Original Sin

“How’s the lasagna?”

Looking down at her plate, Sin realized she had barely eaten any of what was usually her favorite meal. Glancing up towards Zip, his face as unreadable as ever, Sin shrugged. “It’s good,” she told him. “Thanks for remembering that it’s what I like. I guess I’m just not feeling very hungry. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Zip stood up, picking up his empty plate and reaching across the table to also grab Sin’s barely-touched plate. Watching as he crossed the room to put the dishes in the sink, Sin tried to figure out what exactly was going on in her head. She couldn’t remember being this confused in a long time.

“So,” Sin rose from the table, trying to think of something to say. “Um, are you looking forward to going back on tour?”

“I was,” Zip explained as he walked from the sink to the fridge, where he removed two more beer bottles, holding one out to Sin. “I love touring, and I was getting pretty bored being here. I mean, everyone else in the band has family or a girlfriend or something here. My dad’s back in Jordan, so it was sort of lonely.” Seeing that Sin was about to interject with a sarcastic remark, most likely about the fact that Zip rarely found himself too ‘lonely’, he pushed on. “But ever since I found out that you’re back in town… well, now leaving for tour doesn’t seem like such a great thing anymore.”

Watching Zip walk out of the kitchen and towards the living room, Sin used all her strength not to chuck her full bottle of beer at the back of his head. Why was he doing this? Why was he trying so hard to make Sin feel things that she had spent YEARS learning not to feel? “Okay, what the fuck is going on, Zip? And for real, this time,” Sin demanded, following Zip into the other room.

Once again, Zip’s expression betrayed nothing of what was actually going on in his head. “I already explained this, Sin,” he told her calmly as he sat down on the bright red couch. “Ever since you’ve gotten back into town, I’ve been thinking about you. And I realized that I messed up badly back in the day, but I want to try to make it up to you. I want to try to have a real relationship with you.”

Surprising both Zip and herself, Sin let out a loud laugh at that. She could tell that Zip was annoyed at her response, even though he did his best to keep his face unresponsive. “I’m sorry,” Sin said, not trying very hard to control her laughter. “But that just sounds like so much of the bullshit I’ve grown to expect from you.” With her arms crossed, Sin watched in amusement as Zip finally lost his cool and stood up. Now, the real Zip was about to come out, and this was what Sin had been waiting for – for him to act like the asshole she knew, deep down, that he was.

Taking a few quick steps towards Sin, Zip stood directly before her and looked into the steel gray eyes. It was clear he was no longer in control of his temper. “I already admitted a million times,” his midnight-colored eyes flashed as he spoke in low tones. “I was a dick to you back then. I was a dick to a lot of people. But stop trying to be the fucking victim, Sin. You admitted yourself that you never let me know how you felt. You acted like hanging out and having a good time was enough for you, but then you turn around and act like I should have known that you actually gave a damn. How the hell was I supposed to know that, Sin? Fucking tell me. How the hell was I supposed to know that I hurt you, when you acted like fucking me was all your idea? Come on, I showed up at the fucking airport the day you left New York, for Christ’s sake.”

“No you didn’t,” Sin yelled back, although she was visibly shaken by Zip’s words. “Tavian took me to the airport and waited with me. You were probably at some girl’s house, fucking her, not even aware that I was about to move half-way around the world.”

Taking a deep breath, Zip closed his eyes. It was clear he was trying to calm himself down. “You were at JFK,” he said as he opened his eyes again. “You were wearing your Vandals hoodie – the black one that zips up. And when they boarded the plane, you hugged Tavian. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen you cry.”

With shock, Sin stared at Zip. He had been there. “Why… why didn’t you…?”

For the first time since she knew him, Sin saw a shadow of shyness pass over Zip’s face. “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “I went there without thinking… I knew I wanted to see you before you left, but… when I got there, I didn’t know what to say. I mean, you had gotten this fucking awesome job, and you and I had always been… casual. I didn’t have the right to say anything that might fuck with your life, especially since I wasn’t even sure what I could offer you then. So I just watched you board, and I watched your plane take off. I never… I never told anyone.”

“Then why did you act like such a prick when I saw you?” Sin asked, still amazed at what Zip had just told her. “When I first ran into you at your show last month, why was it all jokes about sex?”

Looking at a loss, Zip shrugged again and tossed some dark hair back off his forehead. “Fear?” he ventured a guess. “Shock? Jealousy? Resentment? Fear?”

