not in your life?

I hated those moments; Life would be great and I'd be having fun with my friends, and then, out of fucking nowhere, the thought that Jack was no longer a part of my life would flit in and bring my mood down. I cast my head downward, playing with the sheets.

"Ruby." Jimmy cooed. "You okay?"
"Yeah, you're really quiet." Brian added.
I sighed. "Yeah." I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Just thinking."
"About what?" Brian asked.
"Jack?" Jimmy suggested.
I frowned. Was it that obvious? I nodded.
"I know you probably don't wanna talk about it." Jimmy said. "But what happened with you guys?"
"Jimmy, don't make her talk about it." Brian growled.
"I think she needs to get it off her chest." He bit back, registering Brian's shitty attitude regarding the subject. "She can't keep bottling it up."
Brian let out an annoyed huff. "Fine." He said; his jaw clenched.
Wow, he really doesn't like me mentioning Jack. "Jimmy's right, Bri." I frowned. "I've kept it to myself for too long." I admitted. "It's because it was so fucking stupid I didn't think anybody would care."
"We care, Ruby." Jimmy spoke, his face sincere. "Brian cares, don't you?" He looked up at Brian, glaring at him, trying to make him stop being so ignorant to the subject and listen.
Brian sighed. "Yeah... Yeah, I care." He grumbled, scooting closer to me and rolling onto his side.
"We were at Warped Tour..." I began, recalling memories I'd tried to forget. "Jack had been really excited because The Used were playing."
"That was his favourite band, wasn't it?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah." I nodded. "We got separated, the Mosh was crazy, and I was getting crushed, I couldn't see, and I couldn't breathe properly."
"You're too tiny for Mosh Pits, Ruby, I've told you this countless times." Brian chuckled. "Silly girl."
"Yeah well, this guy noticed, and he offered to pick me up, and well, I was pissed because I couldn't see one of my favourite bands, so of course I said yes." I drew in a deep breath before continuing. "And then Jack found me, and the whole set he kept throwing me death glares."
"What the fuck for?" Jimmy scowled. "You were just trying to see the band."
"Not in his eyes." I frowned. "The rougher the crowd got, the tighter the guy had to hold my legs so I wouldn't fall." I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Jack got it into his head that I was letting the guy grope my legs and my goods right in front of him and not caring."
"So he basically accused you of cheating?" Brian asked.
"Basically." I nodded. "And no matter what I fucking said, after two weeks of me trying to drill it into his head that it was nothing and I was innocent, he fucking left me, he said he didn't trust me anymore and was convinced I was cheating on him when he wasn't around."
"You guys fucking lived together!" Jimmy protested.
"Yeah, what the fuck?" Brian growled. "What, he thought you'd be stupid enough to sleep with someone else in a bed you two shared?"
"Obviously." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"You fucking loved him." Jimmy said, his jaw clenched. "How could he not see that? We all saw it." He threw his hands up in disbelief. "I mean you fucking left everybody, your home, just to be with him." He huffed, letting his hands drop back down on the bed.
"I know." I frowned, sadness spreading across my face.
"Don't cry." Jimmy cooed, noticing.
"Hey." Brian breathed. "He's a fucking asshole, okay?"
I looked away, trying to fight the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I let out a small sniffle.
"Hey." Brian pulled me into his arms. "Forget about him."
"You deserve better, Ruby." Jimmy agreed, reaching out to hold my hand. "He made you give up your whole life, and leave home." He reminded me.
"He stopped you from seeing us 'cause he was paranoid." Brian added.
"Exactly, he cut you off from your best friends." Jimmy agreed.
"But hey." Brian said, turning me onto my back so I was facing him. "You're home now, back with us." He smiled down at me.
"This is true." I smiled back up at him. "I'm glad you talked me into staying."
"Wait what?" Jimmy cried. "You're staying?" His eyes widened as he pounced on all fours in front of us.
"Yup." I smiled. "Bri talked me into moving back home."
"Fuck yeah!" He grinned. "That's great, I'm glad."
"Me too." I smiled, closing my eyes as Brian kissed my forehead.
Jimmy smirked and shook his head.
"What?" I asked.
"You two are cute." He chuckled.
"Shut up." Brian laughed.
"No really!" He insisted. "You'd look good together."
"He's way too Metal for me." I giggled. "Like honestly, look at him." I added, stroking his tattooed arm and tugging at his hair.
"You're Metal on the inside, even if you're Punk on the outside." Jimmy smiled.
"Hang around with Demi and Kiki long enough, and you'll be a Metal Chick in no time." Brian chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if they take you out shopping again soon and spoil you, once they find out you're staying."
"Hey, if she's staying, she'll be here when we've finished the new album!" Jimmy cried, getting excited. "We should bring her into the studio tomorrow!"
"You're working on a new album?" I asked.
"Yeah." Brian smiled down at me. "You're gonna fucking love this one, it's awesome."
"We're shooting our first music video for it soon." Jimmy smiled. "You could come with us if you want?"
"I'd like that."
"Well, would you like to come to the studio tomorrow?" Brian asked.
"Sure."
"Alright." He grinned. "Then it's sorted."
"Speaking of going to the studio tomorrow," Jimmy spoke, checking his watch. "It's getting late, and we have to be up early."
"Good point." Brian said. "Bed?"
"Bed." Jimmy agreed, getting up to close the door and turn off the light. I felt the bed sink again as Jimmy laid across the end.
"Are you seriously going to sleep at the end of my bed like a Dog?" I giggled.
"Yup." Jimmy answered, I felt the mattress shift as he rolled over. "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight man." Brian said.
"Night Jimmy, you good widdle puppy dog." I teased.
"Shut up." He chuckled.

Brian pulled me back against his chest, wrapping his large, muscled arms around me, enveloping me in a secure hug. I didn't protest, and wrapped my hands around his arms, smiling at the security I felt. Jack used to hold me this way when we were together; but I didn't dare bring it up to Brian, knowing he'd just get annoyed at the mention of Jack's name and pull away.

"Goodnight Ruby." His warm breath blew against my neck as he spoke, sending little shivers down my spine.
"Goodnight, Brian." I whispered back, closing my eyes as he gently kissed my hair before resting his chin on my shoulder.

I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time, and it wasn't long before I fell into a peaceful slumber, right there in my best friend's arms...

Notes