All I Ask Is... Why?

Brian and I left the hotel around ten thirty once the rest of the guys left for San Antonio. They asked if he was coming, but he made up the excuse that he had to take one of his guitars to get repaired in town and he couldn't wait. After we left, we caught a cab back to the arena and to my surprise, my car was the only car in the parking lot. "Wow, you'd figure someone would've called to have it towed away." And then I realized that Brian hasn't seen my car yet, and when we were walking towards it, I was getting embarrassed. "Um, so this is my car." I say so ashamed.

I look at him to see his eyebrow raised behind his aviators, almost like he didn't know what to say. He just stared at it until he looked back at me with a small smile. "Well, it's cute."

I went over to open the trunk so he could place his stuff inside. "I know it's not much, but it's been able to get me from point a to point b, sometimes with less struggle than other times." Brian made his way to place his luggage in my car and I began on getting the car started. Twice it would give me a hard time, but the third time was really the charm. "Yes!" I say very pleased as he sat down in the passenger's seat. "We won't be stranded after all." I smiled as I slowly pull out of the parking lot.

We hung out in the city until close to one in the afternoon and I offered to give him a ride to San Antonio, only for him to politely refuse. "Thanks Evelyn, but I don't want to put you through the troubles of traveling all the way there and coming all the way back. Plus, no offense, but your car is not in the best shape and I don't think-"

I stopped him mid sentence. "What? My car is in gre...fan... Well, it's in good enough shape to get us there and get me back. Plus I don't mind at all, it's really not that far anyway. I'm sure it would make Matt happy to save the trip."

He thought about it for a second before nodding in agreement. "Okay. If you really want to, then okay. All I ask is to be there before the concert tonight."

"No problem. It's one o'clock right now, I can get us there by five thirty. Plenty of time." I smiled at him as he smiled back. "First things first. I have to call Mercedes." I start digging for my phone in my purse and I was finally about to pull it out. I called Mercedes and placed the phone close to my ear.

"What's up sis?" She answered.

"Hey, I wanted to call and say that I will be home late. I am making a quick trip to San Antonio."

"What are you going over there for?"

"I have to drop off a friend of mine. He has to be there by tonight."

"Who is so important that you have to waste gas to drop all the way off to San Antonio?"

I knew she was going to start asking questions. "Hold on a second." I covered the speaker with my thumb so she wouldn't hear me. "Brian, do you mind if I tell her that I'm dropping you off?" I ask softly.

"As long as she doesn't tell anyone." He smiled.

I place the phone back to my ear. "Okay, I will be honest with you. I'm dropping off Syn."

She laughed. "You are lying! Tell me the truth Evelyn."

"I am telling you the truth." I roll my eyes.

"You are lying to me. I don't believe you. The guys left at nine."

"Well they did, but Syn stayed with me and I offered to take him back."

"Yeah right." As she went on and on, I gave Brian the phone and mouthed to him "she doesn't believe me".

Brian placed the phone to his ear and started talking. "Hey Mercedes, it's Synyster Gates. I'm sorry to steal your sister, but she did offer to take me back to my band mates in San Antonio and I couldn't say no." He looked at me and smiled.

He talked with Mercedes for a few more minutes before saying goodbye and hanging up. "Well she said for you to be careful and for me to tell Zacky that she had a great time last night and she looks forward to seeing him again."

That shocked both of us. "Wow, so I'm guessing they really hit it off."

"I guess so."

The rest of the ride we spent talking and singing along to some of our favorite songs. And as we pulled in to make it in the city of San Antonio, I figured now would be a good time to bring up the deal we made this morning. "I've been wanting to ask you, how is our deal going to work when the tour is over and you go back to Huntington Beach?"

"I've been thinking about that too. And what crossed my mind was when we talked last night and you told me that you and your sister lived in Huntington Beach before."

"Yeah, for eight months." Which was true. Mercedes and I lived in Huntington Beach for eight full months before she was accepted for school in Dallas two years ago.

"Did you like it?"

I nodded. "Oh yes, we loved it there. We didn't really live in the best neighborhood, but it was home to us."

"Would you ever consider moving back?" He asked. I have a feeling I know where this is going.

"We have talked about it on occasion, but it's really hard with all of the things we have to pay off. Our main deal is my sister's school debt."

He nodded and thought for a moment. I was hoping for him to say something that would give me some sort of hope, but the only words I heard him say were, "We will work something out."

We pull up to the back area where the guys are supposed to enter to head backstage. The bus was there and we could see people moving around inside. Luckily nobody else was outside. Before Brian got off, he looked at me sweetly. "You want to stay and hang out with us for a little while?"

Part of me wanted to say no, but why not? It's only for a few more hours. I could use a break from driving. "Sure." I smiled.

