Strength Of The World

The day before St. Patrick’s Day, Peyton was sitting on the couch, thinking about all the Irish food she was going to be eating the next day when her phone started ringing. “What up, Mich?” She said, answering the phone. “Hey Pey! What are you doing?” “Sitting on the couch, thinking about food.” She chuckled, hearing her friend laugh on the phone. “What are you guys doing?” “Me, Lace, and Val are shopping for your baby shower.” She heard her blonde friend say excitedly. “But we’re going to stop for now and take some lunch to the guys at the studio. You in?” “I don’t know, I really didn’t want to have to put pants on.” Peyton said with a whine. “Ah come on, I know you’re hungry and I bet Zack misses you. They might even let us hear some new music.” Michelle pleaded. “Food does sound good, I was just going to order some takeout. Maybe I’ll go next time.” “Peyton.” Michelle’s voice turned serious. “We really need you to go to the studio. Before you freak out, everything is fine. Zack is fine. But you need to get there.” Peyton let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. I’ll get ready and go over now. See you in a few.” “K bye!” Michelle said happily. Peyton rolled her eyes with a laugh and headed upstairs. She grabbed one of Zack’s VU tees and put on a pair of leggings and slipped her feet into flip flops before heading out the door.

Once she got to the studio, everyone was surprised to see her there. “Hey baby. You okay?” Zack asked, walking over to kiss her head. She was about to speak when Val came rushing through the door, looking terrified. As soon as her eyes locked with Peyton’s, she instantly relaxed. Michelle and Lacey followed her inside, carrying bags of food. “Yes! Lunch!” Johnny said, immediately putting his bass down and rushing over to take the bags from his girlfriend’s hands. “What are you guys doing here?” Brian questioned, helping Michelle. “We brought lunch.” She said cheerfully. “Cut the bullshit, Chell. I saw the look on Val’s face when she came in. That combined with the way you were acting on the phone earlier something is up. This isn’t just about fucking lunch.” Peyton snapped at her friend, who raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Sorry. Hormones.” She said with an eye roll. Val sighed and grabbed her best friend’s hand, pulling her over to the couch. “You’re right. We called you and told you to come here because we knew you’d be safe here.” “What? Safe from what?” Zack questioned, panic in his voice. “When we were at the mall today, we saw Gena. With Jason.” Val explained, watching the color drain from Peyton’s face. “Hey. You’re okay. You’re safe here.” She said, wrapping her arms around the pregnant woman. “Holy shit.” Brian said, sitting down in a chair. “He’s with Gena? And in Huntington?” Michelle nodded, sitting on her fiancee’s lap. “I know what’s going on there. She’s using Jason to try and hurt Pey. And that’s not going to fucking happen.” Matt growled, clenching his hands into fists. Johnny looked up from his plate, “Wait, what happened?” He asked, mouth full of food. Peyton just rolled her eyes and laughed at her goofy friend. “Apparently Gena and Jason are shacking up.” Johnny’s eyes bugged out of his head, “He’s in Huntington?” “Johnny. Swallow your food.” Val said sternly. “And yes. We saw him at the mall.” “That fucking asshole.” The bassist grumbled. Peyton sighed and got up off the couch to make a plate of food. “Wait, why aren’t you freaking out?” Brian asked, watching her carefully. “Oh, I am.” She said calmly. “But what can I do, other than enjoy this food and spend time with my friends? There’s no use in me freaking out and shutting everyone out again.” Brian shrugged and nodded, and Johnny stood up from the table and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “We won’t let him get to you, Pey. I got your back.” Peyton smiled up at her friend, eyes shining with unshed tears. He pulled her plate from her hands and sat it on the table and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him
back and tried so hard to fight the tears that were coming, but failed to do so. She cried into Johnny’s chest, her tiny hands gripping the back of his shirt while he rubbed her back. “Get it out, then we don’t worry about it anymore. We keep moving forward.” She cried a little longer before pulling away and excusing herself to go wash her face. Zack looked at his friends helplessly, “What are we going to do?” “What we always do. We stick together.” Michelle said from her spot in Brian’s lap. “We keep her busy, and most of all keep her and the baby safe.” “If she wants to come to the studio, bring her. If she doesn’t, someone can hang out at home with her.” Matt suggested. “We will just have to talk to her about it.” “Talk to me about what?” Peyton asked, entering the room and heading straight for her fiancée. “We gotta keep you and the munchkin safe, Pey.” Brian sighed. “I have no doubt that he knows your pregnant, especially since Gena knows. And I mean it’s not like you can hide it anymore.” He chuckled, earning a smack from Michelle. “Ouch. Asshole.” Zack rolled his eyes at Brian and nodded, “You know you’re always welcome here, or if you don’t want to come then the girls can hang at home with you. I prefer the studio because I know where you are and that you’re safe.” Peyton laughed at Zack and shrugged. “I guess it just depends on how I’m feeling that morning. But on the other hand, if I’m here then I get all kinds of sneak peeks of songs.” “Nope. We’ll give you earplugs.” Matt joked. “Yeah and she’d kick your ass too.” Johnny laughed. “Homie don’t play that.” “Damn right, Seward.” Peyton laughed.

After lunch, the girls stayed and hung out with the band. They wanted to show them a song they had just finished up. “Before I play this back, I need to warn you.” Matt started. “This was Jimmy’s last song.” He pressed the playback button and waited for the music to start. It began with an eerie melody, and when Jimmy’s voice came through the speakers, Peyton couldn’t hold it in anymore. She looked over at Val, who was in between her and Michelle, they both had tears rolling down their faces, Lacey’s face reflecting the same emotion as the other three women. Peyton couldn’t look at any of the guys, she closed her eyes and just listened. Once the song was over, she sat there for a few more seconds before opening her eyes and wiping them. “I love it.” Val said softly. “We’re having a hard time figuring out the name.” Brian said, looking at the women. “Fiction.” Peyton whispered softly. “What Pey?” Matt asked her. “Fiction.” She repeated a little louder. “Like his tattoo.” The guys all looked at eachother and nodded. “Fiction. I like that. Thanks Peanut.”

The guys decided to take a break from music and spend time with their women. A few hours later, they all found themselves in Brian and Michelle’s house, spread out in the living room. They had popcorn, candy, drinks, and other random snacks and were having a movie night. Halfway into Gone In 60 Seconds, Peyton felt a kiss on the side of her head. “You okay, baby? Need to go home?” Zack whispered from his place behind her. She smiled up at her fiancée and shook her head. “I’m good. I just want to be here with our family.” He nodded and she leaned back on him, placing her feet in Val’s lap, who looked at her with a grin and patted her leg. The group spent the rest of the evening together, nobody really saying anything important, just being together.

Notes