Where Have You Been All My Life?
Ch. 3- Long-Lost
*~*Kamalei's POV*~*
“Brian! Who the fuck is it? We are supposed to be doing shots! Don’t think you’re getting out of it!” Matt said from his seat behind a table in the front sitting area.
The table had beers, shot glasses, and Jack Daniel’s bottles strewn across its top. They were definitely in after party mode. We followed behind Brian and Jimmy closely.
“Matt. It’s your sister.” Brian replied with the shocked look still on his face, before walking to a couch and sitting down.
Kelly and I stepped out from behind Jimmy.
“What?! Amy is in Huntington shopping with my mom. I talked to her this morning. What are you talking about?” he said, finally looking up and seeing me. “Who the hell are you?”
Tears started to well up in my eyes. Kelly must have noticed and she reached over and held my hand.
“Matt, I’m your little sister, Kamalei. We have the same dad. Gary Sanders, right? I have a picture of him and my mom when she was pregnant with me…” I said pulling the old picture out of my pocket and handing it to Jimmy to give to Matt.
Don’t push. Just let him wrap his head around it. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m some psycho fangirl freak. Just keep breathing. The hardest part is over. Breathe… Breathe… Breathe…
Suddenly a door towards the back opened and Valary came out and gasped.
“Oh my God! It’s you!” She screamed out. “It’s you! I knew there was something I recognized in you!” she said running up to me and grabbing me in a hug before pulling back and lifting my sunglasses, “There are those eyes! I fucking knew it!”
“Wha…wait…wait… Where did you get this picture?” Matt asked me as his girlfriend released me. “How do I know this is real?”
“My mother had that picture behind her mirror in her bedroom. Here, I have another one of you and your family together…” I said pulling another photo out of my wallet this time and handing it to Matt myself.
“You keep it in your wallet?” Johnny said from the couch, startling us as he hadn’t said a single word thru this whole ordeal.
“Yeah. It’s the family that was mine, but wasn’t mine. It was a reminder that they are out there somewhere.” I replied, letting the tears fall from my eyes.
“I…I… I don’t know what to say.” Matt said looking to Val for her guidance. “You know this girl Val?”
“I saw her at the merch booth earlier before the show. I was going to tell you before the show that I saw this girl who looks so much like you but decided to let it go so I didn’t mess up your show. I kinda forgot after. Sorry.” She said.
“That’s why you were running huh?” Johnny asked receiving a head nod in agreement from Val.
“Well, excuse me for a minute please.” Matt said standing up and walking to the back of the bus, pacing looking down at the pictures in his hands.
Oh my God he doesn’t believe me. I made myself into a fool. I should have just left him alone. Now he’s going to think I want something from him. All I want is to meet my family. I wanted the older brother I knew I had out there somewhere.
Kelly held on to my hand, squeezing it lightly in an attempt to soothe me and let me know she was here. Val walked back over to me and gave me another hug.
“It’s ok sweetheart. I know you aren’t lying.” She said as she went over to a cabinet and grabbed a napkin, handing it to me. “Here, wipe your eyes. There’s nothing to be sad about.”
Matt walked back into the sitting area and looked at me intently. He stared with the same hazel green eyes I had, looking my face over.
“This is definitely my dad. This is definitely my mom, dad, me and my sister in this one. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I need to call my dad.” He said before he walked past and stepped off the bus.
“Come sit. I’m sorry, what was your name?” Valary asked Kelly as she gestured us to sit on the couch by her across from Johnny.
“I’m Kelly. Lei’s my best friend. I’m sorry… I have been a huge fan and this is all shocking to me. Not only being on your tour bus and meeting you in person, but I had no idea. Lei never told me. I just found out when you did.” Kelly answered in shock.
“It’s ok. This is all pretty unexpected news.” Valary said before leaning over to whisper, “Poor Brian is still in shock I see.” She nodded to where Brian was sitting at the table, beer in his hand rattling as his hand shook on the table.
“So… You’re our new sister! Welcome baby sister!” Jimmy said excitedly as he bent all the way down to hug me.
