Meg went up to bed and AJ stayed up for a little while. He waited until Meg was asleep and then put his jacket on and left the house quietly so she wouldn't wake up and jumped in his car. He drove over to Brian's house but Brian wasn't there and as he was driving towards Howie's house he passed the club that they hang out at and saw Brian's, Kevin's, Howie's, and Nick's cars outside. So he pulled into the parking lot and walked inside and was spotted immediately by Kevin.
*Hey, what are you doing here?* Kevin asked and AJ smiled.
*Is Brian here?* AJ asked looking around.
*Yeah... why?* Kevin asked. He knew about Brian and Meg and he was a little suspicious.
*I just need to talk to him.* AJ said walking quickly away from Kevin and up the stairs to where his other friends were sitting. He tapped Brian's shoulder and when Brian turned around AJ hit him in the face.
*Whoa...* Nick said standing up quickly and grabbing AJ.
*I'm okay, I just needed to do that.* AJ said as he waited for Brian to stand up.
*What the hell?!* Brian yelled as he touched his lip and then looked at his finger, seeing if he was bleeding.
*You are a backstabbing fucking moron... how could you do that to me Brian?* AJ yelled over the loud music as Nick still held on to one of his arms, afraid of letting him go.
*Do what?* Brian asked innocently.
*With my own wife... with Meagan... I thought we were friends?? Best friends...* AJ said and he seemed to be calming down and Nick had let him go already because he was in shock, along with Howie, by what AJ had just said and they were both looking at Brian.
*AJ...* Brian started.
*No, don't fuckin AJ me,* AJ said and hit Brian again. This time Brian hit him back and they both took turns swinging at each other. *I fuckin hate you and I'll never forgive you for what you've done!!* AJ screamed hitting him one last time before Kevin pulled him off of Brian from the floor. AJ had a little blood running down his bottom lip but Brian's face was all bloody. AJ spit on him as Kevin dragged him down the stairs and outside.
*What are you doing??* Kevin asked him angrily.
*Come on Kevin, he slept with Meagan!* AJ yelled licking his lip. *I hate him!!* He screamed louder as he clenched his fists. He was so angry and so frustrated and he didn't know what to do.
*AJ, I understand okay? But you know you can't just walk up in that shit and hit him. What if someone knew who you guys were and saw you fighting? You gotta fuckin think before you do that kinda shit...* Kevin explained talking with his hands.
*I know I know, I'm sorry...* AJ apologized. *I gotta go.* He said turning to walk to his car but Kevin stopped him.
*Can you drive?* Kevin asked him. *Come back inside and have a drink first okay? You're all tense and I don't need you dying on me okay?* Kevin asked, putting a hand over AJ's shoulder.
Back Inside
Brian got up off the floor, with no help from Nick or Howie, and looked at them both. *What?* He asked angrily.
*You slept with Meg?* Nick asked, afraid of the answer. He didn't want to believe it. *Why?* He asked.
*I love her.* Brian said sitting down. Nick handed him a paper towel he got from the men's room and Brian cleaned up his face the best he could.
*What the hell? Your best friend is married to her... did you forget? For 3 years.* Howie reminded him and Brian looked at him.
*I know that! I wasn't thinking okay?* Brian explained, walking away. *I'm going home.* He said and then he left as AJ and Kevin walked back inside but luckily they didn't meet up with each other. AJ had one drink so he would be okay to drive home and talked with them for a while, asking them to not tell anyone and telling them he was sorry for causing the scene and he wasn't thinking. After talking with his friends he felt a little better and realized that he just wanted to go home and be in Meg's arms. On his way home it started to rain but he didn't mind because he liked driving in the rain. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 2 in the morning.
Meg sat at the kitchen table, knowing exactly where AJ was and waiting for him to either come home or to get a phone call from the police or worse the hospital. She heard the door open and close and rushed into the mudroom. She looked at AJ...his clothes were soaked to his body, his hair dripping water on to his face and there was a tiny bit of blood dripping from his bottom lip. She could see a bruise starting to form on his left eye.
*AJ...* She said sighing, not knowing what to say. He didn't move, didn't attempt to dry off just stood there, about 10 feet away from her. *This is my fault.*
*Just shut up and come here.* AJ said running his hand through his hair and then pulling her to him. *Don't talk... don't let go...* He said squeezing her tight and neither of them cared if she was getting wet.