Drunk Mistake

Confrontation

Eric POV

I couldn't believe I had missed my chance to catch them! I woke up and saw that neither of them were in their bunks. I checked my phone and saw that it was almost 1:30 AM. I got out of my bunk and didn't see anyone in either lounge. Then I heard voices in the bathroom. I thought I finally had a chance to catch them in the act! I busted open the door and saw... Brent leaning on the counter and Zach looking at his back. "What the hella re you two doing in here, its 1:30 in the morning?!" I asked, more frustrated than anything. Brent said something about scratches on his back bothering him and how Zach was gonna put ointment on them. I took a look and saw that there were, in fact, scratches all over his back. Some looked almost healed and some looked brand new. It looked a lot like someone had drug their fingernails down Brent's back. There was no way for me to know if Zach had given them to him during their... ahem... private time, but they were definitely from a person. I let it go because I was exhausted and I couldn't prove anything anyway. I told them to hurry up and they did so we all went back to bed. We were changing in the morning when I happened to see Zach take off his shirt. There were what I can only describe as bite marks all up and down his stomach and chest as well as a few bruises here and there. Either Brent really was a vampire, or Zach really liked being marked up. I decided to have some fun and tease Zach about it. "What are those from?" I asked, nodding at his stomach. He looked down and blushed. "Uhhhhhmmm... I dunno" he mumbled. "First Brent with scratches all over his back, now you with bites all over your front. You guys should stop hanging out with wild animals!" I said with a grin. "Yeah, mnk..." was the reply. "I mean you could really catch something from an...animal... like that." I said suggestively. Zach looked up at me suddenly with a surprisingly angry expression. "Look, I have to get my rocks off somehow man. Sorry if my hand isn't good enough sometimes." he spat. I was taken aback, but at least he was finally admitting to something. "So what you just pick up a new chick in every city we hit?" I prodded. "Yeah sure Eric. Whatever helps you sleep at night." He grumbled and walked off. I had to tell Barry about this new development.

Barry POV

Apparently Eric had a somewhat revealing conversation with Zach. He was hypothesizing that we had gotten everything wrong. "I can't say for sure, but I think Zach might just be having normal, random hook ups. When I teased him about the bites he acted like they were nothing. You would think if he and Brent were sleeping together he would be more defensive about it, not dismissive right? I mean there would have to me some emotions involved, there so close anyway. He would be way more guarded if he were hiding an actual relationship right?" I thought for a minute and said "Maybe you're right. I should ask him about it. Maybe he'll open up to me a little more." Eric agreed. I did my best to corner Zach that night before the show, but he was avoiding me and Eric. I was finally able to get him alone after the show. He had been grumpy all day so I used that as an in. "Dude, what's wrong? I can tell something's up." I said gently. "Nothing I'm just... restless I guess." He said, not looking at me. "You've been acting weird lately. Is there something going on that I should know about?" I pressed. He looked up at me and said "Eric's just been all up in my business and it's getting on my nerves." I squeezed his shoulder and said "I get it. That can be annoying, but why are you so restless?" He blushed and looked away before replying, "I just need a... release, I guess." "Yeah, I know that feel man. It's tough being out here alone. At least you don't have a wife to be loyal to. I really don't have any options." I responded with a laugh. He looked back at me again and said with a smile, "Yeah, but my youthful libido goes unmatched, old man!" "So how have you been taking care of it? Please tell me you haven't been sleeping with just anyone." He looked like he was about to say something, but stopped himself.

Zach POV

I figured this was my chance to throw Barry and Eric off our scent for a while so I said "No...not really. I mean I've picked up girls a few times when I was really desperate, but for the most part I'm just trying to ignore it." Barry seemed satisfied with that answer. He said "Alright, just be careful man. I don't want you to catch anything or get hurt, ok?" "Yeah B don't worry, I'll be alright." We said goodnight and I went to bed while Barry stayed up to watch TV in the back lounge. Eric and Brent were still up, talking in the front lounge when I ducked into my bunk.

Eric POV

I noticed Barry had finally gotten Zach alone to talk, so I decided to see what I could get out of Brent. "Hey, mind if I ask where you got those scratches I saw the other night?" I asked as I sat down on the couch across from Brent. "Um... well... I.." he stammered. "Dude come on, they had to be finger nail scratches. Don't lie to me now." I prompted. Brent looked up at me in surprise and looked away again. "And so what if they are? I'm not allowed to have some fun now?" he grumbled. "It's not that, it's just... well, I've been worried about you ever since I heard someone in your hotel room a couple months ago. I'm afraid you aren't being very careful. And by the looks of those scratches, old and new, you've been going at it pretty rough." I said. He frowned and said "Eric, I know you're just looking out for me but you're not my mother, ok? I'm careful enough." I raised my eyebrow and said "Bullshit! Brent we all know there's no such thing as careful enough. Besides, how have you been sneaking around behind our backs? We've never noticed an unusual absence." Now it was Brent's turn to cock an eyebrow. "That's a trade secret my friend and none of your business. Now, I'm going to bed before you start asking for tips! Goodnight!" And with the tip of an imaginary cowboy hat, he left. Barry saw me through the hallway and came up front to compare notes. "So, what did Zachy have to say?" I asked eagerly. "Basically, he's got a lot of pent up energy. He said he's picked up girls a few times, but mostly he tries to ignore it. What did you and Brent talk about?" "Well, I asked him about the scratches and he  didn't even try to deny that he got them during sex. He said he was being 'careful enough' and that I should butt out. He also didn't deny sneaking around behind our backs." Barry rubbed the back of his neck for a minute before saying "Dude, I think we were wrong. What are the chances that they both have completely reasonable yet, still shameful cover stories that never even remotely implicate each other, and yet are actually sleeping together?" I sighed and said, "They might've come up with them just in case they got caught, and Brent was pretty vague." "Eric, we can keep trying to catch them, but it might be for nothing." I broke into a grin and said "Yeah, but at least it's fun." Barry just chuckled and said "That's enough conspiring for me. G'night." I hugged him and sat back down to watch some TV and mull things over.