It’s almost the end of November and Madison and I are grabbing a flight out to Ohio to visit her mom. Val is seven months along and Gena is going to look after her. Madison’s mom is super excited to see us again, even me. She also can’t wait to meet her grandson and granddaughter, I love that she thinks of me as a daughter.
“We’ll be back before Christmas.” I said to Val as we were standing in the airport.
“Okay, have fun.” She said
“You guys as well.” I said
We all hugged and Madison and I got on the plane with our sleeping children.
“Are they going to be okay?” A flight attendant asked
“Yeah.” I said
Payson was a year old, I can’t believe how fast the time went by, and Nathan is also a year old just three months behind Payson who turned one in June and growing pretty quick. The plane took off and the babies slept through the entire flight only waking up to be changed and fed. When the plane landed we got off and grabbed our bags.
“It’s weird that I still know how to get to my parent’s house from here.” Madison said as we climbed into the Taxi car.
We told the driver directions and when he pulled outside of Madison’s mom’s house I paid him and we got out stuff out. It was fucking cold here, I don’t miss this.
“Knock knock.” Madison said as we entered the house.
“Madison! Brayden!” Her mom said walking into the room
The house was basically the same as I remembered it.
“Hi mama.” Madison said
“Hey ma.” I said
She smiled.
' “Are these my grandkids?” She asked
I nodded.
“Mom meet your grandson Nathan Owen Haner.” Madison said handed her Nathan
Her mom started to cry and stared fondly at Nathan.
“And meet your granddaughter Payson Marie Sullivan.” I said
She took Payson in her other arm and smiled, she was a pro at holding two babies since Madison is a twin but no one but me knows that, Brian might but I’m not sure. Madison and I don’t like to talk about it, but I think about it sometimes when I hang out with her. I guess I could tell you. Madison used to have a twin brother named Alexander or Alex for short. He was one of my first boyfriends and the guy Madison was most fond of and looked up too, he was about three hours older than her but he acted as if he were years older. Alex and I started dating about our eight grade year, Madison actually put us together, but we dated until sophomore year when everything happened. There was a shooting in our school and he was one of the kids that the shooters were after, they had this hit list and he was like the third one on it. I remember exactly what happened, we were in our Math class, Geometry actually, and they came in with masks over their faces, aimed and shot him in the heart. We were all fifteen, we changed so much after that. When the names of the shooters were released Madison and I knew exactly why he was on the hit list, earlier that year Alex had gotten into a fight a won against one of the shooters because the shooter followed Madison and I into the bathroom. After the shooting Madison and I really only talked to each other and my older brother Jake, then when we were sixteen the car accident with my brother happened but that story’s been told. Our lives have never been then same, but we have changed and we are happy now thanks to the Avenged Sevenfold family.
“Brayden.” I heard
It snapped me out of my thoughts
“Huh?” I asked
“Mom just put the babies in the cribs. Do you want to go unpack and dress for the weather and go walk around?” Madison asked
I nodded.
We grabbed our bags and I shook my head of the thoughts of Alex and my brother. We went upstairs and got our coats on and I put an Avenged Sevenfold Beanie on to cover my ears, Madison put a batman toboggan on, we walked out of the house after telling her mom and started walking.
“What were you thinking about?” She asked
“Jake and Alex.” I said biting my lip
“Still miss them?” She asked
“Always. You?” I asked
“Always. We’ll never forget them.” She said
I agreed and we walked into the nearby park.
“No way. Madison Locke and Brayden Winchester!” We heard.
We turned around and by the swings were a group of people, one happened to be the brother of the guy that shot Alex, the others were other people we knew in high school.
“Look isn’t it the boy who’s brother went insane and is still in jail?” Madison asked
“Look isn’t it the runaway and her sidekick.” He said back
We were yelling from about twenty feet away. I took a breath and walked over to them.