“Thanks Jimmy.” I said slightly smiling at his joyfulness as he moved on to Kelly.
“Hello best friend Kelly! Welcome to our lovely bus!” He said to her.
“Thank you Jimmy. You’re the welcome party all by yourself aren’t you?” Kelly said.
“Sometimes. Not everyone is enthusiastic as I am.” He said nodding at Brian before padding down the hall to the back of the bus.
Without warning the bathroom door busted open and a shirtless Zacky came out with nothing more than a towel around his waist. He looked over in our direction and jumped at the sight of 2 new faces.
“Oh sorry. I didn’t know we had company.” He said lightly blushing before turning down the small hallway and heading to the back.
Oh sweet baby Jesus! He’s so fucking hot. Dammit if I didn’t have a boyfriend back home. The things I would do to that man…
Kelly nudged me noticing my obvious staring and my lightly reddening cheeks. “Cut it out.”
*~*Matt’s POV*~*
I stepped off the bus into the cool evening air. The air was the perfect temperature to help me think further. I honestly don’t know if me thinking was going to help at this point.
WTF is going on?! I have a sister I didn’t even know about. How? How did she get this picture of my family?! I need to call dad NOW.
I took my cell out of my pocket and found my father’s number.
RING. RING.
“Ah my son! How’s it going?” my father answered.
“Uh, not too good, Dad. I have to ask you some stuff. Is it a good time to talk?”
I could hear my father’s concern. “Yeah son. Are you and Val ok? Did something happen?”
“We’re ok. I…I don’t know how to ask you this but, do I have a sister you never told me about?” I asked.
There was a long pause before he sighed heavily, “Yes. Let me guess Kamalei found you. I knew this day would come.”
“WHAT?! YOU KNEW?! DOES MOM KNOW?!” I yelled thru the phone.
“Yes she does. Son, I think its best you come home and we talk about this. Is she with you?” he said calmly.
“Yes. She found me on tour. We’re driving back that way tonight. Should we just come to the house?” I asked trying to not let my anger get the best of me.
“Yes. Bring Kamalei with you. I would like to meet my daughter.” He replied.
“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you dad.”
“Love you too son.” He said before I hung up the phone.
I couldn’t handle this. So many unanswered questions and now I would have to wait until tomorrow to get my answers. All I know is that I do have a, dare I be cliché but, long-lost sister.
I need a fucking cigarette. Where is Vengeance?
I opened the door to the bus and yelled from the bottom of the stairs, “ZACK! Let me get a cigarette!”
I waited for a minute before Zack came down the stairs with his pack in hand.
“Hey, who are those 2 girls on the bus talking to Val?” He asked me as he took out 2 smokes, handing me one.
I lit the cigarette and took a deep inhale, “My sister and her friend.”
“Whaaaa?! Did you say your sister?!” again with a shocked face. I was getting sick of this.
“Yeah. Don’t ask because I really don’t know what the fuck is going on either. That’s why I needed the cigarette. We are heading to Huntington tonight with them per my father’s request.” I replied.
“Wow. Well… What’s her name?” He asked taking a long drag averting his eyes from me.
“Kamalei. I don’t know how I feel about this…” I said trailing off into my thoughts.
“It’s ok bro. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to feel about it. We’ll get the story from your dad tomorrow… Maybe you should ask her some questions? If she is your sister than you at least can find out some more about her.” Zacky coaxed me.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s the least I could do.” I agreed stepping out the end of my cigarette on the ground.
I waited for Zack to finish before opening the door and stepping back on. Val was sitting with Kamalei and her friend on the couch across from Johnny and Jimmy. She did kind of look like me. I see what Val was saying about recognizing her. She looked terrified to see me.
This is not how I want my sister to be. I don’t want her to be scared of me. I’m supposed to protect my sister, not scare the shit out of her.
I walked over to her on the couch towering over her before picking her up and hugging her. She was pretty tiny compared to me.
I let her go and said to her, “Well, welcome to the family sis. The Avenged one and the Sanders one. Ready for a mini-road trip?”
“Brian! Who the fuck is it? We are supposed to be doing shots! Don’t think you’re getting out of it!” Matt said from his seat behind a table in the front sitting area.