We stepped out of the car and Arin made his way over to us from the bus. "Hey man! We were wondering what happened to you." He then looked at me. "I know you, you were hanging out backstage with us last night. Evelyn, right?"

I nodded as I helped Brian with his luggage. "Yeah that's me." God I hope he doesn't judge.

He smiled. "Sorry we didn't get a chance to properly meet last night. Arin Ilejay." He extended his hand for me and I shook it with a smile.

"Evelyn Mendes." I replied as I helped Brian with the last of his luggage.

"Evelyn was nice enough to bring me over from Dallas." Brian said with a small smile.

"That's cool. Hey dude, can I talk to you for a second?" Arin asked to Brian. I knew instantly that he was going to ask questions about me. Brian nodded and he and Arin walked about ten feet away from me, their backs facing me so I didn't suspect anything.

I instantly realized that me staying a little longer would make things very weird for not only myself, but for Brian and the rest of the band and crew too. Before I could say anything, I heard a familiar female voice call out from the bus. "Guys! I'm ordering in, what do you want?" It was Valary, Shadow's wife and the twin sister of Brian's wife Michelle. Yep, I need to leave. Before I could make the leap into my car, I froze in place because when she spotted me her eyes seemed to stay locked on only me, completely ignoring what Brian and Arin are saying to her. "Hello. Who are you?" She called out to me.

Everyone from there seemed to focus their attention to me and only me and I felt myself get choked up, I couldn't even say my own name. What am I supposed to say? 'I'm Evelyn, the girl Brian met two days ago and slept with this morning. Nice to meet you'? Yeah I could see that going smoothly. Brian then spoke up for me. "Val, this is my new friend Evelyn. I met her two days ago in Dallas and she was nice enough to bring me here."

As Brian spoke, Valary was making her way over to us, her eyes never leaving me. "Really? Well, that was very nice of you Evelyn. I'm sure you're starving after such a long trip in such a..." Her attention was focused on my car for half a second before focusing back on me. "...sturdy car." She finished.

I smiled at her nervously, and I don't know if it was just the womanly instincts in me, or if she just made it as plain obvious as the nose on her face that she instantly didn't like me. "Thank you, but I'm fine." In reality I was starving, but something about Valary's attitude made me lose my appetite.

"Well, she finally speaks." She looked at Brian in a bit of shock and then back at me. "And nonsense, it's a five hour drive and I insist." She smiled at me and wraps her arm around my shoulders, pulling me away from Brian and my car and we made our way to the bus, as if I had no other choice. The closer we got to the bus, the more nervous I got and my stomach was soaring with eagles. So far, Valary is taking Brian's word that I'm just a friend. And it is true, but until the day comes, I'm just Brian's friend with benefits.

"So Val, when did you get here?" Brian asked in the background.

"I've been here with the girls and River since this morning. We wanted to surprise you guys." She said.

Oh shit. If she said 'the girls' then this must mean that Michelle was here too, I think my heart just stopped and I didn't know if Brian was as nervous as I am right now. As we walked inside the bus, I could hear all kinds of chattering and laughing until Valary walked in with me, and everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and stare straight at me. "Hey guys, girls, this is Brian's friend Evelyn. She was nice enough to bring back to us the M.I.A Synyster Gates. I offered to let her stay for dinner, so be nice." She said before letting me go and taking her place next to Matt. Her eyes still locked on me as Zacky scooted over and offered me a place to sit next to him on the couch.

I smiled and quickly took my seat between him and Lacey. Those two were the only ones that made me comfortable in the entire bus other than Brian. Lacey was the first one to start up a conversation with me by introducing herself and asking how I know Brian. We talked and got to know each other better and before I knew it, we were treating each other like best friends. Arin and Kimberly sat with Brian at a table and it seemed that everyone got used to me there and everyone carried on like normal, laughing and having a good time. Zacky would keep asking me questions about Mercedes and I eventually gave him her number so he could text her and whatnot.

About forty-five minutes later, the doors to the bus open and to my surprise, in walks in a slender blonde woman, it was Michelle. And she had in her hands, two bags of Chinese food to feed the band and crew. As soon as she stepped inside, her eyes immediately stopped at me. "Who are you?" She asked with a slightly rude attitude.

"Michelle, this is-" Lacey spoke until Michelle cut her off.

"I didn't ask you. I asked the elephant in the room." She stayed staring dead into my eyes and her attitude was already making me mad.

Being the bigger person, I stood up and the entire room grew still as I stepped toe to toe with her. I may be younger and an inch shorter than her, but I was going to prove to her that she didn't scare me. "I'm Evelyn Mendes, Brian's new friend. And I was nice enough to bring him back from getting his guitar fixed in Dallas. So you're welcome for that." We stayed staring at each other for a long second. "Allow me to help you with one of those." I spoke.

