Jack pays for compliments

Alexithymiaa: -Steph was in the process of arranging the freshly baked mini quiches on a serving tray in the kitchen, bowls of chips and pretzels already placed on each table depending on where everyone ended up hanging out. She was nothing if not prepared. Shooing Harvey and Nugget out of the kitchen, she turned to open the fridge, pulling out the platter of cut vegetables for everyone to snack on as well, setting it down on the counter. // The guys were in the process of parking their rental car in the driveway, each climbing out of the clown car with horribly wrapped boxes in their hands. They tried. Walking up to the front door, Rian rang the bell.-
Covet: Cadence pulled up to the place shortly after the ATL guys did, but didn't get out as she pulled her phone out to send a message to Kelsey making sure Trick was doing okay. She looked up and saw that Felix was answering the door and the guys were going in, so she went about catching up to be let in along with them. // Felix had been munching on pretzels out of one of the bowls in the living room because he has a snack problem, when he heard the doorbell he got up and went over to the door to beat the dogs there. "I've got it..." Opening up the door he stepped out of the way, "Well look at that timing on all of you. Good to see you Rian, Jack, Alex, and Cadence." He said intentionally leaving out Zack because he's a dick.
Alexithymiaa: -The dogs started to bark when they heard the bell and Steph quickly uncovered the vegetables and looked over to the door where Felix was answering it. She smiled seeing the group on the other side, heading over to greet them aat the door as well. "Heyyy. How was your trip?" She asked, leaning in to hug each of the guys until she saw Cadence bringing up the rear. "Trick good?" // Rian stepped in first and smiled with a nod to Felix because he's polite and respectful, setting his box down on top of the piano and leaning down to pet Nugget. // Alex stepped in behind Rian and immediately gave Steph a half hug. "Lisa wants to make sure you got our card. She spent fifteen minutes in the Hallmark store picking it out." // Zack looked at Felix with a fucking face because he sees what you did. Stepping forward, he swept Steph into a big hug that was much more of an embrace than a friendly hug, holding on just a few moments longer than is probably acceptable. "Wow, you look gorgeous." He said to her before holding his box out to her, ignoring Felix altogether. // Jack nudged Cadence on his way in, a shit eating grin already on his face as he whispered to her, jiggling his box. "It's a lava lamp." Peering around Zack, he nodded to Steph. "Yeah, you look hot. Who did you think was coming over, someone important?" He said with a chuckle, tossing his box to Felix carelessly.-
Covet: Cadence laughed at Jack, "Of course it is. Is it new, or another adoption of yours because you got a new one?" She asked him as they walked in, "I feel like I should have picked up something? I dont' remember that memo..." She said to Felix. // Felix did his best to ignore Zack as he swooped Steph up, and he juggled the box he was tossed while he welcomed Jack and Cadence in, "Don't worry about it, Gifts weren't mandatory just your bodies... with clothes on them...and are snackish." He added closing the door so the dogs didn't bail.
Alexithymiaa: "Oh, hi." Steph said to Zack when he hugged her, giving him a little pat on the back until he set her down on her feet again. "Yes, we got your card, thank you." She said to Alex, taking some of the gifts over to the kitchen table to set down. "Yeah really, you were invited over regardless of the circumstances. You're not in town all that much. Beers?" She asked them, sort of already knowing the answer and heading to the fridge to get drinks. "Bruce, drink?" // "Oh, we love snacks." Alex said as he walked further into the living room to have a seat down on the couch, grabbing a handful of pretzels. // Rian was content to just sit on the bottom step aand pet Nugget. He missed his dog. // Zack wandered over into the living room with Alex, nodding to Steph. "A beer would be great, thanks." Taking a seat down on the couch next to Alex, he ran his big hand over Ozzy's fur as the cat brushed his legs. // Jack followed Steph toward the kitchen, calling back to Cadence. "Brand new. Nothing, but the best for my hot friends."-
Covet: "Well aren't you so thoughtful." She said with a laugh then looked at Steph, "Sure I'll take a beer." She said. "So what the hell have you guys been up to recently, besides being your celebrity selves." // Felix piped up, "Can you get me a juice out of their?" He asked then followed Alex into the living room. "You know my aesthetic Bro, Pretzles and couch time." He grinned.
