This Means War

Tie Breaker

"I feel like I'm going insane," Marley said honestly as she and Lisa window shopped on Melrose.

Lisa stopped in front Crossroads to admire the smartly dressed mannequins. "Do you think that would look good on me?"

Marley nodded looking from her best friend to the clothes "You could wear your cute little purple suede flats with that one," she pointed to the adorable lavender dress.

"Hmmm," Lisa considered "Let's come back to it. I'm sure there will be some cooler stuff at Chantell."

They resumed their walking pace enjoying the warm California weather.

"Oh," Lisa said with a spark of remembrance. "So why are you going insane?"

"Brian and Zacky," Marley said shaking her head as if Lisa should already know.

Lisa scoffed "How the hell is that a problem?"

Marley threw her hands up in exasperation "I'm serious. This is really serious."

"I can't believe you think dating two hot guys in the same rock band is a problem," Lisa said quickly "Most girls in the english speaking world kill to have that problem."

"Well I'm not most girls," Marley countered. "And think about it...it just doesn't make any sense. Last month I was dating the chair in the doctor's lounge and sitting at home on weekends playing scrabble with Robert. And this month, I'm being courted by two of the hottest guys I've ever seen. It's ridiculous and it doesn't make any sense."

"Who says dating has to make sense?" Lisa replied "You're just making up for all those dateless years in med school. And you have to stop talking scrabble...it makes you sound like a 90 year old woman who has nine cats and knits."

Marley laughed out loud and a few of the pedestrians walking near them turned. "I was supposed to be the 90 year old woman that knitted...until Brian broke his hand and then it all went to hell."

Lisa shook her head "I still don't see the problem. You pick one...or neither and then move on...and hell they are rockstars so maybe they'll even let you pick both."

"I couldn't do that...I feel bad just dating both of them. I have to make a choice and soon," Marley said miserably.

"Okay...so give it to me straight. Which one do you like better?" Lisa asked.

"I like them both..."

"Well, tell me which one has more qualities that you like more," Lisa said seriously.

  "Ugh I don't know. They're both incredible."

"Is there anything bad about them?" Lisa asked "There has to be one thing bad about each of them."

Marley tilted her head "Okay, let me think. Flaws. Hmm...flaws. Okay I think there...there is one thing."

"Okay..."Lisa said slowly "Hit me with it."

"Brian has an overwhelming amount of confidence," Marley explained "Let's get some coffee." They walked into the Starbucks.

"Since when is confidence a bad thing?" Lisa asked as they walked up to the counter. "A tall Vanilla Latte and..."

"A tall Cafe Mocha" Marley told the barista before turning back to Lisa "...oh yeah...and Zacky has small hands...I mean..their nice...warm....extremely gentle...but small."

"Aww..you know what that means?" Lisa pressed.

"Well I don't know for sure..."

"There's only one way to find out," Lisa countered.

"Like that won't screw everything up more than it already is," Marley replied taking a seat at one of the small round tables.

"It won't if you play it right. Besides, it's like a new car, you've got to take it out for a spin before you buy it, right?"

"That is such fucked up logic," Marley laughed. "And that would make me a total slut."

"C'mon Marl, you act like both of these guys aren't sluts themselves. They've both been charming the pants off of women which they've undoubtedly been doing since they both shot out of the birth canal, glimpsed their own reflections in the obstetrician's eyeglasses, and gave the world a high five."

"Did you just think of that?" Marley said grabbing their cups from the counter. 

"Yeah I just thought of it. And I'm right," Lisa blew in the tiny hole in the lid before taking a sip. "A sex tiebreaker is the way to go."

"I don't know. It just seems so skanky to do that."

"Trust me, you could use a little skank in your life," Lisa pointed out. "So which one are you seeing next?"

Marley sipped her drink. "Well Brian is coming to have his cast removed tomorrow."

"There you go...you can do him first. With all that confidence, he's bound to be pretty good in bed."

Marley laughed. "I guess...."

===========================

"I cannot wait to get this fucking cast off tomorrow," Brian said yanking at the fiberglass material.

"Quit being such a whiny bitch," Matt replied as he kept his focus on the TV screen in front of him while Brian slammed the cast against the table "What the fuck are you trying to do?"

"I'm trying to break it," Brian replied twisting the fiberglass.

"Don't you have a date with Dr. McHotness to get it off tomorrow?" Matt asked firing at the zombies that appeared on the screen.

Brian lifted his eyebrow and smirked "Well I'm hoping to get off tomorrow."

Matt turned to glare for a second before firing again."I didn't mean that..."

"I knew what you meant but a guy can dream right?" Brian asked.

"That's not the way to win the bet." Matt replied  

"Of course it is," Brian replied "So far everything I've tried, Zacky has had a comeback for. I know he's enough of a gentleman to not try to take advantage of her once he figures out that she and I have...."

"You underestimate Zacky," Matt said as Brian turned his attention back to his cast.

"Nah, I know exactly what I'm dealing with when it comes to Zacky."

"Do you even like want the girl or do you just want to win?" Matt asked.

"Why can't I want both?" Brian smirked.

"Arin was right..this whole thing wasn't a good idea." Matt mumbled as his last man died and the game reset.

Before Brian could reply, they heard Val open the front front door. "Hey babe, I'm home," her happy voice cried. "I hope you don't mind but I just bought thousands of dollars of new shoes."

Matt shook his head and Brian rolled his eyes. They both knew Val would never do that.

"Yeah it's fine...as long as I can buy that kickass beer pong table for the garage," Matt replied.

She finally made her way into the living room with Michelle in tow. "Oh hey Bri...I didn't know you were here. I thought that was Dan's car."

"Hey Val, Michelle," Brian said diplomatically. It had been a few months since he'd seen his ex-wife. She looked great with her high ponytail and pink hair.

She smiled tightly. "Hey Bri...Matt...I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

"It's fine," Brian said assuredly "I was getting ready to leave anyway."

"No," Michelle said quickly "You don't have to do that. Stay. We're both...adults here."

"Since when?" Matt cracked and only he and Val laughed.

"Funny," Brian deadpanned. "Real funny Matt."