*Matt (M. Shadows)'s P.O.V
I parked behind Brian’s SUV inside his garage so I could leave room on the street behind the tour bus so we could all load up our stuff and most of our equipment. The guys and I were all heading out to go touring again today.

We always met at Brian’s house, being the bigger one, just before leaving Huntington Beach, our hometown, to go touring. It was sort of a tradition after a couple of years of doing this.

This year we were mostly going to be playing the Warped Tour until we book any festivals or other gigs that we could. We were getting bigger each year, especially since we just released our third studio album.

I got out of my car and popped the trunk to grab my bags. I felt a hand on my back and spun around to see a gleaming Johnny. I nodded. “Oh hey man. What’s up?”

“Nothing, just got here with Zacky.” He nodded towards Zack as he came walking this way from his car.

I looked back at Johnny. “Wait, why didn’t you drive your car?”

He looked down at his feet. “Yeah, about that. I sorta got in a fender-bender.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

I chuckled. “That’s all? How bad was it?” I asked, feeling like there was more to the story.

“Well, the damage itself wasn’t all that bad, but the cop that I hit was so pissed that he took my license away.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “Are you fucking serious? You hit a cop?” He nodded, giving me an annoyed look.

“What’s so funny?” Zack asked as he got to us. “Did you tell him about hittin’ that cop?” He chuckled.

Johnny shot him the look and I nodded. “Yeah, he did. Dude, how long is your license going to be suspended?” I asked after I could stop laughing.

He shrugged, still seeming a little pissed off. “Six months or so. If we weren’t going on tour right now, I’d probably have to borrow someone else’s car just to go to the damn store until I got it back.”

I grabbed my bags and shut the trunk. “Well you sure as hell can’t borrow mine. I swear, if I let you drive it and you somehow got into a wreck, I'm going to report it stolen just so I didn’t have to pay for the damages. That would be your job.”

Zack laughed and Johnny shot me a glare.

"Hey, there you guys are.” Brian greeted us from inside the doorway that led to his kitchen. “Come on in, grab yourselves a drink.”

I laughed. “Will do, just as soon as I get these bags loaded up on the bus.”

He nodded. “Okay, we’ll see you inside.” The three of them walked in as I headed out onto the street to put my bags inside the cargo space.

It took me forever just to try and jam my stuff along with everyone else’s. I looked and saw Brian’s name tag on more than half of the bags inside this one compartment. I swear, if even one of those bags were noting but hair products, I’m going to throw it all underneath the bus as we drive away.

That’s when I heard someone’s car pull up and soon after shut off the engine. I turned to see Jimmy’s black BMW (I fucking want this car so bad) pulled up next to Zack’s car.

I smiled as he got out, not noticing me standing here. “Hey Jimbo!” I shouted, waving him over.

He looked up at me easily from over the roof and gave me that fake smile I’ve grown used to, we all have. He fixed his jacket and shut his door before making his way over.

“Hey,” He greeted, coming up to stand in front of me. “Where’s everyone else at?”

I looked back and pointed at the house. “They’re all inside drinking, of course. You know the tradition.”

He nodded and chuckled. “Yeah, show up here, get drunk off our asses and then head onto the bus and drink some more.”

I laughed. “You know it. Do you need some help loading up your stuff?”
“Yeah, sure.” He nodded, turning back to his car. He would barely even look me in the eyes.

He just hasn’t been the same ever since his break up with his Leana. I guess I understood, as far as breakups go. My girlfriend Valary broke up with me about a few months ago.

At first, I thought it was just another one of our usual fights, that’s how it started out. I didn’t take her threats to end our relationship as seriously as I should have. I thought it was just like all of our other fights, where threats to break up were tossed around, but this time…I guess she meant it.

I helped put in the last of his bags and started walking up to the house with him. I wanted to ask if he was doing okay, but I knew, even if he didn’t say anything. I knew he would never be okay, not completely.

I guess I didn’t have it as bad as he does. Val' only broke up with me because she finally grew tired of my bullshit, but with Jimmy, he got cheated on. That really must have been painful for him, to have his fiancé lie to him and to stab him in the back like that. I just wish he didn’t let it get to him as much as it has…

*Brian (Synyster Gates)'s P.O.V
I walked back inside with Zack and Johnny, entering the kitchen to finish making drinks. They both took a seat in front of me at the bar as Michelle just came in from our bedroom.

