The next 2 days were so hectic. Getting shit together and packing and buying new clothes for the tour. It was the day before we left and dinner had just finished and I was sitting outside alone. The night air filled my lungs as I breathed in the nicotine from the cigarette. I still couldn't believe someone that hurt me for so many years and never defended me once against the assholes who raped, beaten, and tortured me. The emotional toll from that hurt is still there but I know it ain't ever going to go away so I had to deal with it. I put my cigarette out and was about to light another one when Matt came out and sit down beside me. I offered him a cigarette and he gladly took it.

"Why you sitting out here alone?" he asked blowing the smoke out threw his nose.

"Just needed some time alone I guess. I was just thinking."

"About what?" he asked taking a hit off the cigarette.

"You."

"Really what about me?" he questioned looking towards me.

"How much you mean to me. I mean I like you more than a friend."

"Oh I see." he said putting out the cigarette.

"Yeah...I know I haven't known you for a long time but when we met in the park that night after you almost crushed my legs. Ha ha...I knew there was something different about you. Something that said I care and I don't care what has happened to you, it doesn't matter the past is the past." I explained breathing in the smoke and letting it slowly seep out of my mouth.

"You seen all that in me? I mean I felt the same way about you that night too."

"Really?" I asked putting my cig out.

"Yeah...I really like you and would love to get to know you better. I would treat you like a queen and be there for you through everything and never lay my hands on you. I don't think it's right for a man to hit a woman. Especially someone who is as beautiful as you." I blushed. I couldn't believe that he thought I was beautiful.

"You know we wouldn't be able to show our love for each other around the guys right?"

"What do you mean?" he asked confused.

"I'm your best friend's daughter. He might actually get mad at you and I don't want you and Brian to get so mad and lose a friendship." I looked down at the ground.

"Brian doesn't have to know. We can keep it our secret." He smiled and I smiled right back.

"Yeah maybe but what if he finds out?"

"He wont sweetheart. Can I try something?" he said putting his arm around my waist pulling me close.

"Yeah sure." He leaned in close touching his nose to mine. He turned his head sideways and kissed me. It was such a passionate kiss. I kissed him back leaning in closer to deepen the kiss. He licked my bottom lip and I allowed him to enter my mouth. Our tongues explored our mouths. What seemed like hours of passionate kisses was only seconds. He pulled away. I stared into his eyes.

"That was amazing."

"I know. You want to go upstairs?"

"I'm not ready for that yet Matt. I'm tired anyways." I said getting up and Matt followed me into the house. I walked up the stairs with him right behind me all the way.

"I'll talk to you in the morning." I said as I opened my bedroom door. He stopped me and gave me a goodnight kiss. I entered my room and closed the door. I went into the bathroom and changed my clothes and brushed my teeth.

I yawn as I closed the bathroom and climbed into my bed pulling the covers over my shoulders and drifting into sleep.

I was awaken to a loud crack of thunder and lightening. I jumped out of bed and into Matt's room.

"Matt....Matt wake up." I whispered while shaking him. He groaned and opened his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Can I sleep in here with you. I hate thunder." I said and another crack of thunder sounded. I jumped into the bed and Matt put him big strong arm around me. I snuggled into his chest and he kissed my forehead. Soon I drifted back off to sleep.

A hard slap to my face and a punch to the gut.

"No stop please!"

"You're going to lay there and keep your mouth fucking shut or I'm going to shut you up myself!" I screamed just before my dad stripped to nothing. I was tied to the bed and I couldn't go anywhere. A hard sucker punch to my face knocking me out. I awoke to find him on top of me I tried to scream but nothing came out. My screams couldn't be heard.

"Aerial Wake up!" I was shaken awake and I sit straight up panting and couldn't breathe. I was sweaty and hot. I look around the room to see Mat with his hands on my shoulders.

"Baby it was just a dream.." Matt cooed. I buried my face into his chest and cried.

"Shh it's going to be okay alright...Look at me." I look at his beautiful eyes as he wiped away the tears.

"You're alright. No one is here but me...You're safe..."

"NO I'm not safe! He will find me and the way I talked to him yesterday he will get me!" I screamed. I got up out of bed and walked to the door.

"Where you going?"

"To smoke. I need one." I said grabbing my smokes out of my room and walking downstairs. I didn't know they guys were in the living room as I past it.