"I don't need your help." She threw back at me.

"Well at least I offered." I said as I turned back around to sit back down between Lacey and Zacky. When I sat down, Michelle and I stayed staring at each other until she walked away to the table to take out the food for everyone to serve themselves before taking her seat next to Brian. Everyone took a minute to adjust to the tension between Michelle and I before getting up and serving themselves.

Everyone grabbed their plate, including me, and almost sat back in their exact spots. M and Val sat with Brian and Michelle, Zacky, Lacey, Johnny, Kimberly and Arin all joined around with me. We all spent the rest of the time talking and laughing. They all got to know me and I got to know each of them. After a while, they all seemed to like me and I got along with them all equally. "Are you going to stay for the show tonight?" Johnny asked.

"I would, but I don't know if I can." I responded a little disappointed.

"Why not?" Kimberly asked. She then leaned in a little closer. "It's not because of Michelle, is it?" She asked in an almost whisper.

I shook my head. "No, she is the least of my worries. But I know that my sister would be worried and I have to be up in time for work in the morning."

They all nodded slightly. "Nothing wrong with that. We really wish you could stay though." Arin said.

"Some less than others." Michelle said from behind me. I didn't realize that she was there until she opened the small fridge behind me and grabbed four beers. I looked up at her and she gave me an ugly smirk and walked back to the table.

People were already starting to arrive to the arena as I was getting ready to leave. As I said goodbye to everyone, I exchanged numbers with everyone except Matt, Valary and Michelle. Brian gave me one last hug goodbye despite the looks Michelle was giving him. "I put my number in your phone and yours in mine earlier. Text me tonight, okay?" He whispers in my ear during the hug.

I smile and nod as I hug him back. The entire time, Michelle and I stare deadly at each other. When Brian pulled away from me, he smiled and winked at me. I wanted so badly to pull him in for a kiss, but it was too soon to do that right now, especially in front of everyone. Once Brian was out of my reach, Michelle pulled him to her and started kissing him passionately, her eyes locked on me the entire kiss.

I raised an eyebrow and turned around before they pulled apart. Everyone was stunned by her actions, including Brian, but I still got the better part of him. Everyone gave me one last hug before letting me off the bus and Zacky walked me to my car.

"So what was all that about?" He asked.

"What?" I asked with a small smirk.

"The whole thing between you, Syn and Michelle. I know you just met, but she's already looking at you like she hates you." He chuckled.

"I don't know. Insecurities of her own I'm guessing."

He nodded. "I guess so. So, is your sister seeing anyone?"

I laughed a little. "Not that I know of. But you have her number now, don't be so shy."

"I'm not shy. I just want to know what I'm getting into before I do anything further."

I nodded. "I see. Well no, she's not seeing anyone. And she's squeaky clean. Nothing for you to worry about. But she did give me the impression that she liked you. Give her a call sometime. And who knows? You two might wind up seeing each other again sooner than you think."

When we reached my car, Zacky couldn't hold back his laughter. "Wow, Syn must really like you if he could handle riding with you in this piece of shit."

I was somewhat stunned by his remark, but it was so funny that I had to laugh. "Hey! I'm not rich so it's not my fault I'm stuck with this car. Times are tough."

His laugh settled down a little. "I understand. I was there once before." He opened the door for me and waited for me to get inside. The window was rolled down so he leaned in. "Well, drive safely back home. I will text your sister before I we go on stage. And what happened with Michelle tonight, don't sweat it. Matter of fact, I'm glad you stood your ground with her. At least you didn't smack her in the face like Lacey and Kimberly want to."

I raised an eyebrow. "Do they not like her?"

Zacky shook his head. "Nah, fuck no. They hate her, but they only put up with her because they like hanging out with Valary. I don't blame them. Michelle hasn't really been my favorite lately either. Brian's told me everything while we were on tour. That's why I didn't flip so much when he brought you back to the hotel. Matt flipped out about it more than Johnny and Arin because Michelle has shown her bit of disrespect towards all of us in the past month. Anyway, don't worry about her."

I shook my head a little. "I'm not. Like I said, she's the least of my worries." Zacky and I smiled at each other. "Well, I better get going. Keep in touch with us."

"Oh I will." He gave me one last hug through the open window and stepped back.

I started my car and drove away to the image of Zacky waving in the background. When I passed the bus, I honked twice and everyone waved at me, and Brian smiled and blew a kiss to me as he waved before lighting up a cigarette to take a smoke. This was going to be an interesting story to tell Mercedes when I get home.

Notes

Decided I owed you guys two chapters because you are all just so awesome! Stay tuned because chapter seven may be up sooner than you think! <3 ;)