Erika arrived at the studio way too early. One of the reasons was because she wanted to avoid her mother. Early mornings like this her parents would go out to the park and jogged for a couple of hours before having breakfast. She sneaked out right after they were gone.

She turned off the engine, and stared at her drumsticks. She'd thought about this a lot, even in the past. Maybe she should just stay with the jerks, and try to be nice to them. Maybe they'll come around. This thing with trying to quit the band didn't really work because in the end, she will end up being on stage with them - again.

It wasn't because she hadn't tried out other bands, hell she was practically selling her talent everywhere. They just couldn't see past her as being just a girl. She even tried girl bands, but they create too much drama that she couldn't handle it all alone. Not without her best friend around.

KNOCK KNOCK.

She jumped in her seat and glanced on her left. Someone was outside, knocking on her window. she couldn't see clearly because of all the fog around. She rolled down her window.

"Hey. Thought I recognize you. You're a bit TOO early."

Erika dropped her jaw. Eventhough they had met before once but she still feel starstruck in front of this guy - M. Shadows. The guy who only thinks of her as a girl.

"M. Shadows?"

Matthew dressed in a hoodie, a tracksuit and running shoes. It looked like he'd just returned from a workout or a morning jog. One look at him, you'll know that he really keeps his body fit.

"Just call me Matt. What are you doing out here by yourself?"

Erika looked around. there was no car in the parking lot, at all. Except for a big black SUV parked quite far under a tree. She quickly assumed that the car belonged to him.

"I didn't know what time do you want me to be here, so I came as early as I can."

Matthew glanced at his watch. "But this is...um, nevermind. Let's go inside."

Erika gave in and slowly went out of the car. Matthew waited for her to settle everything and walked beside her to the front door of the studio.

"So, Erika is it? How long have you been playing drums?" Matthew started, making a light conversation.

Erika raised her eyebrows, and her eyes widened. Trying to calculate the years since she first started playing.

"It was...around the first week of Sounding The Seventh Trumpet being released. So it's been, what - ten years, I guess."

Matthew was a bit taken aback by her answer.

"Wow, you've been playing because of us?"

She nodded.

"No other influence?"

"Well, a few. Tre Cool, Travis Barker, some guy I've been watching him play at a gig."

Matthew chuckled to himself hearing the last part of her answer.

"But The Rev would be my greatest influence."

“Well, if he’s still here, he’d be honored.” He smiled and nodded, while typing in codes to open the front door. Erika caught a glimpse of sadness in his eyes, but nevertheless his adorable dimple was showing so Erika can only thank God that she was chosen to be here. Everybody loves his smile and Erika was no different.

"Welcome, again. You had breakfast yet?"

She hesitated to answer. Her stomach grumbled, making a noise without waiting for her to speak. Matthew laughed a bit watching her. He motioned for her to walk forward and she did, to found a small pantry after that.

"There's some oatmeal in there, some cereal, some milk in the fridge. Help yourself. I'm going upstairs."

Matthew left her alone in the pantry. She stood still, not knowing what to do. This place still felt unfamiliar to her. But she’d seen this place before in the DVD of them making their self-titled album. Matt was the one introducing this area as a place where they eat and drink and just hung out during the recording. Instead of helping herself to some breakfast, she wandered around the studio.

The first floor consists of mainly the lobby which is also the hallway, revealing their platinum albums being framed on the walls, and also a couple of tall cabinets containing several awards that they received back in the days. The hallway seemed to lead her into a small room. She really shouldn’t go into that room but her feet won’t obey. She creaked open the door and saw a grand piano there, in the middle of the room.

The room was actually attached to another room full of machines and an iMac. She assumed that this is where they record the strings and piano part, while the drum and vocal room being upstairs. Automatically, being a piano major student she went over and tested the keys. It sounded great.

She sat down on the bench and started playing a song called Fiction.

Brian went into the studio, yawning. Last night he was up all night playing COD with Zacky. Boy he wished that guy will find a girlfriend soon, so that he will quit bugging him every night. Not that he minded Zacky always came over and hung out but he needed some privacy too. Especially since Michelle had moved in with him.

Brian suddenly stopped in his steps. He heard a haunting sound of piano playing from the piano room. Back in the days, during the writing process of Nightmare, only Jimmy would wake up this early and played this tune on the piano. He felt the hair on his back stood up, cold shivers went all over his body.

Now I think I understand,
How this world can overcome a man
Like a friend we saw it through
In the end I gave my life for you

A female voice was singing, echoed through the room and made him wonder even more. He was scared to go into the room but he was curious at the same time. The voice had such crack in it, just like Jimmy had in his voice. But nevertheless it was hauntingly beautiful.

Through the creaked open door he saw the back of a girl who had long brunette wavy hair, grey fedora hat on top, and leather boots on her feet. She was playing the piano and singing too. At the second chorus part she suddenly stopped. She turned and gasped, finding Brian was standing in the doorway watching her. He was wearing his black skull beanie, a Vengeance University hoodie, khaki shorts and pair of white Vans.