“You already said fear,” Sin said in a voice much softer than she usually used.

“Yeah, well you scare me a lot,” Zip smirked, but his eyes were searching Sin’s face. “I just got this overwhelming tightness in my chest when I saw you, like a slap in the face. Like someone said, here you are, asshole. Here’s the one thing that could have made you happy in your life, and you had to fuck it up. So now we’re rubbing your nose in it.”

Swallowing hard, Sin didn’t know what to say in response. “You’re not a relationship kind of guy,” she echoed his words from years earlier.

“I wasn’t,” Zip admitted. “But I think I could be now, if I got the chance.”

“But we were like a time bomb when we were together, Zip. Besides, we don’t even know each other anymore. And-and you’re going on tour in a few-” Before Sin could finish her many excuses why this was a bad idea, Zip reached over to push some loose hair behind her ear and cradle her cheek in his palm. Without thinking, Sin felt her eyes flutter closed and her head tilt slightly.

There had never been a question as to whether Zip and Sin had chemistry. As his lips met hers, it felt like an electric shock running through her body. Instinctively, Sin reached up and slid her arms around Zip’s neck, pulling him closer to her. His chest was solid against her soft breasts as his mouth took hers in an uncharacteristically gentle fashion.

As Zip’s hands slid around Sin’s waist, his fingertips tracing over her back, the kiss deepened. Sin felt Zip’s lips part and the tip of his tongue traced along her lower lip, begging entrance into her mouth. Unconsciously, Sin’s body reacted, and her mouth opened, her tongue welcoming his.

The scent of Zip’s skin, the taste of his mouth, the feel of his lips – it was all so familiar to Sin, and so long-awaited. As she pressed against him, though, Sin felt Zip’s hardness pressing against her hip. All at once, the reality of the situation came crashing into Sin’s mind, and she pulled back, breathless. “What’s the matter?” Zip asked with confusion, he himself winded and flushed from the intensity of the kiss.

“I… I can’t do this,” Sin said, her eyes darting wildly around the living room, searching for her bag. “I-I can’t put myself through this again, Zip.” Spotting her bag, Sin dove for it and started walking towards the door. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

Before Sin could reach the doorknob, Zip made his way behind her and pulled her to him. Her back was pulled flush against his chest, and she could feel his heart beating against her shoulder blade. “Don’t leave,” Zip begged in a whisper, his hot breath tickling over Sin’s ear. “Not yet. Please, just stay and talk. Please, Sin.”

Every nerve ending on Sin’s body wanted nothing more than to melt against Zip, to let his lips keep brushing softly over her neck as they were doing at that moment, to be even closer to him… “I can’t, Zip,” Sin said, her voice hoarse. “I have to go.” Using all her willpower, she reached for the door handle and pulled open the door.

Reluctantly, Zip released Sin’s waist from his hold. Stepping out into the hallway to give herself some distance from him, Sin turned towards Zip and looked into his dark pleading eyes. “You were right, Zip,” she said softly. “I blamed you for everything that happened between us, and that wasn’t fair of me. I’m sorry. But this… you and me… this just can’t happen again. It just can’t.”

Turning, Sin blinked a few times to stop herself from crying as she walked towards the elevator. As the lift arrived, she got in and turned to see Zip still standing at her door. “I’m not giving up, Sin,” Zip told her, his face a cross between determination and that cocky grin he wore so often. “I’m going to convince you that this can work.”

Before Sin had a chance to respond, the elevator doors closed.

-----

Waking up early on Saturday morning, Eddie was in a good mood. The night before had been pretty boring, alone in his apartment watching some old movie, but he felt that today was going to be different for some reason. Changing into his running clothes, Eddie was sure to grab his keys, wallet and cell before leaving the apartment.

The cold air hurt his lungs at first, but after a while, Eddie reveled in the feel of winter wind against his skin as he jogged. It was strange to be out this early on a Saturday in his neighborhood, since there were only two types of people out just then. The first were early birds like Eddie, jogging, walking dogs, and buying newspapers. The second were night owls stumbling from bars, having not even made it home to bed yet. Eddie wasn’t even sure how people managed to do that. The only time he had ever stayed up all night was when he was camping, and that was intentional – to see the sun rise on a crisp fall morning.

