I Remember The Day She Told Me It's Over

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila…floor. At least that’s how the night was shaping up to end, for me anyway.

We'd managed to end our make-out session and return to the party goers in Zack's living room. Now, I hovered slightly beside him while Terra watched us intently from across the room. At the moment I just wasn’t emotionally stable enough to leave him within the possibility of her grasp. That and I was having a hard time standing on my own.

“Bailey?”

I looked up and locked with eyes with a smiling Kate. She and Kendra had become fast friends and as far as I understood, they were planning a girls night out.

“You’re coming,” Kate demanded, her Australian accent very prominent.

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m in,” I assured her, “as long as Terra isn’t invited.”

I knew she could hear me and I couldn’t help but smile as she glared at me from across the room. What I didn’t expect though, was her approach and friendly demeanor.

“Kate, darling,” she purred. “What endeavors are you ladies planning…that I am to stay away from?”

She grinned at me, and Kate, uninformed of the situation answered honestly.

“A girls night out. Or a girls day out rather, we’re gonna hit the beach.”

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Zacky staring me down, waiting for me to A, either walk away or B, for his opportunity to pounce on either of us should fists start flying. Whichever came first. Right now I’d downed enough tequila to know that the latter was coming first.

“An outing you’re not welcome to attend.” I stated firmly.

“Oh come on,” Terra nudged Kate’s shoulder. “We should make it a big outing. The more girls the more fun we will have. We’re not in high school anymore, let’s not act that way.”

Kate was debating the subject and she finally spoke despite me shaking my head. “What’s up with you two? It’d be nice to have just a bunch of us at the beach.”

“You guys can go, just make sure you keep your boyfriend away from her, give her a chance and she’ll be in his pants in a heartbeat.”

Zack’s large hand slowly snaked around my left wrist. He wasn’t warning me or protecting me, merely letting me know he was there.

“She slept with your boyfriend?” Kate gasped, her eyes locking with my own.

Terra rolled her eyes and stood up straight. “I slept with a man who was totally capable of saying no.”

The way she was staring at Zack had my fists clenching at my sides and his hand tightening around my wrist.

She continued, “A man whom Bailey has had a thing for since she was a kid, but she cheated on him numerous times. Even left him for the other guy she was seeing. A man who loved her but she fucked over. They weren’t in any sort of relationship when I was with him.”

“You’re such a whore.” I choked out between a laugh.

“And he still slept with me,” she grinned and I lost it. Before I knew it I was swinging my right arm. My knuckles connected with bone and flesh. The shriek she let out was satisfying enough for me.

“Jesus Christ, Jenson.”

Before I knew it I was being picked up and carried away from the girls.

“Knock it the fuck off.” Zack’s voice was stern and despite my goggle vision going on, I was able to tell he was holding Terra back.

“I think you’ve had enough.” The strong arms began carrying me down the hall towards Zack’s room.

“I haven’t had enough. That bitch needs another one to the other side of her face.” I was fighting his grasp but it just wasn’t working. I was going to be asleep from exhaustion and he wouldn’t have even broken a sweat.

“You’ve had way too much to drink. You need to think about your job. What if she wants to press charges? Or what if someone here tonight used their camera phone? Huh? You want that picture spread all over the tabloids and in the papers? You ever want another modeling job again?”

From his firm tone and the ass chewing I was receiving I knew it was M. Shadows who had me in his grasp. I could kiss any chance of getting away goodbye. He set me down and guided me firmly through the doorway into Zack’s room. I stumbled towards the bed and he caught me before I hit the floor.

“You girls and your damned heels, you’re gonna end up breaking your fucking neck one day.”

He set me on the edge of Zack’s bed and kneeled down to slip my black heels off my feet as I flopped back onto the bed. The roof was spinning, but it was almost soothing.

“Are you wearing anything under that?”

I looked up at him. He looked even more tall and menacing than normal right now. I managed to shake my head and he growled.

“Underwear,” I said randomly after a moment of thought. I wanted to go back out and talk to Terra. I tried to sit up but Matt pushed against me shoulder forcing me back onto the bed.

