My Fair Chance

How perfect their honeymoon had been, how much more in love they'd become. Rian and Cassadee had finally returned home, ready to shower their friends in stories of their time away, filled with romance and lust.


But Alex Gaskarth didn't want anything to do with that.


He'd gotten the invite to their return party the night before via text message. Naturally, he responded saying he coudn't be more excited to see his friends again and hear all about how married life had been treating them, but that was honestly a lie. Alex didn't want anything to do with giddy, happy couples when his own love-life had been run over by a mac truck.


Too much time had passed since he last saw Brooklyn, or Zack, for that matter. Jack was his only tie to the outside world since he'd taken on life as a hermit, but even his best friend could deliver the news he wanted to hear. According to Jack, Zack would only return his calls after midnight and by then, he was usually drunk. Alex didn't have to ask to know that Brooklyn had walked out of his life as well.


It was ridiculous the way one girl could come into their lives and fuck them over so badly. He was a fool for falling for her, he knew that, but he also knew that she'd fallen for him, too. It's the only real reason she wouldn't stay and work things out with Zack. In her eyes, it was better to be away from both of them so she wouldn't cause any more trouble. However, to both Alex and Zack, that was the worst possible choice she could have made.


Now they'd spend the rest of their lives wondering who she cared for more. Who was better for her. Who she would have picked in the end.


Groaning, Alex brushed down a stray bundle of hair that refused to stay in place and sprayed half a bottle of hair spray on his head. If he was going to this thing, the least he could do was pretend that he hadn't been a depressed sap since Ri and Cass left for their honeymood. Well, there was also the fact that he didn't want Zack to know how beat down he'd been since Brooklyn left. An apology to the other boy was out of the question, so he needed Zack to think that he was perfectly fine with Brooklyn's choice to leave.


It only took Alex about ten minutes to get to the bar that Rian and Cassadee had chosen for everyone to meet up. The place wasn't so bad, it wasn't musty and didn't smell like skunked beer or stale cigarette smoke. Actually, it was almost romantic. Dim lights, a long glossed bar and red and black walls. There were a few creeps off in the side room by the pool table, but they weren't bothering anyone so Alex didn't seem them as a threat. Besides, he could really use a drink.


He made his way to the bar and ordered a shot of whiskey and a beer to chase it down with. Scrunching up his face, he took the shot straight to his head and pressed the neck of the beer to his lips. The mix of fire and beer and blended in his throat, bringing a smile to his face as he sat the beer down on the bar. Why hadn't he been doing this all along? At least Zack had enough sense to drink the girl away, while he just moped about her.


"Glad you could make it, bro," a strong hand smacked down on Alex's shoulder before he was pulled into a hug. Alex was almost grateful to hear Rian's voice again, the one person in the group who seemed to have life figured out. "I missed you, dude."


"The feeling's mutual," Alex chuckled, pulling back just to be pulled into Cassadee's embrace. "How was the trip?"


"Amazing!" Cass gushed, a huge smile forming on her pretty face. "The hotel was gorgeous and the water was so clear. We even made love on the beach!"


"Whao, too much," Alex snorted, taking another swig of his drink. "Is anyone else here yet?"


"Yep. We got a table before we noticed you over here by the bar."


Alex nodded, clinging to his beer as he trailed behind his friends to the table that everyone else was already seated it. There was a small pang in his chest when he noticed the empty space beside Zack, which had clearly been meant for a beautiful girl with a huge heart. A lump formed in his throat as he averted his gaze. It was apparent just by looking at the other man that he wasn't recovering well. Jack had been right - Zack looked slightly hung-over, mostly still intoxicated - His eyes smothered by dark circles and his blonde hair a complete mess. Even his muscles weren't as toned as they'd usually been, which surprised Alex. If nothing else, you'd think he'd take out his anger on a punching bag.


That's about the time that Alex realized that Zack had been saving all of his anger for his face. Perhaps it was from the way Zack's arms twitched when he looked at Alex, which noticed from the corner of his eye, or perhaps it was the glare on Zack's face as he rolled his eyes at Alex's existence.


"So you guys," Cass broke the silence, not even noticing the mental fight between her two friends, "we brought back gifts! Jack, we got you a boob cup," she giggled, handing the over-sized breasts to a giddy Jack. "Alex, we know how much you like your booze, so we got you the most expensive, well-aged wine we could get our hands on."


Alex blinked, slowly reaching out to take the bottle from her small hands. It was a thoughtful gift, he had to admit that, but more than anything Alex couldn't help but be thankful for their timing. There was certainly nothing he wanted more at this moment than to bail on his friends, get drunk and call Brooklyn.


"As for you, Zack," Cassadee dug around in the large brown bag until she pulled out a pair of golden brass knuckles, "Rian didn't want to get these for you but I just couldn't pass them up. Now, I don't expect or really want you to ever use them, but they're beautiful and they remind me of you. Strong and dangerous, but well composed."


For a moment, a smile broke on Zack's face. His fingers slipped right in the holes as he brought the weapon to his face to get a better look. Clearing his throat, Zack offered a thank-you to his friends before he excused himself to the bar.


"What's with him?" Rian asked, sipping on his beer. "Did him and Brooklyn split?"


"Yeah.. Something like that," Jack answered, shifting his weight. "He'll be okay, though. Once we get back on the road life will go back to normal."


"I don't know," Cass sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. "I've never seen him cling to a girl so much before. His heart must really be broken.. Someone should go talk to him."


"I-I'll go," Alex murmured, brushing his hair out of his face. "It's the least I can do."


Leaving the newly-weds with confused expressions, Alex slowly made his way to the bar. Zack was on a stool, his body hunched over the wood as he threw back a shot of whiskey. By the way he didn't flinch or shake it off, Alex could guess that he'd grown used to the taste, probably craved the burn. Sighing, he plopped down on the seat next to Zack, holding his finger up to order another shot for himself.


"It kills me that she's gone ya know," Alex groaned, doing his best not to look at the other man. "I never, ever meant to come in between you two. I just, I dunno, I fell for her too."


"Bullshit. For the first time in your life you saw something you couldn't have and that's the only fucking reason you went after her in the first place. Had you acted like a friend and kept your distance, none of this ever would have happened, but you're just too selfish to do that. Never in your life have you ever had to sacrifice your own happiness for someone else's and that's probably why no one ever sticks around with you, Alex."


"That's not fair and you know it. It's not my fault that she fell for me, too." Alex's blood was boiling by this point. How dare Zack bring up something so harsh. "You know, that night, she kissed me. I told her how I felt and the next thing I know, she's on top of me grinding her hips on me and shoving her tongue down my throat. So maybe it's you that no one wants to stick things out with, did you ever think of that?"


What happened after that was a complete blur for both of them. Zack could feel his rage taking over and Alex could feel his stomach turn, but neither of them could fully remember the moment of impact.


Alex's back his the ground hard, the bar stool landing on top of him. His lip was dripping blood and his jaw was already bruising. Zack knuckles were throbbing, maybe even broken, and there were small bits of Alex's skin still stuck to the gold weapon.


Hovering over his ex-friend, Zack clenched his jaw and shook his head.


"Fuck you, Gaskarth."

Notes

I am so sorry it took so long to post this!! I swear I haven't forgotten about you guys. Keep those comments, rates and subs coming!
Team Alex- I'm sorry, don't hate me!
Team Zack- Finally, some revenge!