“Are you guys excited?” Matty asked walking up behind us. We were at his Dad’s club getting set up for later. We had set up our instruments and had just finished the sound check, so now all we had to do was wait around for Matty’s Dad to tell us exactly what we needed to do and when we needed to do it.
“Yeah,” we all replied at the same time.
“Well my Dad’s not gonna be around for another half hour at least. But knowing him it’ll be closer to an hour, so you’re welcome to do whatever you like really. Help yourselves to food and drinks. Nothing alcoholic Barakat,” he added when he saw Jack make a start towards the bar.
“Damn Matty you’re no fun,” he whispered.
“You know me, I’d let you drink the place dry, but my Dad wouldn’t allow it, nor is it legal. Besides we kinda need you sober to perform,” he explained. Jack sighed and I pulled him closer to me with the arm I had wrapped around his waist. He rested his head on my shoulder and turned to hug me.
“Matty’s no fun Alex,” He whined like a five year old as he turned to kiss my neck.
“Actual five year old you’ve got there Alex,” Matty chuckled as he walked off to go do whatever.
“How about we go get a drink?” I asked him. He nodded. “Wanna join?” I asked Rian and Zack who had been standing there somewhat awkwardly.
“No we’re good. We’ll leave you to deal with the child on your own,” Zack replied before Rian could even open his mouth. I was kind of relieved at that because things had been kind of tense between Zack and I. It wasn’t anything he’d done but more the fact that I was still trying to get over the fact that we were related and guessing by how he was reacting I was sure he had just found out as well. I went and got Jack and I a couple of drinks of the non-alcoholic variety and joined him at the table he had sat down at.
“You know you’re going to have to talk it out sometime, right?” Jack told me.
“I know, but how exactly do you go about talking about how you both just found out you’re related. What do you say?”
“Well it’s only a distant relation and it’s not exactly like it’s going to change anything between you. So just talk it out and come to terms with it,” Jack replied.
“When did you become so wise?” I asked.
“I don’t know and I don’t like it,” he pouted.
“Aww it’s okay Jay,” I leaned over the table and kissed. Instantly he melted into it and deepened it causing me to moan. He took this opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth.
“Mmm you should go and talk to Zack so there’s no awkwardness between you later,” he sighed as he pulled away from me. I sighed and stole another kiss beore I reluctantly got up and left to go and find Zack. After a while of wandering around the club I found both Zack and Rian lounging around near our instruments.
“Hey,” they greeted when they saw me.
“Hey, Zack can I talk to you for a minute?” I asked, suddenly becoming somewhat nervous.
“Sure,” he got up and followed me over to a different table where we sat down.
“So what did you wanna talk about?” He asked, breaking the silence that had formed.
“Well I’m guessing that you know…”
“That we’re related? Yeah I found out the other day. But what does it matter anyway? It’s not changing anything or even affecting our lives in anyway,” he shrugged.
“I guess, but our parents knew and they didn’t bother to tell us,” I sighed.
“But our parents are best friends so we were always seeing each other. You’re as much my brother as Jack is yours,” he told me.
“So there’s no weirdness between us?” I asked, pleased at how this conversation was going.
“None at all,” Zack smiled and we had a quick bro hug.
“One last question, have you told Rian?” I asked.
“No and I’m guessing you’ve told Jack.”
“He was there when I found out. I think we should tell him as he’s probably noticed how weird we’ve been around each other,” I replied.
“Yeah, but let’s leave it until after we play.” I nodded as we made our way back to the others who were waiting for us as Matty’s Dad had just got here. He explained that we could play basically whatever we wanted as long as it wasn’t offensive to anyone and that we would play the full two hours it was supposed to last unless it was empty and ended early. Then he walked off to go and make sure the place was ready to open. We talked while we waited and opening time came sooner than I realized and I was starting to feel anxious as I watched all of our peers pour into the club. Jack took my hand and whispered something in my ear, but I couldn’t quite hear it. Matty came up and gave us our cue to start, which we did. As usual the first song went really badly because the nerves were at the forefront of my mind, but I soon fell into the swing of things and got lost in the music.
--
The time had flown by and we were now helping to clear up as we packed our instruments up. The evening had gone well and Matty’s Dad had offered us the slot every week, which was awesome.
“Okay spill it.” Rian called, suddenly standing up and looking at the three of us.
“Spill what?” Jack asked looking confused.
“Whatever it is that you’re all keeping from me,” Rian answered. I looked at Zack, silently asking who was going to tell him and he shrugged.
“Alex and I are related,” Zack stated as he hauled his bass out to my truck. Rian’s eyes widened at the statement as he looked at Zack, who was now walking back towards us, then turned to look at me.
“How related?” He asked, but before anyone could answer he asked another question. “Wait is this why you’ve been really weird and distant towards each other?” I nodded answering his question.
“It’s only very distant and I couldn’t explain it if I tried, but yes,” I informed my friend.
“Jack did you know about this?”
“Yes?” It came out sounding more like a question.
“Why did nobody tell me? Why am I always the last one to know anything?” Rian muttered.
“I was round Alex’s when he found out and it would’ve been weird just coming out with it before we all had to play together,” Jack told him.
“Wait, were you even planning on telling me?”
“Yeah we were gonna tell you right now, but you bet us to it.”
“What the hell? This is weird,” Rian exclaimed.
“Tell me about it,” I muttered.
“Excuse me I don’t mean to interrupt anything, but are you the guys from the band All Time Low?” I turned to face the new voice to see a man in his late 20s- early 30s.
“Yes we are from that band. Who are you?” I asked.
“I was at the Battle of the Bands competition that you won and after hearing your material I have a proposition for you,” he informed us.
“That was vague,” Jack muttered so quietly that only I could hear him.
“We’re listening.”
