Side by side

16

Bad meets evil's album is releasing today and Marshall and Nickle have decided to make a live stream. I sit next to TJ behind the camera and the worst thing is that I have to be really quite, which is quite difficult with how they're acting. Marshall is in an insanely good mood today and he's fooling around, poor Nickle has to "act" like the adult. They're funny as hell though and they're really entertaining their fans.

After the live steam we all go outside to get some fresh air. The weather is so nice and the boys grab the ball and start playing. I sit down on the front of my car and watch them.
Suddenly Emily comes walking through the gates, she says hi to the guys before she head in my direction.

"Hi sweetie." She says and hugs me. I'm actually a little nervous to see Emily because I don't know if Marshall have told her about Kyle. I know she'll be a little disappointed that I haven't told her. It's been a little over a week since I told him and we haven't really talked more about it.

"Hi." I say smiling.

"How goes?" She asks.

"Good." I say. "Much better."

"You and Marshall are getting along much better, right?" She asks.

"Yes." I say. "It's nice."

"I told you to give him some time." She says. I've actually changed my perspective on Marshall a lot, especially since he told me about his best friend's death. I think it was good that we both opened up to each other a little bit. "I saw the live stream." She now changes the subject.

"It was funny, right?" I ask smiling.

"Only the two of them can pull that behavior off." She giggles.

"You say something." I say smiling.

"I was thinking.. Do you wanna go out this weekend?" She asks. "I was thinking that the whole Shady family could go out actually."

"If I can get my mom or Sam to watch Tyler." I say.

"Sounds good." She says.

We sit and watch the boys play for a bit before we need to go back to work. Emily has to get going as she was only here to check up on some things. I get into my office and do some paperwork and suddenly Marshall comes in.

"Are you gonna join on Saturday?" He asks me as he sits across from me.

"If I can get my mom or Sam to watch Tyler." I say and I now look up at him. "What about you?"

"Imma come." He says and I just nod. "But be careful with the tequila this time."

"Don't worry." I say smiling. "I'm not gonna be some drunk mess again and I'm not gonna count on Emily for a place to crash."

"I can always drive you home." He says. Why is so sweet to me suddenly? I know that we're working on getting along and it's going fine but I'm not used to him being this kind.

"You don't have to." I decline his offer politely.

"I really don't mind." He says and I just smile because mostly I don't know what to say. "You're still being very cautious."

"I'm sorry if you feel that way." I say as it isn't my intention. I'm just not good at letting people in or opening up. "It's really not the case. I guess I just have to get used to us getting along."

"You think it's weird?"

"A little." I say. "Mostly because I don't know what you actually think about me."

"What do you mean?" He frowns.

"Like.. Are you just forced to be nice because you want good vibes or is it because you like be as a person?" I ask him because I'm curious. I don't want to think that we actually have some things in common, like the death of someone we care about and bond in any kind of way if he's just pretending.

"Do you think I would offer you a ride home if I disliked you?" He asks.

"No." I giggle.

"We had a bad start, that's all." He shrugs.

"We did." I say smiling. "You haven't told anyone about.. You know.. What we talked about?" I find it so hard to find the words for some reason.

"Your husband?" He asks and I nod. "No."

"I feel bad that me and Emily have become very close and I haven't told her."

"You'll tell her when you're ready." He says.

"I know but still." I say.

"She'll understand Jenny." He says. "Emily is very understanding and good to talk to."

"She is." I say.

"And if you feel like talking then Imma good listener." He says.

"So am I." I say as I want to return the nice gesture.

"Hey you should come into the studio sometime and hang out, you know.. See how we do things." He says as he gets up. What's with him today?

"Maybe I will." I say smiling.

Marshall's P.O.V

I walk back to the studio and sit down in my chair. I can feel Nickle staring at me but I'm not gonna say anything, I know he's probably gonna comment on something with Jenny. He thinks it's so strange that we get along so well suddenly, but he doesn't know what me and her talked about that day. After she told me about her husband then everything changed, I can't really explain it but to be the first to know is strange but also a good thing. I think to know that we have something in common helps a lot.

"You sure pay a lot of attention to her." Nickle comments. What did I say?

"Nickle, I swear.."

"I'm just saying man." He laughs. "It's just strange to see how well you get along all of the sudden."

"I was wrong about her, alright?" I admit irritated as it's probably what he wants to hear.

"And now you like her?" He asks and I'm confused if he means that I like her or that I like her in the way that I wanna date her. I like Jenny as a person, that's it! Sure she's hot and I know that I thought she was a challenge, but now that I know about her husband then I don't wanna take up that challenge. She'll be nowhere ready to even be intimate with a man only a year after and I'm not gonna ruin anything.

"She's cool." I say.

"Come on Marshall.. I saw the way you looked at her at the party. You wanna fuck her." Nickle chuckles.

"She's my accountant and assistant, it's not gonna happen. I'm not gonna bring some fucking drama into the Shady family." I say.

"You're way too obsessed with girls to keep your hands off a girl like Jenny." Nickle chuckles but he should just know what I know then he would get it.

"There's plenty of other girls that I can choose." I say.

"Yeah but you always want what you can't get." Nickle chuckles. He's really fucking annoying right now, like why the fuck can't he let it go?

"I'm not even gonna try Nickle. Can you just let it the fuck go already?" I ask him in a pissed tone.

"Damn.. Why are you suddenly so fucking moody man?"

"Cus you can't let it the fuck go."

"Fine man, I won't talk more about it." Nickle shakes his head and put on his headphones.