pick your poison.

"No...no...definitely no...hell no," Kayla mumbled, tossing dresses aside. Eventually she found one that she liked, setting it aside while she put all the others away. She didn't want to get any makeup on her dress, so she would get ready and then get dressed just before they left. Kayla turned around when she heard Zacky speaking. "Yeah, I decided," she said. "Now I've just got to go put on my makeup and curl my hair. Shouldn't be more than forty-five more minutes." Kayla gave a little smirk over her shoulder as she went into the master bathroom, leaving the door open. She set all of her makeup supplies out on the counter before getting to work. Once she was done, Kayla quickly curled her hair, going back out into the bedroom to get dressed. "How do I look?" Kayla asked, twirling around once for Zacky. "Good enough for The Water Grill with Zacky Vengeance?"

---

"I was going to make the popcorn, Ava," Johnny said, following her into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, watching as she tossed a couple of bags of popcorn into the microwave. It was the extra butter, her favorite kind, if Johnny remembered correctly. He'd bought it for her the last time he went to the grocery store, hoping to sway himself back into her good graces for his latest drunken stupor. That's all he ever wanted to do, make Ava happy. Once the popcorn was finished, Johnny took his bag and can of Red Bull back into the living room, waiting for Ava to take her seat again before he tossed his arm over her shoulder. It was moments like these, when Ava was close to him and he actually felt like she still loved him, that he wished he could go back in time and never touch a drop of alcohol. He would tell his past self to never even touch so much as a can of beer.

Ava smiled to herself, taking a sip of her redbull. She lived for moments like these, as rare as they were, between her and her husband. The redhead contently ate her popcorn, leaning in the crook of Johnny's arm. "I love you," she whispered, giving him a quick look before sipping her drink. It was true. Even though Johnny made her want to rip her damn hair out most days, she still loved him with all she had. What kind of wife would Ava be if she didn't? "We should go up to the cabin soon. If for nothing more to get out of the house." Ava mused, mentioning their cabin up by Big Bear. It'd been at least six months since their last visit, the reason why being obvious.

--

Zack had just changed into a pale purple dress shirt and a pair of slacks when Kayla left the bathroom. He let out a low whistle, grinning as he twirled. "I'm such a lucky guy--the most beautiful woman in the world, and she's all mine." He bent down to give her a kiss before sliding on his shoes. "Now let's head on out so I can show you off." Zack grabbed Kayla's jacket and handed it to her before leading the way down the stairs. He grabbed his keys and wallet, slipping them into his pocket. Once Kayla was outside, Zack closed and locked the door behind them before opening up his Escalade. "Your chariot, ma'am?"

Kayla felt herself blush a little when Zacky whistled at her. She should be used to that sort of behavior from him by now, but it still got to her sometimes. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was engaged to a rockstar who could have any woman he wanted. But he chose her. Kayla took her jacket from Zacky when he handed it to her, slipping it on as she followed him out to the Escalade. "Why thank you, sir," she said, climbing inside. She buckled her seatbelt, adjusting her dress as Zacky drove towards the restaurant. "It's been so long since we've been out, you know?" Kayla commented, looking out the window. She bit back a comment about how it was because of Zacky's coke use, deciding not to ruin the good mood of the evening. "I think it'll be nice."

---

Johnny smiled when he heard Ava whisper that she loved him. It meant more to him than she would ever know that she still felt that way, because he really didn't deserve it. All he'd done to her was hurt her and yet, she still loved him. "I love you too, Ava," Johnny whispered. He pressed a kiss to the top of Ava's head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. By the time the second movie was over, even with the Red Bull, Johnny could hardly keep his eyes open. It was strange; he usually needed alcohol to sleep, but he desperately hoped that tonight would be different. "You want to head up to bed?" he suggested to Ava, turning off the Xbox and TV. it would be the first time he and Ava had gone to bed at the same time in at least a month.

