MJ’s POV

Throughout the whole trial, I sat there glaring dagger’s into the back of Dice’s head. How could she go through with this after at I begged and pleaded with her not too? Didn’t she understand that I wasn’t crazy and that there was a reason for calling it off? I pinched my eyes shut as Dice and the judge bantered back and forth, feeling Malcolm’s venomous gaze on me. I chewed my bottom lip and took deep breaths, trying to push the vivid memories from my mind.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going, bitch?” Malcolm raged, grabbing me by the hair and throwing me back on the floor. I gaped up at him as the tears streamed down my face, feeling utterly betrayed and devastated.

Yesterday I walked into our shared apartment to find him screwing some other girl in our bed. I felt sick over it and my heart had literally shattered in a million pieces at that moment. I loved Malcolm, how could he do this to me? Was I not enough for him? I just kept asking myself what I could have done to change the outcome, though at this moment, wished I would have gotten home time minutes later. Or rather just left all my things and never came back.

“I-I can’t see you anymore!” I cried, crawling backwards as he came towards me with brute force. “You-you cheated on me with that other girl!” I basically screamed, shaking my head, not believing that any of this was actually happening.

Malcolm took a step towards me and kicked me as hard as he could in the ribs. I cried out in agony and fell onto my side in the fetal position. Nothing had hurt this much in my life and that wasn’t even the start of what I endured. “No one leaves me, you little fucking bitch! Not unless I say so!”

The next thing I knew, Malcolm reached down and grabbed a fistful of hair, pulling me up from the floor. As he lifted me into the air in one swift motion, I could feel my scalp rip and chucks of hair be pulled out. I landed on the bed with a forceful thud, bouncing and crashing my face on the corner of the headboard. “You are fucking mine, Mia!”

I whimpered as he climbed on top of me and put one of his large hands around my through while the other caressed my cheek in a horrifying way. “You’re not going anywhere beautiful,” he breathed. “I’m not letting your go…”

My body shook in fear as I looked up into his dark clouded eyes, feeling something warm run down my face in combination with my tears. This wasn’t the man that I fell in love with; this was some kind of monster. “You can’t leave me,” he hissed, pressing down on my windpipe, causing me to gasp for air.

“Mal…please…”I gasped, kicking underneath him. However, that only seemed to add fuel to the fire of his psychotic break. Malcolm only laughed and pushed down harder on my windpipe.

“Oh, what’s the matter, Mi?” he cooed into my ear as he caressed my cheek. “You still want to leave me?” All I could do was gasp and sputter, trying to furiously shake my head. “That’s a good girl,” but as soon as those words left his mouth, I felt two hard blows to the face.

“Please…stop…”I gasped, finally being able to breath again, but that pain was replaced with something in my face. “I-I’ll I-I’ll stay…” I sobbed, trying to pull away from him.

“I’ll—teach—you—to—disobey—me!” He screamed, punching me with each word as I cried out in pain. “You—are—mine—Mia!” Malcolm grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into a standing position, though I wasn’t sure how that was even possible. My head was throbbing and spinning so badly from his fists that I could barely see, let alone keep my eyes open. “Do you understand that?” Though I wasn’t capable of answering because right then he smashed my into the doorframe molding.

“I-I promise I wont try and leave again,” I sobbed, collapsing to the floor, clutching my face in agony. My nose felt like someone had snapped it in half and then stuck a million needles into it. I slowly pulled my hands away from my face only to see that they were covered in blood and shaking uncontrollably. In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure how I was still alive from how fast my heart was racing.

“That’s more like it,” Malcolm breathed, sinking down to his knees in front of me. He harshly grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Now, baby girl, who do you love?” I couldn’t believe the cocky smirk on his face. I recoiled away from him and whimpered when he grabbed me again, not letting me get away that easily. “Come on, MJ…. tell me you love me…”

I opened my mouth but all that came out was a shaky breath, which pissed Malcolm off again. “Tell me you fucking love me, bitch!” His hand grabbed my hand and twisted my wrist backwards, causing me to scream in pain. “SAY IT!”

“I-I…l-l-love youuu….”I sobbed until his dropped my wrist.

Malcolm crawled forward and cupped my beaten face in his hands and smiled down at me. His eyes were normal again and he looked like he didn’t just beat the shit out of me. “Good girl,” he said and pecked my lips before pulling away and leaving me to bleed and cry on the floor.

I waited until he left for work and fled to Dice’s house, begging her to take me in. That’s when everything changed and the stalking started.