The table had beers, shot glasses, and Jack Daniel’s bottles strewn across its top. They were definitely in after party mode. We followed behind Brian and Jimmy closely.
“Matt. It’s your sister.” Brian replied with the shocked look still on his face, before walking to a couch and sitting down.
Kelly and I stepped out from behind Jimmy.
“What?! Amy is in Huntington shopping with my mom. I talked to her this morning. What are you talking about?” he said, finally looking up and seeing me. “Who the hell are you?”
Tears started to well up in my eyes. Kelly must have noticed and she reached over and held my hand.
“Matt, I’m your little sister, Kamalei. We have the same dad. Gary Sanders, right? I have a picture of him and my mom when she was pregnant with me…” I said pulling the old picture out of my pocket and handing it to Jimmy to give to Matt.
Don’t push. Just let him wrap his head around it. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m some psycho fangirl freak. Just keep breathing. The hardest part is over. Breathe… Breathe… Breathe…
Suddenly a door towards the back opened and Valary came out and gasped.
“Oh my God! It’s you!” She screamed out. “It’s you! I knew there was something I recognized in you!” she said running up to me and grabbing me in a hug before pulling back and lifting my sunglasses, “There are those eyes! I fucking knew it!”
“Wha…wait…wait… Where did you get this picture?” Matt asked me as his girlfriend released me. “How do I know this is real?”
“My mother had that picture behind her mirror in her bedroom. Here, I have another one of you and your family together…” I said pulling another photo out of my wallet this time and handing it to Matt myself.
“You keep it in your wallet?” Johnny said from the couch, startling us as he hadn’t said a single word thru this whole ordeal.
“Yeah. It’s the family that was mine, but wasn’t mine. It was a reminder that they are out there somewhere.” I replied, letting the tears fall from my eyes.
“I…I… I don’t know what to say.” Matt said looking to Val for her guidance. “You know this girl Val?”
“I saw her at the merch booth earlier before the show. I was going to tell you before the show that I saw this girl who looks so much like you but decided to let it go so I didn’t mess up your show. I kinda forgot after. Sorry.” She said.
“That’s why you were running huh?” Johnny asked receiving a head nod in agreement from Val.
“Well, excuse me for a minute please.” Matt said standing up and walking to the back of the bus, pacing looking down at the pictures in his hands.
Oh my God he doesn’t believe me. I made myself into a fool. I should have just left him alone. Now he’s going to think I want something from him. All I want is to meet my family. I wanted the older brother I knew I had out there somewhere.
Kelly held on to my hand, squeezing it lightly in an attempt to soothe me and let me know she was here. Val walked back over to me and gave me another hug.
“It’s ok sweetheart. I know you aren’t lying.” She said as she went over to a cabinet and grabbed a napkin, handing it to me. “Here, wipe your eyes. There’s nothing to be sad about.”
Matt walked back into the sitting area and looked at me intently. He stared with the same hazel green eyes I had, looking my face over.
“This is definitely my dad. This is definitely my mom, dad, me and my sister in this one. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I need to call my dad.” He said before he walked past and stepped off the bus.
“Come sit. I’m sorry, what was your name?” Valary asked Kelly as she gestured us to sit on the couch by her across from Johnny.
“I’m Kelly. Lei’s my best friend. I’m sorry… I have been a huge fan and this is all shocking to me. Not only being on your tour bus and meeting you in person, but I had no idea. Lei never told me. I just found out when you did.” Kelly answered in shock.
“It’s ok. This is all pretty unexpected news.” Valary said before leaning over to whisper, “Poor Brian is still in shock I see.” She nodded to where Brian was sitting at the table, beer in his hand rattling as his hand shook on the table.
“So… You’re our new sister! Welcome baby sister!” Jimmy said excitedly as he bent all the way down to hug me.
“Thanks Jimmy.” I said slightly smiling at his joyfulness as he moved on to Kelly.
“Hello best friend Kelly! Welcome to our lovely bus!” He said to her.
“Thank you Jimmy. You’re the welcome party all by yourself aren’t you?” Kelly said.
