Frustrated, for some ridiculous fucking reason, I wrench my hand from Brian’s arm, lift it, and backhand him like it’s nobody’s business.

‘You’re fucking stupid, Bri.  You really are.’

But he just stares at me, limbs visibly shaking and tears already pricking at the corners of his eyes.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’

‘Zack…’ he gasps, reaching forward as I step back.

--

We continue on like this, Brian completely devouring me in a chase for a hunger that seems to never be fulfilled.  I have my fair share as we roll around, switching positions and kissing each other to no end.  Tongues clash, screams and moans are elicited, grunts are produced, and sweat glands seem to run dry as panting takes place of breathing and burly bodies fit effortlessly together in an endless tangle to love the other more.

Finally, heaps of hours later, I lie on my back, completely out of breath, Brian equally gasping, but, regardless, propped up on his elbow, tracing lines on my chest.

‘We have a show tomorrow,’ he whispers, leaning down and kissing my skin softly.

‘We’re gonna be sore,’ I return, moving my hand to his head and slowly running my fingers through his long hair.

‘No kidding.’

He remains silent after that, resting his head on my chest, his fingers lightly dancing across my stomach now.  Before long, his fingers stop and his breathing evens, so I let my eyes slip shut and the darkness take over…

--

Near eight that night, I wake, yawning obnoxiously.

‘Hey, angel,’ Brian coos from beside me.

I look over to find him sitting cross-legged, fully dressed and texting furiously on his phone.

‘Who’re you talking to?’ I question, wriggling my head under his arm and onto his lap.

He just laughs softly before leaning down and giving me a kiss.

‘Matt,’ he replies as his eyes move back to his phone, ‘He’s pissed.’

‘Why?’

‘Apparently, he sent Johnny to spy on us and he could hear us.’

‘Doubt it.  There are, like, a million other couples fucking everyday.  He doesn’t know it was us.’

‘Zack, not every couple fucks for four hours,’ Brian points out before tossing his phone toward the end of the bed and moving down to kiss me again.

I let him take over, and soon he’s got me on my back again, he lying on top of me.  He moves against me on instinct, causing me to moan.

‘Bri, please don’t.  You’re giving me a killer headache,’ I groan, holding the sides of his face.

‘Why?’ he questions impatiently, trying to kiss me.

‘Because,’ I say, tilting my head to the side, ‘Because you’re wearing jeans and I’m stark.  The friction is maddeningly awesome, but it hurts right now.’

‘Okay, fine.  We should get back to the bus at some point, anyway.  We’ve been gone for, like, seven hours or something.  Someone’s gotta figure it out sooner or later.’

‘Hey, Bri,’ I start suddenly as I’m reaching for my boxers and jeans.

‘Yeah, baby?’

‘When are we supposed to go on TRL?’

‘Umm… shit.’

He looks over at me with wide eyes, and I groan, clapping a hand to my forehead.

‘Tomorrow, right?’ I barely whisper, already not looking forward to it.

‘Yeah.  Great.  How do we explain this one?  Well, we hate each other, but we’re going to disappear for a day and end up sore as hell the next day.  Well, hmm.’

I just throw a pillow at Brian before going into the bathroom to relieve myself and get dressed…

--

The next day, I wake up with my face in a sweet-smelling pillow.  I inhale deeply, smiling as I recognize Brian’s cologne.

‘Morning, angel,’ he whispers from beside me, leaning over and pecking me on the lips.

‘Hey,’ I return, kissing him back.

‘How do you feel?’

‘Groggy.’

‘Yeah, obviously.  Try getting up.’

I go to move when a sharp pain shoots up my legs, viciously attacking my hips and stomach region.

‘Ow,’ I groan, falling back down.

‘I think we were a little rough yesterday.’

‘Well, it’s too bad.  If the whole world wants to keep us away from each other for that long, then we’re going to fuck as hard as we want to.’

‘Guys, there are other people in here,’ Jimmy’s voice suddenly carries out, causing Brian to crack up, ‘I mean, you can go ahead and continue.  I’m just warning you in case you don’t want me to hear something.’

‘Jimmy, you’re a loser,’ Brian says as I slide open the curtain.

‘Brian!’ I screech as he pushes me out of his bunk.

I fall in a crumpled, grumbling ball on the floor as he gingerly gets out of after me.  I skillfully trip him and he falls on his face, both of us laughing afterward.

‘Zack, I hate you,’ he murmurs, crawling over to me and kissing me upside down.

‘Yeah, hate me some more,’ I whisper, pulling him closer to me.

‘Guys!’

Brian merely lifts a hand, gives Matt the middle finger, and continues swapping spit with me.  When he’s satisfactorily finished, he gets up, leaving me panting on the floor.

‘Fuck you, Matt.  We are in the privacy of our own tour bus.  You fuck Val left and right, so I’m allowed to kiss Zack whenever I damn well please to.  Understood?’

Matt just stares at Brian in shock before Brian gives him a victory glare and then stalks off haughtily.

‘Don’t even.  I’m siding with him,’ I quickly butt in before Matt can turn on me, ‘He’s right.  You’re not playing very nice.’

‘Zack,’ Matt says, grabbing my arm as I try to slide past him.

I glare at him, so he hastens to continue, ‘You guys gonna be inconspicuous today?’

‘Yeah.  I’ll just hate him all over again.’

I rip my arm out of Matt’s grip and storm off, find Brian, and pin him to the couch in the lounge after kicking the door shut.  Everyone knows better than to bother us right now…

--

‘Happy, Matthew?’ I tease as we’re setting up our instruments to play “Bat Country”.

