God, Andy! What kind of dress have you brought for me now? This looks too short! And a bit see-through! Brian only threw a beach party not a nightclub scene! Jeez.

I stared at my reflection, she stared at me back. A disgusting look adorned on her face, sneering at me loudly. Andy borrowed this tight white tank dress from his current girlfriend when I told him that I don’t have anything to wear to the party. Shit I should have never trusted his taste. Nevertheless, I wore my two piece blue bikini underneath it and hopefully nobody will ask me to swim later. Or I have to rip myself away from this dress.

“Wow, Addie, you look….girly.” Andy commented when I finally came downstairs.

“Shut up. Let’s go. We’ll just go through my back door. It’s nearer.”

Andy got up to his feet and immediately hooked his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his body. My heart skipped a beat. He never did things like this to me.

“What are you doing, Andy?”

“What? You said we’re a couple, right? So act like one.” He leaned down to kiss my lips but I don’t know why, for some reason I tilted my head to the side so that his lips crashed against my cheek instead.

“Damn, you’re defensive.”

Yeah I’ve heard that one before. But wait. Andy is my crush right? Why should I be defensive towards him? When the one that I should be defensive to is Brian!

“Hey, hey heyy! There she is! I was wondering whether you’re coming or not.”

“Hey Johnny.” I greeted the Avenged guys with a hug and blushed at their comments about my attire.

“Wait, did you just come from that house?” Johnny asked. Oh shit, busted?

“Um, yeah. Well, I just moved here.”

“How fucking convenient! You’re Brian’s security guard and you live next to him! Then he’ll be safe 24/7!”

Yeah, that was the plan, shorty.

“But..Brian said that he didn’t notice you being our crew…hmm…strange. Why would he lie?”

Oh shit, he’s busted too?

“Oh, probably because I also didn’t know that I’m going to be his guard. So we didn’t actually meet until NAMM.”

Johnny nodded his head in satisfaction and went on rambling about his wife couldn’t come because she was working out-station or something. Mainly Andy was the one entertaining him while I was busy looking around for Brian.

There he was.



Tall and built, hair slicked to the back, with one hand in his pocket while the other sipped down a bottle of beer and his eyes staring at my way. Oh God, my knees already wobbled like jelly. I smiled at him, but he just stood there, not making a move.

“Addie, check out that hot blondie by the campfire.”

Andy whispered to my ear suddenly. I looked ahead and laughed. He was checking out Zacky’s girlfriend, Gena. Zacky was busy turning over the meat while Gena danced around the campfire with a girl I didn’t recognize.

“Yeah if you wanna bruise that easily, go and flirt with her.” I whispered back to Andy.

“Why? Is she taken?”

“Yep.”

“Damn.”

“So how long have you guys been together?”

Both Andy and I looked ahead and, think of the devil – Zacky was standing in front of us – handing over a plate of well done steak and chicken. Andy took it and started eating, letting me to be responsible of my own lie.

“Um, 2 years, I guess. Right, An?”

“Uh-hmm.” Andy kept eating and turned himself away from me.

“2 years? That’s around Jimmy’s passing.”

“Yeah, I know. My condolences, Zacky.”

Zacky gave me a bitter smile. “Hey, it’s been long. We all missed him but we hope he’s in a better place.”

“Yeah. I hope so too.”

“They used to be so close you know. The three of them.”

“Who?”

“Brian, Jimmy and Michelle.”

“Michelle?”

“Yeah, Valary’s twin sister. You know Val right?”

I narrowed my eyes. She’s Matt’s wife if I’m not mistaken. “I’ve seen her around but never got the chance to talk to her.”

Zacky nodded and took a seat in front of me. I followed suit, but when I was about to sit down, my eyes froze at Brian – who was now embracing a woman.

“What’s wrong, Addie?”

I didn’t realize I was stiff and not moving, until Zacky had to get up and looked at my direction.
“Oh they made up? I didn’t know they planned to get back together.”

“What do you mean? Is that Michelle?” Oh shit, why do I feel like this? My insides felt stinging. It was like a knife had stabbed my stomach, turning and twisting its sharp blade into me. They got back together?

“Yeah that’s Michelle. They’ve broken up 5 months ago. I guess they still have feelings for each other.”

I saw Michelle reached for his kiss and I just felt rage right there. I didn’t even know why but it felt really hurt seeing him with another woman. I don’t even wanna be with him so why do I feel this way?

Ok, I lied. I lied big time. I want to be with him so badly. I can’t help but reserving a place for him in my heart but I’m not sure whether he wanted to dwell in it. Now I’m sure. He clearly didn’t want me. He just wanted to use me for his sexual need only.

“Oh shit, Addie! Why are you crying?”

I snapped back to the now when Zacky suddenly grabbed my shoulder and shook me hard. I was – crying? Shit. Quickly I wiped my tears off and drank my beer.

“Oh it’s just the sea breeze. And the smoke from those fires.”

Zacky looked relieved instantly. Did I mention that Zacky is the sweetest member in this band?
“Well, you better stay away from the fire then. Don’t play with it.”