Ava's face nearly lit up. It'd been ages since she'd actually fallen asleep next to her husband, so she was looking forward to it. "That sounds good to me," she spoke. Ava grabbed their empties and their popcorn bowls, disposing of them properly before following Johnny up to their bedroom. She stripped out of the clothes she'd worn that day and threw on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and one of Johnny's t shirts before throwing her hair up in a ponytail so it would be out of her face. Ava then climbed into bed, throwing the blanket over her. She was almost giddy that she would be able to cuddle up with her husband, as weird as that sounds. Ava waited for Johnny to lay down before slinging an arm over him and resting her head in the crook of his neck, still smiling.

--

Zack nodded his head. He could barely remember the last time had and Kayla had gone out on an actual date, and he knew exactly why that was. "It definitely will be nice... you deserve it, babe." He placed a gentle hand on her knee, giving it a squeeze as he drove. Zack turned to face Kayla when they were at a stop light, tipping her chin up so he could place a kiss to her twin flesh. "I love you, Kayla." The guitarist liked to think that Kayla knew how much he loved her, but he still liked to vocalize it every once in awhile. That was one of the things that his habit didn't take away from him. He liked to make the woman in his life feel like a queen as much as he could. Of course he stumbled every once in awhile-- that much was obvious. But still. He tried.

Kayla smiled when she felt Zacky's hand on her knee, reaching down to lay her hand on top of his. She hoped being out with him tonight would remind her of how things used to be, before either one of them got into coke and before everything was turned on its head. She'd given up the habit and she desperately wanted Zacky to do the same so that things could go back to normal. And she wanted to do it before something terrible happened to Zacky. She would never forgive herself if something did. "I love you too, Zacky," Kayla whispered. She squeezed his hand. "And I only want the best for you." She knew Zacky would know what she meant by that comment, so she decided not to press the matter. Tonight was about having a good time, not rehashing the same, tired argument. "I am so looking forward to a steak and a baked potato," Kayla said as she and Zacky walked into the restaurant. "And hell, I may even have a glass of champagne, since we're celebrating."

---

Johnny waited around for Ava to clean up their mess before he led her up to the bedroom. It had been so long since he'd fallen asleep next to his wife and even longer since he'd felt like she wanted him to. He knew it was his fault, but every day it felt like she was pushing him further and further away. Johnny was quick to strip down to his boxers and he couldn't help but watch Ava as she changed into her night clothes. She'd always been so beautiful to Johnny and now was no exception. He crawled underneath the covers, his arm immediately going to Ava's waist when she snuggled close to him. He tightened his grip, wanting to keep her close to him. "You're so beautiful, Ava," he whispered to her. "I'm so lucky that I still get to fall asleep next to you. You're the only thing keeping me even relatively sane." Johnny meant that last part more than Ava would ever know. If it weren't her, there would be nothing stopping Johnny from drinking himself to death.

That right there was why Ava stayed. Moments like that, where she and Johnny were cuddled close together and he reminded her of just how much she was needed. That was the only reason she didn't pack up all her shit and leave for her sister's house. Ava loved her husband beyond measure-- she also knew that he would fall apart if she were to leave. She didn't have any doubts that he would be dead within six months, at the very least. "I do my best," Ava mumbled sleepily, gently placing an arm over Johnny's and hugging him back tightly. She yawned, eyes fluttering shut once more. "G'night... I love you." She pulled the duvet tighter around her before settling in and falling asleep.

--

Zack shook his head-- he knew how Kayla's personality was. "Half a glass, if anything... We're celebrating your sobriety, remember babe?' He spoke in a gentle tone, one that told he didn't want to start an argument, but he wasn't going to let Kayla throw her sobriety out the window. Just because Zack wasn't willing to give up the coke and the booze didn't mean he had to drag Kayla back down with him. Approximately ten minutes later, Zack pulled into the Water Grill parking lot. He got out of the car and walked around to the other side, opening Kayla's door for her before offering her an arm. "Dinner awaits, babe." Zack grinned, shutting and locking the car door behind her. Once the car was locked, Zack led the way into the restaurant, only unlinking his arm from Kayla's to open the door for her.

