Some Say This Can't Be Real.

Time continued to pass and everybody was slowly healing. While it still hurt knowing that Jimmy was gone, everyone was laughing a lot more and being themselves. I couldn't be happier with Zack, and things in our group of friends couldn't be better. April rolled into May, as the band was putting the finishing touches on recording for the record, which was now officially titled 'Nightmare' and were trying to settle on a release date. I'd stayed in touch with Karlee and Amy, who were doing great. Karlee was out of the hospital, and almost completely back to normal. They were planning a visit here, and were talking about trying to move to get our band back together. When the day came for them to arrive, I went alone to pick them up from the airport while the guys were all at the studio. I was almost shocked when I saw Karlee who was almost back to normal, but still wearing the cast and sling on her broken arm.

“It's so beautiful here,” Amy said as we walked out of LAX airport.

“Welcome to my home,” I said with a laugh. “Can you two promise me one thing though?”

“What?” Both asked in unison.

“That you'll be normal around the guys? They're human like us,” I laughed again. “And umm, as much as you'd like to, try not to mention Jimmy. It still hurts everyone, and while they love the support, it's kind of a sore subject to tell them that you're sorry about him.”

Both of them nodded before getting into my car. After grabbing a bite to eat, we headed to Johnny's. The guys were still going to be about an hour, so we chilled at my brother's and talked, first about where they were going to stay. I had decided that I could get my mattress from the storage garage, and bring it to the room I stay in when I'm over. They thought it would've been a bit awkward if they stayed here and I stayed with Zack, but I reassured them that we could get over that. They met my brother before in Chicago, and I knew he'd have no problem with them staying here. We eventually got tired of talking about the rooming situation, so we turned the conversation to the band when I asked Amy about her brother.

“He's a great drummer, but he just doesn't fit in our band like you do. I said that he's too talented for us,” Amy started. “He's too talented for us, and I think we just fit better as an all girl band. Oh, and he's jealous that we're here, and everything. He loves the band to death, and was fuming when we left.”

“That's great,” I laughed. “Maybe if you guys move out here, he can come too and we can introduce him to the guys.”

Our thoughts were soon interrupted by a key sliding into the lock, at the same time my phone vibrated with a text message. Baby, you need to come over. Now. Zack sent. I replied saying that I was busy with my friends, and that he could come over to Johnny's. As I sent it, Johnny and Lacey both walked in. They denied that they were dating, but we all knew the truth.

“Oh man. I'm in heaven,” Johnny said as he walked in and saw the three of us.

“Bro, you remember Karlee and Amy right?”

“I do. And she must be the one who got in the accident?” He asked, pointing towards Karlee. “You look like you're doing okay.”

“I'm doing quite well. Thanks, Johnny.”

He nodded. “This is my friend Lacey,” he introduced the blonde as I rolled my eyes at the mention of the word 'friend.' “These are Lisa's friends from Chicago.”

The three girls introduced themselves as Johnny excused himself to settle in. Shortly after settling in, we talked about the rooming situation. I eventually got everyone to agree on my suggestion, and we were outside lugging my old mattress from the locker. Johnny and Lacey were dragging it away, and I turned to see both of my friends staring at the drum kit.

“It's really his, isn't it?” Karlee asked quietly.

“Yep. That's it.”

“It's almost scary to see it,” Amy said as she studied it briefly.

“Try playing it,” I said as I guided them away to close up the storage garage. I managed to get Karlee out, but Amy was busy with her phone, trying to take a picture. “Amy, you can take a picture another time and make your brother jealous then,” I said, grabbing her arm. I pulled her away and out of the storage area, running right into somebody. “Karlee, jeez,” I said before looking up. “Oh shit. Sorry, Zacky,” I said, laughing. “Hi, baby.”

“Hey, honey,” he greeted before turning to see an awestruck Amy standing at my side. “Is she okay?”

“Amy! Snap out of it,” I said, snapping my fingers in front of her face.

“Hi, I'm Amy,” she said in a squeaky voice.

I brought my palm to my face, shaking my head while laughing a bit. “Amy, Amy, Amy.” I laughed harder. “He's human, he's my boyfriend, and he's not an alien.”

“I'm sorry,” Amy said. “I'm still getting used to this all.”

“Understood. Now go find your better half,” I said, laughing.

Amy ran out of the garage while I gave Zack a hug and a quick kiss before heading up to the apartment. “Are you staying here with them?” he asked, disappointment barely evident in his voice.

“Nah. We agreed that they could use my room. At first they thought it would be weird if I wasn't around, but eventually they realized that Johnny is really my brother, and didn't care. And then he said if it somehow got weird, he'd go stay with Lacey, but I doubt it'll get weird like that. We're all human, right?”

“Yep. Now let's get inside.”

I closed up the garage and followed Zack inside, finding the four of them sitting and talking. “I'm not sure if you met Karlee, already, but that's obviously her.”

“Hey,” Zack greeted, extending his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, well, actually nice to actually get to hang out with you...I guess. Something like that,” she said with a laugh.

“I'm sure you'll get used to me, and the others as quick as you got used to Johnny. Like Lisa said, we're just human.”

