Brian’s POV

That clueless little look on her face was almost too much to handle. I couldn’t bare, but chuckle, while her eyes kept confusedly watching me the whole ride to my second favorite place in the whole world. Ruby’s. A small little cafe at the end of the pier, but hell, they had these most delicious little caramel apples with peanuts I’ve ever eaten. And 4.95$ for a single sugary goodness? I think that’s a pretty good deal. Every time when me and the guys went back home from tour, I wouldn’t even go home, the first stop was Ruby’s to have the little diabetes causer. Usually I wasn’t the one for sweets, but that was something fully different.

I stopped the car at one of those many parking lots beside the beach, killing the engine and taking the key out of the ignition. MJ still wasn’t talking to me. Probably was still pissed over the car, but I didn’t care. A gift is a gift, she could’ve thanked me I didn’t get her the same car Dice was driving, which was even more worth than this BMW right here. But then again, she was the one to point out to that navy blue chick car. Did she honestly think I’d buy a convertible for myself? Ha, now that’s a fucking big joke. I couldn’t risk with messing up my hair for god sake. Besides blue wasn’t really my color.

„Oh just stop it,” I smiled, tapping her pretty little nose, „Or did you want a similar beast to one which Dice’s driving? ‘Cause that estimates somewhere around 130 grand,”

Her eyes grew wide, before protesting, „It does not!”

„Oh it does.” I grinned, opening the door to get out of the car. I knew why she had gaped at me like that, she had no idea her sexy ass had been driving in a 130 k worth vehicle of pure american muscle.

Once she got out, she looked a bit pale. Hell, it was almost too fun messing with her. I managed my way around the car to stop by her and wrap my arm around her shoulder, guiding her towards the pier. „Why did you tell me her car is so expensive? Now I never won’t even as much as go near it...”

„I thought you knew,” I replied, looking down on her just to see her shake her head. „Well why else would she guard her with her life?”

„’Cause the car’s badass?” She said like it was oh-so obvious. I smirked.

„Mustangs are awesome, but they tend to have a lot of problems. I’d choose Chevrolet Camaro if it was up to me,” the same one I won in the bet.

„Yea, she’d told me the same thing... And she calls it the Russian Whore.” She smiled.

I’ve heard that somewhere before, „Le’me guess, ‘cause she drinks like one?” She nodded. But of course, Matt called the Chevy the same way until he decided to get rid of it. I on the other hand – had nothing against it. I let go of her shoulder just to receive a look. What? I need my hourly dose of nicotine. Quickly I lit up the smoke, before taking her hand in mine so she don’t take off as soon as my head turns the other way.

„Then why doesn’t she sell it for the highest bid?” I questioned as we stepped on the pier.

„A sentimental value, I guess...” She shrugged as I blew out the cloud of smoke, „I don’t know, one day the car just appeared out of nowhere and she proclaimed her undying love for her.”

„And you?”

„What about me?” She frowned, her head raising to look at me.

„What do you like? Other than teasing me with your outfits,” I smirked, which made her turn away, blushing. So what? Like she didn’t know I was very much fucking blunt. Or maybe she didn’t in fact know that about me... „Okay, joking. But seriously tho, tell me something about yourself.”

„I...” MJ was considering the invite for a moment, she opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it and just frowned. „You can’t just tell someone to tell something about themselves!” She exclaimed as I pushed the door open to the cafe.

„Why not?” I guided her to one of the empty tables. The place wasn’t a fancy ass restaurant, it had old wooden tables, worn-out padding's on the chairs and the chubbiest, yet the sweetest waitress I knew. The place was filled with the smell of some pancakes being prepared, reminding me of the Sunday mornings at my dad’s house. It was far from the usual dining places I visited and that was what I liked about this place so much. Nobody expected for Synyster Gates to be dining here and that for – nobody looked for me here. MJ was actually the first girl I had brought to Ruby’s.

„’Cause you can’t. What would you do if I said ‘tell me something about yourself’?”