Running had always been something Eddie enjoyed. He started when he was still in elementary school, jogging with his uncle, his father’s youngest brother who had only been eight years older than him. Uncle Jim was an athlete all the way, and a great guy all around. Eddie had wanted to be just like him when he grew up. Then, in 1991, when Eddie was just ten, Uncle Jim, who had joined the Army six months earlier, was killed by friendly fire while in Saudi Arabia. It was a hard time for the whole family, but young Eddie had taken it hardest.

After a few years, Eddie was able to work through his grief, and now running served as a sort of cathartic experience for him. It was a time when Eddie could be alone with his thoughts, or, as he sometimes did, share what was going on in his mind with his Uncle Jim. Eddie wasn’t sure he believed in Heaven or Hell, but he did believe that his uncle could hear him when he talked to him.

“Oh good God,” Eddie heard a voice behind him as he waited for the walk signal, bouncing from one foot to the other as he jogged in place. “Seriously, you’re one of those sick people that get up at the crack of dawn to RUN? What the hell is wrong with you, Scout?”

Turning around, Eddie was surprised to see Sin standing behind him. She was wrapped up tightly against the early-morning cold, a cup of coffee in her glove-covered hands. “And I suppose you’re just getting out of a club after a wild night of partying?” he asked with a grin.

“Hardly,” Sin rolled her eyes. “I was home by ten last night. I just couldn’t sleep, and the idea of laying in my bed for another restless hour was about as appealing as riding a bicycle without a seat, so I decided to get some coffee.” She looked Eddie up and down and smirked. “You know, Ace, I have to give you credit. I didn’t think it would be possible for you to look more like you belong in an L.L. Bean catalogue spread than you did before, but you did it. Nice running pants, by the way.”

Knowing that Sin was just teasing him, Eddie took no offense. “Ah, because looking like Miss Hot Topic 2005 is the way to go these days?”

Unable to keep from smiling, Sin was glad she had run into Eddie. She had been awake all night – at first, because Zip called and left three messages, and later, because she was lost in thought. At five-thirty, she finally gave up her fight with insomnia and got up to get some coffee. Still, she hadn’t been able to keep her mind off of Zip until now. “Listen,” Sin didn’t know how to put this. “Um, I know you’re doing your Rookie-of-the-Year training, but I was wondering… would you want to come over to my place for a little while? I’m a little lacking in people to talk to at six am, and if I have to be alone much longer, I’m likely to go postal on my neighbors.”

“Well, as long as you are sure to point out clearly that I’m, like, your last choice for a person to talk to,” Eddie grinned. “How can I turn that offer down?”

“Thanks,” Sin felt her cheeks heating, and hated it. This was all Zip’s fault, why she was overtired and uncomfortable and hanging out with this Gap-ad-come-to-life at this ungodly hour of the morning. “Come on. I’m only a couple blocks away.”

-----

“So that’s the whole sordid story,” Sin was finishing up an hour later. Although she hadn’t intended to, as soon as they got to her apartment, Sin had quickly told Eddie about her evening with Zip the night before. She wasn’t sure why she felt so comfortable opening up to this near-stranger who seemed to have nothing in common with her. Probably just for that reason, she thought wryly to herself. We have nothing to prove to one another, no reason to try to impress each other. It made for a comfortable kinship.

“So, do you know what you’re going to do?” Eddie asked, looking around him. He pulled a blanket from a trunk next to the couch, passing it over towards Sin, who he had noticed was shivering. “I mean, do you believe him? Do you want to get back together with him?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me these fucking questions?” Sin grumbled, stretching out her legs onto the coffee table and pulling the blanket gratefully up to her shoulders. “I don’t know. I don’t know what the fuck I’m thinking. I don’t know if I ever felt anything real for him – maybe it was just post-adolescent hormones on a rampage.”

“Doubtful,” Eddie told Sin. “Those fade pretty quickly. What you’re feeling is on a much deeper level.”

“Thanks, Dr. Freud,” Sin replied sarcastically, but gave Eddie a small smile. “No, I’m sorry. Thanks for listening to me bitching again. God, you must think I’m the biggest fucking whiner in the world. What does it say about me, that every time I run into you I’m moaning and complaining?”

“What does it say about me that I’ve got nothing better to do than listen to you moaning and complaining every time I run into you?” Eddie cracked a grin. “At least your life is interesting enough to have stuff to bitch about. I’m so pathetic, I have to sit around dwelling on other people’s whining.”

