Walk With Me

Arin got out of the shower with only a towel wrapped around his lower skinny torso. He went to his bunk past Brian and Zacky who were drinking their beer and having a conversation inside the lowest bunk.

“Yo, Arin!”
He turned when Zacky called.
“You’re still on for the tats or what?”
Arin shrugged. “Sure.”

Then he moved on to his bunk and started to get dressed. Johnny and Matt were playing COD in the game room and they were noisy as hell. Arin couldn’t care less. Lately he’s been quiet, grumpy and rarely smiles anymore. He answered questions from people using only short sentences and the press hated interviewing him.

But whenever he was behind the drums, he played like a demon. It was his way of letting out his frustrated feeling. That’s a good thing, actually. The fans love it. But they didn’t know the real reason he was being like that. Only the band knows. And also, a certain girl out there who left him without saying a proper goodbye. He had never been so angry at someone for leaving him. When Kimberly left him years ago, he didn’t feel rage. He felt like it was meant to be. But this other girl…just when he was starting to fall in love with her, she left. Just like that. Leaving nothing but a damn footlong note for them.

She didn’t say much in the note regarding him. Just gotta take a raincheck on that date. What the hell was that? When will that ‘raincheck’ ever be? It has been two fucking years!

Arin hadn’t had the chance to go look for her because as soon as they ended the Nightmare tour in Cali, they had to fly over to Canada for another one month tour. Their schedule was totally jam-packed that he couldn’t even breathe normally. He only had the chance to go back to UCLA to settle his withdrawal from the school and boy he searched for her all day while he was there. But she was nowhere to be found. He had hoped to see her in Brian’s wedding but she didn’t come. What’s up with her anyway? Did she hate me or something? He’d always ask himself that question every day until he finally gave up and becomes what he is now.


After he was done getting dressed, he reached for a bottle of beer in the fridge and went over to Terrance who was driving the bus back to Huntington Beach. They will be having two weeks off from tour as this Warped Festival was the last thing on their schedule for this month.

“Hey Terry.” He greeted, and sat on the small seat beside him.
“Heyy Arin. How’re you doin?”
“I’m beat. But not sleepy yet.”
“Sometimes I pity you rock stars. You have all the time in the world for anybody else but yourself.”

Arin chuckled and nodded, agreeing with his statement. He hadn’t been back to Ventura since last Christmas because he bought a house in Huntington, so that he could be near the boys. He would never have imagined of owning a house in such a young age. His house was complete with everything. What he didn’t have was a person to share it with. Remembering that, he sighed heavily.

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Someone came by earlier looking for you guys.”
“Who? Fans?”
“No, that girl. What’s her name again? Fuck I forgot.”
Arin’s insides churned suddenly. He had no idea why.
“What’s she look like?”
“Red hair, long and curly.”
He rolled his eyes. That didn’t sound like Erika at all.
“A little bit short. Probably shorter than Johnny. Oh and – she was that drummer.”
The beer bottle hung on his mouth as his eyes snapped open wide.
“What’s her name again? Er-”
“Erika.”
“Yeah! Erika. She was looking for you guys earlier. But you guys were on stage at the time.”
“When was this??” he urged. Terrance winced in his seat a bit when Arin suddenly rose, towering over him.
“At Warped. She brought her two band mates too.”
“Band mates? FOM? I thought FOM broke up already?” he whispered to himself. He went panic for a little then he grabbed Terrance by the shoulder.
“Terry we have to go back!”
“But – we’re on the highway already.”
“I don’t fucking care. Turn back! I’m gonna tell Matt.”


“What?” Matthew narrowed his eyes at Arin as he was distracted from his game.
“It’s Erika we’re talking about! Come on Matt, we have to turn back.”
“Arin, I know you miss her. We all do. But calm your fucking ass down. We know where she lives. You can go visit her after this. We’ll have two weeks off, remember?”
“But she was so close, Matt! I might not have this chance again.”

Matthew hesitated. Truthfully, he was a bit shocked seeing Arin smiling excitedly and begging for him to agree in turning back the bus to the Warped Tour Festival. Hell, he missed that girl too. He was furious as hell when she left with just a goodbye note but it was for the best. He was going to pick Arin as their official drummer anyway.

“Give the kid a break, Matt. He’s in love. Can’t you see?” Johnny touched his shoulder, giving Arin some backup.
“Yeah, probably gonna take up that raincheck date tonight.” Zacky teased. Usually Arin would be pissed off if he made a joke about that but tonight he didn’t care.
Matthew rolled his eyes. “Fine. We turn back. But Arin, if you don’t find her, we go home. Clear?”
“Yeah dude. Clear, whatever.”

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

The three of them went upstairs to their room using only the stairs because this goddamn rundown cheap hotel didn’t even have a working elevator. Luckily they only rented a room on the second floor.

“I’m so fucking tired. I’m gonna sleep until it’s new year.”
“Which is not really that long.”
“Shut up Jenna. Who told you to be friends with a fuckin sprinter?”
“Hey, she’s your friend too!”
“I’m right here you guys.”

Jenna and Chris ignored Erika and just continued to talk bad about her. They were kidding of course. Erika didn’t mind. They were always like that.