“MJ? MJ?”

I flinched as I felt a pair of arms lay on my shoulders, my mind still occupied by those terrible thoughts. I recoiled and leaned forward, pulling out of the strong arms as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Mia?” I shook my head and buried my face in my hands, my body shaking in fear all over again. I couldn’t breath. I couldn’t think. My anxiety was winning the war and my chest felt tight. I was losing control.

“Your honor, the bail is not acceptable! He is going on trial for murder,” I heard Dice say as my heart pounded in my chest. Malcolm murdered his last girlfriend? He said he was going to come after me and now I fully believed him. Maybe if I disappeared until after the new court-date it would all blow over and he would forget about me. All I knew was that he was going to come after me and he wasn’t only going to ruin me, but also the people I loved. I had to get out of here.

I quickly stood up from my chair, pushing it back so hard that it tipped over. I honestly wasn’t even sure what I was doing because my body had gone into fight or flight mode as I turned to run out of the courtroom. Only as soon as I took a step forward to make my escape, I crashed into a hard mass standing in front of me. I let out a small yelp of surprise before I stumbled backwards, only to be caught by another set of arms.

“Mia? Look at me, Mia,” I blinked away the fear that raged in my system to find those oh-so familiar brown orbs staring back at me. “Come on, Mia, breath,” the deep voice said, pulling me into his arms. “Shh…. just relax you’re safe.” Was I really safe? No, none of us were safe with Malcolm running free. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

I closed my eyes and pressed myself into Brain’s chest, feeling his protective arms encircle me. His presence alone soothed me and helped my breathing and my heart find a normal rhythm. “Wh-where’s Dice?” I stammered after I had mostly regained myself.

I peaked out from under Brian’s suit jacket to see that I had made it into the hallway in my state of panic. How had he stopped me? I looked behind me to find all four of the other Avenged members surround Brian and I in a protective circle, blocking us from view of any passerby’s. I couldn’t help but feel thankful for them today, though I hated that I had dragged them into this mess. Now I’m sure they are all on Malcolm’s hit list too. It wasn’t safe for any of us.

“She went to go ask the judge to increase the bail,” Brian breathed in a comforting tone. His hands moved up and down my arms in a comforting manner, still trying to sooth me. I would owe him for his patients and for putting up with my anxiety. “What the hell was she thinking?”

“That fucking douche is going to walk free until the trial,” Matt hissed, watching over his shoulder for Dice. “I just hope that Dice is working her magic.”

“Fat chance, Dickwads,” a dark tone laughed to my left. I shuttered in fear and sunk into Brian’s side, knowing exactly who was talking. Oh, god couldn’t he just leave the guys alone. His problem was with me not them. I visibly tensed and a deep frown fell over my lips.

“I paid my bail and didn’t even have to go through processing. It helps to know people in high places,” Malcolm laughed, stopping right in front of Brian and I with narrow eyes. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” his eyes landed on me. “I thought you would be happy to see me,” he sneered with a dark smirk on his lips. Oh, he was a cocky bastard and thought that he could get away anything. But that smirk on his lips was enough to scare the shit out of me. “You look even better then I remember up close…”

“Why don’t you just keep walking, buddy,” Brian growled, stepping in front of me protectively. “She doesn’t have anything to say to you.”

“Oh, but she should,” I saw Malcolm cross his arms over his muscular chest and step towards Brian. “Because she knows what’s coming for her.” I squeaked in fear, only to feel Zacky pull me into his side.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Brian hissed, his eyes narrowing on my brute of an ex. Malcolm only laughed.

“You mean, Mia didn’t tell you?” Malcolm stepped to the side to meet my eyes and tisked. “Oh, well we had a deal that she would call this whole thing off but I see she thinks she’s in control. But don’t worry, pretty boy, she’ll get what’s coming to her.”

I watched Brian clench his jaw as both he and Matt stepped forward, Johnny and Jimmy waiting in the wings. “I swear to god, if you lay a fucking hand on her that it will be that last thing you ever fucking do!”

“Did you hear that!” Malcolm yelled, taking a step back and throwing his hands up in the air just as the judge, Dice, and the DA walked out of the courtroom. “This guy just threatened me for walking down the hallway! I’m going to press harassment charges! I was just minding my own business.”

“You fucking son of a bitch!” Brain raged taking a step forward as Matt grabbed his shoulder. Suddenly I felt really small for bring all of this on. If I had never have met them then they wouldn’t have to go through the nonsense that I caused. I felt lower than low.