Kayla didn't miss the purposefully gently tone in Zacky's voice. She never understood why he or anyone else was so wary of her around alcohol; it wasn't booze that had ever been an issue for her, it was the cocaine. She was silent for the rest of the ride, trying to remind herself it wasn't Zacky's fault. He was just looking out for her, trying to make sure she didn't let her sobriety go down the drain. If only he knew that the real key to that was giving up the addiction himself. Because sooner or later, it would inevitably drag Kayla back down into the abyss she'd just barely escaped from. "God, I'm starving," Kayla said as she took her seat. She thanked the waiter who handed her a menu, immediately scanning it. "Everything looks so good I don't even know what to get," she said.

---

Just as he thought it might be, it was a little difficult for Johnny to fall asleep as sober as he was. He couldn't even remember the last time that he tried. But eventually, Johnny managed to fall into a somewhat fitful sleep, waking when the light filtered through the blinds just right the next day. A glance at the clock told him it was just past eleven thirty in the morning and the soft sounds next to him told him that Ava was still asleep. And if it weren't for the fact that she was still lying next to him, Johnny might've thought that last night was a dream. He and Ava hadn't fallen asleep in this bed, together, in so long that Johnny almost couldn't remember the last time it happened. When Ava finally opened her eyes, Johnny offered her a soft smile as he brushed the hair from her face. "Good morning," he said.

Ava slowly stirred into consciousness, smiling gently at the feel of Johnny pushing her hair out of her face. "Morning," she mumbled sleepily, turning her head so she didn't yawn right in her husband's face. Truth be told, Ava was pretty shocked when she woke up that Johnny was still in bed with her. It'd been ages since they'd fallen asleep as well as woken up in the same bed, so Ava was gonna take this as a blessing. The redhead sat up, stretching her arms and yawning again as she did so. "I'm thinking we do something simple for breakfast, like cereal or bagels or something? I don't feel like cooking." Ava spoke, taking her hair out of the ponytail she had placed it in before falling asleep and running a hand through it. "Hell, we could even have breakfast in bed. When was the last time we did something like that?" She knew she was probably asking for a lot, but Ava didn't care. She and Johnny had made it a record twenty four hours, nearly, without fighting. Ava was determined to stretch it out as much as possible.

--

Zack nodded his thanks at the waiter, sitting down only once he had pushed Kayla's chair in. "I know, right? It's been forever since we've been here, I kinda wanna just get the whole menu." He laughed before deciding on the filet mignon. When the waiter came back around to take their order, Zack let Kayla go first before relaying what he wanted and handing the menus back to the waiter. He reached across the table and took one of Kayla's hands in his own, bringing it to his lips. "You look absolutely fucking gorgeous tonight, babe." Zack whispered before letting go of Kayla's hand. "I'm thinking we take dessert home and have it by the pool tonight? When was the last time that we went swimming together?"

Kayla scanned the menu for a few more minutes before eventually deciding on the eight-ounce filet mignon. The seafood here was good, but she just wasn't feeling it tonight. Handing the menu over to the waiter when he returned to take their order, Kayla turned her attention to Zacky, smiling as he brought one of her hands to his lips. She blushed at his compliment. No matter what, he could always make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world with a just a few words. "Dessert by the pool sounds amazing," she said. She pretended to think for a moment before smirking softly. "But it's been so long since we've been swimming that I don't know where my bathing suit is. Oh well, guess I'll just have to go swimming in my underwear." Kayla gave Zacky a wink as she took a sip of her champagne. She had such a low tolerance for anything nowadays that even one glass would be enough to have her a little tipsy, which would have her feeling brave by the end of the evening.

---

Johnny sat up with Ava, watching as she removed her ponytail holder from her hair. A small part of him was wishing that he hadn't woken her up so soon so that he could have gone downstairs to sneak a drink. He knew it wouldn't be long before the cravings hit him like a freight train and he was dreading it. This was the longest he and Ava had gone without a fight in so long and it would likely end when Johnny's desperate need for alcohol overwhelmed him. "Bagels are fine with me, babe," Johnny said, slipping out of bed. "And yeah, we can definitely have breakfast in bed. I'll go start us a pot of coffee. See you downstairs in a few minutes." Johnny gave Ava a short kiss on the lips before he headed downstairs. He started the pot of coffee before going to the cabinet where he knew he had a bottle of whiskey hidden. It was nearly empty, but it would be enough to stop the shaking when it finally hit him.