“Oh, hey you two!” She exclaimed, coming over to hug them both. They laughed as she threw her arms over both their shoulders. “I missed you guys.”

Zack chuckled. “It’s only been a few months since you last saw us.”

“Yeah, I know, but you’re like my brothers. I can’t live with you, and I definitely can’t live without ya.” She said, ruffling Johnny's hair.

“So does that mean you’re going on tour with us this year?” He asked after swatting her hand away.

“Well, I was thinking about it-” I quickly turned on the blender before she could finish her sentence.

I shook my head. “No, she’s not coming.” I said after I shut it off.

She threw a glare at me as they laughed. “Why, do you not want me to come on the tour with you, Brian?”

I began to pour the glasses to make sure I didn’t have to meet her eyes. “It’s not that. I just…want to spend some alone time with my boys. You’ll understand, and besides, you spend a lot of your alone time with Val'.”

“So?” She questioned.

I shrugged. “Well, what if I want to hang out with you too? You two have been hanging out with each other a lot lately.”

“Is that such a bad thing, to want to hang out with my own twin sister?” Michelle began to grow serious.

“No, I just-” I began to stutter, just wanting to drop the subject now.

That’s when Val' came in from the living room, over hearing our conversation. “And since when have you ever wanted to hang out with me, Brian?” She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“I was just trying to make a point, but you two always go twisting my words around.” I waved the liquor bottle at them, almost spilling some of it.

“Whoa, wait a minute,” Johnny sputtered out, quickly spinning around. “Does Matt know Val's here?”

She gave him a look as I shrugged. “Probably not,”

“Well what does it matter? I want to watch you guys head off for the tour. I’ve been here with you guys every year from the start. I have a right to be here too.”

“Yeah, except this year you won’t be coming with us.” Zack pointed out.

She gave him a sad look. “Yeah, I know. You guys have Larry as your manager now. So I guess you won't need me anymore.”

“Oh, that’s not true. You’ll always be like a sister to us, Val'.” Zack patted her shoulder.

They both smiled, but as soon as the front door swung open, Val's smile quickly disappeared and the room instantly grew silent.

I turned and looked, seeing Matt standing in the doorway. “Look who I found,” He said, not even seeing Val' yet and stepped aside. Jimmy then came in from behind him, smiling sheepishly.

“Hey!” Everyone including myself all greeted him in excitement at the same time, all very happy to see him again.

It’s been awhile since anyone has seen him outside of his condo. If anyone wanted to, we would have to go over to his place, that or meet him at the bar he visits frequently, which is about the only other place he goes. Other than that, he hasn’t really been out that much.

“Hey, look who’s finally come out of hiding.” Michelle chuckled, though it mostly seemed true. Val' remained silent.

Jimmy chuckled. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s good to get out of the house every once and awhile.”

“Not counting going out to all of those bars, right?” I tried to joke, but even I knew that’s what he’s been doing a lot of, drinking.

He glanced down as Michelle gawked at him. “You’re still going out and drinking at those bars? I thought you were over that already.”

He looked up sharply. “Yeah, well I thought I would be over a lot of things by now, but I guess not.” It wasn’t meant to sound as harsh as it came out, and I could see that in his eyes, realizing he had snapped at her.

“Anyone up for a drink?” I asked quickly to lighten the mood.

Everyone instantly came over and grabbed a full glass. I took the last one and held it up. “To our tour. It’s going to be our best one yet, I just know it.”

All but Jimmy smiled and then clinked our glasses together.

*Zack's P.O.V
I just got finished unloading my stuff out of my trunk and into the cargo space on the side of the tour bus.

“So, are we getting the same bunks as last time?” Johnny asked.

I shrugged. “Yeah, probably. You know how particular Brian gets,” I looked at him from over my shoulder and made sure he could hear me. “Has to put his name on everything he thinks he owns.”

Johnny and Matt laughed. “Yeah, but at least I'm not like Johnny and pisses on everything.” He retorted.

Johnny instantly stopped. “Hey, that was an accident! How was I supposed to know your dad was sleeping in that bunk? I swear I thought I was in the bathroom until I heard him shouting at me.”

We all kind of laughed. “Well, we’ll make sure to put you close to the bathroom this time.” Matt patted his head.

Johnny smirked. “Ha-ha, very funny. Now Papa Gates won’t stop calling me the Piss-gnome. I think that’s been my least favorite of nicknames so far.” That even got a chuckle out of Jimmy.

“Well I guess we should be heading off soon.” I told them all.

