I woke to find Brian’s phone beeping at me, sighing angrily I reached over Bri to grab it. Sliding my finger across the screen I frowned as the message flashed up on the screen, the number unfamiliar to me; ‘Your fiancé’s fucked, just fucking give up on him, he’s mine and nothing will change that. Consider yourself warned.’
I let out a strangled cry despite myself, dropping the phone back on the table a little too loudly and curled up in a ball on the end of the bed.

I was like that for a good hour or two before my baby woke up and found me silently sobbing to myself. I tried pushing him away; ignoring his words of condolence as I failed miserably to shut him out.

Brian just simply shut up, grabbing my hands, entwining his fingers with mine as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against mine, rubbing his nose with mine. “What’s happened, Zachary?” he asked me, his tone was slight fear masked heavily with concern, if I didn’t know my fiancé better than I did I would have not noticed it.

I took a deep breath, shaking my head slightly upon answering, “You got a text this morning… I d-don’t know w-who it was from but…” I began through clenched teeth as I held back another round of uncontrollable sobbing. I scrambled over him, grabbing his phone and finding the message to show it to him.

The moment he did, he saw the unmistakable anger flash behind his darkened and dilated pupils. Gritting his teeth he wrote down something on a notepad before tapping a few numbers and putting the phone to his ear. Talking furiously before almost slamming the phone down, shocking me slightly, Brian noticed the fear behind my eyes and pulled me into a hug, holding me tight against him.

“I’m sorry, baby. I just don’t like it when people threaten my soon-to-be husband. It makes me super mad.” My heart melted right then and there, I’ve never had someone in my life besides my mother who cared so much for me. Tears threatened to spill out over my eyes as I grinned widely.

“Don’t apologise, it lets me know that you truly care for me like you say you do. I love you so much, Brian.” Brian smiled brilliantly and with that I just attacked his face, neck and any exposed skin in lots and lots of kisses.

“Hey Brian, can I ask you something?” I asked him leaning against his chest under the tree, surrounded by our best friends.

“Shoot, Zee.” Was Brian’s reply, taking a deep breath.
“You know how in Grade 8 how we all came up with those crazy nicknames for ourselves when we were drunk?” I asked, after Brian nodded I continued. “Well, have you noticed that they’re more than just nicknames, like they’re actually a part of us and our beings?”

“He’s right Brian, I have noticed that too.” Michelle spoke up, looking between the couples as she spoke. “Brian suits Synyster Gates because he’s just really, really shady at times and he can be super dominant and also he’s a sadistic bastard. Zee suits Zacky Vengeance because of his past, he’s holding a vendetta of sorts and won’t rest until justice is paid. Matt suits M. Shadows because he seems dark and twisted. Johnny suits Johnny Christ because despite having heavily Christian/Catholic parents he’s far from being religious and Jim’s The Reverend Tholomew Plague because he’s like a fucking plague he never goes away, super persistent, freakishly weird, and super sinister plus also he’s got that superiority about him.” Everyone just looked at her, she simply shrugged her shoulders.

“What? I pay attention to the details that most people look over.”

Michelle straightened up in her seat as Clara came over to us while we were supposed to be doing group work in English. Clearing her throat as to get our attention, we all looked up at her.

“Um… I just wanted to apologise for all those years of treating you all like crap, it’s completely and utterly juvenile and I’m just really sorry that I hurt you Zachary, you actually are a really nice guy. It’s just…. Brittany’s a control freak, she hates it when she’s wrong and yeah… I understand if you all don’t forgive me straight up, I understand that it’ll take some time but if there’s anything that I can do to make it up to you please let me know because I’ll be willing to do it.” She admitted, shocking the hell out of us.

“Clara its okay, I don’t blame you… She had you brainwashed and, it’s okay. I accept your apology.” Brian said, pulling her into a hug. “Did Brent come and tell you to say that?”

“No, but we were talking about it a while ago because I was feeling so fucking guilty about it all.”

“Well, thanks Clara, that’s really brave of you to come and say that too us.” Valary said, smiling a little at her, Michelle nodded.

“I mean this more to Zacky but okay.” Clara admitted.

“Okay, I can see that you’re being sincere and not just saying that… apology accepted.” I told her, she shocked me again and pulled me into a hug.

“I’m sorry, just I can’t help myself… You look so damn cuddly!!”
“Back of C, he’s my cuddly bear!”

*** ~~~ ***
I awoke in a puddle of sweat to an image of my father brutally stabbing me to death. Gasping desperately for air that was taking forever to travel to my lungs, I looked frantically around the room for Brian, my anxiety momentarily disappearing once those half-tattooed arms were around me. The soft, deep, velvety voice whispering words of comfort into my ear, the tears were flowing down my cheeks as he rocked my back and forth.

“Baby, what’s happened? What did that cunt do to you?” he asked, stroking my hair.

“H-he… stabbed me… to death.” I sobbed, his arms wrapped around me tighter as I cried silently.

“Hey now, I won’t let that happen to you.”

“How did I get so lucky to be able to call you mine?” I whispered, looking at him.

“I don’t know baby, but I can say the same for you.”