Letting out a short laugh, Sin leaned back into the pillow of the sofa and pulled the blanket around her a little more. Despite the caffeine from the coffee she had a little earlier this morning, she was finally beginning to feel relaxed, for the first time since she had left Zip’s apartment the night before. “Would you mind putting on a movie?” she asked Eddie with a yawn. “I have HBO and Showtime.”

Without a word, Eddie picked up the remote and started channel surfing. He was about to ask Sin if she was up for a cheesy 80’s John Hughes film when he felt her feet move from the coffee table to his lap while she shifted positions. Looking over, Eddie realized that Sin had fallen asleep. “Good,” he thought to himself. “She needed it.”

Leaving on “Sixteen Candles” at a low volume, Eddie carefully slid himself from below Sin’s legs. He pulled up the blanket so it came to her chin, and pushed some loose hair from her face. “She really is a cool girl,” Eddie thought, looking at her sleeping form and the angelic look on her face. At that moment, it was hard to even imagine the wild, crude, unapologetic expressions that were generally there. “I hope she finds a guy that’s going to treat her the way she deserves.”

Making sure he had everything, Eddie quietly slipped out of the apartment, locking the door behind him. As he reached the sidewalk and began jogging again, this time back towards his own apartment, Eddie thought about the last hour. He hoped that Sin would still feel up for dinner at Lianna’s apartment that night; he’d love to be able to talk to her some more. Something about her just made Eddie feel like he could do anything, he realized as his pace increased to a sprint for the rest of the way back to his apartment. She might be just the kind of friend he needed right then, and he felt deep down that maybe he could be that kind of friend for her too.

-----

Lianna had a very nervous look on her face as she stared at the stove. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘a watched pot never boils’?” Joseph asked her as he came up behind her in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck softly. “Besides, no one is going to be here for another two hours, and we’re making something that takes 45 minutes, tops. So relax.” He punctuated his request by nipping playfully at Lianna’s earlobe.

Turning around in his arms, Lianna looked up into Joseph’s bright green eyes as she wound her arms around his neck. “Easy for you to say,” she pouted. “You can make a cheese sandwich taste gourmet. I’ll be lucky if I don’t burn down the building.”

Reaching past Lianna’s waist, Joseph was sure to turn off the burner. “There,” he grinned. “No fire means no burning building. Now, in the meantime… we have at least an hour before we have to start getting ready,” he said, brushing his lips over Lianna’s gently. “Whatever can we do with that kind of time?”

Lianna couldn’t help but giggle as Joseph’s mouth dropped to her neck again, kissing her softly. At that precise moment, Joseph’s cell phone began ringing. “One second,” he grumbled, pulling back and reaching into his pocket. “Shit, it’s Zip again,” he said, looking at the caller ID. “That’s, like, the third time today. He knows Sin’s coming over, and he wants to be invited. Can’t we just…?”

“No,” Lianna was definite. “I promised Eddie that he wouldn’t be the only single person at the table. I told him Sin would be here, too. But if Zip’s here, Eddy will feel like he’s alone.”

“They’re weird, huh?” Joseph asked, giving up on trying to get Zip invited over as he turned his phone onto ‘vibrate’ and tossed it on the counter. “A weird match.”

“What do you mean?” Lianna asked as Joseph reached for her again. Her expression was quizzical. “Sin and Zip?”

“No, Sin and Eddie,” Joseph asked. By the expression of surprise on Lianna’s face, Joseph laughed. “Not that they’re together. Just, the fact that they got along so well, and that they even hung out one night, drinking and bitching to each other, without anyone else around.”

“They did?” Lianna didn’t know this.

“Neither of them told you?” Joseph’s brow furrowed. “Yeah, one night last week. They apparently ran into each other at a bar. It’s no big deal. You can ask for the details over dinner. But for now,” his head dropped once more to the crux where Lianna’s neck and shoulder met. “I’m down to 55 minutes before we have to start getting ready.”

Before getting completely lost in the passion of the moment, Lianna giggled to herself briefly. There couldn’t be two more opposite people than Sin and Eddie, but if what Joseph told her was right, maybe that would be a good thing for both of them. Especially for Sin, considering how desperately Zip seemed to be pursuing her now. Eddie was Lianna’s friend, and she knew he would treat any girl with caring and respect. And while Zip was a fun guy… Lianna didn’t really see him as the long-term type.

