After All That We've Been Through

Brian's POV

"It needs to be more melodic like....do do do do do..." Matt explained, singing my newest guitar solo as Zack and I sat on the patio outside the studio. Was he fucking serious right now? Did I not know how to play guitar or record? "You know, like..."

I toned Matt out as I took a slow drag from my Marlboro, feeling a slight release from my irritation. Damn these were a good smoke. I took another long drag and exhaled it slowly, blowing a cloud of smoke around me. I never got tired of that smell.

As Matt continued to rewrite my solo and babble on, I pulled my black beanie down over my eyes. Not only did I need to block out the bright California sun but It was only thing keeping me from snapping back at Matt. I knew he had good intentions for the bonus track we were writing, but fuck I knew what I was doing!

"Gates are even fucking listening?"

"Yes," I groaned. "Got it. You want more legato in the high section an more song like. Yes I know, it needs to be perfect," I cut in as Matt opened his mouth again. "I'll be back in after my smoke."

"Awesome, man. See you inside for your next take!" Matt smiled and clapped his hand on my shoulder. I turned to watch him go back inside and once he was out of sight I let out a scream and covered my whole head with the beanie. I thrashed myself around as I screamed in frustration.

"Let it out man," Zacky laughed. I pulled my beanie back up to its rightful place on my head just in time to be engulfed in a cloud of Zack's smoke.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Zack? Did that really just happen?" I raged, standing up pacing back and forth.

"Yes it did," Zack said, taking another drag from his cigaret. He looked calm and relaxed in the patio chair with blue stripped hoodie pulled up over his head. I could tell he was exhausted from Jimmy's party last night. "Glad it wasn't me. I would have told him to fuck off and let my do my job," he chucked and flipped his hair out of his eyes and his cigaret at the same time. Classic Zacky.

"You're my witness that I had nothing to do with writing that solo," I said, half sarcastic and half serious as I pointed to the door. "I must be slouching more than I ever have in my entire life! Not to mention it was only the third fucking take!" I let out another scream before one echoed me from the door. I jumped in surprise.

"What are we screaming about?" Jimmy asked, leaning out the doorway, his arms outstretched and holding onto the door frame for dear life. One wrong move or slip and he would face plant on the ground.

"I apparently can't write my own solos anymore with out a coach," I sighed, sitting back in the old patio chair. " But what can you do? What can you do?" I added with a Scottish accent.

Fuck, what was I really bitching about anyway? I was making music with my best friends and we were about to go back out on tour in three weeks. Our new record was done and released and now we were working on a new bonus track to release before tour.

"Well I've been telling you that for years," Jimmy chuckled before moving to take the seat next to me. I crumpled Matts lyric sheet and chucked it at him. "Hey! Don't take it personally! You know just a spoon full of Jimmy helps the medicine go down!" He sang and I couldn't help but laugh. Jimmy always brightened my day, specially after my break up with Michelle.

"So are you done with your track?" Zack asked Jimmy after blowing out smoke.

"Yeah just you guys and short shit are left to record. But man you should hear the jams coming from the studio next door! I don't know who's in today but ....damn!"

I pulled my beanie back down over my eyes as I continued to smoke. This was the best part of my day so far.

"Don't give them more credit than they deserve, it's Fatal Facade in there today," Zacky hissed.

I didn't quite remember when we had pitted ourselves against the new band Fatal Facade, but what I did know is that they came right out talking smack about us. It was only three weeks ago that Matt and Zacky got into a fight with their basest and lead guitar players, Gunnar Tebo and Axel Fire, at a local bar. It wasn't good publicity for either band. Personally I was going to try and stay out of it, but if my brothers needed me, I would back them up.

"But really they have a great sound," Jimmy continued. "You can hate them for their sucky attitudes and metal snobbery, but you can't hate them because of their talent."

"Fuck them,"Zacky said and then spit at the ground. "No new band comes out talking shit. It's so fucking disrespectful..."

I looked down at my phone just as it buzzed with a new email and Zack's and Jimmy's did the same. "Mayhem tour line up!" I sang, my mood lifting even more.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Zack yelled before, throwing his phone back down on the table.
"What?" I was still waiting for my email to open.

"We are co-head lining with Fatal Facade, that's what," Jimmy said with a slight frown. " I think some asses are going to be kicked!" He said in one of his unusual voices that always gave me a chuckle.
"Let them put their money where their mouth is. We've got the late spot on almost every show," I added, finally looking at the email from the Mayhem Festival. "They are like an opener....so don't get you panties in a bunch, Baker." I laughed before flicking him on the forehead.

"You fucking asshole," Zack laughed before lunging towards me. I knew better than to stay around for Zack's payback. I quickly jumped over Jimmy in his chair and ran towards the studio entrance. It was then that I was suddenly shoved backwards and into Zack.

"Get the fuck out of my way."

I looked up from my stumble just in time to see a man about my size, covered in tattoos wearing only a black tank and jeans. However, he wore a brown beanie that was similar to mine. He was then followed by a short red headed girl with a rose tattoo sleeve. I raised my brow watching them. I had to admit, the chick was hot.

"Caleb stop!" She said, grabbing the back of his shirt. "I don't see what the big deal is! We finally have a co-head line on a major tour! It's what we've been waiting for!"

"But it's with those scumbags," he hissed glaring at me, Jimmy, and Zack. All three of us were now standing.

"Who are you calling scumb?" Zacky growled taking a step forward. "You're new to this business and it's not good to make enemies with people who have an established name."

"Back off pretty boy, you're old news. Don't be bitter because we're surpassing you." The tattoo man shot back.

"Caleb, enough," the girl said, giving him a good smack on the arm. Now that was my kind of girl. "We are going on this tour and we are going to get along. Now I don't want to hear another word from any of you. We are equal!" She said pointing at is and staring us down with ice blue daggers.

"I'd listen to the lady if I were you," I chuckled. "We don't mess around on tour."

Suddenly those ice blue eyes turned on me with an angry look. "Listen here, Gates right? I don't need you stick up for me." She was walking towards me with her finger pointed at me. I slowly backed up as she pursued me, totally amused by the whole situation. The next thing i knew i was backed against the building with her finger firmly poking my chest. Man this was hot...

"I can handle my brother and beat your ass at the same time." Her eyes narrowed at me and I couldn't help but smirk. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am," I said. "Can't wait to share the stage with you."

The red head backed up and I couldn't help but smile as I watched her walk away. Man did her ass look good in those jeans.

"Eyes off my sister," the other man growled.

"Sorry, didn't catch your names," I said, taking out another cigaret as they walked to a black Mercedes.
However instead of an answer, I received a two person middle finger salute. I smiled and bowed; I was the man of the hour.

"See you on tour!" I laughed and waved as they sped off, though my brain couldn't shake those blue eyes.

"Damn Gates," Jimmy laughed. "Way to piss off Violet Rouge and her brother Axel Fire."

"My pleasure," I replied in a goofy voice. "New project me thinks!"

"To find out what her real name is?" Jimmy asked. "Because there is no way her mother giver her a strippers name...but damn she's hot."

"No fucking the enemy, Haner," Zack said with narrow eyes before I could reply.

I put my hands up in defeat before going back into the studio. No one was going to tell me what I could not do.

As I walked back into the recording studio, all I could think about was that red hair and crystal blue eyes.

Notes

This is my first fanfict! Let me know what you think! I also need a story banner is anyone is interested! :)