Free Just Lucky that Way by Andy Slayde, Ali Wilde

look good on your time sheets."
    Rhys snorted. "Maybe we should put in for a pay raise; the conditions we're working under are deplorable."
    Tania answered something, but Zed tuned their good natured bantering out when his eyes met Alex's. Cold and accusing as they flicked between himself and Rhys.
    "Clandestine lunch?" Alex asked, his voice as cold as his gaze.
    "Not that you'd believe me, but no. Needed water." Zed had no idea why he was explaining himself. Alex would just believe the worst, probably.
    Alex snorted. "Yeah, whatever."
    "Fuck you." Zed stalked off to the pond, uncaring of whether Rhys followed or not.
    "Zed, wait up," Rhys called out.
    "Better hurry, Rhys, keep an eye on him before he finds someone else."
    Alex's comment reached Zed's ears, and he stopped. That was way below the belt. Alex never fought like that, not even when they were kids. Not even with the bullies that were picking on Zed during high school. And definitely not with any of his lovers. Alex had always been a gentleman when breaking his relationships off with girlfriends, even ones that had become clingy and annoying. It was as if he was possessed. He'd never let a little thing get out of hand like this fight was doing, either. He'd usually brood for a couple of hours, tell Zed he was an idiot and they'd have hot and heavy make-up sex. They both agreed that was the best thing about fighting and, as a result, fights never lasted long. The person throwing these bitchy comments around wasn't the Alex he knew and loved.
    "He doesn't mean it." Rhys stopped next to Zed. "He's just annoyed."
    "Yeah, but you're not helping."
    "What am I supposed to do? Ignore you?" Rhys asked. "I won't. You're my friend."
    But Rhys was part of the problem, Zed could see that. He could tell Rhys to piss off, but that would hurt Rhys' feelings. On the other hand, having Rhys hanging around wasn't helping his case that there was nothing between them. Especially given the way Rhys was shadowing him now.
    "Look, Rhys, sometimes I just need to be alone. I feel like I'm cracking up. Working in that barn--" Zed shrugged. "I dunno, it's getting to me. The lights and voices and--"
    "Voices?"
    "I know. Stupid, right? It's in my head, and the lights flickering is just the old wiring. It wouldn't spook me so much if Alex--"
    Rhys turned to face Zed. "There has to be a logical explanation for the 'voices'."
    "There is, I'm insane. But you know that."
    "You're not insane." Rhys threw an arm around Zed's neck and almost dragged him back to the barn. "A little crazy maybe..."
    Zed laughed, as he was supposed to, but he knew his brain didn't work the same way as everyone else's. It didn't matter what anyone said. Though hearing voices was new. The suicide attempt and anything stupid he'd done since then had been his own idea; no voices in his head telling him to do any of it. Mind you, maybe the alcohol had quieted them.
    He stopped suddenly when they reached the barn. "Can you feel that?"
    "What?"
    "It's cooler. And... dunno, sort of..." Unsure of how to put his exact feelings into words, Zed gestured vaguely and darted a look behind him. "I feel like someone's watching... like they don't want me here... it's fucking scary."
    Rhys looked around. "Nah, it's just the creepy run-down barn. Anyone would feel uneasy in there -- except maybe Igor." He grinned.
    Travis caught sight of them and checked his watch. "Lunchtime, cool. C'mon guys," he called to Jon and Blake, who were in a stall. Travis picked up his discarded T-shirt and wiped his face with it, his deliciously bronzed torso glistening with sweat. There was something to be said for men who worked outdoors and spent their weekends chasing waves.
    "Trav," Zed stopped Travis as he walked past. "Um... don't suppose you noticed--" Fuck, why didn't Travis put his shirt on? Seriously distracted, Zed looked over Travis' shoulder rather than focus on his pecs. "Er... anything strange. In the barn."
    "Nah, buddy. You guys?"
    Jon and Blake