MJ’s POV

My whole body shook as I watched Gates and Malcolm throw punch after punch. I swear someone was going to die before they stopped because not even big muscular Mr. Dimples could pull them apart. I put my head in my hands and curled myself into a defensive ball as my body shook with panicked sobs. This was all my fault and I knew it. If I had just texted Malcolm back today, he wouldn’t have come looking for me. I wasn’t worth all the blood that was being spilled right now. Just please stop fighting! I didn’t feel safe and when I panicked, my entire body just shut down.

It wasn’t until I heard my best friends angry voice that body relaxed ever so slightly. Thank god, she came out here to help! “D-d…i-ice?” I sobbed, my entire body shaking with each breath. Without uttering a word, she knelled down and pulled me into her embrace, my heart rate slowing ever so slightly.I honestly didn’t know what I would do without her sometimes. Heck, it was Dicey who convinced to move back out to Huntington Beach with her after I graduated from college at the University of Miami. And I was glad she did because what was I going to do with a media arts degree anyway? No one was hiring people fresh out of college. I would have been hiding in my apartment day after day, crying myself to sleep. Thank god she saved me from that awful fate.

“Shh, it’s okay,” she whispered in my ear as my arms snaked around her waist. All I could do was cry on her shoulder. “It’s okay….” I knew Dice was trying to calm my anxiety. She was one of the few people that could talk me down from my ledge when I got like this.

My anxiety disorder was an ever-reappearing little demon that had ruled my life for years. I guess it all stemmed from growing up in a household with an overbearing parent that only accepted perfection. My father was a ruthless brute who wanted me to be good at everything I did and only supported me when I performed well. Unfortunately, I was pretty much a no-talent loser who just kind floated by no matter how hard I tried. The only thing I was really good at was messing around on the computer and creating digital art. Too bad my father didn’t approve of those talents…

“Look, Dice, he was being a—“ My eyes shot up in horror as I heard Vengeance start talking. Please don’t bring him up. I really didn’t need to relive what just happened because the image was on repeat in my mind. I might literally lose it if they keep talking about it.

My eyes looked around in a panic just as Gates aggressively elbowed his friend in the ribs, those dark eyes staring into mine. Was that a smirk on his lips?

“It was my fault,” Gates said, his eyes glued to mine as I sat up. My heart started to race in my chest but for a different reason. Was he taking the fall for Mal? Was this way of showing me that he cared? Did he really understand what was going on in my head and knew not to bring the topic up again? I chewed my bottom lip at the thought as he whipped his face clean with his shirt. “I got a bit carried away with the liquor.”

“What the fuck are you—“Dimples raged and the smirk on Gate’s eyes grew a little bit larger. So he was taking the fall for Mal. That was simply one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for me!

“It’s the truth.” Gates interrupts as Dice looked him up and down. Come on, love, just cut him some slack! He was protecting me! A small smile pulled at me lips at the thought but its then that I see Dice’s eyes narrowing on me.I give her a light shrug and shrink slightly under her gaze, feeling the third degree coming one. Come on, MJ don’t screw this up!

“Is that the truth, MJ? Gates started the fight?” she asked, blocking my view of Dark Eyes.

I chewed my bottom lip for a moment as I tried to gather myself and stop my shaking body. “Technically,” I said softly. “Well y-yeah, Mal said something, but Gates threw the first punch” I hiccupped, stretching the truth only slightly. Okay, so maybe Malcolm did throw the first punch but I wasn’t about to call Gates a liar after all that he had done for me.No guy had ever stood up for me like he had and he didn’t even know me! I would have to thank him for his kindness. “He saved me—“ I said, only to realize that no one was listening to me anymore. All their attention had turned toward the bouncer throwing some patrons out the door. Why was I always the last one to notice social cues? Sometimes I felt like the biggest ditz on the face of earth.

I let out a sigh as Dice yelled, “The MMA tournament,” and flew back into the bar. That girl was something else and no one would believe that she studied martial arts in high school and college. She was a lean-mean, redheaded fighting machine. I have seen what she can do to a stack of concrete blocks, so back off boys if you don’t want your nuts or your face pulverized!

After Dice flew back inside, Frank escorted the patrons out of the bar one by one. The people quickly flocked back to their cars and called for cabs as I tried to steady my trembling body against the brick wall behind me. As I moved to stand, my eyes glanced up just in time to see Gates offering me a hand. I shyly bit my bottom lip as he gracefully pulled me up into a standing position, our eye locked on each other. It suddenly felt like we were the only two standing in the parking lot and my heart pounded loudly in my chest. I couldn’t believe how close we were standing and he wasn’t backing away. He just kept staring into my eyes, his chocolate orbs full of what appeared to be concern and something else. Lust? Anger? I wasn’t sure.

I ran my hands over my arms to alleviate the goosebumps rising on my arms from the cool night air as my eyes nervously shifted away. “Th-thank you,” I whispered with a small smile as a sexy smirk pulled on Gates’ perfect lips. “You didn’t have to do that…” I looked down at my combat boots, suddenly feeling small under his gaze.

