Day By Day

.:Chapter Four:.

        Brian hurried around through his home, trying to make himself look presentable before he left to go hang out with Zacky at the park. Why am I so worried about how I look? Was a thought that had crossed his mind many times already, but it seemed he didn't have an answer except.. No, no, that wasn't right. Brian knew he was completely straight.. Right? He had to be! He had dated women all of his life. But it was strange.. Zacky made him think, think about things he didn't particularly want to enter his mind. But, they did; and if he were honest, he didn't mind some of the images he got. He and Zacky holding hands, sharing a kiss, hugging and never wanting to let each other go.. There were some even racier ones, but Brian would have to keep those in the back of his mind until he was alone.
        After running the straightener through his feathery black hair several times, he combed through it to make sure every strand was in its correct place and then tied a bandana on top of his head. He grabbed his favorite leather fedora and gingerly placed it over the bandana, rotating and tilting it to make sure that it was positioned correctly. He took a long look at himself in the mirror, making sure everything was perfect; he was wearing a sleeveless Megadeth t-shirt with the 'Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?' cover on the front, a pair of black skinny jeans that were ripped in the knees and a little bit on the tops of his thighs and his favorite black Doc Martens. As he was putting on just a little bit of black eyeliner, his phone began buzzing on the counter next to the sink. He picked it up and looked at it, seeing that he was receiving a call from Zacky. Okay, deep breath, you can do this.. He's just your friend, it's just like talking to Jimmy.
        "Hey, Zacky!" The brown-eyed man called into the phone a little more cheerfully than he meant to. Zacky's laugh sounded on the other end of the line, and after he was done cackling, his deep voice came drifting into Brian's ear.
        "Hey, so I was thinking we could meet up at Mooreland Park? I-if that's not too far of a drive for you, I mean, I don't want to inconvenience you or-"
        "Zacky, I'll be there." Brian chuckled, and the two men bid their farewells before Brian was able to pocket his phone and leave the house. He swiftly made his way to his car, climbing into the driver's side and shutting the door behind him. After starting the vehicle, he popped in Mudvayne's L.D.50 and turned it to track two, Dig, before he pulled out of the parking lot and began the several minute drive to Mooreland Park.