‘Don’t push it, Zack,’ he warns, sending me a quick glare.

‘What?  They haven’t been bitches yet, and Brian and I are supposedly still fighting.  All’s good.’

‘Zack.  Just stop talking.’

‘Whatever.  I have to piss.’

I walk off, feeling my temper rising.  I’ve only just left the studio when someone grabs me roughly and drags me down the hallway, one hand over my mouth.  When my attacker finally stops, he removes his hand and presses his lips to mine.  I instantly relax, tasting Brian’s familiar lips.

‘Promise not to scream?’ he whispers against my lips, his hands firmly laced with mine.

‘Yeah, of course,’ I respond, looking worriedly at him.

‘Swear, Zack.  Swear it.’

‘I swear I won’t scream, Brian.  What’s going on?’

‘Okay, well, Damien knows we’re both gone right now.  He’s been waiting for the right moment to ask that – you know – big question.  I just gave it to him.  He saw you leave, and me nearly immediately after.’

‘Brian!’ I hiss, pushing him back.

‘Don’t scream,’ he reminds, keeping our hands locked.

‘He’s going to ask after we play “Bat Country” and get into interview mode.  Matt’s going to deny it.  He already told me.  I’m guessing Damien will turn to us and expect an answer.  Zack, don’t scream.  I’m going to tell him.’

Brian’s lips crash against mine again, his tongue deviously slipping its way in.  I ignore the distraction and roughly shove his chest, he stumbling back, but making sure to squeeze our hands together still.

‘You can’t!’ I gasp, glaring at him.

‘Zack, seriously, Gena already told everyone.  Someone saw us leave the bus yesterday together and then leave the hotel together.  I’m sure there is someone at the end of this hall going “holy fuck, they’re making out!”.  The evidence is ridiculously hardcore.’

‘Bri, please don’t,’ I beg, not even taking time to process the information.

‘Zack, it’s already on the table!’

‘Brian,’ I groan, trying to tear our hands apart.

‘Don’t,’ he pleads, staring at me with frightened eyes.

‘Brian, we can’t.  We just can’t.  I’m sorry.’

I remove one of my hands from his vice-like grip before working at the other.

‘Zack, don’t!’ he nearly shouts, digging his nails into the back of my hand.

‘Dude, not cool!’ I hiss, clapping a hand over his mouth and yanking my hand back.

It flies free, but I don’t notice that.  All I can see is the absolute pain infecting every perfect feature of Brian’s façade.

‘Brian,’ I try, but he just pushes me away and stalks back toward the studio.

The performance goes over relatively well, but it lacks both enthusiasm and passion.  Even Matt can see that something is wrong.  It’s only about five minutes before the show is over that the million dollar questions pops up.

‘Okay, guys, I hate to be the one to have to ask, but it’s everywhere and we can’t ignore it.  Zacky, Syn… are you guys more than just friends?’

‘No way, dude.  We’re all ludicrously straight,’ Matt defends automatically, causing Damien to look over at him.

‘Thanks, M.  Guys?’

‘Just friends, man,’ Brian responds, sounding almost glum.

Now I really know I’ve fucked up.  He shouldn’t be unconvincing of this topic on TV.  Whatever.  There goes our career.

‘Fuck you, that’s a lie,’ I butt in, and I swear Matt nearly has a heart attack.

As every person in the audience gasps at my statement, Brian’s jaw drops and he stares at me.  Jimmy, Johnny, and Matt are all separating us, Matt uncomfortably next to me.

‘Zacky?’ Damien questions, causing me to look over at him.

And then the fact that I just admitted on live television that Brian and I are together finally hits me.

‘Shit,’ I gripe, closing my eyes momentarily.

‘Zacky’s just… he’s just a little nervous,’ Matt says, sending me the most hateful and scariest glare ever in the history of looks.  EVER.  Period.

‘I’m not nervous.  You’re full of shit, and Brian’s just trying to make sure you don’t strangle all of us.  No, Matt, shut your face.  You know it’s true.  You know Gena’s a bitch and told everyone.  Get over it.’

>‘Wait a minute.  I’m not following this,’ Damien interrupts, looking more or less excited.

‘Zack, don’t you dare,’ Matt warns, gripping his mic a little too tightly.

‘Don’t threaten him,’ Brian defends, stepping forward and turning toward Matt.

‘Brian, don’t even start.’

‘Fuck you, Matt.  Watch me start.’

‘Alright, guys, let’s remember we have, like, three minutes left and I’m not gonna allow any fighting.  Zacky, would you care to explain the situation at hand?’

‘No.  Fuck you.  Stop being so fucking nosy.  It’s not any of your fucking business.’

I drop my mic to the floor before taking my leave.  Brian is right behind me.  Jimmy and Johnny leave shortly after, and Matt eventually departs, apologizing profusely beforehand.  And then our lives explode.  Brian catches me outside the building, his hand shaking as he grabs my forearm.

‘What was that about?’ he asks, begging for the right answer.

‘I love you, Brian Haner, and I’m not going to let anyone stop me from screaming it from the rooftops.’

With that, I worm my arm out of his grip, fasten them around his waist, and kiss him lovingly.  It’s short, as expected, for Matt suddenly appears on the scene, ripping us apart.  He doesn’t even get time to curl his fingers before Brian and I both turn on him, knocking him out cold with two swift punches to the head.

‘I’m not carrying him,’ we both mutter before casting Jimmy and Johnny similar looks.

They nod in agreement as Val hurries by us, Jason and Matt behind her.  Together, the three of them unsteadily lift Matt into the air, groaning against his weight, while Brian and I walk away from the horrors of Times Square, fingers locked…

--

Aww!