I didn’t realize that I was biting my nails, watching Brian and Arin being interviewed by the MTV crews. Brian’s eyes were dead cold and sad, I can’t stand looking at him. Fuck me if I’m being indecisive but I’d rather see his flirty and lazy eyes than the sad look he gave to the floor. I wonder why he was being like that.

Well, they talked about Jimmy and they can’t avoid it because Arin is the replacement. And Jimmy’s topic will make Brian grow sad.

I recalled last night when I was lying next to him, my eyes refused to fall asleep.

I only listened to the faint sound of ocean waves crashing, and Brian’s soft snore. He slept soundly yet his forehead creased. Like he was carrying the weight of the world. I turned around in his arms and faced him properly. If only we were in a relationship then I could see his face like this every day.

Slowly I pressed a finger in the middle part between his furrowed brows and the tension on his forehead instantly wore off. Whatever his dream was, I hoped it wasn’t a nightmare.

Suddenly his arms wrapped tighter around me, and with low voices he mumbled;

“Don’t go.”

I watched as his thin lips spoke in his sleep. Don’t go? Who’s going?

“Don’t leave me.”

He mumbled again. At first I thought he was talking about me.

“I’m not going anywhere.” I whispered on his - slightly decreasing temperature - forehead.

“Don’t leave me alone, Jim.”

I startled and leaned back. He was dreaming about the late Jimmy. Oh man, how could anyone ever compete with the relationship between those two? I wonder if that’s what making him so unattached to someone, maybe he was afraid that he will lose her or him like he lost Jimmy.

“So, Synsyter Gates,” the host spoke into the microphone and I came down from my flashback. I glanced at Brian who was looking at the host intently to hear her question.

“There are so many requests from the fans, asking me to ask you this. Are you available right now?”

The live fans in the studio yelled and screamed at the question. I covered one ear and sneered at Greg who sat beside me, poker faced.

“Meaning, do you have a special someone in your life right now?”

Brian took his time to bring the microphone to his mouth. After that he just pursed his lips and gazed up. Our eyes accidentally locked and he fucking refused to look away.

“To me, all my fans are a special someone. Just can’t live without them.”

“Ahh…what a perfect answer.”

The host commented followed by the chaotic bust from the crowd. The interview ended after a couple more questions and when the camera had shut off, the fans surrounded them like a swarm of moths to the flame. Greg and I got to our feet and watched by their sides as Arin and Brian giving autographs and taking pictures with them.

I saw him pulling out his phone and began texting in the middle of a crowd. Fans were eager to see who was he texting with and I just shook my head. Come on Brian, if you wanna text, do it when you’re alone.

Suddenly my phone vibrated in my pocket. I dug it out and saw an unread message from an unknown number.

I’m hungry. Cook for me.

What? Who’s this? I don’t remember giving out my number to anyone except Andy…and Big T…oh I’ll be damned. I quickly tilted my head up and saw Brian was smirking at me before he turned his gaze away to his fans. So now I’m his slave?

~*.*~

“Brian, are you going to McKenna’s practice tonight?”

I was sitting at the front passenger seat, Greg was driving the SUV and we were on our way back after the interview in KROQ had done. My ears shot up when I heard McKenna’s name from Arin. She will be having a show anytime soon, I gotta find a way to get in. The killer might be there.

“Later, maybe. I have…something important to do.” Brian answered, lazily.

I don’t know why my heart beat fast like a boom box, but I can feel his stare drilling on the back of my head as the hair on my neck stood up. Greg pulled over in front of Warner Bros office to find the others were already there. I went out of the car and went to Big T but made sure that Brian didn’t go away from my line of sight.

Big T and Dan briefed about their last schedule for today, which was completed with KROQ interview for 2 hours. Tomorrow only Matt and Zacky had this golf thingy going on, and I wasn’t obliged to follow. Yay, a day off for me!

After the briefing I went over to Brian who was talking to Johnny and punching his shoulder playfully.

“So, Syn. My work is done. I’ll be going home first.” I called him Syn whenever we’re not alone because calling him Brian sounded a little intimate, I think. Don’t want them to start thinking that we slept together. Which we did.

He turned from his playful gaze on Johnny to me. His smile died a little, but eyebrows rose watching me.

“Woa, woa, woa. Hold your fucking horses Addie! Who said you’re done?” Johnny, who looked a little bit drunk, slurred his way over to me.

“Um, KROQ is the last one on your list.”

“No, no. You should hang with us. That’s what usually the crew does.”

I switched my view to Brian who was now crossed his arms on his chest, eyes sharply on me.

“Oh don’t mind Brian, he’s not going. It’ll be only me, you and a couple of my friends BEER and WINE.” Johnny kissed both of his tattooed knuckles and I just chuckled, feeling sorry for him.

“I’m sorry Johnny. I’m gonna have to pass.” My eyes locked with Brian’s and I saw his lips curved up in a small smile when he heard my answer. I needed to be near him, can’t let him out of my sight. Johnny shrugged and went on to give me a hug.

“Well it’s your loss, but maybe next time okay?” he tightened his hug once and left me alone with Brian by my side.

“So, see you later.” I turned away from him.

“Addie.” He called.

“Hm?” I faced him again.

He didn’t answer me straight away. Instead he took his time to stare into my eyes and melt my whole body with it.

“I don’t mean to mess with your head. I’ve been thinking about it. You’re right. I shouldn’t lead you up to anything.”