"Hey what happened?" Brian ran up to me as I turned the doorknob.

"Bad dream...I can't sleep. I need to clear my head..." I said shaking.

"Alright. We will be leaving at 11 this morning just so you know Baby girl." Brian said. I didn't know why I still called Michelle and Brian by their names. I guess I haven't accepted the fact that they are my new mom and dad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BRIAN'S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked to Matt and I had no idea what was going on.

"Matt what was that all about?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.

"She had a dream...I guess she really thinks now that her uncle and everyone else is going to take her from us. I'm not going to let that happen."

"I ain't either. I mean she's my daughter and I love her. I don't want her hurt." I said going into the kitchen and grabbing me some coffee.

"Brian...I really care about her. I mean I don't want her being abused like that again. Yesterday when she broke down after that phone call, I could see the pain in her eyes...It killed me to see her hurt that much."

"Matt I know you love her and I don't mean by just a little friendship." I said taking a drink of my coffee.

"How did you know?"

"Just by the way you act around her." I said smiling.

"You don't want me with her do you?"

"I didn't say that Matt...I mean it's great you're moving on from Val." I said and I think I kind of confused Matt a little.

"What I mean is that I love seeing you happy and I want her to be happy since her life has been filled with so much misery. So if you two really want to be together I'm cool with it." I said grabbing Matt's shoulders.

"Seriously?"

"You seemed shocked bro. I mean like did you think I would really get mad if you dated her? Hell no I wouldn't be mad but if you break her heart or you don't protect her when she's hanging with you, I will not hesitate to come down on you. You know what I mean?" I said ruffling his hair.

"Yeah I know what you mean but there's no need to worry. I wont hurt her." He smiled and gave me a hug.

"Awe it's a Kodak moment." Jimmy said and we all laughed.

"Now Matt go check on your girl." I said pointing towards the door. He just smiled and went out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sat down on the porch step smoking the cigarette taking in the toxic fumes. It helped a lot with the situation. I kept my head down as I heard someone come out the door. I looked over and seen Matt smiling so big.

"What's with the cheesy grin baby?" I asked flipping the cigarette away.

"Oh nothing but Brian knows about us."

"He doesn't approve does he? I mean you're his best friend." I said looking away.

"Baby he said it was alright for us to date. We don't have to hide it." I smiled so big and scooted over closer to him and leaned over onto him. He kissed my forehead and lit him a cigarette.

"Oh I love you so much baby." I said closing my eyes as I laid my head down on his shoulder.

"There is one thing I got to tell you about the tour."

"What is it?" I ask raising my head back up.

"One of our stops is in Georgia." I looked down at the ground and Matt raised my head to look at him.

"As long as you don't let that fucking jerk off near me I'll be fine." I said sternly.

"Don't worry baby you'll be backstage with us the whole time. If you have to smoke then I'll have one of the security guys to stay with you the whole time." I smiled and kissed his soft lips. I felt safe with him. For the first time in years I felt completely safe. I heard the door open again and it was Jimmy.

"What's up Jimmy?" Matt asked standing up.

"Brian said that we should get a move on. You already packed?"

"Yeah I helped Aerial pack last night." he said grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help but stare at them fucking sexy ass dimples.

"Alright. We'll be in in a few." Matt said as Jimmy went back in leaving the door open. Matt helped me up and we walked upstairs to get our bags. I opened my bedroom door and changed my clothes before grabbing my bag and heading back downstairs. I was so damn excited about this tour.

It was now 10:30 and the tour bus rolled up in front of the house. Matt grabbed my bag and took it to the bus and I followed right behind him. I looked around the bus and it was huge! It was almost like a house! Wow guitars and posters of the band were everywhere and it was really cool.

"Baby follow me." Matt said and I followed him to the bunks in the back. He sat my bag down on a bunk along with his stuff.

"You sleeping in here with me." He grabbed my hips pulling me closer and kissed me.

"You two get a room." Zacky said placing his bags on his bed. We rolled our eyes.

"You guys ain't going to be fucking while we are asleep are you?" Jimmy asked.

"Yes, no." Matt and I said differently. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He knew that I wasn't having sex any time soon.

"Which is it?" Jimmy asked impatiently.

"It's a no Jimbo. Don't worry alright." I said smiling. We started to pull out and I was leaving to have the greats experience of all.

Notes

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