You’re right, Zacky.
I shouldn’t play with fire.
I could burn myself.

---

“Say something, Brian.”

Brian blinked once. His mouth still closed from the stiff kiss they shared earlier. He hadn’t thought of Michelle for so long and now she wanted to get back? After all the explanations and secret being let out? He can’t love her anymore now that Jimmy wasn’t around. He tried to, after a year of his passing but he gradually became this person who didn’t appreciate her, ditched her so many times and cheated on her even right before her eyes. Still she wanted to be with him?

“Michelle.” He croaked, pulling her arms away from wrapping around his back. Michelle can sense that he was going to reject her, so she tried again. She kissed him repeatedly but only on his cold, closed mouth. Brian didn’t have the heart to push her away anymore.

“Michelle.” He called again, bringing her body a little bit farther away. Michelle stopped and stared at him.

“We can’t get back together. I don’t want to let you down again. You deserve someone better than me.”

“No, Brian. I deserve you. You are perfect for me. I don’t care if you wanna cheat on me with a thousand groupies. I can take it. Just, please. Don’t ignore me. Don’t treat me like a piece of junk. Be with me, please?”

Brian swam deeply into her eyes, looking for that spark or desire but he just couldn’t find it. He didn’t know why his head automatically looked over to the party scene, most importantly, to Addie.

He saw Addie was talking to Zacky and drank her beer, not knowing anything that had happened over here. Then Andy came from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, making her smiled and giggled – like she would if he was the one who did that to her.

Brian closed his eyes. Maybe this was the time for resistance. Maybe he shouldn’t hope for more to happen between him and that woman of his desire. He slowly turned his head to a longing Michelle.

“Okay. Let’s try again.”

Michelle’s red lips grew into a wide smile as she embraced him once more, not wanting to let him go.

---

“So, we meet again.”

Both Andy and I twirled around and my heart stopped for a millisecond again. Brian stood before us, with a beer in his right hand and a dirty-blonde woman linked her arm on his left. Michelle. She looks like Valary but her eyes are bigger. Not to mention her high pumps made her seem so much taller than her twin sister.

“Hey man. Great party.” Andy took his arm and they both grasped tightly, like there was a manly competition between them that I know nothing of.

“I know.” Brian blinked softly, with the usual cocky smirk spread on his face.

“Have you notified the authorities about making a party here? It’s pretty public and loud.” Gah, Andy. Can you not show off to people that you’re a fucking cop? Well, agents are cops too, pretty much.

“Don’t have to. I own this motherfucker up until….there.” Brian pointed proudly towards the shore way further ahead, revealing a bridge jetty and a viewing gazebo at the end. Oh, what’s with this showing off contest?

“I see.” Andy remarked in an impressed tone and I accidentally caught Brian looking at me.

“So Brian, who’s the pretty lady next to you?” Andy asked. Brian’s face changed so drastically like he had forgotten something and just remembered it now.

“This is Michelle. My – girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Andy - being his charming self – took Michelle’s hand and kissed the back of her palm softly. Yep, he just can’t seem to stay away from women. Michelle blushed, the way she giggled when Andy did that, I can tell, she was melting. I glanced at Brian. He wasn’t paying attention to them at all. He had his full attention to me. Our eyes locked and I can see the ghost of a smile spread on his thin lips. Shit, did he suspect something? Andy why do you have to be so gentleman right fucking now?

“Uh, Andy..baby. Do you wanna dance?”

Andy blinked hard. He probably can’t believe my invitation since I don’t dance. Like ever.

“Sure, sweetheart. But to this tune? Are you sure?”

“Let’s make them put Warmness On The Soul on, shall we?”

I looked again at Brian. Yeah, he looked angry. His piercing sharp eyes regarded me to intently that I felt out of breath.

“See you guys later, Michelle. Brian.”

Brian nodded curtly and drank his beer. As Andy took my waist and brought me to the middle of the sandy dance floor, coincidentally a slower tune appeared. Not Warmness On The Soul though. I don’t recognize this tune. But it’s nice.

I stare at the girl in the mirror,
T-shirt, torn up jeans, no beauty queen
But the way that you see me
You get underneath me
And all my defenses just fall away
Fall away

My thoughts were immediately on Brian when I heard the lyrics of this song, eventhough my arms wrapped around Andy and so did his. I can’t resist looking at Brian who was staring at me and Andy with Michelle still standing by his side – talking to Valary and Matt.

I am beautiful with you
Even in the darkest part of me
I am beautiful with you
Make it feel the way it’s supposed to be
You’re here with me
Just show me this and I’ll believe
I am beautiful with you.

My heart can’t stop beating fast during that entire song. His gaze still fixed on mine even when he was talking to her. I wish I’m dancing with him right now instead of Andy.

“You look beautiful, Addie.”

I turned my gaze away to Andy. He was whispering next to my ear, giving me chills and goosebumps.

“I’m glad you’re my girlfriend tonight.”

And with that, he kissed me.

Notes

A/N: haha hold on tight guys..it's gonna be a bumpy ride~ hahaha comments! XD