We talked for a while until both Johnny's and Zack's phones went off. “Fuck, for real?” Johnny cursed as he read a text message. “They need us at the studio. Some of the stuff we recorded earlier today got lost, and they want us to record it again.”

“I gotta get to work anyways,” Lacey said as she stood up.

“Shouldn't be too long,” Zack said softly before kissing the side of my head.

“Hopefully,” Johnny grumbled his response to Zack.

Once the three of them left, I turned to my friends. “So umm...I know this is random, but would you like to go see him?” I asked, hanging my head a bit. “I haven't really gone in a while.”

“Him who?” Amy asked. “Do you mean...” she trailed off.

“Are you sure it's okay? I mean, we're not really a part of your circle of friends yet.”

“It's fine,” I reassured. “It's not like we have the site hidden from everybody.”

They followed me to my car, and I sped off towards the cemetery. The drive was quiet, as well as the walk as they followed me to the site. Both of them were stricken with shock as they stared at the gray stone. “This just can't be real,” Karlee said quietly.

“Well, it is,” I replied as I squatted in front of the stone. “Hey, Jimmy...” I started in a low mumble. “I'm sorry it's been a while. Things have been kind of hectic. I have some friends here with me today. Two special friends to me that helped me when I got to Chicago. They're visiting, and we might get our band back together. The guys are all doing great with the recording. They're almost done with the album, and it should come out in July they're thinking. It's all dedicated to you. I hear the songs, and I tear up every time. The song that Brian wrote is just overflowing with emotions. Last week I went with them to the studio and they played this song called 'Fiction.' They said you wrote the lyrics right before you passed away. That didn't hit me the hardest though. The worst part was hearing your voice in the song. I actually broke down and had to leave the room for a bit. To this day I still regret leaving. It's still hard to accept the fact that you're gone too. I love you, Jimmy, and miss you to death still to this day, and I will forever.” I sighed as I stood back up and turned to my friends with tears in my eyes. “I'll never feel anymore guilty than I feel for leaving here three years ago.”

“You shouldn't have to feel guilty,” Amy said, hugging me. “It was bad circumstances that drove you away. Nothing bad on them, but you had a reason to run away.”

“I know, but still. I cut off all communication. I could've at least stayed in touch with them and said I had to get away for a while. They thought I died.”

“But everything is back to normal for the most part now, right?”

“Yeah, well, except for one of my best friends being dead.”

“But you still have us,” someone said out of nowhere, startling the three of us.

We all turned and saw Brian standing there. “Hey, Bri,” I said, noticing a slightly dirty look on Amy's face. “These are my friends from Chicago, Karlee and Amy.”

“I remember you two from one of the shows we played there,” he said. As he greeted Karlee, I turned to nudge Amy and gave her a look. She nodded and smiled as Brian turned to greet her. “I remember her standing out there too.” Brian looked at me. “I just didn't say anything to the others, because of...well...you know.”

“Alright!” I shouted, laughing awkwardly. “Everything is peachy now, so let's not talk about the past, okay? Brian, they know what happened, and they know also that everything is fine now.” I pulled my two friends away to let Brian have a little privacy while he knelt down in front of the tombstone. Brian's mumbling was the only thing that was heard for a few minutes until he joined the three of us. “I thought you guys had to be in the studio?”

“Yeah, but as we were about to start re-recording, they found the stuff. It was misplaced on the computer.”

“Oh. I see.”

“I'll catch you guys later. I have plans tonight and need to get ready.”

We said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways. Back in my car, I looked at my phone, seeing texts from both Zack and my brother saying that they were done. We headed back to the apartment, joining the two men in the living room. I sat comfortably next to Zack, and we talked for a while about anything that we could until Johnny excused himself when his phone rang. He came back a few minutes later and interrupted us. “Matt and Val invited us for dinner and some drinks. Lea's over there too.”

“What time?” I asked. “And do they know that we have visitors?”

“Yep, and in like two hours or so. You two interested?” He asked my friends.

They both nodded. “I could use a shower though,” Amy said, with Karlee nodding in agreement. I led them to the room, showed them around and gave them what they needed. Amy went first while I helped Karlee wrap her cast in plastic. She stayed in the room to go through her stuff while I went back to join my brother and Zack.

“So, they're asking me about getting our old band back together,” I said.

“That's great,” Zack said.

“It is, but I thought I had other intentions. They mentioned that, and also mentioned going on tour with you guys.”

“Well, umm. We'll keep it in mind when we do plan our next tour. Won't really be until after the album is released though.”

“Duh. We need to plan everything else first. Like if they're gonna move out here and stuff. It was just a suggestion for now.”

We talked a bit more until both Karlee and Amy were in my room getting ready. I wanted to talk to them before we left. “So...Don't be all weird about going over. You guys know who Leana is right?” I asked, watching them both nod. “Okay. Well there's two big things you need to know. One, try not to mention Jimmy. Seeing as they were married, and her husband is now dead, she's still very touchy over it. Well as I said, everyone is, but she'll get emotional pretty easily. The moodiness also spawns from the fact that she's about six months pregnant...” I trailed off and hung my head.

They nodded before we headed back out and piled into two cars to head over to Matt's place.