Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows

The day started out like any other. The alarm clock screeched beside the bed only to be smashed to silence seconds later. The clock took the same beating each morning and yet it still worked. It amazed him. He groaned under the sheets and sprawled out on the bed. His tattooed arms were clearly visible and the nose stud sparkled in the sunlight, the drool on the pillow also glimmered slightly. His dark hair hid his face. He refused to move. Last night had been absolute hell. There were parts of it he remembered and he would have rather forgotten them.

His head felt as if it was going to split open at any minute. The piercing ringtone of his cell phone made him squeeze his eyes shut. It was not a good way to start the day. He turned to lie on his back, leaving his bare chest exposed. He flipped his phone open and covered his eyes with his other hand. It took a couple of moments to get his voice working.

“Hey, yo, Gates. Needed at the studio,” Matt’s voice came through the phone as loud and perky as ever.

Brian only responded with a groan and he turned to lie on his stomach again which was met with Matt’s low laughter.

“I told you last night to slow down… You knew we had to record today.”

“Fuck you, Shadows,” he mumbled.

“I have Val for that, fruit cake, and you have Michelle. Now get your ass up and get here. Jimmy’s eyein’ the gee-tar—”

With that simple sentence, Brian shot out of bed and completely forgot about his hangover. The last time Jimmy had touched the guitar… Well, he had come close to either crying or punching Jimmy straight in the face. Sometimes he really did wonder about the guy… He was his best friend. It was normal for him to worry; more about his guitar than Jimmy. His case was more than hopeless.

An hour or so later, he stood in front of the full-length mirror eyeing himself; making sure everything was up to his standard. His tipped his fedora down to the side and nodded to himself. Finally satisfied, he grabbed the keys and cell phone off of the night table and headed for the studio. They were recording in Huntington again. It was a nice change. Hollywood was all glitz and glamor and he had gotten sick of it really quick. If it were up to him, they would have recorded in Huntington every single time. Playing the guitar was the only thing that mattered. The location was completely irrelevant.

He pulled up to Matt’s house and barged in. He never bothered with knocking. If they were doing they weren’t supposed to be doing out in the open... well, that was their problem. As if from nowhere, Jimmy’s stupid grin made itself visible from behind one of the walls. Brian couldn’t help but laugh. His head seemed to be free-floating.

“I broke your gee-tar, Gates… ‘Tis a sad day in history,” he announced with a somber tone, head still free-floating.

“I will snap you in two, Slimbob…” he threatened as he slowly kept striding towards him.

Jimmy’s head disappeared from view and his maniacal laughter faded as he no doubt ran down to the studio. Brian sighed and rubbed his temple. His head started throbbing uncontrollably. This was certainly going to be one of the longest recording days he’d had in a while. He slowly made his way down the stairs and pushed open the door, met by everyone’s smiling faces. He laughed slightly as he plopped down on one of the couches and sprawled out.

“Jesus Christ, am I the only one that got shit-faced?”

They all nodded in unison. Sometimes he could swear they all shared the same brain. He surveyed the room lazily. He wasn’t needed yet. He could get away with lazing about for a few more minutes. Jimmy was beating on his kit safely behind the glass. He knew better than to get within close range. Matt sat in one of the executive desk chairs in front of the soundboard adjusting the sound every so often. Johnny was nowhere to be found. He was most likely jerking off to some photo of Lacey upstairs. He furrowed his brow slightly.

“Where’s Baker?” he asked with a frown.

If he had managed to weasel out of recording again… Matt swiveled around in his chair and put on a stupid grin; his dimples growing ever more prominent. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweats and peered at Brian.

“Baker doesn’t record until an hour from now…”

Brian scowled and looked at the time on his cell phone. It was a quarter past eleven.

“Why am I the one that dragged out of bed so fucking early?”

Matt simply shrugged and turned back around, barking out orders to Jimmy through the microphone. Brian muttered some things under his breath before tipping his fedora to cover his eyes. He was perfectly content sleeping anywhere and he was sure as hell not going to play a single note until Zacky got there. It was only fair.

~.~

Brian groaned as something prodded his side and swatted an arm in the air. The disturbance did not cease, causing him to go to the next level.

“I swear to fucking God if that doesn’t stop I will kill you,” he growled, voice still a little rough around the edges.

The prodding was now accompanied by snickering and stifled laughter. He shot his eyes open and glared. It did not soften as he met Zacky’s gaze. He sat in a swivel chair of his own, acting as if it were a throne.

“Morning, Brian,” he greeted cheekily.

Brian flipped him off and mouthed a ‘fuck you’ before turning around and burying his face in the couch. He could be so god-damned annoying at times… Today would be no exception and he was simply not in the mood. As if he’d done nothing wrong he peered over him, quivering his bottom lip. Brian suppressed a smile and glared at him the best he could with one eye.

“Don’t give me that shit…” he chuckled.

Zacky simply smiled momentarily before pouting again. Brian shut his eye, determined not to give into his tricks. He’d found out the best way was to not look at him at all. If worse came to worst he’d have to get physical. His cheek mushed against the cool leather of the couch as Zacky pushed him. He growled and curled up into a ball.

“Stop it…” he warned.

Now Zacky’s laughter was accompanied by Jimmy and Matt’s guffaws. Had today been deemed ‘Fuck with Synyster Gates Day’ without his knowledge; much less his own consent? Zacky continued his antics and didn’t stop laughing. That was it.

Today was the Zachary Baker would die. They would have to find another rhythm guitarist.

Notes

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