Ava kept her smile up until Johnny had left the room, and then she let it drop. Her head went to her hands, and she exhaled a sigh. She knew that Johnny was doing a hell of a lot more than just starting up a pot of coffee. Wordlessly, Ava threw on her robe and a pair of slippers, tossing her phone in her robe pocket before padding downstairs and into the kitchen. She wasn't completely shocked, but seeing Johnny standing there guzzling from the bottle of booze like his life depended on it was like a punch to the gut. "Aaaaand there it is! I think that's a new personal best for you Johnny. What, twenty four hours without a drink was too much for you?" Ava snapped, hands balled into fists. "You know what, fuck this. I can't deal with this right now." She spun around on her heel and headed back up to their bedroom, searching for her suitcase that was somewhere in the back of their closet. Ava didn't know where she was going to go, but she needed to get out of there, at least for a few days. It was killing her. After the wonderful night they'd had, the morning had to be shitty.

--

"Oh, darn," Zack spoke, feigning disappointment. "Or we could just swim in nothing. You know, it is our pool after all." He teased before sipping his drink. He honestly didn't care what they did when they got home-- as long as he got to spend time with Kayla, he was happy. "We can do whatever you want. This is your celebration, babe. It's all about you." Zack still felt incredibly guilty for missing lunch with her the previous day. He knew how hard it was for Kayla to reach the one year mark with no coke, and it deserved to be celebrated properly. He sipped his champagne again before holding his glass up. "I propose a toast. To my gorgeous fiancee, and her wonderful accomplishment. I'm so proud of you, babe. I love you." Zack clinked their glasses before taking another sip.

"Just because it's our pool doesn't mean I want to go swimming naked in it," Kayla teased. She was only kidding, of course. She and Zacky had gone skinny-dipping plenty of times. It was one of the benefits of having a privacy fence. Kayla rolled her eyes playfully when Zacky proposed a toast to her, but she raised her glass all the same, smiling as they clinked their glasses. "I love you too, Zack," she said, setting her glass back on the table. "I don't think I would've been able to get where I am without your support." Even though it would have been a lot easier if you didn't keep and use coke in the house. Kayla forced a smile onto her face as the thought passed through her head. She knew firsthand how hard it was to kick the stuff, so it wasn't like she could entirely blame Zacky for still using. But if the positions had been reversed and it was Zacky who had decided to get sober, Kayla would have tried, too. Or at the very least kept the drugs out of the house.

---

Johnny had been planning on waiting until he absolutely needed it to have a drink, when he was shaking so bad he couldn't sit still. One time he'd even gone long enough that the withdrawal made him vomit, but he didn't want that to happen again. The shaking was bad enough. But once the whiskey was in his hand, it was too hard to say no. Johnny twisted the top off the bottle and brought it to his lips. He planned on just having a sip but then he was practically gulping the amber liquid from the bottle, only stopping when he heard Ava come into the kitchen. He knew she had a reason to be angry with him, she always did, but that didn't stop his own anger from flaring up. "What, so I'm not allowed to have a drink at all?" he shouted at her. "Jesus Christ, Ava, there isn't enough left in this bottle to do shit for me except stave off the withdrawal for a little while." When she went upstairs, Johnny followed after her, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut when he saw her packing a suitcase. "Where are you going?" he asked. "You can't leave, Ava. You...You can't."

Ava slammed a few of her t-shirts into her suitcase before turning around to face Johnny, not even bothering to hide her tears any more. "I can. I can and I fucking will." She hiccuped before wiping her eyes. "I just can't fucking sit idly by and watch the love of my life put himself in an early grave. I've known you what, Johnny, like ten or eleven years? And since I've known you I don't think I've seen you go more than a day without getting fucked up. Before I used to be like 'oh, he knows what he's doing, he'll be fine. All of the guys party, it's no big deal'. But it is a fucking big deal. The rest of the guys know when to put the bottle down. They don't have stashes hidden throughout the house like a little fucking kid-- yeah, I know about your little hidey spots. I'm not as stupid as you think I am." She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Johnny, but I have to go. It might be for a few days. It might be longer than that." Biting her bottom lip, Ava turned her attention back to her suitcase, packing the rest of the clothes she had pulled out before going into their bathroom and grabbing the makeup bag. She slammed that in there as well before zipping it up and grabbing her purse from its normal spot on the hook on the back of the door. Not even saying goodbye to Johnny (knowing if she did, she would break), Ava headed downstairs and out the door. She threw her bag in her trunk and climbed into the front seat, shutting the door. "Now where the hell am I gonna go?" She mumbled to herself. She wasn't about to go to Gena's-- Ava knew she wouldn't be able to take the smug 'I told you so's from her. Zack and Kayla had their own problems to work on. With a soft sigh, Ava pulled out of the driveway and began the drive to Matt and Val's, figuring she could just hang out there until she figured out a game plan.

