The Great Pretenders

Chapter 17

Matt's POV

Today was the day of our big gig at Fitzgerald's. I was nervous as hell. I mean Jason and Matt had gone out of their way to vouch for us with their uncle who was letting us play the Saturday night 18 and up crowd.

To top it off, I hadn't quite made up with Brian yet. I didn't really have a plan to do so but it was a pretty much all I could think about when I woke up that morning.

I crawled out of bed and pulled on some jeans and a Guns N Roses t-shirt. I looked like shit and I wasn't sure I was in a mood to deal with Brian yet. I mean really...he let my girlfriend come on to him and never told me. I thought about this as I reached for my toothbrush and the tooth paste. It's not like he slept with her, my internal voice reasoned, and she's way guiltier than he is. If she really loved me, she would have never hit on my best friend.

True, I answered myself, but he never told me. If he was really my best friend, he would have told me.

But would you have believed him? 

I probably wouldn't have believed him but still, he couldn't have tried.

You know that would have ruined your friendship. Forgive him and move on, my conscience demanded.

I don't know if it's that easy, I told myself.

Of course it is. Remember who has been your best friend for years...who taught you how to play guitar. Who was your friend when all your other jock friends ditched you when you discovered rock music. And who invited you to sleep overs and introduced you to the other guys in the band. Who came to pick you up when you called, no questions asked and no matter what time it was. And seriously, it's not like Val has been a stellar example of a girlfriend.

I sighed as reached for the cup to rinse with. 

Damn, I hate it when my conscience is smarter than I am. I turned the warm water on and splashed my face. I grabbed a hand towel to dry off. Better...I thought taking in my reflection. 

As I exited the bathroom, I heard the front door open and voices.

"Hey. Your mom let me in." Brian called tentatively as he walked down the hall. I suppressed the urge to laugh. He looked as though he expected a punch any minute.

I admit, if I hadn't known him for years that probably would have been my first reaction. 

"Haner." I said with just a hint of sarcasm.

"Look." He began as he followed me into the kitchen. "I wanted to tell you. I just didn't think you'd believe it. It was nothing. I never thought of Val that way. Michelle, maybe, but Val. Never."

"I know." I replied serving myself some cereal.

He looked at me expectantly and when I didn't comment further, he continued "You know?"

I looked at him. "Yeah, I know. It's ok. We're cool."

He looked at me in disbelief. "We're cool?" he repeated.

"Yeah, we're cool. I know you didn't mean for it to happen" I chuckled slightly trying to reassure him to no avail. "I'm starting to think that maybe Val and I weren't meant to be. I mean there were a lot of signs. I just missed them," I told him as I sat down with my bowl.

He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a soda. "Starting to see? Really? What opened your eyes?"

I don't know why but the minute he finished the question, Lucy popped into my head, but there was no way I was going to say that out loud. 

So I pulled a typical patented Matt Sanders 'I don't give a shit' move "Who knows? This cereal sucks. You wanna go eat some real food or what?"

Lucy's POV

I have spent a majority of the day in a daze. Today was our playoff game and the night of the guys gig. I should have been nervous for myself but instead all I could think of was the success of the band.  I knew Matt still had to make up with Brian to make the gig work but I wasn't entirely sure they wouldn't have a knock down drag out fight first. No matter how much Zoey tried to assure me that that Brian could hold his own but surely, with Matt's size and muscles, Brian would be no match.

I needed to keep busy and keep moving. There were so many chores and errands that I've neglected since the breakup with Mark and the situation with Matt. I'd better start a load of laundry or I'm going to have to stop wearing socks and underwear indefinitely. I gathered my clothes to take down to the laundry room.

"Lucy, you are driving me crazy." My mom whined from the couch.

"What am I doing?"

"You're straightening up an already clean room. What is wrong with you?" she snapped.

"I can't help it. I'm worried about the game," I lied.

Her face softened "I'm sorry I can't be there tonight."

"It's okay, mom," I replied as I started the washer and began to sort clothes.

My mom stood against the doorway. "Okay, fess up. What is going on? You are usually all over me for not going to the big game. What's the deal? Is this about Matt?"

Oh great...a question I totally don't want to answer "Of course it's not. Why would it be about Matt?"

"Well I don't know. Let's just say you're acting like a total fool over a new guy just days after you ditch the old one."

"I didn't ditch Mark. He broke up with me," I said throwing my whites in the washer. "To date Matt's ex, remember?"

"So Matt is just a rebound?" she asked curiously.

"No," I insisted, not wanting to fess up the plan. "It's not like that. We're just friends."

"Uh huh, I can see that," she laughed. "That's why you're walking around the house thinking about him while you're doing laundry."

I considered lying to her but she knew me well enough to spot the deceit. "It doesn't matter." She didn't look convinced.

 I laughed a little "Trust me, mom. We're just having fun."

Her eyes darkened "Really? Tell me, how much fun have you had?" she asked sternly.

"We're taking it slow." I argued

"Well I'm glad for that, at least. Last time I dated a guy that looked like Matt, he had me out of my pants less than twenty four hours after we started going out."

"Eww mom, really? Information I totally could have done without. Besides, I'm not like that." At least I didn't think I was but I couldn't help but think back to our make out session where I'd practically let him ravage me. 

"Hmmm..." she said thoughtfully "Well if you're not over Mark, then he's probably not over his girl either." She was fishing.

I couldn't help but get my feathers ruffled. "Why do you say that?" I asked defensively.

"Well, didn't you say they'd been together forever? Relationships like that are like a pair of comfortable old slippers...really ugly to look at but familiar and cozy." 

I felt sick hearing her say that. I mean I knew the point of this crazy game was for Matt to get Val back and for me to get Mark in the process but...well I figured now that I wasn't interested in getting Mark the Jerk back anymore...well maybe...me and Matt...I figured that...no that was never the plan...the plan is helping Matt get Val. That's what we agreed on.

I smiled at my mom sincerely "Well if that's what he wants, then I'd be the first one cheering them on in their reunion."

Oh my God...and the lies just keep on coming...