Alexithymiaa: "Got it!" She called out, counting the beers out of the fridge and passing one to Cadence and Jack across the counter. She set one down for herself before turning to get Felix's juice from the fridge and making her waay over to the living room with the two beers and glass of juice. She leaned over to set them all down on the coffee table for them before heaading back into the kitchen. "There's healthy snacks in here, too!" // Jack shrugged, taking his beer and taking a long sip. "Leg two of our tour, which is cool. I hate being home. Being on the road is way more fun. What about you? Hows the runt?" // Alex smirked at Felix, tossing some pretzels into his mouth. "That's the way to do it. Being ont he road is cool and all, but there is nothing like getting to go home and relax on my own couch with the wife and dogs." // When Steph haad leaned over to set the drinks down on the coffee table, Zack's eyes went straight to the front of her dress, staring directly at her chest and not exactly stealthy about it.-
Covet: "Trick is doing really good. Remy's doing good. I'm just trying to keep my sanity as best as I can." She said with a slightly nervous laugh, tipping her beer back again. "Why do you hate being home? Is it that boring for you?" She asked Jack with a laugh. // Felix grinned at Alex and nodded, "Right, and I can't wait to get to see how that all feels when it's official." He said popping his hands back behind his head with a smug look, because you can look all you want Zack, that's all you get now.
Alexithymiaa: -Steph moved up alongside Cadence and Jack, reaching for her beer to take a sip. "Yeah really, I love being home. You don't have to wear pants at home." She said with a grin. // Jack shrugged. "Yeah, kind of. Compare it to being in a different city every night and seeing new things and new people? Home is boring." // Alex smirked. "Trust me, it's nice. Now if only I was home enough to rightfully start the next part of our lives, that would be even better." // Zack staared at Felix with a completely unamused expression, keeping his voice low. "If you make it to that point. You never know what could happen."-
Covet: "I can kind of see the allure to being out, but that's because I spend a lot of my time at home as is. But as is the life of a responsible parent." Cadence said chugging back the rest of her beer, even though she was only limited to the one, "So...you guys brought gifts? What did you bring?" She asked clearly not wanting to focus on the subject of conversation. // Felix could only smile and grin at Zack's unamused look, "The next part? The growing old together part? Kind of hard to do that if you're being a successful musician though right?"
Alexithymiaa: "Oh shut up, you're a good responsible parent and you love Trick." Steph said to Cadence with a laugh, taking another sip of her beer. "I think we're supposed to wait until we actually open the gifts. Speaking of gifts... hold that thought." She rushed off to her bedroom, grabbing the hoodie she'd set aside for Cadence and bringing it back out to her. "For you." // "Well that.." Alex started, shooting a quick glare at Zack because they had definitely gone over NOT picking a fight with Felix tonight. "...but we want kids. And that's a little haard if I'm away all the time." // Zack rolled his eyes at Alex, leaning back into the couch and taking a sip of his beer as he listened to the conversation. Growing bored, he pushed up from the couch and wandered over into the kitchen, swinging his arm around Steph's shoulders and looking down at the hoodie she was giving to Cadence. "Wow, your designs are a lot better than ours were at that stage in the game."-
Covet: Cadence watched Zack getting all sorts of Ballsy by getting comfortable, then she gave Zack a smug look, "That's because you're guys. And Steph has taste. I've seen your tour shirts, you can't even try to argue that you guys do, when there is that kind of proof." She said then looked over the hoodie, "This is wicked, Thanks a buch, Please tell me you're getting a onesie ordered too. Trick has to be decked out with his Aunt's awesomeness." // Felix narrowed his eyes at Zack as he got up to throw his arm around Steph. But he was behaving for now, because you're still losing bro, he answered Alex, "Oh, right yeah procreating I forget that's a step."
