Day By Day

.:Chapter Seven:.

        Zacky slipped on his white high heels, eager to get finished with his shift so that he could go spend more time with Brian when he was done. He sat patiently in his chair, waiting for Miss Bri to finish with Andrew's cheek contouring so that she could do his eyeshadow, and then he could go perform. He couldn't wait to see his brown-eyed lover. He and Brian were dating now, and Zacky was finally starting to think his life was looking up in the right direction. He just hoped that he wouldn't do anything to screw it up..
        "I'll be over there in a second, Zacky," Miss Bri sounded a bit apologetic as she spoke. "I'm trying to make Blaze here look as good as possible.. He's going to be dancing with you tonight!" Suddenly, Zacky's stomach felt like lead. Blaze (or Andrew, that was his real name that he had revealed to Zacky on his first day there) had always been after the hazel-eyed dancer in one way or another. When he found out that he had a boyfriend, he wasn't exactly the happiest person in the club. Jimmy even ended up telling him to leave because he wouldn't have any bad vibes in the club; he liked to think of it as a home away from home, a place for people to unwind and relax. And, he was right, it was.
        "D-dancing? With me? I.. I wasn't told about this." The hazel-eyed man stuttered, his eyes wide as he stared over at the overly muscular dancer that had been eyeing him down like a piece of meat since his first day on the job.
        "Well, there's no use in trying to change it now." Andrew smirked, his eyes wandering Zacky's lingerie-clad body as though he was trying to decide something.
        "I only do solo dances.." Zacky grumbled, a bit angrily, folding his pale arms over his chest. He gazed at himself in the mirror, his plump lips forming into an adorably angry pout; once he saw this expression, he looked down at his feet, hoping Andrew hadn't seen his face.
        "Well, I guess that changes tonight, doesn't it, butter cup?" The other dancer snapped, glaring at Zacky's reflection.
        "Let's just hope you can keep up with me, jarhead." Zacky snapped back.
        "Both of you, stop it!" Miss Bri shouted firmly, causing both dancers to shrink backwards into their chair. Zacky felt about ten inches tall at that moment, never having seen Miss Bri angry and never wanting to anger her again. The title of 'house mom' made sense to him now; just like a real mother, when she gets angry, it's best to just stay quiet. "I will not have my dancers acting like some sort of brazen buffoons. Get it together, or neither of you will dance tonight. Do I make myself clear, gentlemen?"
        "Yes, ma'am." Both Zacky and Andrew mumbled at the same time.
        "Good. Now, Blaze, your makeup is finished, so sit tight while I do Zacky's eyeshadow." Miss Bri seemed to have forgotten any of the harsh words that were spat between the two dancers as she waddled over to Zacky, eyeshadow palette in one hand and her makeup brush in the other. She worked quickly, quietly, and very smoothly; in a matter of seconds, Zacky's eyeshadow was done.
        "Thank you, Miss Bri.." Zacky muttered shyly, picking at his fingernails as though he was a small child who had lost their mother.
        "You're welcome, sweetheart. Now, both of you, up to side stage. And not one more nasty word towards each other, or I'll have you both fired. Understood?" Both the dancers nodded. "Alright. Go on, you dance in ten." She began cleaning up some of the vanity tables, and with that, both Zacky and Blaze got up and headed for the door. Before the hazel-eyed man could open the door, though, Blaze stepped in front of him and held it open.
        "Ladies first," He growled lowly to where Miss Bri couldn't hear him.
        "Age before beauty." Zacky replied sassily, his lips pressed together in a smirk and a single brow raised. Blaze narrowed his eyes menacingly, but apparently decided against making another comment, then simply stormed out of the dressing room, leaving Zacky to follow with an unheard chuckle. Fuckin' douche.. Zacky thought as they stood together at side stage, his arms crossed across his chest as he waited for their cue to go on.
        "We have a very special announcement tonight!" Ricki's voice came over the speakers, and for the very first time since he had started working there, Zacky was dreading his dance cue. "Instead of just one solo dancer for the hour tonight.. We will have two of our most desired men out here tending to your every need!" Way to make me sound like a hooker, Ricki.. "Please show some love to Zacky Vengeance and Blaze Manson!" Manson, really? Wow, this guy has to be a serial killer. Zacky thought as he strutted out on stage, his hands on his hips and his head tilted upwards in the air. The intro to Ladies and Gentlemen by Saliva began to play, and out of instinct, he moved for the pole that was at the end of the walkway. However, Blaze grabbed him by his hips and spun him around, turning his own back to the audience for a moment.
        "During joint dances, we don't use poles unless it's both of us at the same time. Follow my lead." His voice was low and gruff, and it made Zacky quite fearful, but he didn't have time to say anything as Blaze began grinding on him and running his hands along Zacky's lingerie covered body. He felt uncomfortable.. The only one that had touched him like this was Brian. But it was just work.. Zacky wasn't doing anything wrong.