“Sometimes. Not everyone is enthusiastic as I am.” He said nodding at Brian before padding down the hall to the back of the bus.
Without warning the bathroom door busted open and a shirtless Zacky came out with nothing more than a towel around his waist. He looked over in our direction and jumped at the sight of 2 new faces.
“Oh sorry. I didn’t know we had company.” He said lightly blushing before turning down the small hallway and heading to the back.
Oh sweet baby Jesus! He’s so fucking hot. Dammit if I didn’t have a boyfriend back home. The things I would do to that man…
Kelly nudged me noticing my obvious staring and my lightly reddening cheeks. “Cut it out.”
*~*Matt’s POV*~*
I stepped off the bus into the cool evening air. The air was the perfect temperature to help me think further. I honestly don’t know if me thinking was going to help at this point.
WTF is going on?! I have a sister I didn’t even know about. How? How did she get this picture of my family?! I need to call dad NOW.
I took my cell out of my pocket and found my father’s number.
RING. RING.
“Ah my son! How’s it going?” my father answered.
“Uh, not too good, Dad. I have to ask you some stuff. Is it a good time to talk?”
I could hear my father’s concern. “Yeah son. Are you and Val ok? Did something happen?”
“We’re ok. I…I don’t know how to ask you this but, do I have a sister you never told me about?” I asked.
There was a long pause before he sighed heavily, “Yes. Let me guess Kamalei found you. I knew this day would come.”
“WHAT?! YOU KNEW?! DOES MOM KNOW?!” I yelled thru the phone.
“Yes she does. Son, I think its best you come home and we talk about this. Is she with you?” he said calmly.
“Yes. She found me on tour. We’re driving back that way tonight. Should we just come to the house?” I asked trying to not let my anger get the best of me.
“Yes. Bring Kamalei with you. I would like to meet my daughter.” He replied.
“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you dad.”
“Love you too son.” He said before I hung up the phone.
I couldn’t handle this. So many unanswered questions and now I would have to wait until tomorrow to get my answers. All I know is that I do have a, dare I be cliché but, long-lost sister.
I need a fucking cigarette. Where is Vengeance?
I opened the door to the bus and yelled from the bottom of the stairs, “ZACK! Let me get a cigarette!”
I waited for a minute before Zack came down the stairs with his pack in hand.
“Hey, who are those 2 girls on the bus talking to Val?” He asked me as he took out 2 smokes, handing me one.
I lit the cigarette and took a deep inhale, “My sister and her friend.”
“Whaaaa?! Did you say your sister?!” again with a shocked face. I was getting sick of this.
“Yeah. Don’t ask because I really don’t know what the fuck is going on either. That’s why I needed the cigarette. We are heading to Huntington tonight with them per my father’s request.” I replied.
“Wow. Well… What’s her name?” He asked taking a long drag averting his eyes from me.
“Kamalei. I don’t know how I feel about this…” I said trailing off into my thoughts.
“It’s ok bro. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to feel about it. We’ll get the story from your dad tomorrow… Maybe you should ask her some questions? If she is your sister than you at least can find out some more about her.” Zacky coaxed me.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s the least I could do.” I agreed stepping out the end of my cigarette on the ground.
I waited for Zack to finish before opening the door and stepping back on. Val was sitting with Kamalei and her friend on the couch across from Johnny and Jimmy. She did kind of look like me. I see what Val was saying about recognizing her. She looked terrified to see me.
This is not how I want my sister to be. I don’t want her to be scared of me. I’m supposed to protect my sister, not scare the shit out of her.
I walked over to her on the couch towering over her before picking her up and hugging her. She was pretty tiny compared to me.
I let her go and said to her, “Well, welcome to the family sis. The Avenged one and the Sanders one. Ready for a mini-road trip?”
Notes
Comments and votes are always appreciated. Hope you guys like it! Hopefully I will be able to post a new chapter tomorrow. Muchos mahalos! [Ma-ha-low = thank you] ;)
Ello, I've tried to find your story on wattpad and it's no where to be found. Could you send the link to the page of your story? I've gotta know what happens next!
11/20/17