I felt a little bit disappointed by that but I grabbed firm on my principle and promise. “Good. Let’s just stay friends.”

“Yeah.”

I approached him closer as I saw his smile grew a little wider.

“So where did you get my number?

“Big T. I gotta at least have your number. For my safety purposes.”

I shut my eyes, admitting the truth in that. Yeah, being his bodyguard and security crew at the same time really felt like I’m killing two birds with one stone. The only difference is I don’t have to guard him 24/7 as a security. But as for his own personal secret bodyguard…

“Feed me, Addie?”

I opened my eyes just to see his adorable begging face with his brown eyes opened wide and his thin lips pouted.

“Hey 27 year old Brian, can’t you even feed yourself?”

“No I can’t. That’s why I’m so skinny.”

I chuckled at his remark. “But you have nothing in your house.”

“Let’s eat at yours.”

“No!” I immediately scoffed and he winced a little. No way, I can’t let him into my house or I’ll be caught!

“Uh, I mean, my house is a fucking mess. Let’s just shop for things and I’ll cook at yours.”

He narrowed his eyes at first but then he grew a crooked grin slowly. “I’d like that.”

Oh I hope this won’t turn out to be another scene like last night. I have to control myself, damn it!

---

She picked up her purple with baby blue pinstriped guitar and strapped it on her shoulder. With a cable already plugged into the Hellwin amplifier she tried on a few chords and stepped on the distortion pedal just to see how it sounds.

It sounded great. Those were birthday presents from her half-brother, a custom made Schecter guitar and his own signature amp, though it came in a mini size.

“Mac, Kenneth can’t come tonight, should we go for his replacement?”

McKenna raised her bright pink head and saw her best friend – Ava was panicking in front of the stage with a piece of paper in her hand.

“Replacement? Do we have one?”

“We could try the guys from Ripley’s. They’re quite amazing.”

“Blegh. They only played Weezers and stuff like that.”

“So then do you have any ideas? We need a drummer asap! The show’s tomorrow Mac!”

“Okay, okay! I’m thinking. Could you please relax, Ava?”

Ava let out a big sigh and leaned her back against the lower part of the stage. McKenna scratched her head, thinking hard. Usually in times like these she would turn to Jimmy – a guy who was like her brother and her best friend. That tall lanky guy was always there to cheer her up and practice with her until 4 in the morning eventhough he had to get up early for their tour the next day.

But Jimmy wasn’t around anymore.

“Hey, guys. Getting ready for tomorrow night?”

McKenna turned to the voice. It was one of her brother’s friend, walking towards them with a hat on his head, and a sling bag across his skinny body.

“Arin?”

“Hi Mac.” He held out his palm. It was really rare to see a member of Avenged Sevenfold to walk in a small venue like this, moreover the show hadn’t even started yet.

“Hi. Are you here alone?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Where are the others? Brian?”

“Brian, he had to leave after the interview. He said he would come by later. So I’m here to support you guys.”

McKenna watched as he drew nearer to the stage. She didn’t know why she hated him. Probably the whole ‘replacing Jimmy’ thing still haunts her mind even after 2 years of his passing.

“Aren’t you busy?”

Arin shrugged. “Nope. I’m all ears.”

McKenna stared at him for a short moment before Ava broke the silence by yelling out loud.

“Oh my God I just had the best idea ever!”

Both McKenna and Arin looked at her and exchanged glances.

“Arin can be our drummer!”

“What.”

“Yeahh! It’ll be totally perfect! Look Arin, our drummer, Kenneth bailed on us tonight and he said that he doesn’t know if he can come tomorrow-”

“I’ll do it.”

McKenna turned her head to him quickly. Arin was smiling at Ava before blinking his eyes softly at her. She crouched down to Ava and whispered;

“Ava, are you out of your mind? Arin plays metal and we only play slower stuff. Plus we only have tonight to practice.”

“You’re underestimating him, Mac. How do you know he’ll fail if you haven’t tried?”

They looked at Arin slowly who just grinned and crossed his arms on his chest. McKenna refused to admit how adorable he looked right now.

~*.*~

“So what’s the setlist?” Arin asked, getting ready behind the drum kits, kicking its pedal, loosened a few screws – like a pro would do.

“We will cover a few songs from a few indie bands. And a song of our own.”

“Oh cool, you write songs! Do you have some kind of a demo or something? So I can listen to it?”

McKenna glared at Ava who was already behind her keyboards and to Wesley whose bass guitar strapped on his shoulder waiting for the practice to start.

“No, we just played it out randomly. Usually Kenneth would come up with the drums like, on the spot.”

Arin frowned for a second, and then shrugged with drumsticks ready in his hand. “Cool.”

Ava shot a piercing sharp gaze at McKenna, telling her to trust Arin fully. Not that she didn’t trust him, God his drums in Shepherd of Fire was mind blowing-ly amazing. She just couldn’t pinpoint to why she didn’t like him, eventhough deep within her heart she thought he was really cool and kind.

“Okay, we will start with Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Losing My Religion.”

“Oh cool I love that song! We once jammed with that and your brother just fucking naaiilled it.”

McKenna knew that fact. She learned the solo from Brian anyway.

“So then it shouldn’t be a problem to you.”

“I hope not.” He grinned widely. McKenna blew out her breath, trying to calm down.

Notes

A/N: okay @MeRi..i updated 2 chaps for uuu <3 maybe i'll update another one because you helped promoted this story!! hahahaha i'm touched :')

in the meantime, comments and feedbacks guys!!! XD