        For the entire dance, the two dancers ground against each other, running their hands through each other's hair and occasionally smacking one another's ass. Zacky hated it.. Blaze, however, seemed to be enjoying himself. I fuckin' wonder why.. Creep. Zacky thought, but he said nothing as he realized their hour was coming to an end, and he'd be able to go backstage and get away from Blaze for a little bit.
        "And for our grand finale.." The overly muscular dancer yelled over the music, earning whoops and hollers from the entire club. Then, he grabbed Zacky's face and smashed their lips together in a disgusting, hungry kiss. The hazel-eyed man felt like his tongue was being eaten as Blaze nipped and pulled at it with his teeth; he cringed internally, but in fear of losing his job, he began unenthusiastically returning the unwanted kiss. He heard a loud gasp in the crowd, and when Blaze pulled away, Zacky stared in horror at one person who had tears streaming down his face.

        Brian.

        Zacky's stomach dropped through the floor as he walked off stage, feeling disgusted with himself that he let Blaze kiss him. How could he have stopped it, though? He was so much stronger than him, he would've easily overpowered him. And he could have done much, much worse.. Guilt swam through his entire being as he changed back into his regular clothes, then told Miss Bri he was leaving early because he wasn't feeling well. Before she even had a chance to reply, Zacky was out the door and running for his car. He would have to explain to Brian what had happened. But would he believe him..?
        "Brian, please answer.." He muttered to himself as he tapped the call button next to Brian's contact name. He slid into the driver's seat of his car, and after two rings, the phone went straight to voice mail. "Dammit!" He shouted as he slammed his fist against the steering wheel, feeling completely lost on what to do. After three more times of calling and being sent straight to voice mail, Zacky started his car and pulled out of the parking lot; instead of going home, though, he began making his way for Brian's apartment, desperate to explain what he had seen. He was in love with Brian, for God's sake, why would he ever want to mess that up?
        He made it to Brian's apartment in one piece, thankful that there weren't any cops on the road at that time of night. He hopped out of the car and tore over to Brian's door, banging on it desperately. "Brian, please, open the door! I need to talk to you!" He cried, and he was shocked by what he heard come from the other side.
        "Why should I? Shouldn't you be with Blaze?" Brian's voice was bitter and it wavered in certain parts; he had been crying.
        "I didn't want that, Brian," Zacky argued, his hands beginning to shake. He didn't want to lose Brian, not over anything.. "Please, just let me explain, and if you don't like what I say you can.. I dunno, punch me in the face." After a minute of silence, the door opened, but Brian was already walking away towards the living room. He sat down on the couch, and Zacky followed him in, already feeling tears well up in his hazel eyes.
        "You have thirty seconds." The brown-eyed man stated flatly. Zacky drew in a deep breath, quickly scanning his brain to remember what had happened.
        "Miss Bri told me that Blaze and I would be dancing together, and then Blaze and I got in an argument because I only do solo dances. He's had the hots for me since I started working there but every advance he made, I shoved him away. Then, tonight, he grabbed me and kissed me by force. The only reason I kissed back was because I didn't want to lose my job if I made a huge scene. You don't have to forgive me, and honestly, I wouldn't-" Suddenly, Zacky's sentence was cut off by Brian's warm, soft lips on his own.
        "I knew you wouldn't do something like that.." The brown-eyed man whispered against Zacky's mouth. "Sleep here tonight. Please. I don't want to be alone.." The hazel-eyed man wrapped his arms around Brian's muscular torso, holding him close to his chest as he ran his fingers through his hair.
        "Of course.." He agreed, laying down on the couch and pulling Brian on top of him. Their breathing slowed as they laid with one another, and soon enough, the brown-eyed man was fast asleep. Zacky couldn't help thinking something was wrong, though.. Why would Brian accept his apology so quickly, without even asking questions? Unless Zacky was thinking wrong, and Brian was just the kind of person to take things at face value.. With thoughts swarming his brain and emotions swirling his heart, Zacky drifted into a restless sleep, still having the unsettling, burning, nauseating sensation that something was wrong with his brown-eyed love.