“No, I don’t want you to go.” Gena, my girlfriend said sadly, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugged me. She got here a few minutes after I did to drive my car back to our apartment.

“I know, I’m sorry, but I have to go.” I said, hugging her tightly. She and I have been dating for almost a year now. “You’ll see me in a few months once we come back to Huntington and then take you all back on tour with us.”

That was the plan so far for this tour. We were going to go by ourselves for the first few months to get back into pace for the road and then later have our girls join us for the rest of the year.

Gena had her job to take care of for the next few months anyway, and Michelle was soon to be finishing up getting her degree in fashion, so it worked out better this way for all of us. I didn’t know what Val' was going to do with her time, and now that she and Matt were split up, she probably won't be coming out on tour with us at all.

She used to be our manager once we were first starting out, going on tour with us, helping sell some of our merch and she even screamed a part in one of our songs. She and Matt have been dating since high school, and I really hated to see two of my best friends fighting like this. I really hoped that they would work things out and get back together.

*Johnny's P.O.V
We all said bye to the girls and started filing in on to the bus. Well at least I wasn’t the only single one now. I know Matt and Jimmy were still having a tough time about their break ups, but now we could be single together. Who knows, maybe one of us will find someone on tour, even if it’s just for a night or two.

Brian had Michelle since our last year of high school, and Zack and Gena started dating over a year ago after they met each other through Michelle.

I’ve been single for a while now, but I didn’t mind all that much, though I will admit being single can get pretty lonely. At least I had all of my best friends with me at my side, and they were all I would ever need.

I’ve been worrying about Jimmy, and I know I'm not the only one. With Matt, he seemed to be doing just fine with his break up, but I knew better than to believe that he was okay with it. Those two have been together for too long for it not to matter to him. At least he wasn’t completely isolating himself from everyone else and hardly spoke anymore like Jimmy. It made me wonder what all Jimmy has been doing other than drinking to help cope with his loss…

No matter what, he has us to be there for him, and if he needs our help, we will do anything to make him happy again, even if it were only to last for a short time.

I missed my best friend. Jimmy just wasn’t the same anymore. It absolutely kills me to see him this way, to be so unspoken and always keeping to himself. It wasn’t who he is…or at least, who he used to be…What I wouldn’t do to see him smile, a real smile, once again…

“Alright, let’s load up.” Matt ordered, knocking on the side of the bus. I guess it was time to go.

I said my byes to the girls one more time before following Zack on to the bus. With me, there was never a goodbye. I wouldn’t dare say it to anyone if I knew I wanted to or I was going to see them again. It wasn’t something I did with everyone, just the people I knew I really cared about.

I guess I can get attached to certain people pretty easily, and once I start to generally like someone, it becomes hard for me to let go. I never want to have to say goodbye to any of my best friends. They were the biggest part of my life, and without them, I would be nothing.

As soon as I got on, I ran and jumped for the couch to sit in my usual spot, barely missing Brian as he sat down, my feet landing in his lap.

He instantly shoved them off, so hard that I quickly fell onto the floor before I could catch myself. “Hey!” I grunted as I hit the ground.

“You almost kicked me in the face, you little shit.” He said, using his usual nickname for me, mostly for when I annoyed him, which was almost all of the time.

I slowly stood, stumbling to I take my seat again since I've already had a few back at the house. The bus then began to take off down the road, making my stance even worse before I actually sat down.

“Alright, alright,” Matt spoke over Zacky laughing at us and passed everyone a beer. “Here’s to what will be the best year of our career so far.” He said, raising his bottle. We all did the same. “I wouldn’t be standing here, going to do what I love most in this world without you guys. I know I couldn’t have gotten this far without you, so thank you.”

I smiled and took a quick sip, ready to get this party started now.

“Here’s to my best friends in the fucking world. I love and appreciate you guys and all of your amazing talents.” He continued on with his drunken statement.

Brian shook his head. “No, thank you man. Couldn’t have done it without you either.” Everyone else nodded in agreement.

“To us!” I overly shouted, bringing my bottle together with the others.

“Alright, fuck this. Let's fucking drink already, damn it.” Brian slurred. Apparently, he was ready to party just as much as I was. That even brought a small smile to Jimmy's lips.

I couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to be here, with my best friends, doing what I love, making music. There was nowhere else I would rather be, nothing else I would rather do, and this was only the beginning.

Notes

♥ Sorry it's so short, but don't fret, there's still more of these amazing boys to come ♥