Alexithymiaa: -Steph smiled at Zack, politely stepping away so his arm would drop from around her shoulders, refocusing her attention on Cadence. "I have taste? Why thank you. And we don't intend to mass print onesies, but I'm making one just for him. It's custom." She said with a laugh, sipping her beer. // "I designed our shirts in the beginning." Jack saaid with a straight face as he stared at Zack. Offended. // Alex nodded with a laugh. "Lisa is kind of baby crazy right now, so I couldn't forget about the step." // Zack stepped in again behind Steph, wrapping his arms around her and dropping his chin down on top of her head as he looked at Jack. "I know. They weren't good, dude."-
Covet: "But at least you tried right, Jack? I'd totally take original artwork from you." She said to him, because OUCH ZACK. Rude. "Bitch of course you have taste, you have me as a friend and I wouldn't let you not have good taste." // Felix watched as Steph tried to walk away from him and he kept on being handsy and overly friendly. He cleared his throat and looked at Alex, "Is that... a thing like in the song, First comes marriage, then comes baby and a baby carriage?" He asked swallowing, not wanting to be a part of the baby conversation at the moment, but also didn't want to cause a scene with Zack, even though he was asking for it at this point.
Alexithymiaa: -Steph tried to unsuccessfully shrug Zack off from hanging on her, honestly feeling a little uncomfortable, but she would never make the current exchange awkward because that would be even more uncomfortable. "I'm glad you think so highly of yourself." She said with a laugh to Cadence, trying to shrug Zack off again. // "Aw, thanks Cadence. You should come on tour with us and just say nice things to me all the time. Im usually the butt of everyone's jokes." He said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Handsy men. // Alex nodded. "Yeah, thaat's pretty much how it works. We went on our honeymoon and she was already talking about it. Timings been an issue though." He said with a shrug before following Felix's gaze over toward the other group in the kitchen, keeping his voice down. "What the hell is he doing now? I told him to ease up."-
Covet: "How about I just text you those nice things and we pretend I'm on tour, because you know, I have a life and can't just go on tour at the drop of a hat." Cadence said with a laugh, then looked at Steph, "Of course I do, but I think even higher of you." // Felix set his jaw, barely hearing Alex, "He's pushing buttons and it's not going to end well if he keeps it up. Excuse me." Felix said as he got up and made his way into the kitchen, "C'mere, I want Alex to see your ring up close. I'm sure the pictures didn't do it justice." He said holding out his hand to her, in an offer to help her escape in a dignified manner.
Alexithymiaa: (Jack: Follow me around and compliment me all day.)
Covet: [XD Jack just wants friends]
Alexithymiaa: "Yes Jack, because she has time for that." Steph said with a laugh, glancing at Felix when he came over and offered her a hand. She put her hand in his, trying to slip away from Zack. "Oh, I didn't show him." // "I guess you can do that too, but Rian spends a lot of time making fun of me so you'll really need to be on call for this." // Zack reached out and put his hand on Steph's waist to stop Felix from pulling her away, looking over the top of her head to eye him. "We were actually in the middle of a conversation here..."-
Covet: "I feel like if I'm supposed to be on call, I should be getting paid for this." Cadence said as she gave Jack a look, then watched the tensions mount. // "I know, but I really want to show my Fiance off. Sorry dude, She get's priority, I have to make sure everyone knows how proud I am to make her my future wife." Felix stated over saying the words just to make the digs. "I'm sure the friendzone will stay plenty warm for you while I do that." He said with a grin, then slid his arm around Steph so that he could take her with him over to the couch.
