Bad Boy And The Emo Fall In-Love (remake)

42

Zane woke up far too early the next day, eyes stringing so bad he couldn't open them. He groaned, rolled over, and fell to the floor.

"Zane," he heard Ethan call for him. "You good buddy?" Ethan yelled as he jogged to the room Zane was in. "Hey, you're all good, I got ya."

Zane accepted the arms that wrapped around his shoulder and waist and pulled him up, his eyes still swollen and shut.

"Why am I here?"

"Dude, you took 4 shots of vodka back to back, no chaser, no food, no nothing. You were fucked up. We got you in the car, took you here, and you slept for about 4 hours before you woke up and puked everywhere. It was hilarious but so fucking gross. You've been sleeping since."

"Really? I'm sorry. What time is it? I need to go home."

"You're not going anywhere like this," Ethan held in a laugh as he helped Zane sit back down on the couch. "You're gonna stay here and eat some food, then you're gonna shower, and then we're gonna hang. Okay?"

"I can't tonight, I've gotta go my pt and train for a new mission."

"You can do physical therapy here," Ethan rolled his eyes and sat beside Zane. "Bud, dude, you can hardly open your eyes. Fuck your training, today is your recovery, how about that?"

"I need to check on Chance too then," Zane sighed.

"Don't worry, already did. He's chillin' at home practicing, I told your parents you'd be staying with me today too. I got your back, Zane."

Zane gave a gentle nod, not wanting to overdo the movement with a hangover.

"Have I gotten any calls or anything?"

"One from Gav and a text from a random number. That's all. I'll get your phone, just stay here."

Zane gave a thumb up, and let his eyes close as his head leaned back against the couch. He forgot how uncomfortable Ethan's couch was. It's been a few months since he's slept over at Ethan's.

"Here you go," Ethan said and put the phone on the table. "Ima on a make you some food. Do not stand for anything, I don't want you falling and spilling your brains all over."

Zane cracked a smile, "Thanks E."

"For sure bro, I'll always have your back."

Zane slowly peeled open his eyelids, despite the protest coming from his eyes. The light in the room was even dimmed, yet everything was so bright. He blinked rapidly until the colors started looking normal, and everything was falling back into place. He slowly reached for his phone and opened messages to see a text from a random.  He pressed on it.

"I got your message, Sammy told me. You have some fucking explaining to do Zane."

Zane sighed, out of frustration and happiness that someone like Sammy was smart enough to use their head when tensions were high. He began his reply why using the audio dictations button.

"Hey, Gill. I can't explain much, don't know who or what is listening in, but I love Shane. I love him so much that I had to leave. My past is coming back, and I refuse to let Shane get hurt by this shit. I'm sorry. I deserve all the anger and shit you through my way. But, this was only partially my choice, and I hope that when all of this is over we can be friends at least."

Zane sent the message and then looked at the text from Gavin.

"Kid, I hope you were smart. Keep yourself safe son."

Zane sent a thumbs-up emoji and shut off his phone.

"Water and painkillers," Ethan says as he enters the room. "Need to vomit or piss yet?" Ethan put the pill bottle on the table.

"No," Zane shook his head gently. "Are you sure about spending the day together? You don't have a hook-up or anything in another room?"

"Nope, I'm sure. I was thinking we could visit the turf, and show them you're doing okay after the fight."

"I'm not so sure," Zane brought his hand up to his face to see his knuckle bruising again.

"You're a fuckin dumbass you know," Ethan took his hand and examined the knuckle. "You should see the doc and get it checked out."

"Nah, I've got my doctor to take care of this stuff now."

Ethan raised a brow, "Who?"

"Does it matter?" Zane asked, accepting the challenge in Ethan's voice.

"Yes, Zane, it does matter."

"He's a doctor under B," Zane says.

Ethan clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Fuckin B."

"Yes, fuckin B. I said he'd change shit around there, and he has. I got my doctor, they cover my medications and shit, they give protection, it's solid," Zane leaned back, the painkillers on the table forgotten.

"Nothing there is solid. You staying alive isn't a given when you work under B! and for what? protecting Shane? We can do that!"

"No, you can't," Zane squinted his eyes, annoyed at the pounding in his head. "Not like we- not like these people can."

"We? We! Haha!" Ethan exaggerated a loud laugh, standing up and pacing his steps. "We, as in B's men, including yourself."

"Yes."

"And how is any of that different than us?" Ethan said loudly, yet trying to hold himself back. 

"You aren't trained like we are," Zane shrugged.

"Can you give me more than just a few fucking words, Zane?"

"You know I can't talk about this shit with a normal person. You're a civilian compared to the illegal shit I do. It's to protect you, protect me, protect normal people."

Ethan sighed and plopped down on a chair across the couch.

"I'm sorry," then apologized. "I'm just fuckin scared, man. You working for the weirdo again is fuckin crazy, you almost died last time. If it wasn't for Shane you would be dead, bled out on the road. That was terrifying, and you're back, and we're just scared."

"I know, but you don't have to be. I can handle myself, I'm not 17 anymore, and I'm not new to this stuff anymore. You don't have to worry, it's not your job to worry about me like that E. I love you man, you're my brother and that's not gonna change. but you need to stop freaking out over this now."

"I will never not freak out, Zane."

"Then at least don't freak out on me," Zane shrugged. "Shane is safe now, I know who's watching over him, Jacklyn is being monitored, and so is my uncle. So, everything is covered as long as I keep working with B."

"Fine," Ethan nods, "just, keep yourself safe."

"I know."

"Okay. Let's get some grub and go see the turf," Ethan stood and walked out to the kitchen. 

Zane eyed the painkillers, then grabbed the bottle, shook out 4 of the pills, and swallowed them down. He capped the bottle and finally took the water and chugged the glass. He sighed and closed his eyes till the painkillers kicked in just a little bit.