What Do You Want From Me?

The air was thick with tension, as all four person’s present settled uncouthly on the elegant patio outside of Brian Haner, Jr.’s household.

Jessica sat quietly next to Matt, eyes lowered, avoiding any and all eye contact with the other men. She couldn't help but feel guilty for her role in everything. In all actuality, it was her fault, and that ate away at her more than anything. She hoped none of them were mad at her, but wouldn't blame them if they were.

"I'm really sorry about all this," She finally spoke, immediately feeling a blush take over when the three other bodies turned to her.

"What do you mean?" Matt questioned, articulation calm and caring.

"You wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me. I feel like I'm just causing you guys more trouble than good." She hung her head lower at that.

"Oh Jess, trust me, even if you didn't decide to come chill with us, Matt here would have eventually beat the shit out of Jason. You just made the notion clearer for him," Brian said with a laugh.

"And besides that, you're doing Matt a whole world of good. Isn't that right Matty?" Zack grinned madly when he looked over at his friend, and Matt responded with a deep blush of his own.

"Shut up, first of all. Second, they're right, Jess. None of this is your fault. Hell, I'm the one who basically made you come with me that night. If I wasn't there, you'd probably still be stuck in that hell, pretending like everything is okay. Am I right?" Matt posed, and Jessica could only nod. "Exactly. Cheer up! Your douche bag of an ex is going to get his ass handed to him and it's going to be glorious."

Jessica laughed, and Matt couldn't help but smile at the lovely harmonization her voice provided. Brian and Zack only snickered, noticing the obvious chemistry between the two and finding it to be absolutely amusing.

"So, when are they supposed to get here? My pits are starting to get sweaty because I'm anxious and that's not attractive in the least bit and then oh, my gosh, I'm going to be disgusting when the fight is over," Zack stated, a foul expression gracing his features. He'd always been quite the stickler when it came to personal hygiene, whether it be his own or Brian's or basically anyone. It was comical to watch, and let those around him who weren't earlier aware to his homosexuality, know just how happy he truly was.

"They'll be here soon," Jessica replied, giggling madly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. They'd never let me down."

"Who are these guys exactly?" Brian asked, earning a look of annoyance from Matt. "What, I just want to know who they are before we trust them with our fucking lives."

"Well, one of them is a great friend of mine, whom I've known for years," Jessica started. "And the other is--" She stopped immediately, upon hearing the familiar sound of a rumbling motor. She stood from her chair and glanced around the area, from left to right, before finally seeing the black Chevy Impala pulling around the corner, and an immediate smile crossed her face. It parked in front of Brian's house, directly behind her own vehicle, and that's when the guys turned their attention, as well.

"Who's that?" Brian asked dumbly, and Jessica's only response was to leave the table and greet the two currently exiting the car. Matt stood, too, and slowly made his way down.

"Thank you guys so much for coming!" She cried happily, embracing the tallest one and squealing when he swung her around.

"As if I wouldn't," He replied sarcastically. "What kind of cousin would I be if I ran out on you?!"

"Shut up," She said with a laugh. "Hey Johnny!"

The boy with the bouncy, black Mohawk smiled and received a hug from the girl next. "Just can't stay away from us, huh?"

"Oh, you wish. I'm not even the one who needs your help! It's those three." Jessica turned and pointed at Matt, who was now standing not too far behind them, and Brian and Zack, who were still sitting on the patio.

Jimmy stepped closer to Jess, voice lowered. "Is this, uh, him?"

"Mhm." Jessica nodded, a bit unsurely. Jimmy straightened and looked Matt up and down, as though trying to come to a conclusion about his general character. Matt did the same, and it was an overall uncomfortable air.

After a moment or two, Jimmy smiled, and outstretched his hand to the other man. "How's it going, man? I'm Jimmy, Jessica's cousin."

Matt returned the gesture, appearing absolutely alleviated. "Hey, I'm Matt. We're happy to have you here."

"Happy to be here," Jimmy agreed, turning back to Johnny and pulling the younger man forward. "And this is my boyfriend, Johnny." Matt shook the other man's hand, and Jessica was beaming the whole time.

"Bri, Zack, get over here!" Matt shouted to the other two men, who didn't seem like they were going to walk down on their own.

They finally pulled themselves up and walked across the lawn to meet the others, Matt scowling at them both for being rude.

"Hey, I'm Brian," Brian spoke with a smile, shaking Jimmy's and then Johnny's hand. "And this little beauty is Zack." Zack blushed and hung his head, shaking the other two men's hands, who simply giggled at Brian's reference to his boyfriend.

"Ah, it's nice to meet some other members of our...culture," Jimmy said with a shit-eating grin, and the rest of them chuckled at the ultimate ice breaker provided. "What? It's true."

"You're such a dork, Jim," Jessica said with a hearty laugh. "But anyway, the fight is supposed to be at six, so I think we should leave like soon." Jessica was all business now, and Matt looked at her with a confused glance.

"Jess," He started. "I, uh...I don't think it's a good idea for you to go."

"What?" She exclaimed. "No, I'm going. I need to be there."

"You don't need to be anywhere. I don't want...I don't want you to get hurt." Matt broke eye contact at that, feeling a bit reluctant at admitting his feelings, but she needed to hear them at some point, he supposed.

"Matt, I appreciate your concern for me. I really do. But I just...don't make me stand here and explain to you my every reason for needing to see it, because it's a seemingly unending list, and half of what I'd say would make me break down in tears. I need you, all of you..." She glanced at the one's surrounding her. "To understand."

Matt sighed, and reached out to rest a reassuring hand on Jessica's shoulder, letting her know it was okay. Jimmy looked at Matt fondly, extremely glad to know this man would take care of her above all else.

"Okay, I get it. But you have to promise me something," Matt requested, to which Jessica nodded for him to continue. "No matter what happens, if Jason says something or if they get the upper hand somehow, you won't get involved. By that, I mean, you won't try and come between us to separate the fight or whatever the case may be. If something happened..." Matt shook his head. "Just please promise me that, okay?"

"Yeah, and promise me, too," Jimmy chimed in. "I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive myself if you got hurt on my watch, kid."

Jessica smiled half-heartedly. "I promise, I won't get involved...but on one condition."

"There's always one condition with you," Jimmy scoffed. "What is it?"

"If Isabel decides to show up, and starts with me, I'm not going to hold back. She's a girl, I can take care of myself. I won't get involved in your little blood feud, but I will take care of her if she wants to start with me; you'd better believe that." Her eyes were intense with malice, and the guys couldn't help but smile at her dedication to those words.

"All right, we get you," Matt said, jokingly.

"Geeze, she got my blood pumping and everything!" Brian voiced next, rubbing his arms as if he got the chills, and everyone laughed at that.

"Don't tease me! This is serious business." They laughed again, and she gave each of them an evil look. "Whatever, let's go. Stupid men."

Jessica began walking toward her own car, as she thought it was smarter to drive herself there instead of with one of them, just in case something bad happened. The boys still snickered behind her, and she could help but crack a grin of her own and shake her head. It was going to be one hell of a day.