--

Zack smiled at Kayla's words, resting a hand on top of hers. He knew he was a shitty fiance-- he still kept his drugs in the bathroom, about twenty feet from where his recovering addict fiancee slept. It was like he was practically taunting Kayla, in a 'look what I still do and you can't' kind of way. But that just showed how strong of a person Kayla was. The thing that held its grip on her for so very long was quite literally right under her nose. She could go into his electric razor case at literally any time and throw her sobriety away, but she didn't. Because Kayla was a much better person than Zack was. How she ever loved a scumbag like Zack was beyond him. But he was glad that she saw whatever she did in him. "I do what I can... just call me your number one cheerleader." He winked, only breaking his gaze when the waiter came back over with their food. Zack thanked him politely once more before digging in. "This is pretty good... a damn good call for dinner if I do say so myself." He joked, giving Kayla another wink before turning his attention back to his steak.

Kayla rolled her eyes playfully at Zacky, but smiled all the same. He really had been her number one cheerleader over the past year. And she knew it hadn't been easy for him. Withdrawing from the coke made her irritable and paranoid. She wondered if watching her go through the mostly psychological withdrawal symptoms had made Zacky wary to quit himself, because at the beginning, it had certainly been difficult. Kayla thanked the waiter when he returned with their food, cutting off a bite of her steak and sticking it into her mouth. "Yes, you definitely made a good decision on the restaurant tonight," she agreed, smirking at Zacky. "A good steak is the perfect way to celebrate anything." When she'd all of her food she could stomach, Kayla pushed her plate away, laying her silverware on top of it. "Well was absolutely delicious," she said. "Did you still want to order dessert?"

---

All Johnny could do was stand back and listen to Ava as she ranted at him. There was nothing he could say back to her, because everything she said was true. He was a piece of shit and he knew it. He was silent as he followed Ava downstairs, standing in the open doorway as he watched her drive away. Once she was out of sight, he turned and punched the doorframe, cursing loudly as he tucked it against his chest. Turning back inside the house, Johnny grabbed his keys before stepping outside. He knew it was terribly ironic, but watching his wife just leave made him need a drink, and badly. So he walked at a quick pace towards the liquor store, counting the money in his wallet as he went. He easily had enough for three pints and he would buy all that he could. Who knew how long Ava would be gone? And he would need enough alcohol to fill the emptiness.

How Ava safely managed to navigate to Matt and Val's while sobbing so hard she could barely breathe was beyond her. But she did, and she sputtered out an explanation to Val on the doorstep as she fell into her friend's arms. Val told her she could stay as long as she needed before bringing her inside and making her a cup of tea. Ava was always grateful for her friends, especially in trying times. When her entire life was falling apart, she could count on them to help her pick up the pieces. I left Johnny. I still don't know if it's permanent or not yet...please check on him when you wake up tomorrow. xoxo Ava fired off a text to Kayla before sipping her tea, trying to relax. If this was what she needed to do, then why did it hurt so fucking bad?

--

Zack shrugged. "We still have a ton of ice cream in the freezer, if we decide that we want desert." He spoke, finishing up the last of his champagne. "Besides... I think I have the tastiest dessert of them all right across from me." He gave her a wink, laughing at his own bad joke. He put a fifty dollar bill down on the table as a tip before paying the bill with his card. Once that was done, he came back and pulled out Kayla's chair for her. "Time to go home, babe." Zack tipped her chin up for a kiss, lingering slightly. He could never get over how beautiful Kayla was. She was different than all of the girls that Zack had dated in the past-- and maybe that was why she was the one. She was absolutely breathtaking. Zack slung an arm around her shoulder and led her to the car.