“So the people around here are still calling me the runaway?” I asked smiling
“Well you got hot.” A guy said
“Thanks Morgan.” I said
He smiled back and Madison came up as well
“Look John do you know why I hate you?” Madison asked the brother of the shooter
“Not really no.” He said
“It’s because you helped with the hit list and reminded your brother of Alex.” Some girl said
My jaw dropped
“Actually I didn’t know about that. I was just going to say because he’s annoying but now I want to punch him.” Madison said
“I wouldn’t punch me.” John said
“Why too afraid to get beat by a girl?” Madison asked
“Again.” I said
“No because now I’m not afraid to hit back, and neither of your precious brothers are around to save you.” He said
“Brayden are you married?” Morgan asked
I laughed
“Yeah, his name is Jimmy.” I said
“Awh.” A girl named Alice cooed
“John listen here, I’m not going to hit you because you’re not worth it and I have a boyfriend and a son who would like me not in prison for murder.” Madison said
“Wait so you go knocked up?” He asked
“You can’t say anything John you had a kid at fifteen.” Alice said
I laughed and adjusted my hat.
“You know Avenged Sevenfold is going to be at that one concert place in a few days.” Morgan said
“Really?” I asked
Madison looked at me.
“They didn’t say anything about that.” I said
“Maybe they didn’t know until they got on the plane.” Madison said
“What are you guys talking about?” Alice asked
“Sorry. I’m married to their drummer Jimmy.” I said
“There’s no way.” John said
“I’m dating Synyster Gates.” Madison said
“No way.” John said
“They’re not lying John.” Alice said holding out her iPhone to show him
“So I guess I’ll see you two backstage at the concert.” He said
“I guess you will.” Madison sneered
“It was good to see you two again.” Alice said
“You too.” I said
Madison and I walked off towards the high school, school was in session so we went in and got visitor passes.
“Let’s go see Mr. Kilmore.” I said
Madison nodded and we walked down to room 109, sophomore Geometry. It’s been four or five years since I’ve been in there. I walked into the room and all of the kids turned to face me.
“May I help you?” Mr. Kilmore asked
“Hi Mr. Kilmore.” I said
I took my hat off and fixed my hair and then shrugged my jacket off as he stared at me trying to figure out who I was. I looked around the classroom as Madison did the same thing leaving her hat and coat with mine, on the floor by the teacher’s desk. I looked up and spotted a picture of Alex and I doing a project.
“Come here Madd’s.” I said
She came over and looked and smiled. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and she looked so much like Alex.
“Make that face.” I said referring to the picture.
She smiled the same way Alex was and I smiled the same way I was. Mr. Kilmore looked over and his jaw dropped and he walked over and hugged us.
“Long time no see Brayden Winchester.” He said
“I didn’t think I’d ever have the guts to come back in here.” I said
“It’s good to see you as well Miss. Madison Locke.” He said
She wiped a tear from her eye.
“Class these are two of my old students, Madison Locke and Brayden Winchester.” He said
“I’m actually Brayden Sullivan now.” I said
“Marriage?” He asked
I nodded
“It’s good to see you’ve moved on. Girls we still have an assembly about him every year around this time. I think it’s tomorrow. Will you two come?” He asked
“We’ll be here.” I said
A girl in the front row where I used to sit raised her hand
“Yes Ally?” Mr. Kilmore asked
“Are you the Brayden that used to sit here? Because Brayden is carved into the desk.” She said
“Yeah. I used to sit there and her brother Alex used to sit to the left.” I said
“The Alex that was shot in here a few years back?” A guy asked
“Yeah, I’m his twin sister Madison.” She said
The class smiled.
“Mr. Kilmore can we leave our stuff in here?” I asked
“Yep.” He said
We left the class room and hugged each other. We walked the school halls until we came up to a wall full of pictures, there were pictures from school dances and other events. I came across one of Jake, Madison, Alex, and I on the football field.
“Brayden come look.” Madison said
I walked over and there was a picture of me and Jimmy and her and Brian.
“We put those up there to show that two broken girls can find love again.” Someone said from behind us
I looked and it was the Principal.
“That’s us.” I said shocked
“Oh my god.” He said
He engulfed us in a hug.
“We’ll be back here tomorrow for a little bit during the assembly.” Madison said
He smiled and hugged us again and walked away. The class bell rang and so many kids came rushing out of the classrooms. Madison and I stepped up against the wall of pictures and watched a sea of high school kids move about the hall way.
