What If

In Love

The sound of Zacky's doorbell made Brian feel more nervous although he couldn't explain why. If anyone should be nervous about everything, it should be Zacky...right?

He rang the doorbell two more times before he heard Zacky's cantankerous voice.

"Jesus Fuck...I'm coming..." The door swung open and confusion was clear on Zacky's face. "Brian..what are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?"

"What? Yeah...sure. Come on in," Zacky motioned for him to follow him through the door. "Excuse the mess. I'm working on some stuff for when class starts up again." He pointed to the empty couch. "Have a seat. You want a beer?"

Brian shifted the pillows from the couch and sat "Yeah a beer sounds good."

"All I've got is Corona," Zacky's voice called from the kitchen. "I hope that's okay."

"It's fine," Brian called over his shoulder taking his attention off the math papers in front of him.

Zacky walked back into the room with two dressed Corona's in each hand. "Hope you don't mind the salt and lime."

"Nah, it's fine," Brian replied as he took the bottle. "You traded poker for lesson plans?"

Zacky shrugged. "Adult responsibilities, ya know?"

Brian thought of his kids at home. "Yeah I know."

They both sipped their beer in silence.

Brian knew he'd have to break the ice. "So Zack...how long have you had it bad for my wife?"

Zacky open his mouth to object but thought twice. "It's not as bad as it used to be," he shrugged "or at least I didn't think it was....at least not until you said you were going to cheat on her."

He hadn't answered the question directly so Brian tried again. "Since we first got together then?"

"Maybe a little after that..."Zacky shrugged. "Got worse after you broke up."

"We broke up?"

"Yeah after you left her standing in the parking lot when we took off for Warped. She was a mess. At first she called and texted me to make sure you were okay. But we started really talking..."

"I don't remember this," Brian replied.

Zacky shrugged "You probably wouldn't. It was out of your scope. You were so fascinated being Synyster Gates, you were completely oblivious to whatever went on around you."

"So you hooked up with my girl?" Brian accused.

"Seriously dude," Zacky replied "we were on the same God damned bus on tour. When the fuck would I have time to hook up with your girl?"

"You never told me,"Brian added.

"It didn't matter. You showed up on her doorstep, crying those pretty brown eyes out. It didn't matter what I said...She was in love with you."

"Did you ever tell her how you felt?" Brian asked.

Zacky shook his head "Nah man... I was just her friend. I was there to let her vent. She's always been your girl. I'd never intrude on that. You're one of my best friends."

"I appreciate that," Brian said calming a bit.

Suddenly Zacky got angry again. "But don't think for one second that I'll hesitate to tell her about Michelle."

"You just said you were my friend."

"Doesn't mean I won't sell you out," Zacky said firmly. "Cheating on Kate is wrong...and you're an asshole if you do it. You don't know what you've got, Brian. She loves you and I know somewhere in that tiny Grinch heart...you love her too...you do...I know it...you know it...so...I'm begging you...don't fuck it up."