"An ice cream sundae does sound pretty good," Kayla agreed. She only smirked at Zacky's next comment. She stood when he said it was time to go, smiling against his lips when he kissed her. Kayla leaned against Zacky as they walked out to the car, reaching for his hand over the center console once they were inside. Once they were back at the house, she went into the kitchen and got the ice cream from the freezer and set it out on the counter to thaw. "I'm going to go upstairs to change into something more comfortable," Kayla told Zacky, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I figured we could enjoy our dessert and then we could go take a dip in the pool, if you still wanted to?" Giving Zacky a short kiss on the lips, Kayla headed upstairs to change. She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and one of his shirts, deciding to leave off her bra since she hadn't been wearing one with the dress she'd worn to dinner. "Okay, so sprinkles or no?" Kayla asked, getting bowls down from the cabinet. Her phone vibrated where she'd set it on the counter and she picked it up, reading the message from Ava. "Ava said she's left Johnny, don't know for how long," Kayla told Zacky. "She wants us to check on him tomorrow."

---

At the liquor store, Johnny set two fifths of whiskey and a fifth of vodka on the counter, keeping his eyes on the floor. He was honestly surprised they still sold to him at most of the nearby liquor stores. Surely they knew he was an alcoholic. But he was glad they still did, because this made it easier for him to get the alcohol. Tucking the three bottles underneath his arms as best he could, Johnny trudged off for home. It was harder than he liked to admit not to break into one on his walk home, but he knew that if he did, there was a good chance he would likely be taken in by the police and he didn't want to spend another night in jail. Once he was home, Johnny immediately popped the top off of one of the bottles of whiskey, tipping it back and drinking until it burned. He just wanted to forget everything; forget how much pain he'd caused Ava with his drinking and how much pain it had caused him when he watched her walk away. Of course, Johnny knew it was his fault and that just made it worse.

Ava took her cup of tea and retired to Matt and Val's guest room, almost immediately crawling into bed. She didn't want to talk to anyone, and looking at how happy Matt and Val were made her simultaneously want to cry and throw up. The redhead couldn't even remember the last time, save for last night, where she and Johnny had been genuinely happy. She felt cheated. Robbed out of the typical married experience. Not to say she didn't love Johnny, because she did. But she hated what he did to her and how he made her feel. With a soft sigh, Ava sipped her tea before pulling out her phone and texting Lacey. She wanted to know when Lacey knew it was time to end her marriage.

--

Zack raised a brow when Kayla brought up Ava leaving Johnny. "I already know that it isn't gonna be pretty," He spoke, wrapping his arms around Kayla and tucking his chin in her hair. His heart went out to his best friend. Zack knew what it was like when a relationship you thought was going to last forever ended. But at the same time, he understood why Ava left. Johnny was on a whole other level than the other guys when it came to partying and booze. Ava had the patience of a saint, but she could only take so much. "Sprinkles sound good, babe. Thanks." Zack pressed a kiss to Kayla's forehead and gave her a tight squeeze.

"Hell no it isn't going to be pretty," Kayla agreed. "I just hope he's alive when we go to check on him." Kayla knew Ava had a damn good reason to leave Johnny. His drinking was absolutely out of control and if she were in her friend's shoes, she would leave, too. But on the other hand, she also knew that having Ava around was the only thing holding Johnny together right now. If she left for good, Johnny wouldn't hesitate to drink himself into an early grave. Kayla nodded, grabbing the sprinkles from the cabinter and the ice cream scoop from the silverware drawer. She scooped three scoops of ice cream into each of their bowls, adding some sprinkles on top before she passed one of the bowls to Zacky. Taking her bowl, she went over to sit down at the table.