“I forgot what this was like.” Madison said
“Me too, but we’ve been through seas of people at concerts.” I laughed
“Let’s get out of here.” She said
I nodded and we pushed back to Mr. Kilmore’s room and grabbed our stuff.
“Did you guys see you’re pictures on the wall?” He asked
I nodded and he hugged us again.
“It was good seeing you two. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said
We nodded and left the building and walked home.
“Right in time for food.” Madison’s mom said
I smiled.
“We’re going to the assembly at the high school tomorrow about Alex.” Madison said
“I go to watch every year. It’s amazing how much that school cares about their students.” She said
“After we eat I’m going to walk over to my old house and grab some things.” I said
They all nodded
. “Can I come?” Madison asked
“If you want… Well yes I don’t want to go in there alone.” I smiled
She smiled and we finished eating. We got redressed and walked to my old house; I pulled the key from the dead plant pot and unlocked the door. It was exactly the same as it was when I left.
“This place still scares me and he’s not even here.” Madison said
I nodded and we walked up the stairs to my old room.
“What are you grabbing?” She asked
“My poem notebooks and my drawings.” I said
“What for?” she asked
“I’m thinking about giving them to Jimmy, he always wants to know how life was here and I never know how to explain it besides using the word horrible.” I said
“So these will show him.” She said
I nodded. I picked up a bag and put my notebooks and folders into and looked around my old room. It was dark and grey and full of good and bad memories. I remember Madison and Alex sneaking up here to hang out with me while Jake was at work or a friends house.
“Let’s go home.” I said I grabbed three stuffed animals and we started to walk home.
“Why three?” Madison asked holding one of the stuffed animals.
“I’m going to give one to Payson, one is from Jake and, one is from Alex.” I said
She nodded and we walked into her house. “Welcome back.” Her mom said I smiled and we set the stuff in Madison’s old room. We went back downstairs and watched T.V with her mom.
It was time for the concert and I was getting the book bag ready for Jimmy. The assembly the day before went great, we just talked about who Alex was to us, and how he was as a person.
“Brayden are you ready?” Madison asked
“Yep.” I said slinging the bag over my shoulder.
“Mom we’ll be back later, thank you for watching the babies.” Madison said
“You can stay gone all night because I just love these babies and I know I’m not going to have them here much longer.” She said
“Well we’re off to see our men.” I smiled
“Have fun.” She said
We nodded and go into Madison’s old car and drove to the concert venue. Jason Berry was standing outside talking on the phone.
“Hey Jason.” I said
“Brayden?” He smiled hanging up the phone
“Don’t tell the guys. It’s a surprise. Can you get us backstage?” Madison asked
“Yep come on.” He said
We walked past the guards and right to the backstage, the guys were already on stage. We walked over to the side stage and watched them.
“So you are here.” We heard from behind us.
“Hey John.” I said
“I’m not totally sure you’re with the guys.” He said
“Well wait and see ass.” I sneered
“I’m getting tired of you.” Madison said
I laughed and the band said their goodbyes and walked off pumped.
“Brayden?” Jimmy said
I held my arms out, he came over and picked me up in a hug and twirled me around. He was disgustingly sweating but I didn’t care. I looked over and Brian was kissing Madison.
“What are you two doing here?” Matt asked hugging us
“We came to see my mom.” Madison said
John stood there looking embarrassed because he was wrong.
“What now punk?” Madison asked
John squirmed and walked away.
“What was that about?” Brian asked
“I’ll tell you later.” Madison said
I was still hooked around Jimmy’s neck.
“So do you miss me?” I smiled
“A fuck ton. Where are the babies?” He asked
“At moms.” Madison said
“We’re leaving next week.” I said
“Guys we have to get going” Larry came and said
“Give us ten minutes with my husband and her boyfriend.” I pouted
“Fine.” He smiled
I attached my lips to Jimmy’s and he squeezed me.
“I’ll see you in march.” I said
"I don't know if I can wait that long.” He said
I smiled
“This stuff is for you.” I said handing him the book bag.
“What is it?” He asked
“There’s a note inside.” I said
He nodded and kissed me once more.
“I love you.” He said
“I love you too.” I said
He walked away and Madison and I drove home.