„I’d tell something about myself,” I smirked, taking the menu from the waitress and mouthing a ‘thanks’. MJ doing the same. She didn’t look too pleased, but I could get that was still because of the car.

„Then start talking,” She mused, scanning the menu.

„Well, what do you want to know?” I sat the menu back on the table, right at the same moment when Addie – the waitress placed a Budweiser on the table. She knew me too well.

„So what will it be? The usual?” Addie’s blues looked at me, before shifting to MJ with a kind smile on her full lips. „Times two?”

„What’s the usual?” MJ asked.

„Something that’ll get him diabetes if he already hasn’t one,” Addie rolled her eyes, bringing a chuckle out of MJ. „Basically it’s sugar covered in sugar and topped with sugar.”

„Lime tart isn’t that sweet,” I rolled my eyes.

„Well, originally it’s not. You’re right, but you order it with whipped cream, mister I-want-a-diabetes.” Addie flashed me a wide, fake smile.

„I think I’ll have—„

„She’ll have what I’m having. And if she won’t like it then I’ll eat it,” I crossed my arms as I leaned back in the chair, having a stare down with the elderly woman. I swear she was almost as bad as Dice with the customers, she’d be happy I ordered something here, but instead she tried to talk me out of it each time, pointing out to my non-existent diabetes and sometimes even my weight problems. Addie squinted her eyes on me, in the end sighing in defeat.

„But no whipped cream. We’re out of that stuff,”

„Fine,” Even tho I knew they weren’t.

„I didn’t take you for the sweets guy,” MJ smiled to me as I was battling with my inner child not to show my tongue to Addie.

„I’m not,” I finally sighed, propping my forearms on the table, „I just like my desserts,” A smirk pulled on my lips. MJ looked like a very fucking good dessert if I might add, I could as well eat her instead of the caramel apple and the lime tart. I wanted her, oh god how I wanted, the tightness of my pants approved it, but I couldn’t and I shouldn’t.

While I stuffed myself with the cake and rinsed it away with the beer, we talked about everything that hit our minds. I grew to know that MJ likes to work on some kind of digital art which I was completely oblivious to. It was really interesting to see her talk with such a passion about something. I found out she studied in Miami and that was basically why I’ve never really seen her around here. Once I finally decided to look at my phone and check the time, I realized it’s really late and I should be taking her back home, before Dice has pounded my beautiful ass.

So, knowing how MJ hadn’t even touched her lime tart and it pissed Addie off majorly when I had double portions, I figured not to fight my favorite waitress and ask for her to make the tart in a take-away, promising it will be MJ who will eat it and not me. Yea, right. I loved those tart’s probably more than I loved my hair care products. And that’s a lot.

I strongly believed MJ had already forgotten about the expensive gift, because the whole drive back to her place she was happily telling about a time when Dice took her to Vegas. I figured she wasn’t an often guest there, ‘cause there’s a rule – what happens in Vegas, stay’s in Vegas. But nevertheless I was taking in each and every word of hers.

„She got knocked out because of me,” She said as I made a turn to pull in their street. I couldn’t bare but chuckle on the picture of Dice being cold out on the floor.

„What happened?”

„We were at some club and some guy was hitting on me, Dice didn’t like it so she stepped in, turns out the guy had a girlfriend. Twice Dice’s size. A genuinely big girl and she thought she was hitting on him, they got in an argument and one punch and she was out cold.” Hell, I’d pay money to see the fiery red-head out cold. That would be the funniest shit ever since those crap-buns the Berries tried to feed to some mere civilians.

I stopped in front of their house, but didn’t see Dice’s Mustang outside. It was an opportunity to satisfy little Bri in my pants, but then again, I didn’t want to push my luck. „So this is me,” She said a smile on her face as she turned to look at me.

„This is you,” I smiled back, watching her for a moment, before I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers in a gentle kiss. Hell, I never had been a gentle guy to start with, but she just made me want to slow down and enjoy the moment. The kiss was short, and once I pulled back it seemed like she was craving for more. Oh baby, you’re not the only one. „You should go before Dice has showed up and killed me.”

