Walk With Me

“5 minutes guys!” Matt Berry shouted from across the room. Matthew was already fixing up his earpiece and mocked Johnny as he straightened up his mohawk. Brian and Zacky were also getting ready with their guitars hung on each of their shoulders.

Erika turned to Arin who was standing right behind her. She handed out her drumsticks to him as usual but Arin declined it.

“Change of plans.” He said.

“What?”

“We’ll start with a new ritual, as this is our last concert together.”

Her face fell, as she reminded herself that this was indeed her last chance, and last moment of being on stage with them.

“What kind of ritual then?”

Arin grinned, then he leaned closer and crashed his lips onto hers. She sensed urgency in that kiss but before she could kiss him back, he drew apart. She blinked fast, begging for more. But Arin just flashed his killer smile and whispered;

“Good luck.”

She chuckled slightly and bit her lip. Matthew was the first to go on the stage, followed by Johnny, Zacky and Brian. Erika was the last one, as usual. She took this chance to really remember this view, let it all sank inside her head as the piano tune was starting in the background and Matthew was greeting the fans as usual.

This will be my last time here. Playing on the same stage with them. The four most awesome guys I’ve known in my whole life.

She kicked in the pedal and smashed on her toms uniting with the riff from Brian. She wanted to just enjoy tonight. Forget about all of her dark past and just enjoy being here with her new family.

***************************************************************************************

“Long Beach we’ll see you next time! You motherfuckers are awesome! Thank you!”

Matthew bowed, while Brian and Zacky were having fun fishing for fans who were hungry for their attention. They threw some guitar picks, shaking their hands, taking pictures with them and so on. Johnny was having fun too as he went down the stage and signing off some autographs.

Arin and Erika gave out their beloved Pro-Mark sticks to the fans and amazingly, those fans tonight recognized them already. They were eager to take pictures with them and asking for their autograph. They did this to every venue in this tour but tonight Erika felt different. She was on the verge of crying when Arin took her by the shoulder and pose for a picture for a fan.

“Come on.” Arin pulled her hand and they both went to the backstage, following the rest of the guys.


“Wooh! That was awesome! Man I always love Long Beach. Crowds are crazy!”Zacky yelled as soon as they went into the dressing room and packed their things to move on to the after party. They will be having an after party at the beach together with some lucky fans and their concert crews to celebrate the last show of this tour. Johnny said that this after party was a must, and sometimes they just did it among themselves without other people joining in and they would just play pool all night.

But tonight was different, at least to Erika. She had decided on something and nobody knew about it.

“Hey, you both.”

Erika who stood beside Arin looked up to the voice. Brian stood tall before them and smiling. He pulled the both of them into a tight hug suddenly.

“You guys are the most amazing drummers I’ve ever known since the Rev. Both of you proved it well. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks man. It has been an honor playing with you guys.” Arin replied, patted him on the back. Brian pulled apart from the hug and turned his gaze towards Erika.

“I’m sorry I kissed you. It was – kind of an old habit I guess.”

Erika chuckled nervously. “That’s okay Syn.”

“Hey, you’re family now. Start calling me Brian already.”

She laughed but her heart dropped as she watched him smiling happily, ruffled his hand on Arin’s hair and punched his shoulder playfully. She needed to do this, after what Arin and the band had done for her.

“Let’s go to the after partyyyy!!” Johnny yelled as he went out of the room past Erika.

“Come on, America. You guys need to celebrate! I don’t care if you don’t drink, as long as you get drunk.”

Erika rolled her eyes at Matthew. “You guys go ahead first. I gotta grab something from the bus.”

“Really? But Terry parked the bus quite far from the beach though.”

“I’ll take a cab there.”

Matthew shrugged. He went on together with Zacky and Brian, leaving her and Arin alone again.

“Do you need me to go with you?”

“No, I can manage. You go first. I’ll catch you later.”

Arin smiled and kissed her forehead softly. Their hands tangled and Erika couldn’t bear to let his fingers slipped away as he walked backwards towards the door. When their pinky fingers finally parted, he smiled at her for the last time and went out the door.

She took a deep breath and went out too, but towards the opposite way.

***************************************************************************************

She looked around the empty bus once again. Their bunks were now tidy. Just a few minutes ago they were messy - sheets falling off from the mattress, pillows on the floor, shoes everywhere and beer bottles gathered like bowling pins. Erika had taken care of all that before packing her own things and called a taxi cab earlier. She sighed and read the long note in her hand once again.


It has been an awesome journey, guys.

You guys took me in and treated me like a family that I can’t repay you with anything. To play drums until I die is my one and only dream and only by being here with you guys, I’m halfway there.

Arin is the one who deserved this more than me. He’s an amazing drummer, he taught me so much that I feel small just by listening to his passion. I hope you guys give him a chance and fully take him as your official drummer. There is no one that could have been better than him.

Johnny, thank you for being there for me when I’m feeling upset or when I was about to give up. Thank you for practicing with me using your four strings. God I hope people will start to appreciate bass players so that you will have more girls throwing their underwear at you. Hahaha.

Zacky – please find yourself a girlfriend so you will keep fit! I’m just kidding. You’re perfect the way you are. I hope you’ll find someone who can appreciate you the way we do.

Matt. You are like the older brother I never had. Like a father, better than my own dad. I love you and Val so much. I hope you’ll get a baby boy since you always drool watching your fans brought their sons to take pictures with you. You will be an awesome dad. I just know it.

Brian – I finally gathered my courage to call you Brian. Michelle is my best friend now, she’s like the other half of Emily. And you are like the other half of her. I love you both so much that I want to be adopted into your family. Haha. I hope you won’t linger around your past anymore. Jimmy was a great man, a great friend and a true legend. But he’s moved on and so should we. I’m glad that we share the same experience even though it was a sad one.

And Arin. I might have to take a raincheck on that date. I’m sorry, for everything.


Goodbye guys. It’s been an honor.

Erika XOXO.


One drop of tear fell down her cheeks as she placed the note on the dining table and hoisted up her backpack.

“Bye guys.”

She went down from the bus and saw that her taxi cab just arrived in time. She glanced back at the bus once again, never forgetting this amazing once in a lifetime experience that taught her so much about life and music before she went into the car.

“Where to, miss?”
“Santa Ana.”

Notes

A/N: haha well there you go!! :D