Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter Fifty-One

He awoke the next morning feeling comfortable and warm. Brian yawned and stretched, then realized there was a body pressed close to his side and started in surprise.

Zacky was buried under the blankets, only the top of his hair showed, messed up and wild. Brian instantly felt warm feelings sprout up in his chest; Zacky chose to get off the couch and came to sleep with him.

He wanted to kiss him. He wanted to press his lips to Zacky’s and wake him up, and they could make out and he wouldn’t even care that the bitter of morning was on his breath. It was his Zacky and that’s all that mattered.

But instead, he slid out of bed. He brushed his teeth. He put on a shirt and pants and went into the kitchen.

Suzy and his dad were in the kitchen, talking over cups of coffee. They looked up when Brian came in, and Suzy asked, “Where’s Zacky?”

“In bed.” Brian replied, going over to the coffee pot and grabbing a mug. “He came in there last night when I was sleeping.”

“So you guys are fighting?” his dad asked, “I still don’t understand why he’s here.”

“He’s upset with his parents.” Brian explained as he poured some coffee in his cup, “They’re having this big argument and even though we’re fighting, I guess I’m the only one he can turn to.”

His parents frowned, looking at each other. “What are they arguing over?”

“They’re going to be moving back to Washington, and he doesn’t want to.” Brian said, “But it’s really not my business to get involved with that.”

“You won’t care if he moves back to Washington?” Suzy asked as she poured more creamer into her cup.

“Yes, I will, I’ll care a lot, but I can’t exactly tell his parents to stay in Cali, can I? It’s their decision to make, not mine.”

“You can’t tell them to, but you sure can ask them.” Brian’s dad said, “Have you ever met them?”

“No. But we’re fighting anyway, we’re probably not going to be able to work this one out.” Brian’s words were rushed as he tried to get them out before the tears were visible in his voice.

“I think you will. He’s gotta have some sort of feelings for you, or else he wouldn’t have shown up here last night. Maybe you just need to give him some time.” His dad stood. “I better get into the studio. I’ve only got a few more weeks of recording until this baby’s ready to be mixed.”

Brian said goodbye to his dad, then sat with Suzy at the table. “Where’s Kenna?” Brian asked.

“She was still sleeping a while ago, so I let her be. I’m going to be taking Brent out today, I was going to ask you if you could watch her for me…”

“Sure, no problem. But I’ve got practice at Jimmy’s today and I figured I should show up.”

“Oh, you could take her, you’re not too loud, are you?”

“I guess not, but she might get bored…”

“Well, I’m taking Brent and his friends to Anaheim, we’ll be leaving as soon as he comes out of the-“

“Ready!” Brent said, tromping into the room. “Let’s go!”

Then, the house was empty. Well, not empty, just quiet. Brian went into McKenna’s room, to see her sitting in her crib chewing on her stuffed bear.

“Hey, kiddo.” He grinned, and she laughed, reaching for him.

“Bribri!” she giggled, and he picked her up.

“Hey, cutie pie!” he kissed her cheek. “Have you been sleeping in all day long?”

He set her in her high chair and poured her a bowl of cereal, placing it with a spoon before here. “Now I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t make a mess…”

McKenna just giggled in reply, splashing her spoon in her milk, then she frowned, looking at a point past Brian. He turned around, and his eyes instantly locked on Zacky.

He was chewing his lip nervously between his snakebites, and it looked as though he had run his hand through his hair a few times to give it some order. He had found his clothes and held his shoes in his hands. “I’m going.” He whispered.

“Don’t you want to stay for breakfast?” Brian asked, “I-I could make something, pancakes or bacon or something…”

“No.” Zacky replied softly. “Thank you for letting me stay here last night.”

“Everything’s still wet outside, Zacky, you can’t go anywhere with hopes to stay dry…”

“Yes, I can.” Zacky replied. He turned to go, and McKenna called out, “ZeeZee!”

He froze, turning around and looking at McKenna. “Yeah, that’s me.”

She grinned and reached for him, “Spin me!” she begged, “Spin me, ZeeZee!”

Brian watched Zacky’s expression soften, and he whispered, “Not today, Kenna.”

“I’m uh, I’m going to go to practice today.” Brian said, “If you’re going to be moving, I figured I shouldn’t quit the band.”

Okay, maybe that was uncalled for, saying that so soon. He saw the pain in Zacky’s eyes, but he turned away again. “Okay.” His voice was barely audible. “Whatever, I don’t care.”

And then he was gone, and it was just Brian and McKenna alone in the empty house. She wasn’t too offended at Zacky turning down her request, and dipped her spoon into her cereal. Brian wanted to run after him, he wanted to go and hug him and kiss him and beg him to stay.

But he couldn’t. He had broken Zacky’s trust, and something told him he wouldn’t be getting it back any time soon.

What was Zacky feeling? What if Zacky felt the same way? He wanted to go to Brian, but he was waiting for Brian to make the first move?

As much as Brian wanted to think that was true, he knew otherwise. With a sad sigh, he picked up his coffee, which had grown cold by now, and settled in for a long, hard day.