„Uhmm, ye-yeah,” She stammered, her cheeks flushing red, „Thanks for the day, it was really nice.”

„No prob, next time we’ll go to Disneyland.” I grinned.

„Next time?”

„Sure, I kinda start enjoying these little date things.”

She nodded, before a wide smile washed over her and she opened the passenger side door.

„So I pick you up tomorrow?”

„Huh?”

„The car,” I explained. She cursed quietly.

„Look, I’ll call you when Dice’s out of the house, okay?”

„You better.”

Dice’s POV

All was going according to the plan, Zack was all worked up with my bitchy nature, Jimmy was grinning like a complete wacko at every snappy remark I send in any of his friends directions and Matt stuck to his role. And even Syn and MJ had did the exact thing I’d waited from them – they simply bailed. And I wasn’t even mad, sure I pretended to be fuming with fury, but other than my oscar worthy performance, I really was happy for my little cupcake. That was until a very blonde girl walked into the studio and Matt instantly ran to her, a radiant smile pulling on his lips.

„Hey, babygirl, what are you doing here?” He kissed her cheek and I nearly gagged on the view. Didn’t know quite where this was going, but did I want to find out? Let’s just say my plan for the next minute was to shotgun the beer Jimmy had handed me earlier and ditch the whole scene. Something odd was building in the pit of my stomach and it was very hard to find out what that was, didn’t believe I had felt something like it ever before.

„Me and Chelle just returned from France and I decided to stop by. See how you all are doing,” She smiled, making Jimmy stop in his tracks with whatever the hell he was doing and raise his eyebrows, seeing the girl. Uhmm, hello? Who is this girl?

„Fuck me!” Jimmy exclaimed, regaining in just a matter of seconds and running towards the petite girl to pull her in a tight hug, „Valary fucking DiBenedetto! You dirty dog you!” He let go of her and I just sat there, extremely bored and obviously out of the picture, figuring inspecting my red nail polish felt more fun than ever. „How’s France? You have to tell me EVERYTHING!”

Matt hadn’t looked at me ever since the gorgeous chick walked in the room. Well, I guess that was my cue. I stood up, hearing Matt say with a wide smirk, „Yea, Val, fill us in...”

He didn’t even notice when I sneaked by and the only person who’s gaze I caught was Zacky, who was squinting his eyes on me, looking like he was trying to figure something out. Without a word I left, clenching the keys to my Mustang in my hand so fiercely I thought the key was gonna graze my skin and my hand would start bleeding. Was that the girl Jimmy told me about? The ex Sanders had been together for years? Well, they made quite the picture I can tell you that.

The door slammed behind me as I got into my car, a loud roar echoing through the street once I turned on the engine. What was this stupid feeling I was experiencing? It was like I was mad, fucking pissed at him for just talking to the girl. And when I realized there’s a very big chance of him getting back together with the blondie, I was ready to throw up. That’s how sick I got. Had he gotten under my skin? Impossible!

Man, I wanted to have a drink right now. A real drink not those Coors Light’s and lucky for me, I spotted that sexy devil Jack Daniels on the floor. Without seconds thoughts I uncorked it and took a few long gulps, feeling the liquid burn my throat. The bottle landed on the seat beside me along with my phone.

I turned the volume of the stereo way up, the car exploding with something loud, something aggressive, something raw, something very much Marilyn Manson. The last thing I saw before I backed out of the parking space was Matt going out with that chick to have a smoke, his eyes narrowing on the black Mustang.

„If I was your vampire.. certain as the moon... Instead of killing time we'll have each other until the sun..” The evening was quickly starting to take over, the air outside getting cooler and the blinding sun sinking behind the horizon. „If I was your vampire,”

Angrily I bit on my thumb as the wind from the open windows threw my hair around. I had no idea where I was going, had absolutely no plans for how to get that frustrating feeling out of the pit of my stomach, but I just knew I had to step on it. The streets were quiet, without the usual traffic jams and if I saw any kind of traffic at the end of the street, I just made a sharp turn whichever direction I didn’t see people. Ended up leaving the borders of Huntington Beach.