“Syn!” She got up from the bench stool.

“Miss Wesley.” He addressed, after she finally revealed her face to him. “I thought you were a-” he paused.

Erika waited. But he didn’t seem like he wanted to continue.

“A-what?”

Brian swallowed in his throat and looked around the dark room. “A ghost.”

Erika burst out laughing. She’d never thought that the cocky and ladies’ man Synyster Gates would be afraid of ghosts. She walked out of the room while still laughing. But when she caught his eyes looking at her, she immediately pursed her lips.

“Sorry.”

“What’s so funny about it?”

“Um, the fact that you’re afraid of ghosts?”

Brian rolled his eyes. “Everyone does. Duh. Why are you so early anyway? The studio won’t open until 10 am.” He walked towards the pantry and Erika followed behind him. But after hearing that, she stopped walking suddenly.

“Oh shit, really? I’d better come back later then.”

“Relax, I was just kidding. This is not a grocery store. We opened it when we feel like it.”

Erika nodded and gripped her drumsticks tight. Brian watched her standing nervously as he opened the fridge and pulled out the milk jug.

“You play piano too?”

“Yeah. I’m a piano major student at UCLA.”

Brian raised his eyebrows and nodded his head. “Smart kid. I never did finish my study.”

“Oh but you’re brilliant! Your talent is something that college can’t provide! Plus, your friendship with the guys, you will never find that if you keep on studying. I mean I met a lot of guitarists but to me, by far you’re the most amazing and brilliant-”

“Whoa, slow down there tiger. I know I’m awesome but no need to be so fucking excited about it.” He stated casually while preparing his bowl of cereal.

Erika blushed. She tends to become real talkative once she gets comfortable with someone. Or when she talks about something/someone she loves.

“Here. You look hungry.” Brian handed over a loaf of bread into her hands. She felt shivers went down her spine when their skin touched. Watching Brian walked to the dining table without noticing anything, she cursed herself.

“Damn it Erika! Get a hold of yourself! He’s fucking engaged! And you’re here for the drums! Don’t go all fan-girling on him now!”

“Are you just gonna stand there, stare at me or sit here and start telling me about yourself?”

Erika snapped. She blinked a couple of times before heading towards him. “I’m sorry, I still can’t believe that I’m actually here with you.”

Brian smiled silly with a mouthful of cereal. “Believe it cause this is what you’re gonna get from now on.” He talked while chewing down his food.

She giggled watching his funny face with milk dripping from his chin.

“You momma never tell you not to speak with your mouth full?”

He was done chewing and swallowing his cereal. “She did. Maybe I didn’t pay attention.”

Erika giggled again and bit her own bread. Her heart pounded like crazy due to the fact that she was alone with Synyster Gates and he was being cute as hell. Her face fell gradually, remembering her sole purpose here.

“So you’ve been playing anywhere, before this?”

She looked up to him. His lazy brown eyes went straight into hers.

“Uh, yeah. I’m in a band called Fade Out May. We’ve been playing at The Cold White Sheets for almost…two years.”

Brian nodded and smirked. “The Cold White Sheets? In Santa Ana? Not bad. How’s the crowd?”

“Around 500 kids.”

“Good enough! Even Chain Reaction hadn’t had that much crowd before.”

Erika smiled. She knew about Chain Reaction. She dreamed to play there one day, maybe together with the big guys.

They soon startled by a loud voice at the front door, which indicated that Zacky and Johnny were also here and they were laughing, and complaining and so on but they found their way to the pantry eventually.

“This guy needs some of your food stash, Zacky. He’s too skinny.”

“Johnny, don’t make my foot go up your ass. I’m not fat! I’m just…fluffy. I don’t have food stash.”

“Yeah right. Heyyy Syn! You’re up early!”

The three of them walked into the pantry room and hugged with Brian who was now up from his seat. Three, including the skinny guy who Erika knew already.

“Hi Arin.” She waved, her cheeks blushed in pink.
Arin smiled brightly at her.
“Hi Erika.”

Zacky, Brian and Johnny looked at each other.

“Oh good, you guys already know each other!” Zacky clapped. Johnny went straight to Erika and held out his hand.

“Hello there. I’m Johnny.”

“I know. I’m Erika.” Erika shook it and still felt like dreaming.

Johnny raised his eyebrows. “Oh, now I know.” He nodded and smiled in confident. Like he knew something that Erika didn’t. She frowned at him but then easily distracted by Zacky who walked towards her.

“Hi, Erika. Nice to meet you, again.” Zacky made a move to hug her and she just stunned.

“Jeez, kid, you gotta turn that fan girl switch off if you wanna hang with us.” Brian commented as he went over to Arin and swung his arm around him. “Look at this dude. He’s calm as fuck.”

“Oh, but I’m melting inside.” Arin replied and made everyone laughed. Brian liked him instantly.

Notes