Alexithymiaa: "Felix..." She basically growled at him, stepping toward him. "That was so unnecessary. What's wrong with you?" She snapped in a whisper as she started to head over toward Alex because she did actually want to show off the ring. // "I'd pay you." Jack said way too quickly because this is the type of thing he would spend his money on. He glanced between Felix and Zaack, clearing his throat. Awkard. // Zack turned to face Felix, raaising his brows. "No one really cares how big your dick is, dude. Chill out. You can take solice in knowing you got the girl by default because I was off touring the world and being successful." // Steph whirled around, staring at Zack. "Zack!"- (DOCTOR SCOTT! ROCKY!)
Covet: "Well.. as much as I would love to watch this shit show play out, I've got to go pick up Trick from Kelsey and Brad. So.. I'll talk to you tomorrow Dick. Jack, hit me up about a pay schedule, and I'll make sure you're never without a compliment when you need it. You guys have fun on the rest of your tour, and Zack...Rest in Peace man..." She said giving him a sad pathetic kind of look as she started to slink towards the door.// Felix put on his best innocent face and looked at Steph, "What? I saw what he was doing...I'm deaf not blind, and also not sorry. Especially because I got the girl, and am also doing pretty successfully, so...whatever excuses help you sleep at night man. I just know what's more important to me."
Alexithymiaa: -She looked over at Cadence with pure jealousy because she wanted to leave also. "Thanks for coming, Bruce..." She said in a pained voice, furrowing her brows at Felix. "Stop making things worse." She looked over at Alex, hoping for a little help. // Rian pushed up from his corner of playing with the dogs, clapping his hands together. "OKAY! So everyones tired, right?" He asked. // Alex walked over, holding his hands in the air. "Yeah, I think it's time for us to head back to the hotel and call it a night." // Zack stared at Felix, shaking his head. "What I was doing? You mean being a friend? And you really can't measure your level of success against ours. They don't even compare." He said, getting closer and into Felix's face a bit.-
Covet: "Goodnight Dick!" Cadence called out, then booked it out of there. // Felix just looked Zack back in the face, enjoying him being the one that's losing his shit for once, "I think the evidence speaks for itself. Because while you were out there, I was here, making sure she got everthing she needed. I'm just elated that she said yes, and is happy to put up with my smug obnoxious ass until we grow old together and she rusts and I've ran out of straw. Your success is music, My success is her. Between the two, I think I got the better option. But you do well at what you do too, so no hard feelings."
Alexithymiaa: "Enough!" She yelled over the top of their bickering, which was just a little too late because Zack was already throwing a punch at Felix's face. She quickly stepped between them so nothing could get any worse than it already had, facing Zack first since he was the one who swung. "The sooner you accept that there is NOTHING between us and there never will be, the better off you'll be. I'm going to marry Felix and be happy. If you were a good friend, you would accept that and be happy for me instead of being so fucking selfish and trying to cause problems." She whirled around, staring at Felix. "And the sooner YOU realize that these are my friends and that's my decision to be around them regardless of how they act, the better of YOU'LL be. We're all equally assholes here. Some just choose wisely when to show it." She set her jaw and spun away from both of them, marching her way into the bedroom and slamming and locking the door behind her because she ust wanted to be irritated by herself right now. // Rian just stood there until Steph was in the room, slowly inching toward the door. "I'm going to wait in the car..." // Alex sighed, walking over to Felix and giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Sorry man. Give her my love when she stops boiling." He said as he followed Jack and Rian to the door. // Zack looked down away from Steph's face, a little ashamed of the exchange and just turning away.-
Covet: Felix threw his hands up and looked around, " I do accept it! I was doing good! I was legitimately behaving! And somehow I still get in trouble? What the fuck?!?!" He said then glared at Zack because this was his fault. Then he took a deep breath and headed towards the door, "Well thanks for coming over and thanks for the gifts. I'll let her know Alex... uh.. yeah.. Thanks, drive safe." He told them waiting for them to leave so he could shut the door and go do damage control.