---

Johnny wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do at this point. Normally, the only thing that stopped him from drinking any more once he'd started was the thought of Ava coming home and maybe finding him dead on the floor. But she left, so what was stopping him now? And it was what he deserved, since he put Ava through so much pain. It honestly terrified Johnny how okay with the idea of drinking himself into a coma or worse he was. But he just didn't care what happened to himself. Ava was the only one that had and now it didn't seem like she did anymore. "You're a...fucking idiot," Johnny slurred to himself, slumping against the back of the couch. He stared down at the now empty fifth of whiskey in his hand for a few seconds before he threw it as hard as he could against the wall, the glass shattering when it hit the floor.

Zack bit his bottom lip, nodding his head at Kayla's words. "Let's hope so." He spoke, grabbing the bowl and sitting down at the table next to Kayla. "Thanks, babe... I love you." He mumbled before digging into his ice cream and taking a bite. "Sweet... just like the girl I'm sitting next to." Zack smirked, giving Kayla a wink before continuing to eat his dessert. He thought about how lucky he was that Kayla never left him, despite all the grief he gave her. And it was a fuck of a lot. He would never blame her if she did leave, but it would absolutely fucking destroy him. Zack did not have it in him to go through another heartbreak.

--

Ava and Lacey spent a good hour and a half on the phone. To be honest, Ava was hesitant to call. What exactly did you say to your husband's ex wife? But the conversation was surprisingly pleasant. The two had been good friends when Ava was younger-- obviously before the whole she slept with Lacey's then husband thing. Lacey gave Ava the number for her therapist, and the two agreed to meet up for coffee sometime later that week. Ava sighed and looked down at her phone, debating on whether or not to text Johnny. She said fuck it before pulling up his contact information. I just wanted to let you know that I'm safe, I'm staying with friends. The redhead sent her message before turning her phone off.

Kayla rolled her eyes playfully at Zacky. "Flattery will get you everywhere, sir," she said before digging into her dessert. It wasn't anything fancy, especially compared to dinner, but as long as she was with Zacky. He gave her a lot of trouble sometimes, but she still loved him. If she didn't, she sure as hell wouldn't still be with him, especially since he still used coke in the same house where she was trying to stay sober. And she couldn't help but worry that her little run-in earlier would only make things harder. No matter how long she was still sober, she knew there was always a chance for relapse, especially with a partner who still used, even in secret. "So what should we do now?" Kayla asked as she rinsed her bowl off in the sink. "Did you still want to go for a swim?" She was feeling a little tired now that she'd had the chance to sit down and relax for a few minutes, but she would still go out and get in the pool if that's what Zacky wanted to do.

---

Johnny heard his phone buzz from its place next to him on the floor and when he finally picked it up to check it, he was surprised to see a text message from Ava. He read over the message but didn't respond, sighing softly as he rested his hands in his lap. He wanted to message her back, but he just couldn't. Not only would he likely not be able to coherently message her back, but there wasn't anything he could say to her. Ava deserved so much more than Johnny could ever give her and there weren't enough words in the world to express to her how sorry he was for the hell he put her through. For the hell he put everybody through. He knew his friends were just as worried about him, but he was just too far gone. Quitting alcohol cold turkey like they all wanted him to would kill him, Johnny knew it. Setting his phone aside, Johnny reached for his next fifth, twisting off the top and taking a long sip. It would be a long night, but he hoped that he would pass out soon enough.

Ava's eyes went to the clock on the wall, and she decided that at this point it would be better to just crash. She would figure out a better game plan, where to go and what the hell she was doing when she woke up in the morning and was well rested. Ava debated on texting Johnny goodnight-- no matter how mad she was at him, the redhead never went to sleep without telling her husband goodnight. But she decided against it, having already texted him to let him know that she was safe. Besides, Ava would find out how he was in the morning when she talked to Kayla.

--

"We can swim tomorrow... I'm kinda tired myself." Zack yawned, following Kayla's suit and rinsing his bowl in the sink. He made a mental note to wash the dishes in the morning before slinging an arm around Kayla. "C'mere. Let's crash... We don't know what kinda damage we're gonna be walking into tomorrow. We wanna be rested." The guitarist kissed the side of Kayla's head before leading the way upstairs. If he were being honest, Zack was expecting the worst. As long as they walked into the house and Johnny was still fucking alive, he would count it as a victory. "I'm glad you had a good night tonight, babe."