Some Say This Can't Be Real.

Recent times were getting rough and taking their toll. As the band was putting the last few finishing touches on the record, they always seemed to be in the studio. I knew that they wanted it perfect because they had worked so hard, and put so much emotion into it. Between that and Zack starting to pay more attention to his clothing line, he seemed to never be around. I wasn't going to stop him though, seeing as he had a lot of real work to be doing, and he needed to get it done. Sitting around the apartment alone was getting really boring, so I'd start going out on my own and just go for a walk or a mall. Anything to keep my mind occupied.

Huntington Beach had very few rainy days, but when we did have one, they were pretty miserable. I took it as a day to just sleep and not get out of bed. It was going okay until my phone started to ring...from the kitchen. Cursing to myself for leaving it there, I crawled out of bed and went to get it. I lightened up a little bit seeing Amy's name on the display. “Hey you!” I answered happily. “It's been a while.”

“It's been fucking nuts here. Between working, band stuff, and apartment hunting, Karlee and I haven't even had much time to hang out. But I do have some good news.”

“Oh really?” I asked, having a slight idea.

“We found a place, and we move in the first week of July.”

I smiled as I looked at the calendar hanging on the refrigerator. “Dude! That's like in two weeks.”

“I know. It's a nice place. Though it's a three bedroom, and kind of over our budget, so my brother is moving out there with us to help. He just left his old band and agreed to do so.”

“That's awesome. Do you need me to come out there to help with anything?”

“At first no, until my brother decided to get a car. Since all three of us have cars, and have a moving truck, we kinda could use some help driving.”

“I can help. The guys are putting finishing touches on the album, so they're non-stop in the studio. Hell, I'm lucky if I see Zack an hour at night before he has to go to sleep, since he's helping his clothing line out more too.”

“That sucks. But anyways, we're supposed to be out there to sign the lease by July third. How long does the road trip take?”

“For me by myself it took about three days. I can look for a ticket to fly out around the twenty-eighth or so.”

“That's awesome. So what else is new?”

“Not much. Like I said, been spending a lot of time alone or with the girls. Is your brother excited to come out here?”

“Ecstatic. When I asked him, he barely even had to think about it.”

“That's hilarious. He wants to meet the guys doesn't he?”

“Well, Jimmy was his biggest influence.”

“I figured. Well I can't wait to have you guys out here and get our band back up and running. The guys said they'd recommend us to some people and try and get us a few shows at some places too.”

“Really? That's awesome! Hey I gotta go, Karlee's calling me. I'll talk to you later.”

“Okay, bye. I'll let you know when I get a ticket.”

I hung up the phone and went back to the bedroom, launching myself back onto the bed. I was glad they found a place and would be living out here soon. When the movie I was watching was over, I jumped on Zack's computer to look for a plane ticket to fly out to Chicago. Once the ticket was purchased, I sent a text to ask if he knew when he'd be home because I was starting to get bored to insanity. The day continued to drag and I was getting restless, so I decided to go out into the rain and just drive around to at least get out.

While driving around, the rain stopped, so I decided to go to the cemetery to visit Jimmy. As I approached the site, I saw someone standing there. Someone that I didn't recognize until I approached and they turned around. I was a bit shocked when I did recognize her just barely. “Who are you?” I asked her.

I then saw the look. The look I'd seen on every girl in high school that I ever hated. Narrowed eyebrows and a grin that screamed 'I'm better than you are'. It didn't bother me. To be honest, I was more intimidated by the fact that she was prettier than me, but I didn't show it. “I should be asking you the same thing,” she said in a tone that was almost snotty. “I'm sure the guys wouldn't appreciate strangers visiting their best friend's grave.”

“Umm, excuse me?” I arched an eyebrow at her. “I'm Johnny's sister.” The look on her face suddenly changed to a friendly one, but I knew she was just trying to cover it up. It was a bad habit of mine to judge people before I knew them, but I just knew that there was something about her I already hated. It was like that with most females though, as I generally had trouble getting along with them.

“Really? I've never seen you before.” Her tone was now an attempt to be overly friendly.

“Because I was out of town for a while until I heard about Jimmy. Can I ask who you are?”

“I'm Gena. You must be the one that Zack mentioned. We used to date, and then he dumped me after telling me that there was someone else on his mind.”

I realized why she was familiar to me now. I remembered the one show my friends dragged me too, and then I remembered the recent dinner with Zack and the person giving me a dirty look. Trying to stay friendly and calm just got harder for me, and I knew her being overly friendly was a cover. “Really? He told me it was a mutual break-up, and then you left right after. Either way, he and I are dating now.” I didn't want to sound like a bitch about it, but I felt that I needed to state the obvious.

“I knew that,” she said as she started to walk away. “Tell him I said hi, and...” she paused to look at me over her shoulder with the same look she'd given me when she first saw me. “...I hope his clothing line is going okay.” The tone in her voice suddenly made me sick to my stomach.