“Miss Reed, you need to control your witness’ or else I will have to take action,” the judge snapped. “And your petition to increase the bail is denied since the original amount has already been paid.”

“Fuck,” Brain hissed, running his fingers through his hair as he came back towards me. Though out of the corner of my eye I saw Malcolm smirking at me. I gapped at Malcolm as he winked at me before heading toward the door.

“See you around, Johnson,” he chuckled and I felt like I was going to pass out again. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I sat down on the bench behind me, knowing that Malcolm would make good on his promise. I was doomed.

“It’s okay, Blondie,” Zacky said, sitting down next to me while Brian went to talk to with Dice. Yeah, that was easy for him to say. He wasn’t on a hit list and his life wasn’t threatened by this whole ordeal. “They are going to get all of this figured out and that bastard is going to rot in jail.”

I nodded though I didn’t believe his words. My mind was still stuck on the fact that Malcolm killed his ex and that he basically told me that I was next. I mean, he was following me around so what was going to stop him from acting when I was alone? Nothing. He was going to attack me just like he had that one night, only this time I wouldn’t wake up in the morning.

I swallowed thickly and knotted my fingers in lap. Zacky gently rubbed small circles on my back as I leaned into his side, just wanting to hide from the world. I was so involved with my thoughts and trying to calm my racing heart that I didn’t even notice Brian and Dice kneeling down in front of me.

“MJ,” Dice said with a sigh. “I’m sorry that that asshole is walking free right now. I did everything I could but we will get him I promise,” she vowed but I didn’t lift my eyes from my lap. I was still slightly hurt that she wouldn’t listen to me. “Come on let’s get out of here,” she huffed before standing, only I didn’t move. “I need a fucking drink.”

“Relax, love,” Brian whispered with a smile as he lifted my chin to meet his eyes. “I talked Dice into stay with us tonight.” Brian’s words instantly distracted my mind and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of having my best friend back. “What do you say we get out of here?” I nodded lightly before he placed a kiss on my lips and pulled me under his arm. “Thank, Zee.”

“No problem,” he shrugged as I threw him a smile. “No one harasses Blondie and gets away with it.”

“You can say that again,” Dice chuckled as all seven of us pushed out of the doors of the courthouse only to be blinded by flashing lights. My hands flew up in front of my face to block the bright lights. Were we being attacked? Why were all these people here? I was so confused. “What the fuck is this?” she yelled over the chatter of people asking questions. I glanced up to see a group of girls holding up a signs that read Free Avenged Sevenfold, Who’s the Lucky Girl?, and Marry Me!

“Fuck, someone told the press we were here,” Brian growled, taking his suit coat and putting it over my head before I could question why. “I’m so sorry, Baby Doll.” I wrapped my arm around his waist as he pushed us through the crowd. I could feel people trying to pull the thick cologne infused fabric off my head, but Brain kept pulling it back down before it exposed my face. “Hey, back off, alright?”

This was my first time actually being surrounded by fans and press since I started dating Brain. Sure, when we went out, he got asked for the occasional autograph and picture but nothing like this. I’ve never seen people so desperate to see who I was in my life, let alone even notice me on the street when they passed by. I was thankful for Brian’s quick thinking to try and keep my life private.

“Excuse us. No comment, excuse us,” Zacky’s voice rang out behind me. It was honestly the most irritated I had ever heard the guy and I had witnessed a full on fight between him and Brian in the studio last week. “No, no one got married and no one got arrested. Thank you.”

“Who the fuck leaked this?” Matt growled from somewhere to my right. I watched as he grabbed Dice by the arms to keep her from punching or flipping the bird to one of the reporters. Jimmy ripped off his leather jacket and threw it over Dice’s head, but not before someone snapped a picture in her face. “We didn’t tell anyone, not even Larry we were doing this!”

“Mind your own goddamn business!” Dice screeched before Matt pushed both her and me into the back seat of Brian’s car. “What the fuck is these people’s problem? If we wanted to share our business with the world, we would have!”

“Relax, love,” Matt said pulling her onto his lap. “We’ll take care of this, don’t worry.” However, my eyes were glued out the window as fans and press swarmed the clown car. It really wasn’t safe to have all seven of us in the car, but what other choice did we have? I was surprised that we all fit and I was even more surprised when Brian pulled away with incident. I was sure we were going to be trapped in that madhouse.

