A Collection of Odds & Ends

A Rockwell Christmas (All Time Low)

I felt that the season called for some All Time Low. Any season calls for ATL really, but I do love a good Christmas short.

-----------------------

Jack Barakat was a man of many talents, such talents on which he prided himself. Persuasion was usually one of those many talents, unless you asked Jack this very second. If you asked him, this very second, how well his talent of persuasion was working; Jack would merely laugh and pour himself another shot. Less than an arms length away stood a bottle of whiskey, half full or half empty, Jack wasn't in the mood for that game. What he was in the mood for was punching his friend in the face.

Zack Merrick was a many of patience and very rarely raised his fist to another man. However, if he truly wanted, he could very easily break Jack Barakat in two with one punch. Maybe punching Zack in the face wasn't such a grand idea. Pouring himself that shot, Jack tipped the glass and downed the whiskey.

"Please." he wasn't above begging the other man.

Staring at the red material in his hand, Zack glared at his best friend. "No." his voice was firm.

"But what is a Christmas party at a bar, without a sexy Santa?" Jack did his best to sound as desperate as he felt.

"I'm not putting this on." Zack shook his head. The red material in his hands was a Santa suit of sorts. It consisted of a pair of boxers, with suspenders, black boots, and nothing else but a Santa hat. "I am not being a sexy Santa."

"But Zack, I need your help. I've got these ladies coming in for a party, they need their sexy Santa!" Jack was one step away from grabbing Zack and shaking him.

When Jack had called Zack and told him there was an emergency, meet him at The Rockwell, Zack didn't ask any questions. He raced over to his friend's bar, rushing to help in any way he could. Maybe he should have asked what was so dire before ever getting in the car.

"Can't Alex or Rian do it?" Zack groaned, wondering just where the other two men were and why they hadn't been called in for this.

"Alex is way too skinny." Jack waved his hand in the air, dismissing the idea. "Besides, they have roles already. Wait until you see Alex's reindeer and Rian's elf." Jack's grin grew.

Suppressing another groan, Zack could only imagine what Alex and Rian had gotten themselves into. Right about now, the very second in time, Zack knew he'd made a mistake by telling his parent's he'd stay in Baltimore for the holidays. He was kicking himself for not spending Christmas in Hawaii. Oh Hawaii, there would have been sun, sand, surf, and more importantly no Jack Barakat and no sexy Santa suits.

"I never ask you to do anything for me, Zee." Jack tried to reason his way into this.

"You always ask me to do things." Zack countered, his arms folding across his chest.

"Okay, maybe, but it is because you're just such a nice guy." Jack replied with a stupid grin. He was feeling hopeful, even if the look on Zack's handsome face was telling him to feel otherwise.

"Why me?" Zack whined, grabbing Jack's shot glass and pouring himself a drink.

"Um, well, I thought it was obvious? You're the only one who women like to see shirtless." Jack gave his answer. "Plus, you seem to like not wearing clothes. It make perfect sense."

Shaking his head, Zack downed his shot. He wasn't even going to bother arguing that, because Jack was the one who was naked most of the time. Jack was desperate and Zack knew it. Right about now, his friend would be willing to go with almost any terms, providing Zack agreed to do this. But why? Why should he bother to agree to this? Why had Alex and Rian agreed to this?