“Wow, she can definitely play, huh?” Mei said it with her eyes still glazed at the two guitarists shredding face to face. She couldn’t help but notice the way Brian was only looking at her fingers with great level of concentration and never to his own. The sparks coming out of them was visible for a good observer as Mei was. Is she really Jimmy’s girlfriend or am I mistaken?

“Yeah, she’s good. That’s why I told you before I shouldn’t have let her go with us only to do hand work… It was a waste of time for her.”

“You said she wanted to go so… it was her decision, right?”

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t have agreed with that.” Mei faced Jimmy and his eyes were telling something he would never tell her, a person he just met, as trustful as she sounded. He noticed she had profound and intense brown eyes, the kind that was capable of reading your soul. She could see Jimmy was becoming aware of Brian and Emily’s chemistry just from the wrinkles forming on his forehead.

“You should talk to her about your idea of bringing her band on tour with you. Maybe they can accept her back with this more than tempting offer?” Mei wanted to help Jimmy, guilty was overflowing from his features still.

“Do you think blackmail can work on this situation?” he let out a smile from the corner of his lips.

“Why not? I bet the guy that replaced her don’t have that kind of deal hidden on his sleeve.” She raised her brows. She had a strong point.

“Hm, yeah, you’re probably right. I’m gonna give them a call later and make a surprise for her. Thanks for this, for… hearing me blabbering about my life, you shouldn’t be here giving advice, you are supposed to have fun on your last day here.” he grinned, not wanting her to leave that soon. He could use a female friend around there. She was perfect for the job cause she cared enough, he thought.

“Who says I’m not having fun?” they both smiled at each other before Jimmy gave a slight tap on Mei’s leg.

She was definitely hoping they would work things out, they were looking too cute sitting together on his drums before, she thought. And she could tell with certainty he really loved that woman with just a few minutes of talking, even if he hadn’t said so. But something was not right on that picture now. Brian seemed to be in their way somehow.

“Ooohh that smell. Can’t you smell that smell. The smell of death surrounds you…” Matt sang the chorus as Zacky did the female backing vocals, making everyone laugh at his imitation.

Jimmy had never seen them playing together before and as he watched their jamming, Emily’s smile grew wider at certain point. It wasn’t the same smile she let out after kissing him, it was brighter, intense… different. Jealousy was eating his flesh when they hit the climax of the song, dueling the guitars on double alternated notes sometimes.

Brian gave a step forward and Emily did the same, making their guitar bodies and right hands almost touch. Jimmy felt anger consuming his bones along with the unbearable jealousy he already had. The way Brian looked at her with his wicked smile, Jimmy knew his friend, he knew what was happening there and that moment was enough for him to have full certainty of his suspicions. Brian was practically eating his girlfriend alive right in front of him.

“Wow… should I start looking for another job now?” Zack commented to Jimmy, without noticing his friend’s temper rising.

“No, I’m the one that should be looking for another girlfriend now. Out for smoke…” Jimmy stormed out from the couch with lasers shooting at Brian before he could get out with a slam of the door even though he didn’t notice neither did Emily.

Mei, Rye, Kim and Jess traded worried glances. They could feel the tension surrounding the room now. That was when the song ended.

They all clapped again, with less enthusiasm this time. Brian and Emily traded silly smiles and a few words before unstrapping their guitars. Jess ran after her friend when Brian went to the freezer to grab another beer.

“Hey… what was that? Free porn featuring Synyster Gates?” Jess asked concerned.

“What? What are you talking about?” Emily still had the silly smile Brian placed at her face before.

“Oh my god, Emily, how could you not notice? Jimmy was so raged to see you two playing like that he had to get out of the room, you didn’t even notice. What are you doing? You’re messing up your relationship. Again!” Jess sounded exalted but had her voice volume controlled. Emily was still acting clueless.

“I can’t even play with my friend anymore without getting Jimmy all stressed out? What is wrong with all of you, it’s not like I’m… Okay, I should be telling all of this to him now, I’ll go after him.” she sighed, tired of this melodrama, and went out through the door.

Jess scented trouble.

---

“Hey stranger.” Emily stood by Jimmy’s side, facing the calm and empty street in front of them. He was smoking. Something he wouldn’t do very often now.

“Hey.” he didn’t look at her, just took another toke.

“Didn’t you say that was ruining your singing?” she asked, alluding to the cigarette in his hand.

“Yeah, it is.” he gave it another blew and let the smoke fill his lungs in and out with a contempt gaze at the horizon. She hated when he acted like that; so little talking for so many thoughts he was having.

“Jimmy, what’s wrong? Please, talk to me.” she appeared in front of him this time, trying to steal his eyes.

“What is left to say here anyway? I saw enough.” he finally turned his hurt glance at her, shrugging. She frowned.

“Baby, come on. Playing is my life, you know that, I was just jamming my problems away in there. Please, don’t try to see more where there isn’t.” she let her hand caress his left arm but she could sense being nice to him wouldn’t solve anything at all now.

“Believe me, Emily, I’m trying not to see it. I really am. But it’s stamped all over your face.”

“What, Jimmy? What is?” Emily felt her patience grow shorter. She hadn’t done anything wrong this time. Her hand slid from his arm down to her leg with a tap on her thigh in frustration.