        When Brian pulled into the parking lot, he spotted Zacky sitting alone at a picnic table, swinging his feet back and forth while he smoked a cigarette. The brown-eyed man couldn't help but chuckle; seeing Zacky outside of his natural habitat at work, observing the way he acted when he wasn't clad in thigh highs and underwear, he was pretty fucking adorable. He took the key out of the ignition and climbed out of his car, making sure the door was locked before he began walking towards Zacky. When he was only a few yards away, the hazel-eyed man finally noticed the gorgeous being that was sauntering towards him, and his entire face lit up with a wide grin.
        "Hey! I was starting to think you weren't coming," Zacky called, taking a drag from his cigarette as Brian made the last few strides over to the table and then sat down on the opposite side of the hazel-eyed dancer. Brian looked down bashfully, a blush spreading across his cheeks.
        "Sorry, sorry, I.. Had car trouble." He lied, scratching the back of his neck. He was late because he was making sure he looked perfect. "So, what've you been up to these past few days?" He asked, raising his gaze so that it locked on Zacky's gorgeously formed facial features. Wait, gorgeous? When had Brian started thinking of Zacky as gorgeous?
        "Dancing, sleeping, showering. Same routine, different day." Zacky chuckled, fiddling with a strand of his raven-colored hair. "What about you?" He raised his brows, taking in the sights of Brian's wonderfully sculpted cheekbones and his strong jawline. He wondered what it'd be like to feel the scruff of his chin bury into his neck in the morning, to feel those strong arms wrap around his waist protectively..
        "Working. I'm a tattoo artist, if you couldn't tell by my arms," He grinned, showing off his tattooed biceps. "We experiment on each other. It's pretty fun. Painful, but fun." Zacky now had permission to let his eyes wander all over Brian's arms, so he did just that; he took in the sight of colorful demons, flames, things like that, and he couldn't help but wonder just how strong those arms of his were..
        "Nice. I have a tattoo of Jesus on my arm," The hazel-eyed man snickered, propping his elbow up on the picnic table to show off the tattoo. "It's ironic, of course, but I still really like how it was done." Brian nodded in appreciation, looking closely at the tattoo. Zacky assumed this was normal with all tattoo artists, to check out another artist's work, just like painters or photographers.
        "Nicely done, good blending work, good line work.. Who'd you go to?" The taller man tilted his head.
        "Actually, I don't remember.. I was a little drunk," Zacky admitted shyly, scratching at the tattoo behind his ear. "And my ex best friend convinced me that I needed a new tattoo, so.. We found an open tattoo parlor and I was like, just give me Jesus or some shit, and the guy took it seriously. When he got done with my tattoo, I was like, what the fuck dude I was joking, but he just looked at me and grinned and said, oops." By the time Zacky stopped talking, both men were cackling at the way he so unenthusiastically (but still somehow with a sense of humor) told the story of his Jesus tattoo.
        "Holy shit, dude," Brian laughed, shaking his head. "That's perfect. I think that's the best story behind a tattoo I've ever heard." Zacky smiled proudly, obviously happy that Brian was so amused with his story. Just then, Brian's eyes shifted from the hazel-eyed man's face to something behind him, and his face turned a deep red color.
        "Hey, Brian!" An extremely deep voice came from behind Zacky, causing him to jump and whirl around. He two men walking over towards their picnic table; one of them was extremely tall and muscular with brown hair, buzzed close to his head, a wide and dimpled smile, and bright green eyes. His hand was clasped in the other, shorter man's hand. The shorter man had brown eyes that were somewhat tinted gold in the sunlight, black and white spotted hair, and a nosering.
        "H-hey, Matt," Brian stuttered only on the first word. "This is Zacky. He dances at the same club that Jimmy works at."
        "Ooh, Bri, are you finally getting a little curious?" The shorter man teased, cackling when Brian narrowed his eyes and flared his nostrils.
        "Chill, he's a friend. Zacky, the gorilla is Matt, and the midget is Johnny. They're dating." Brian grumbled, picking at his nails absentmindedly. Zacky shook Matt's hand and then shook Johnny's, inviting them to sit down. They gratefully took the offer, Matt sitting next to Brian and Johnny sitting next to Zacky.
        "So, how did you guys even become friends? Did Brian ask you for a lap dance?" Matt smirked, flinching backwards and laughing when the brown-eyed man sitting next to him tried to swat at his face.
        "Actually, no," Zacky laughed shyly. "I saw him, thought he was interesting, and I sat down next to him at the bar and talked to him. We exchanged numbers, and.. This is actually our first time hanging out." If he were to be completely honest, Zacky wished they were out on a date; he wished he and Brian could hold hands, kiss, hug each other.. I'm getting way too ahead of myself.. He probably wouldn't even be interested in me like that if he was gay.
        "Ooh, you know what could be fun?" Johnny asked, sitting up completely straight. The other three men turned to look at him with raised brows. Brian was somewhat afraid of what Johnny would suggest; he knew that the shorter man always got perverted ideas and sprung them on his friends at the most inappropriate of times, and he hoped that now would not be one of those times. "What if we went out on a dinner date? Like, a double date?" Before Brian could speak up and protest the fact that he and Zacky were a couple, the hazel-eyed man across from him was already nodding and speaking.
        "That actually sounds like fun. What about you, Brian? Are you in?" His hazel eyes flickered playfully, almost as if he were daring Brian to say no. Even if he did say no, Zacky knew he could easily convince him with something as simple as poking out his bottom lip and giving a quiet sniffle. Nobody could resist that, not even the straightest of men.
        "Well, I'm down, so all that's left is Brian." Matt grinned, turning to look at his tan friend. The brown-eyed man's cheeks bloomed a soft red color, and he looked down at his tattooed hands, clearly trying to think of something to say. There was no denying that he'd love to hang out with Zacky more, but.. He just didn't want it to be around his friends. It wasn't that he didn't love his friends, he did, it was just that he wanted Zacky to himself for a little bit longer.
        "A-alright, alright, fine. We'll set up some plans for next weekend, how about that?" Brian finally caved, an unstoppable grin cracking across his heart-shaped lips. The three other men nodded, seeming to be satisfied with the fact that Brian had agreed to the double date.
        "Well, me and Johnny have to get going. We'll leave you two lovebirds alone." Matt winked at Zacky, who then laughed and looked down at the table as his entire face turned blood red. After a few scolding words from Brian, both Johnny and Matt bid the two other men farewell and then wandered away, out of sight.
        "I'm so sorry about them," Brian laughed shyly, twirling a strand of his feathery black hair between his long, tan fingers. "They're really, really blunt.. I hope they didn't embarrass you or make you too uncomfortable."
        "Not at all. I was about to ask if you were trying to become a tomato, seeing how red your face got when Matt called us lovebirds." The hazel-eyed man smirked, and at this, Brian turned red once again. "Kinda like that." He chuckled. The brown-eyed man sighed in defeat, looking down at the table as he continued to play with his own hair. It was a comfort thing; some people bite their nails, some people tap their foot, Brian liked to play with his hair. He liked the way it felt between his fingers.
        "Look, I.. I think you're cute, and I'm not really sure.. What I am.. But I'm trying to figure it out. I mean, I've always thought I was straight, but.. You came along and fucked that theory up." Brian muttered nervously, not looking up at Zacky. The other man could only stare as his mouth dropped open a little bit; he wanted to say something, but no words would come out. "I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable, I just, I don't know.. I'm still trying to figure myself out, y'know?"
        "I completely understand, Brian.. And, you didn't make me uncomfortable. In fact, that made me pretty happy. I actually like making people question their sexuality." He laughed softly, rubbing his chin slowly. "I think you're pretty adorable, too. So, let's stay in contact, hang out some more and.. We'll see where this goes. How about that?" He smiled widely, locking eyes with Brian once he looked up from the table.
        "O-okay.. And you.. You won't be disappointed if I don't turn out to be gay, right?"
        "Of course not. I wouldn't pressure anybody into something they weren't comfortable with." The two men nodded, and suddenly, Zacky stood up from the picnic table. "I'm gonna head home, take a shower and then head to bed so I can sleep before my shift tomorrow. I'll text you when I get home, okay?" Brian nodded, and then he froze solid when he saw Zacky step over to his side of the table and press a kiss to his cheek. "Goodnight, Brian. I had a really good time hanging out with you today." Before the brown-eyed man had a chance to reply, Zacky was already halfway over to his car.
        "G-goodnight!" He finally called after Zacky, who was getting in the driver's seat of his car. Wow.. That was.. Exhilarating. Brian thought as he dug his keys out of his pocket and made his way for his own car. I never thought just a kiss on the cheek would make my heart pound like that. Maybe I've been wrong all along.. Maybe I am gay. Brian chuckled at the thought as he slid into the driver's seat and started the car, pulling out of the parking lot and beginning his short drive home so that he could talk to Zacky and think about his own sexuality in more detail.