“Oh shit.” Erika suddenly snapped. She froze in front of their door.
“What’s wrong again this time?”
“We forgot to buy Drew his food.”
“Uh-oh. He’s gonna wake up hungry and then he’s gonna smash some things. We can’t afford that.”
Erika hesitated. It was quite late and she wasn’t sure if the burger joint was still open.
“Nevermind. I’ll go.” Jenna offered. But then Erika stopped her.
“Jen, I’ll go. Drew asked me to buy him food. Not you.”
“But it’s already late. You’ll get lost.”
“Pfft. Me, lost? Come on. I’m the best navigator you’ll ever have!”
“Yeah right! Remember that one time when -”
“God-fucking-damn it, both of you go! Stop arguing or I’ll cut your precious hair when you’re asleep.”
Erika and Jenna looked at each other before the quickly scrambled from there.
“Girls and their hair.” Chris sighed, and then rubbed his own mohawk upwards with both of his palms.

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

Arin combed his hair to the side using hair gel, mimicking a little bit from Brian’s hairstyle before he put on a leather jacket and an ankle length Vans shoes. The guys were peeking into the bathroom, watching him dressing up anxiously.

“Dude, you’re so hot I would date you right now.” Zacky teased again and Arin smiled in the mirror.

“Hah. Dream on Zacky.”

“Maybe you should shave a little bit.” Johnny threw in his opinion, but Arin didn’t have much facial hair anyway. Unlike him who grew his beard everytime they were in the writing and recording process.

“Nah. I’m good. I shaved this morning.”

“Did you also shave down there, if you know what I mean?” Zacky snorted and immediately raised his palm, asking for a high five. But Brian, Johnny and Matthew just stared at him.
“Aw come on!” he whined as nobody was supporting his lame-ass dirty joke.

“You’re past your bedtime Zacky. You just being cranky now. Go to bed!” Matthew ordered Zacky groaned though he obeyed that order.

Arin chuckled as he was done preparing himself to meet Erika again. After two years he needed to look good in front of her, at least.

“Kid, if you really found her, bring her back. We missed her too.” Brian requested, landing his palm on Arin’s shoulder.

“Will do, Brian.”

He went over to Terrance who was already parked at the exact same spot and thanked him before going out of the bus.

“Be back before midnight Cinderella!” Johnny yelled as Arin already touched the ground outside.

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

“Do you think he’s serious, about cutting our hair while we’re asleep?” Jenna asked while grabbing both sides of her blonde hair protectively.

“Nah. He’s not. Besides if he really did it, we’re just gonna have to shave his mohawk off him.”
Jenna laughed, imagining how Chris would look if he’s bald.

“That reminds me, have you always been a redhead? Your red looks kind of natural.”

“I was born brunette. I dyed my hair red because -” she paused, remembering how jealous she felt watching Arin who was happily dancing with the redhead from the bar back at Santa Barbara. “ – well, because of personal reasons.”

“Oh come on. I’m your best friend. What kind of personal reason you have to dye your own hair?”

Erika wasn’t the type to kiss and tell. Even to her own best friend. Jenna didn’t know that she was in love with Arin and still hoping that she could still have that second chance on that date.

“Oh my God.” Jenna suddenly stopped walking and stared ahead. Erika too, stopped walking and her mouth opened.

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

Arin walked on and on, not sure of what he wanted to find. He didn’t have her number. Now that he recalled, he never did ask for her number. He cursed himself everytime for that. Arin suddenly stopped walking and glanced sideways. There was a small burger joint on the side of the street, dimly lit and only a few customers were there, having their late supper.

He closed his eyes. He had been walking for nearly half an hour and he still didn’t know where to search for her. He wanted to say so many things to her. He wanted her in the backstage, continuing their ritual of exchanging kisses before he went on stage.

Maybe Matt’s right. I have two weeks off to go see her.

He walked back to the bus with his shoulder slumped down in pure disappointment. The past two years were so hectic that he really didn’t have the time to search for her. Plus he was adapting into his new job, he needed to focus. He had so much more to learn - the style, the notations, the creativity he needed to put into, everything. Being in a band with a big name like Avenged Sevenfold wasn’t easy.

“Heyy, how did it go? Did you find her?” Johnny greeted as soon as Arin walked into the bus. He simply shook his head and went into his bunk.

“Poor guy.”

Matthew let out a heavy sigh then told Terrance to start driving because they needed to be at Huntington Beach soon as he too was missing his wife and son back home.

“Boy, that would break his heart and make him even more of quiet guy.” Johnny commented again while sipping his beer.

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

“Oh my God.” Jenna suddenly stopped walking and stared ahead. Erika too, stopped walking and her mouth opened.

“Oh no. The joint’s closed. What are we gonna do?”

“Wait wait, Erik. Why are you so afraid of Drew anyway? Can’t he feed himself?”

“You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Have you actually seen his temper? Oh my God, he would smash the hell out of everything. If you don’t believe me, ask Chris. He should know since they’re friends from childhood.”

Jenna put one hand across her chin, thinking. “Maybe we should drug him.”

Erika laughed and swung her arm across Jenna’s shoulder. They walked back to the hotel talking about how they should deal with Drew’s temper. Their voice echoed loudly as the night grew silent and only faint sounds of roadies packing up stuff from the concert arena filled the ambient.


Little did Erika know, there was someone looking for her earlier, and she was too late to arrive there.

Notes

A/N: omg i love to dissapoint you aren't i? hahaha sorry again :P