“So where are we going?” Jimmy asked, bouncing up in down in the front seat like an excited puppy. “I’m starving can we puh-lease get something to eat? The fucking alcohol is making my internal organs fail…they just kind of—“ I looked around the seat from Zacky’s lap to see him pose. “Nope. Sometimes you just got to give them a little punch…nope still failing. I need food.”

I giggled in my seat before all the eyes in the car turned to look at me. “What?” I asked, feeling my cheeks flash red.

“You are the master chief, MJ,” Dice said, her eyes leaving Matt’s for the first time since she got in the car. “Besides, I wants me some of them fucking chocolate covered bananas!”

“Party at Haner’s!” Jimmy screamed as his eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. I bit my lip and shrugged my shoulders, knowing that it would be fun. Hell, we hadn’t had an actual part since my birthday and we all know how that turned out.

“Why the fuck not,” Brian sighed. “Getting that fucker to court on two charges should be celebrated! But it’s BYOB assholes!”

“Come on, Gates,” Zacky groaned, one of his hands resting on my knees while the other was around my waist. “We all know you have a liquor cabinet in your basement. It’s no big surprise and we would barely put a dent in it.” Wait? Brian had a basement in that house too? I had been living there for a month now and I still got lost. How big was that house?

Brian sighed as he pulled into the driveway. “Fine but you bastards are just lucky that we have fucking groceries!” And that was true. He sent me out yesterday to stock up with his credit card and a three-page list. Good thing I hadn’t put the steaks and burgers in the freezer yet.

Within twenty minutes, we were all on the back patio with a drink in hand while Matt manned the grill. Everyone looked happy and the guys were all occupied talking about a new song. I took the opportunity to drag Dice into the house to go get changed into some bikini’s because it was ungodly hot outside today.

“Thank you,” I said as soon as we entered Brian’s closet.

“You’re thanking me? You’re such and idiot,” Dice laughed, grabbing my black bikini and stripping down to put it on.

“I mean it, you really kicked ass today. I’m so glad that you’re back,” I reached over and pulled her half naked body into a hug, only to be shoved away. “Thanks for putting up with my shit.”

“I never took you a lesbian, MJ,” she chuckled, tying the strap behind her tattooed shoulders. “And I should be thanking you,” what was she talking about? I only caused the problems and she was always the one to fix them. That was how our relationship worked. Dice sighed, seeing the expression on my face. “You made me realize what I was missing out on. You made me see what love was…” she looked down at her hands. This was a side of Dice that rarely made an appearance. No, this was Lucy Reed. “I love ya, Blondie,” she said, pulling me into a hug. “And…I think we should spice things up.”

I raised my brow at her as she dragged me into the bathroom with a mischievous smirk. She moved over to the counter and pulled out my make-up bag and curling iron. “Oh, we are going to make these guys, sweat,” she laughed wickedly. Her eyes scanned my body, checking out my curves and cleavage in the teal bikini.

“I-Is that such a good idea? I mean, Brian already gets mad when someone hits on me at the bar. Should we really turn them against each other?” I asked nervously as she moved to work on my hair with an evil little laugh.

“Please, these assholes need to relax because I swear if Matt keeps talking about the damn album, I will kill him. What better way to start a party than to make them think with their dicks instead of their brains? Plus, you look like you could use a little fun after seeing dickwad today.” This was the motherly side of Dice that I had missed and craved in my day-to-day lives over the past month.

“Dice?” I said, as she moved to apply some makeup to my face.

“Hmm?” Her face was so full of concentration in her scheming that I had to laugh.

“Please don’t leave me again,” I begged, my blue eyes meeting hers. “I need my best friend. Tell me you didn’t miss me and my cooking,” I teased as she placed her hands on my shoulder.

Dice smiled down at me before grabbing the tube of bright red lipstick that I only wore on special occasions. “Of course I missed you, idiot,” she chuckled. “What do you think?” She stepped aside to show me a reflection of a girl, no a woman, that I didn’t recognize in front of me. I gaped at my reflection before my now brilliantly blue eyes looked over on Dice who was smirking wildly. “I know, I’m a genius,” she laughed.

A few minutes later, Dice and I walked back out to the patio looking drop dead gorgeous. I grabbed two beers out of the fridge before stepping outside with Dice. Brian turned to look at me in mid conversation with Jimmy and his jaw dropped to the ground. I couldn’t help but look down and blush as Dice nudged me forward. Seconds later, the other guys turned to look at us with gaping expressions. Well, this evening did indeed get more interesting.

Notes

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