“The connection you have with him! God, everybody saw it. The way he looks at you, the way you smile at him. You don’t… smile at me like that.” He kicked a stone lost in the ground and diverted his eyes from hers. He thought he could bring her closer to him while teaching drums but, he was clearly wrong. She was more into Brian’s lessons apparently.

“Oh my god, look at yourself, you sound like a child! Me and Brian, just friends, there’s nothing more than that. What you saw there, it’s called musical connection, and I bet you felt it before with him just as Zack and Johnny feel too when you are all playing together.”

“No, don’t tell me this is just musical. You called his fucking name while making love to me!” luckily there wasn’t a single soul on that street, cause Jimmy shouted that last sentence out loud.

“I knew you would throw that in my face somehow.” she smiled sarcastically, showing her anger through her heavy breath. “I said I’m sorry in every possible way I could! What else do you want me to do?” she had her arms opened at him in defeat.

“I WANT YOU TO QUIT!” he screamed even louder than before. Emily was astonished.

“Jimmy, this is my only job now, how am I supposed to…” she tried not to raise her voice with her eyes wide open at him. He interrupted.

“If you keep working with him, I’m done with you.” his tone was abruptly faded to almost no voice at all, facing her exactly like he did the time she said Brian’s name. Her heart hurt just as much as that night.

“Just like that? Okay.” she kept nodding, in disbelief, thinking about the sudden turn of events. They were acting so happy minutes before. What had changed now? “You can just shove this job up ON YOUR ASS!” it was her time to scream her lungs out, her heart beating fast on her throat and some tears creating two rivers on her cheeks.

Emily turned her back and got inside with furious steps, Jimmy didn’t follow her. She went to the counter, picked something in there and headed to the other exit door, the parking lot one. In the meantime, she said it without looking at anyone. But her tears were there for all of them to see.

“Sorry, Brian, I quit.” she had her hands on the doorknob and after saying those words she disappeared from their sights.

“What happened in there? Did she just…take Jimmy’s car key?” Matt asked, narrowing his eyes at the counter.

“Yeah.” Brian answered, frowning at the door Emily had just vanished out.

All they could hear now was a car screeching outside.

---

“That’s it, I’m gonna go after her, she’s not coming back. Where the fuck is Rev anyway?” Brian was impatient, walking from side to side on the room as everybody established a silent and tensed atmosphere, no one knew the answer to his question. They had tried Jimmy’s cellphone several times and nothing.

The party mood was long gone now.

“I don’t think you should get in the middle of this more than you already are, man…” Zacky finally opened his mouth to expose his thoughts, cause he knew Brian was definitely the motive of their fight.

“More than I already am? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? She went outside after him and came back crying. I don’t see how I can be involved in this.” he was tying to wash his hands of this.

“Brian, don’t act like a blind person. You’ve been spending a lot of time with her since she got the job with you. And the way you were shredding those guitars before, man… I’m sorry but, we are not stupid, you are playing with fire here.” Matt’s turn to speak. Brian listened it all and rolled his eyes.

“Okay. Do you all think like he does?” he looked at every single person in the room, including Jess’ friends that had nothing to do with that subject, in fact. But they had to nod as he asked, a bit afraid of what would be his reaction to that. “Great… I’m the criminal now.” he grinned ironically. He knew deep inside he was failing to hide his feelings for Emily every day now.

Silence built again.

“You know what? Emily is my friend and I don’t like the way she stormed out of here, crying like that. She can do something stupid.” he grabbed his car keys and faced Johnny. “Whether you agree or not, I’m going. I’m taking you and Lacey home and then you come with me to get Jimmy’s car back. I’ll find Emily somewhere and I’ll take her home, safe and sound. Simple like that.” Johnny agreed and start to help Lacey stood up from the couch. As they said goodbye to all of them, Jess had her worries stuck on Brian’s actions still.

“Brian, she will be fine, I know her, just…let her be tonight.” Jess tried to intervene. She knew well how Emily could definitely do something mindless as she is used to but she had to convince him otherwise. Jimmy would be even more pissed if he finds out he ran after her and Jess didn’t want to let that happen.

“Are you coming?” Brian asked her, ignoring her advice completely.

“No, me and Zack are gonna drive my friends to the airport in a few hours.” she glanced inside his eyes like never before. “You really shouldn’t go.”

“Yes, I should, she needs a friend. I’m her friend.” Brian said goodbye to Kim, Mei and Rye with a kiss on their cheeks. “Nice to have you all here. I wish this night could’ve ended differently.” the girls showed empathy to his sayings and said goodbye as well.

“Call me if you find her, okay?” Jess completed, giving up. She had her heart pounding heavy on her chest for her friend.

Mei couldn’t stop thinking if Jimmy had discussed the band thing with Emily at some point of their talking. Surely he didn’t, she wouldn’t have run like that. Where the hell is he anyway? She was apprehensive for him more than the others.

Brian, Johnny and Lacey headed to Brian’s car and the others stood back there, just wondering. Concern coating their hearts.

Notes

hahaha what the hell, had to split this in two! *evil laugh* muahahaha

things are heating up my frieeendss!
hit me with ur thoughts NOW!

<3