A CLOSET, A RING, A PIECE OF CLOTHING.

“Will, I think I’m going to ask Chris to marry me.” Jonny told his best mates during a secret meeting, one late March afternoon.

“Awwwwwe…” Guy cooed and Will laughed at his friend’s foolishness.

“Are you serious? You two have only been together almost a year. How do you know you want to stay with him?” Will asked.

“It’s like you and Marianne, how did you know you wanted to marry her? When were you ready to ask her hand?” The drummer sighed in defeat, knowing full well Jonny was trying to point out the fact Will had only known his wife a few months when he popped the question.

THE NEXT DAY

Jonny had been digging through the closet he shared with Chris. Jonny was hoping that after five years of friendship, one year of dating and several years of living together, both men would be ready for marriage. Jonny had bought a simple band with the letters CM JB engraved inside and made of a simple gold. He then hid it in the mess of a closet Chris never bothered to clean making it a grand hiding spot.

This day Jonny was spending his time looking for said ring in said mess. Chris was out with Guy for the day and Jonny called Will over to help him with the mess.

“Will? Will Marianna let you out of the house to help me out today?” Jonny asked when he called.

“She went out actually, so yeah I can come over. I’ll be there in ten minutes or so.” They hung up and Jonny waited for Will to help him find the ring.

Fifteen minutes later the men were digging through the mess.

“Wellies from Glastonbury, J?” Will asked as he tossed aside the rain boots that were covered in seven year old caked mud.

“Chris’s chocolate wrapper. Where’s the pile?” The bald man pointed towards a pile next to the bed, filled with assorted wrappers from around the world.

“Are those Japanese Smarties?!”

“Yupp. Chris was craving them back in Osaka last month.”

The two continued on like this for hours, finding many rare and disturbing items including, band merchandise, used tissues, Chris’s history textbook from University, and several volumes of classic novels and Guy’s box of broken strings he collected. Eventually only a few items were left in the closet, one of them was being a bra.

“Will…” Jonny choked back a sob, and held up the piece of fabric. Will stared at it for a long silent minute.

“Chris doesn’t wear bras does he?” Jonny shook his head.

“Shite. That must mean…” Both men’s minds began to reel every possibility as if they were watching films but they came down to one conclusion.

“He’s slept with a girl.” Jonny sobbed, heartbroken by Chris’s affair. Will took the bra away from Jonny and held it up.

“Marianne,” He pointed to the little M embroidered into the fabric, “She has all her bras done up with her first initial.” Jonny and Will sat there in melancholy, hurt by their spouse or soon-to-be spouse cheating on them, with each other.

“She told me she’s with Guy today. He invited her to hear a new song, Guy’s too shy to show her material. I shouldn’t have believed her, but I trusted her.”

“Chris said he was going drinking with Guy… He’s too straight edge. He can’t stand alcohol.” They shared a knowing look then called Guy. Guy told them he was in London shopping through antiques and that neither Chris nor Marianne had talked to him.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Marianne was sitting in the dark room. “Chris, do you think Jonny ever found my bra?”

“I dunno, Marianne. Let’s just hope-‘’ The phone began to ring cutting Chris off.

-o-o-o-o-o-

“Jonny, I’m home!” Chris shouted as he slammed the apartment door. Jonny straightened up and braced himself. Chris walked in with messier hair then usual and his button up shirt wrinkled and off-buttoned. This was not the way Jonny had buttoned it up this morning after their shower.

“Chris…” Jonny whispered, which was the second Chris noticed Will holding the bra in his hands. Chris paled and began fidgeting.

“Where did you find that?” Chris asked quickly.

“In our closet.”

“Don’t play stupid Christopher. You banged my wife!” Will shouted as he stood up advancing toward the curly haired cheater.

“Will?” Marianne’s sweet voice filled the room; she stood there with hair just as messy as Chris and a worried look.

Will and Jonny advanced towards them and Will ended up shoving Chris into a wall violently. He raised his fist when Marianne cried out: “NOO!” Everyone stopped to look at her. “Don’t hurt him Will, you are his best friend and I- I- I- I love him!” She then collapsed and began crying.

Chris and Jonny looked at each other and Chris nodded at him. He walked toward her and put his arms around her. Chris began singing softly to her and smiled sweetly. Will and Jonny glanced at them with their eyes becoming misty.

A tear almost fell from Will’s eye when Marianne jumped up. “I have made Will Champion cry!” She cackled, though to Will it sounded beautiful still. Jonny looked up shocked at her heartlessness when Chris wrapped his arms around his waist.

“April Fools, honey!” He whispered into the guitarist’s ear but loud enough for Will to hear.

“WHAT?!” The victims screamed in unison. Marianne glanced at Chris then they ran.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

“Christopher Anthony John Martin, my love. Though you can trick me I see it as you, keeping me your best friend while still staying my boyfriend. Since the day I could admit to myself it was love I have dreamed of the day I can call you mine. That is why I wonder,” he dropped down to one knee, “Will you marry me?”

“Yes! Yes! Wait, this isn’t a joke, right?”

“Of course not! Just be mine you fool!”