Different Dimension

Zack was woken up on his first morning back home by his phone buzzing. He knew he hadn’t set an alarm – his mom has specifically said he could really sleep in as long as he liked – so this was not welcome. At all. Of course if it was Martin he might forgive hi…

No. It was Matt. Huh.

From: Matt
To: Zack

Hey! Heard you’re back for the winter break already – me too! Want to catch up today?

Zack’s scowl immediately changed to a smile, and he sent back a quick ‘yes’ before hauling himself out of bed. He didn’t need to wait for a text in reply. He knew Matt would just make his way over, just like he always had done. That was the thing about Matt – he was reliable. Zack knew everything there was to know about him, and he knew Matt wouldn’t change.

While Zack showered, he couldn’t help but think about his ex-boyfriend. Not like that. Well sort of, but not in a seedy way. All he thought about was how their friendship hadn’t been affected by their break-up. It really had been an amiable separation, with Matt leaving for university, especially since Matt was pretty much Zack’s only friend. And that had sent him off on another spiral of thought, how he knew it was strange that he and Matt still stayed so close but that he wouldn’t change it for the world. He didn’t really want a life without Matt in it, and he knew Matt felt the same. They were better off as friends, and they both knew it.

Only 5 minutes after Zack was out the shower, just about dressed, Matt walked into his bedroom. Even without the spare front door key Matt had, Zack knew his family would let Matt in regardless.

“Hey!” Matt said cheerfully.

Zack grinned as he looked at his best friend. Matt’s messy black hair was still as ridiculous as ever, his dark eyes and broad stance unchanged. Even his douchey lip ring was still the same. Matt really hadn’t changed. Not that Zack had expected him too. Even when they’d first met, when Zack was only a Sophomore in high school and Matt was the ridiculously cool punk Junior student, Matt had been exactly the same. Effortless, kind and sweet. Kind of like Martin, actually.

Then Matt’s wide smile turned into a curious expression.

“Something’s different about you,”

What?

“I mean it,”

Whoops, did he say that outloud?

“You normally run and jump at me for a hug. What’s changed?” Matt teased.

Oh. That. Well…Zack didn’t think Martin would like it? Not that Martin knew about Matt, but still…

“Oh my God. You have a boyfriend!” Matt gasped.

Zack grimaced. “I would ask how you can tell, but I’m honestly not surprised you can,”

“Oh please, I know you too well,” Matt laughed, “I was right though, yeah? You have a boyfriend?”

Zack couldn’t help but blush slightly, and he nodded.

“Yeah, he’s called Martin. He’s wonderful,” Zack said softly.

“Is it a new thing?” Matt asked, leaning against the door frame.

“We made it official on Thanksgiving?” Zack offered.

Matt’s smile turned into a frown. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

“I haven’t told Martin about you either,” Zack defended.

Matt just rolled his eyes, stepping forward and opening his arms. Zack made a soft noise of protest but collided with him in a hug, burying his face in Matt’s shoulder.

“I’m happy for you, you know that,” Matt said quietly.

Zack lifted his head and smiled slightly. “Thanks, Matty. That means a lot to me,”

“So are you going to tell me about him or what?” Matt grinned, tugging Zack to sit down on his bed next to him.

“I kind of already have? Like, during our phone calls?” Zack pointed out.

“You haven’t talked about a Martin before,” Matt frowned.

“Hot best friend of my RA?” Zack offered, cheeks heating up in a blush.

Matt’s eyes went wide. “Ohhhhh that’s Martin? Nice, dude, nice. Gone for the older guy again,”

Zack punched Matt in the shoulder, making him laugh.

“He’s older than you. He was 21 in September,”

“Does he buy you alcohol like a good sugar daddy?” Matt teased.

“Oh my God!” Zack squealed, “That is so inappropriate!”

Matt just cackled.

“You are such an asshole,” Zack grumbled.

“Eh, yeah, I am. And considering I know your type, I bet Martin’s an asshole too,” Matt smirked.

“Only sometimes. And never to me,” Zack muttered.

Matt’s smirk softened into a fond smile. “Then that’s what’s important,"

Zack's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's also better in bed than you are,"

"Ooh, ouch, how will I ever recover," Matt swooned, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You are such a dick," Zack said deadpan.

"I am well aware of that," Matt said cheerfully, face lighting up again, "And if he ever hurts you, even a little, I will beat him to a bloody pulp,”

“Violence is never the answer,” Zack said dryly.

“It is when it comes to protecting your virtue,” Matt said loftily.

“Oh please, you’re the one that took my virtue in the first place,” Zack snapped.

This made Matt cackle again, and ruffle Zack’s hair.

“I fully expect to meet the illustrious Martin. Y’know, to check he’s good enough for you,” Matt said simply.

“He is good enough for me,” Zack snapped, without thinking, earning laughter from Matt, “and you can meet him when I’ve told him about you,”

“Good luck with that,” Matt snickered.

Asshole.

“Come on, your mum has made that chocolate cake I like. Grab a slice with me and we can gush about boys?”

“Boys? Are you seeing someone too?!” Zack gasped.

Matt just grinned as he stood up, Zack’s jaw dropping as Matt walked out of the room, snapping out of his trance when Matt was out the door. Matt had a boyfriend and he hadn’t told Zack either?! What the hell?!

“James Matthew Flyzik! I want answers!” Zack demanded, jogging out of his bedroom to catch up.

As Matt laughed again, echoing for downstairs, Zack couldn’t help but smile to himself. Everything felt like it was finally snapping into place. Now that Matt knew about Martin, everything would be okay, right?