Thoughts about Eddie and Sin quickly fled Lianna’s mind, though, as she began getting lost in the feeling of Joseph’s mouth against her skin. As her shirt was pulled over her head and Joseph dropped to his knees, his hands working to unbutton her jeans, the rest of the world went away as well. For the next 55 minutes, no one but Lianna and Joseph existed.

-----

As Eddie entered Lianna’s apartment, he felt a slight sense of dread. Although he was definitely doing better about dealing with his crush on Lianna, he still felt a little odd spending time with her and Joseph. Luckily, Tavian and Madison were already there, bickering on the couch. Eddie really liked the couple, who he found incredibly entertaining just to sit back and watch.

“Okay, Eddie, you settle this,” Madison didn’t even greet him with a hello before barreling forward. “Tell Tavian that there’s nothing wrong with me saying that if Brad Pitt were to show up at my work and begged me to sleep with him, I would have to do it, and it wouldn’t be cheating. It would be… something I couldn’t turn down. Like a chance to meet Elvis. Before he died, I mean.”

“Oh, no, don’t put it like that to him,” Tavian shook his head, although he was grinning. “I didn’t say that wasn’t true. I just said that if YOU can sleep with Brad Pitt, I can sleep with Angelina Jolie.”

“No, that’s not the same,” Madison insisted.

“Why not?” Eddie was confused.

“God,” Madison threw up her hands in exasperation. “Because he’s a GUY! How do you not see that?”

Shaking his head in complete confusion, Eddie started laughing. Already, he was glad he had come to dinner. He had forgotten how much fun it could be to hang out with this group. At that moment, there was a knock at the door and Sin walked in. “Hey,” she gave everyone a weak smile. “Looks like the party has already begun.”

“No party ever really begins until you arrive, Sin,” Tavian gave his old roommate a grin.

“Loser,” Sin smiled back. “Hey, Butch,” she looked Eddie standing to the side.

“Hey, Sin,” Eddie grinned. He could tell immediately by the look in her eyes that she didn’t want him to mention anything about that morning to anyone. That wouldn’t be a problem, Eddie thought. He kind of like having a secret bond with Sin.

“So, Zip’s called like ten times today,” Joseph announced to Sin. “He was trying to get an invite, I think, but my girlfriend wouldn’t allow it.”

“That’s because your girlfriend didn’t want to be scrubbing blood out of the carpet after dinner was over,” Sin told him.

“Or any other body fluids,” Joseph added, chuckling as he dodged her punch.

“You’re gross,” Sin told him.

“As always,” Joseph grinned.

Eddie could only watch with interest as everyone joked and laughed with each other. He quickly realized that he was the most normal – i.e. boring – person in the room, and it made him a little uncomfortable. He took a seat on the couch and watched as Joseph and Tavian got into a conversation as Madison went into the kitchen to help Lianna with dinner. To Eddie’s relief, Sin didn’t follow her; instead, she sat right behind Eddie.

“Thanks for not saying anything,” Sin leaned over and whispered to Eddie. “I know you probably don’t believe me, considering how much shit I’ve laid on you since I’ve met you, but I’m usually a pretty private person.”

“I get that,” Eddie told her, suddenly feeling much more relaxed. “And I was happy to hang out. Anytime you need someone to talk to…”

Sin looked at Eddie for a moment without saying anything. “Watch out, or I might just take you up on that offer, buddy.”

“I’d be thrilled if you did,” Eddie grinned at her. “I’d be more thrilled, though, if you would stop calling me by those infuriating nicknames.”

“Oh, admit it,” Sin joked. “You love it.”

“I don’t love it,” Eddie insisted. But it is growing on me, he thought silently to himself.

-----

THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED SO FAR. THE ACTUAL PLOT OF THE STORY IS STILL COMING. THESE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE SORT OF AN INTRODUCTION. BUT I PROMISE I HAVE AN ACTUAL STORY LINE IN MIND! TO ADAEE, I’M SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE APPENDECTOMY. I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER!

AND FOR THE FEW PEOPLE WHO CARE :) I AM GOING TO TRY TO CONTINUE ‘WHY BOTHER?’ SOON. I KNOW HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO END; I’M JUST HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH WHERE IT SHOULD BE GOING RIGHT NOW. SO THANKS FOR THE PATIENCE.