I shot a glare at her after she turned around, then focused my attention on the grave in front of me, standing in silence for a moment before I squatted down. “Things are hectic right now. Obviously after what just happened a second ago. The record is almost done, and it's just...words can't really describe it. It's something way more raw and emotional than I've ever heard before. It's hard to see the guys though since they're always in the studio. My best friends are moving out here in a few weeks. The ones that helped me after I ran away. Amy's brother is a huge fan of you, so I might bring him by to visit you. He's said that you were the reason he started drumming. He took over for me in the band, but left because they decided he was too good for them, so I'm going back to my band. Your baby is doing okay. Leana's belly just seems to keep growing, and I can't wait to see the baby. She said I can be the God Mother, and Brian is gonna be the God Father since you and him were so close. As usual, we're still slowly getting back to normal. Love you, Jimmy.”

I stood there for another moment before heading back to my car. I was starting to get upset with my boyfriend, and sent him a text message saying that we needed to talk. In my car, I sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what would happen if he admitted to me that he was seeing his ex behind my back. As I headed back to his place, I realized that I didn't know what to say to him. I just prayed it wouldn't turn into a huge fight. He wasn't home yet when I got back, nor had he even contacted me in any way. I sighed as I sat on the couch and flipped on the TV. An hour later I heard the key in the lock and turned to see him walk in. He looked exhausted, but I wasn't in the mood to play the pity game, especially when it came to my feelings.

“Hey, baby,” he called out before even seeing the look I was giving him. “Whoa, what's wrong?” He asked, sitting down next to me.

I turned to face him. “You must not have gotten my text that said we needed to talk.”

“No. The studio gets shitty service. What's up?”

“I had a little confrontation at the cemetery today...” I trailed off to think of the words for what I was going to say next, and he had started to talk before I cut him off. “I want one promise from you, Zack.” I paused to make eye contact. “I want the exact, truthful answer of what I have to ask you.”

I paid attention to his expressions, and when he looked more upset than confused, I already had a feeling that I knew the right answers. “I promise.”

“Did you know that Gena is back in town?”

“Yeah.” He answered quickly as if I was interrogating him.

“Has she tried getting in touch with you since she's been around?”

“She has.”

“Have you actually talked to her?”

“I did.” He sighed. “I'm so-”

“Have you physically seen her since she's been back?” I cut him off.

He sighed again. “I have. Baby, I'm sorry. I promise you that nothing went on besides a conversation between us. That first night I went into my office, I told her to come by so we could talk. Of course, she still has feelings for me, but I told her that I have you. She's even engaged right now, but she insisted that she and I could get back together. After that, I told her to stop calling me, but of course, she's still trying to talk to me, and she still comes by the office when I'm there at night, but I swear to you that nothing more than words has went on between us.”

I watched his expressions closely so I could figure out if he was lying or telling the truth. I was pretty good at reading people as it was something I just picked up from annoying Johnny all the time when we were younger. I could see the sincere look in his eyes as I thought about what he'd just told me. Remembering when I overheard him on the phone the morning after he went to his office was helping me believe him. I reached and grabbed his hands. “Why didn't you just tell me then?”

“I was afraid of upsetting you.”

“Baby, if you just told me, then I wouldn't have been upset.”

“Obviously I know that now. Whatever she said to you today, just ignore it. She spent a lot of time in Drama club in middle school into high school before she decided she wanted to be a hair stylist.”

“I figured, because if looks could kill, she'd be number one on America's Most Wanted. She didn't say much besides realizing that I was the other girl, and that you dumped her.”

“Bullshit. It was a mutual break-up. You can ask any one of the guys or the girls. She's not a bad person, and I thought that we could still be friends, but when I figured out what she still wanted, I told her to leave me alone. I'm not sure if she's staying in town or leaving again.”

I playfully arched an eyebrow. “Do I need to start going with you to the office? Maybe then I could get some sense into her if she comes by,” I said jokingly.

“No, because I'm changing up the times when I go. We're hoping to be done with the record next week, and then we just wait until it's released. During that time, I'll have way more hours to play around with. Once we go on tour, it'll get better."

I then realized that they were going to have to tour when the record came out at the end of July. My friends were moving out here a few weeks before that, and I needed to figure out if I was staying with them, or going with the band if they had the space. I stored the thought in my head for a future conversation. “Alright, Zacky. I'm believing all of this, but please just don't hide anything from me anymore?”

He pulled one of his hands from mine and touched it to my cheek gently. “I promise, and I'm sorry,” he said as he leaned in to touch his lips to mine. “I'm gonna go shower, and are you hungry?”

I went on a quick food run while he took a shower, and after eating, we curled up on the couch together to watch a movie. It wasn't too long into the movie when he started dozing off. After nudging him awake for the tenth time, I suggested that we just go to bed. I wasn't that tired, and even if I'd be laying next to him while he was asleep, I knew he was here with me. That was how it worked out too. He fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow, and I laid there watching the TV in the room until I was getting tired enough myself to where I could finally fall asleep.