“Get under the covers and get that thing off.”

It was very hard to take him seriously as he stared down at me. His choice of costume tonight was a doctors uniform. The green scrubs, the stethoscope around his neck, and right now his mask was around his throat.

“It’s either that or I help you.”

I groaned. My stomach flopped around inside of me and made me waver for a moment as I crawled up the bed and underneath the blankets. I unzipped my costume and with great difficulty I removed the tight black fabric. After what was easily an agonizing fifteen minutes for Matt, I handed him the costume. He set it on the bedside table and headed for the door.

“Stay in bed.”

He left the room and closed the door and I succumbed to the darkness.

***

I rolled over in bed. At least I thought it was my bed until my head sank into the comfy feather pillow. My heart instantly sank as the ‘oh no what have I done’ feeling washed over me.I instantly tugged the sheets a little further up my body. I was pleased to discover that I was at least still wearing panties.

I heard a deep sigh from behind me and my heart skipped a beat. Now was when I was supposed to see clearly for the first time, what I wasn’t seeing last night.

I was hoping he’d speak first but he didn’t seem to be making an effort so I slowly rolled over, bracing myself for the reality of my stupidity. When he grinned at me, my heart relaxed and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Zacky suddenly sat up on the other side of the bed and turned to look at me. His eyes popped open in surprise. “Johnny? What the fuck man?”

Johnny laughed as he laid in between us in nothing but his boxers; cigarette hanging out the side of his mouth.

“Thanks for a great night guys,” his sly grin spoke volumes. “Though, Zack, I’ll admit it would have been better without you.” He turned his attention from one of his best friends to me, and then blew me a kiss.

It was then that I realized we had an audience. The rest of the band and their girls were watching, waiting for our reactions from the doorway.

“Johnny, seriously, fuck off.” Zacky growled as he flopped back down onto the bed.

Johnny rolled his eyes but obeyed the command by crawling off the bed the same way he’d probably crawled into it; down the middle.

After the door closed and we were alone I rolled over to look at Zack. He was on his back on his side of the bed; hands underneath his head as he stared up at the ceiling. “Well last night was fun.”

I smirked and he quickly revised his statement. “I mean the party last night was fun, right up to you punching Terra in the face.”

I closed my eyes and for the first time in a long time, I wished I could crawl into a hole and disappear. Maybe it’d get rid of this headache too.

“Zack, I’m sorry about last night. I just…”

“You just drank too much.”

“That and I let jealousy get the better of me.”

That had him rolling on his side to face me. “Jealousy? Since when does Bailey Jenson get jealous?”

I groaned. “Zack, please, let’s not talk about it alright.”

He was finding amusement in this because he was grinning. “No, I wanna know. I also wanna know where the hell you learned how to throw that right hook?”

“I’m sure you’ll get to read some version of it in the tabloids. I know Terra, she won’t let this slide.”

“You’re probably right. So since you’re going to have a shitty day anyway, want to grab some lunch with me?”

Just the thought of food right now had me cringing. But the thought of sitting outside somewhere, sipping cold ice tea kinda had me rethinking the offer.

“Come on, Bail. You don’t even have to eat.”

“Alright.” I turned and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, holding the sheet to my chest as my eyes landed on last night’s costume. “Fuck me.”

“Excuse me?” Zack laughed as he stood on the far side of the bed, pulling on a pair of black jeans and zipping them up.

“I have no human clothes. Only this thing Kendra made me wear last night. Speaking of which, where is she?”

Zack shrugged and approached me. He passed me a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. “Put them on for now. We’ll stop somewhere and buy you something.”

“Buy me something?”

“Yeah,” Zack replied. “I’m not driving all the way back to Beverly Hills just so you can grab clothes.”

I didn’t really want him buying me anything, but my head wasn’t really working as fast as it normally should. “What if we just eat in Beverly Hills too? That way if Kendra’s gone I don’t need to find another way home.”

