Meant to Marry Me
Can't Stay

The high from the first show stayed with Bree for the next few days as they practiced and got ready for their next show. With several booked at venues nearby, Bree was certain the band would be ready when they took the show on the road in about a month.

The rest of the band had more experience with live shows than she did, and they teased her a little bit about being so excited, but she didn't care. Every day at practice, she walked in with a huge smile, and it lasted throughout the hours they practiced together and got better at their music. Even when she went home, she was still smiling.

Coffee was no longer a requirement to make her feel energized, but she drank it anyway. During a break, she headed to the machine to refill her cup, humming one of her songs under her breath as she went.

Bree removed the lid and refilled her cup. Zach's voice behind her almost made her jump. Luckily, she kept hold of herself well enough not to splash the hot coffee onto her hand. "You sure have been in a good mood since our show the other night," he noted.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Well, I've only been in the audience for something like that before." She poured some creamer in and put her lid back on.

She hadn't said anything to him about what he'd told her the other night, that the rest of the band had been teasing him for having a crush on her. She'd done her best to ignore it and hadn't even mentioned it to Trent. Now, alone with him again for the first time since he'd mentioned it, she felt self-conscious and wasn't sure if she should say anything to him--not about that, certainly not about that--but about anything at all. Should she just hurry away before he brought it up? Being rude wasn't part of her makeup, but he was looking at her like he wanted to say something, and she was pretty sure it was just going to make the situation more uncomfortable.

"By the way, Bree, about the other night...."

And there it was.... "Oh, Zach. You don't have to worry about that. I know how people can be. A group can latch onto something and then run with it, and there's nothing you can do to escape it." "Yeah, that's often the case. Except... it's true."

Her mouth fell open. She might've dropped her cup of coffee and spilled it all over her shoes if it wasn't so precious to her.

Bree didn't know what to say, so she said nothing at all. Zach continued. "I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. I don't want it to. You probably know by now, I'm a pretty quiet guy. I like to keep to myself. I haven't dated in a while, not since I broke up with my last girlfriend, and I didn't really think I was even looking for anyone. Then you came along."

"I... uh... I'm flattered, Zach. You're a great guy. It's just... Trent and I--"

"I know. I've heard the song." He smirked and dropped his eyes to the floor. "I know the two of you are meant to be together, or at least, you've always thought you were supposed to be. I just... I replace being around you more and more difficult. So I thought I should let you know... I'm considering leaving the band."

"What?" Now, Bree really couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But... we need you. We won't be the same without you."

"You can get Kell. He's still looking for a band."

"No, Kell's not you. He's good, but... you're you. I don't want you to quit, Zach."

"Bree... I can't stay. I can't keep being around you, knowing we can never be together."

"Why not? I did it with Trent for years." She was half-joking, but she was also looking for an alternative to him leaving.

He scoffed. "Bree, you always knew you'd end up with him, though, didn't you? At least you hoped you would. I have no hope of that with you. I'm not trying to break the two of you up."

She took a step forward and put her hand on his arm. "Listen, Zach...." He was staring at her hand, and she realized he probably didn't like that--or he liked it too much. She dropped it. "Let's see if we can work around it, okay? I'll do whatever I can to be repulsive." He laughed, and she couldn't help but giggle, too. "Do you need me to start picking my nose between songs? Passing gas? I could borrow some clothes from my eighty-year-old neighbor."

"No, no, and no," he said, still smiling, but his eyes were sad. "I'll do my best to ignore my feelings for now, Bree. I just... wanted you to know. I see how happy this band makes you, and I love it, but I don't know how much longer I can be a part of it. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I'm sorry. I've never had this problem before. Normally, attractive guys don't even notice I exist." He raised his eyebrows, and she realized she'd just called him attractive. Well, he was. Obviously. "Anyway, I appreciate your honesty, but I really can't imagine what the band would be like without you, so please... reconsider, okay?"

He nodded and ran his hand through his hair. "Okay. I'll think about it."

"Thanks. And in the meantime...." Bree rubbed her hand underneath her armpit and then smelled her fingers. "Here's an image you won't be able to get out of your mind."

"You... are disgusting." Zach laughed, clearly joking, and then Bree tried to rub her hand in his face. He grabbed her by the wrist, and they both laughed as she fought to gross him out even more.

"Hey! You guys wanna come back to the studio or what?" Dominic shouted, standing at the end of the hallway with his arms folded.

Bree could only imagine what they looked like to the drummer. She immediately let go of Zach, and he did the same. "Yes--sorry."

"Sorry!" Zach echoed.

Dominic walked away, and Bree and Zach burst into laughter again.

She was in trouble. Big, big trouble.