That happy smile of his was engraved in my brain. I couldn’t shake the unsatisfying scream that left me for no one to hear except the empty highway. My hand hit the steering wheel, before I remembered I was driving and wasn’t that keen on dying just yet. The dial of speedometer climbed higher and higher and instead of slowing down when I reached 100 mph, I hit on the gas pedal, forcing it closer and closer to the floor. My surroundings became very unclear to me once I hit those 140 mph, but then again, I wouldn’t say they had been very clear even when I pulled out of the parking lot.

„babygirl...” I repeated with a shake of my head. Why did I care so much? It was no strings attached. My phone blinked on the seat beside me, indicating towards an incoming call. I sighed, taking my foot off the gas pedal, seeing MJ’s goof face on the screen. I wasn’t gonna answer, however her presence alone made me want to slow down. Sometimes she was the link of that weak chain towards my sanity. Sure, occasionally I felt bad and it tore me up for being such a bad friend and ignoring her feelings, but sometimes I just didn’t have the strength to fight with my bad temper. Like right now. You may think I was a fighter, never backed out of a fight. So not true. What made me seem like a fighter was the fact that I hated the human kind. With a deep passion. Started hating ever since I wound up with my foster parents. Or maybe even before them. When my own parents decided it was a good call to leave me getting in that stupid car crash. You’d think I’d learn from their mistakes and would be extremely scared to even get in a car. Yeah, right. My mind worked a bit differently than yours and I wanted to show the world that stuff like that can’t happen to me.

This Mustang was all I had left from my father, I didn’t even remember the way he looked like, I just remembered the smell of these leather seats when he’d take me for a drive around the block. I would always roll down the windows and lean out, him holding me by my shirt so I don’t fall out.

I smiled. I found it kinda funny to have turned in this short-tempered monster, knowing I was the child to wear floral pattern dresses.

After an hour I found myself driving the streets of my hometown. The car stopped outside the local cemetery. I took the bottle of Jack and managed my way through those tall, black gates. It took me good fifteen minutes to find the graves of my parents. Felt kinda awkward.

„Sorry, guys, I didn’t bring you flowers,” I said, bending down to clean the headstone from all the dirt. „But I did bring your favorite bourbon, dad...”

Despise the wind which made me shake from the coldness, I took a seat on the ground, uncorking the bottle and taking a swig. The night was cold, almost too much to bare sitting there only in some boxers and a tank top, but it was comfortably quiet. Whoever told it was scary here, in cemeteries, at night, was an idiot. „I’m sorry I haven’t visited...” for good ten years. I could imagine mom looking over me, pouting and crossing her arms, while whispering ‘then why are you now?’, obviously very hurt and fucking pissed over the fact. Yea, I don’t know... I remembered my mom used to be the coolest chick of the town, but damn she had a heavy hand. I was nine when they died and for a long time I couldn’t understand why had they left me. But then I met MJ. A complete klutz which made me roll my eyes more than once. At first I thought she was the most stupid kid at our school, a complete moron, that was before I got in a fight because of her. Even tho I didn’t particularly like her, I wasn’t very keen on the thought of her being bullied. Like, come on! She was the weakest kid at her class, she lacked a back bone. Majorly. Why would you pick on the slowpoke? Yea, got on probation and decided to take her under my wing. I was the cool kid back then, or at least so I liked to think.

„So... I may need your help guys,” I continued, wetting my lips with the booze as I pulled my knees to my chest, „You never had the ‘talk’ with me, so I’m really confused now. What is this thing I’m feeling?” Why can’t I shake him off and why does the blonde bug me so much?

Could it be? I swallowed thickly. Nah... Dice's don't have feelings... do they?

I shotgunned the remainders of the liquor, fearing for the worst.

Notes