He didn’t seem to be able to argue with that. He pulled a black Misfits t-shirt on over his head then nodded. “Alright, lets get going then.”

I pulled his black Affliction t-shirt on over my head then pulled his shorts on. Both of which were too big for me, but they were much better than running about in that blasted costume.

After a quick check of my reflection in the mirror I pulled on my black heels and followed Zack down the hallway. The band and girls were slowly disappearing from the house with a promise to meet up later tonight at Johnny's Bar. Just the thought of more drinks had my stomach flip flopping again.

"We'll see you guys tonight." Zack promised Rev as he grabbed a cap and keys from the hooks on the wall near the door. Meg and Rev were seated at the kitchen table drinking coffee and playing with Ichabod.

"Tonight." Meg promised as she held Ich up and made him wave at us. "We'll lock the door when we leave."

Zack nodded in recognition and ushered me out the door to his car. He unlocked and opened the passenger door, letting me slide in before closing the door and moving tothe drivers side. He climbed in, turned the ignition over and buckled up.

The majority of the drive went in silence. I had the window parted slightly, the sun beating down onto my face as I sat relaxed into the leather seats. The wind caressing it's way through my hair as I closed my eyes. This was probably the most comfortable I'd ever been around Zack, and I hoped it would stay that way from now on.

When the car shut off my eyes fluttered open and I realised with some horror that I'd fallen asleep on him.

"Ahhh she's still alive." Zack smiled at me as he opened his car door and got out. I sat up straight and realised we were parked outside the gate of my house. I unhooked my buckle and let it slide back into place as he opened the door for me. I stepped out into the warm sunlight and thanked him before heading to the gate, knowing he was right behind me.

Once inside the house I told him to help himself and make himself comfortable as I headed to my bedroom. I closed the door and hurried towards my walk in closet. My choice of black silk shorts and a cowel necked cream silk top would wait while I showered.

I made it a quick one then stood in front of the mirror in my bra and panties as I blow dried my hair, then I pulled on my clothes, applied some light make-up, grabbed my purse and slipped into some red Alexander McQueen heels. I was just slipping on my watch when the handle to my room turned and Zack stepped in cautiously.

"Oh, hey." He said sheepishly and stood up straight. "I was hoping you didn't pass out on me again." His breath hitched a moment. "You look great."

I smiled and glanced down at my ensamble before thanking him and following him back through my house to the front door.

"Is there a specific place you'd like to go to eat?"

I ran my fingers through my bleach blond hair then slid my sunglasses over my eyes, my purse strap hanging on the crook of my arm as we headed outside and I closed the door behind us.

After showering and beginning to feel human again, I was kind of gaining an appetitie. "How about Ketchup?"

He nodded and laughed, "were you subconsciously planning that?"

I didn't quite get it at frist until I realised that he was pointing at what I was wearing. White, black, and red. The only three colors used by the high end restaurant overlooking the Hollywood Hills.

"I suppose I was." I smiled and climbed into the passenger seat of his car. Again it was another non-talk drive to the restaurant. Once inside, the atmosphere between us seemed to change. He seemed more relaxed as we looked at some amped up childhood favorites on the menu.

"Mac N' Cheese with white truffle and Dungeness crab. That actually sounds really good." I laughed softly as peeked over the top of my menu at him.

"I'm seriously considering these mini chicken tacos here." He smiled at me and lowered his menu. Our waiter appeared suddenly and we both ordered without rethinking anything. After he was gone, Zack turned serious as he placed his elbows on the table and leaned into the table.

"So what are we Bailey? I fuckin hate asking this question, but with you, I'm so lost. I mean, are we together, are we friends? You know what I'd like, but if you go the other way that's cool too. I just wanna know."

I knew this was coming, and I should have expected my stomach's reaction as it tightened up. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I looked across the table at him, my eyes locking with his beautiful ones. I'd put him through alot emotionally in reguards to are we or aren't we. And he'd managed to royally mess up with Terra. But she was at fault there too.

"Think we can do it, Zack?"

His eyes seemed to light up, and he smiled. "I know we can."