“Don’t worry about it,” Gates said with a casual shrug, tilting his head to the side to get a better look at me. “I wasn’t about to let that asshole take advantage of the new girl.”

“Hey, are you okay?” Vengeance’s voice interrupted and my eyes shifted to the right to look at him. “Who was that asshole?”

I opened my mouth to respond but Dimples answered for me. “Obviously some douche bag ex,” he hissed, causing my eyebrows to shoot up in surprise. “Hope he fucking learned his lesson for putting his hand on a lady. Gates fucking kicked his ass!” A small smile pulled at my lips as I looked between them. I still couldn’t believe they stood up for me.

“Hey, Dice said you guys could come in for a drink,” Frank called out the door and without a second thought, Vengeance and Dimples clambered back into the bar, leaving Gates and I alone in the now nearly empty parking lot.

My eyes shifted back over to Gates and his swollen face and I couldn’t help but feel guilty. “That looks like it hurts,” said softly, reaching down for my purse and pulling out my travel tissues.
“You mean this?” He chuckled motioning to his face. “This is nothing. I’ve had worse,” he shrugged, still looking me over with his watchful eyes. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“I-I’m fine,” I gaped, taking a step toward him with a tissue. I was surprised that he was actually concerned with my well-being after what he endured. I felt a light blush crawl over my cheeks as my eyes met his again. “May I?” I asked, motioning to his face with the tissue. Gates nodded and I cautiously reached up to wipe the remaining blood away.

“So what’s your name, blondie?” I stood on my tiptoes and dabbed the blood around his eyebrows. He didn’t even flinch as my hand bumped his nose when I jumped shock.

“Who me?” I asked, looking at him in surprise. I quickly dabbed the rest of the blood away as I began gnawing on my bottom lip again. It was a nasty little habit that I really needed to quit. It gave my anxiety and emotions away time after time.

Gates threw his head back as he laughed. “Well, I don’t see any other hot little blonde standing out here,” he chuckled, taking a step towards me. “Let me guess…Brittany?” I shook my head and he took another step toward me as I backed up. “Lauren?”

“Nope,” I said, taking another step backwards as he came forward.

“Lexi?” I felt my back hit the brick wall and Gates looked down at me with a triumphant grin. Did he do this on purpose? “Then what is it, blondie?” he breathed, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. I shivered lightly at his touch, which caused him to smirk even more. Why was he so damn sexy? Even with his face all beat to hell? Maybe it was because he got those wounds standing up for me…

“It’s MJ…” I gasped, his closeness making it hard for me to breath, but in a good way. “Y-you?”
He chuckled while running his calloused fingertips down my arms. I swear he was going to make me melt right here and now, his motions causing shockwaves in my internal organs. “I’m Brian,” he breathed. From his closeness, I could feel his warm alcohol-tainted breath caress my lips. Suddenly, I felt weak in the knees and I toppled forward into Brian. “Easy,” he chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had more to drink than I did.” I felt his arms wrapped tightly around me as he held me in a standing position.

“No, I’m just a klutz,” I sighed, feeling the pink blush monster taking over my cheeks again. Damn it, go away! Like I hadn’t embarrassed myself enough tonight! Talk about mortified!
“You’ve got a little...” Gates said as he carefully wiped away some smeared mascara with his thumbs, his tongue running over his bottom lip. The next thing I knew, his soft lips were pressed to mine and calloused hand were cupping my face. That’s when I turned into pure putty. Gates pressed my body into his as he back me up into the wall, his tongue gently tracing my bottom lips, begging for entrance. I moaned into the kiss and he took advantage of my moment of weakness. Suddenly our tongues were dancing in pure bliss. God, he tasted and felt as good as he looked! But just as quickly as the kiss started, it was over and Gates looked down at me with a small smirk.

“Let’s head back in,” he said, leaving gaping like an idiot. “Its fucking freezing out here.”

Gates gently guided me back inside, his long fingers grazing my exposed hipbones as a blush took over my face. I could only imagine what his hands felt like in other places…Why did he have this effect on me? No one had ever made me feel this alive in a matter of minutes, let alone wanted. I gave him a small smile as he threw me a wink. I wasn’t sure what we had just started but I wasn’t about to turn around and leave now.

“Someone said Jimmy?!” I looked up just in time to see the gangly one with the handcuffs tattoo climb on top of the bar and start gyrating to the music that was apparently only in his mind.
“Jimmy calm down,” Gates laughed just and everyone’s head snapped in our direction. I blushed even deeper, feeling like I had been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Why was it that I could never get away with one thing without it being announced publicly? It was then that Dice caught my eye and shook her head. How the hell did she always know what I was doing? Could she read my mind?

“This calls for a round of shots!” Dice called, throwing me a wink as I made it to the bar. She grabbed the bottle of tequila and I instantly grimaced, remembering my last encounter with the devil himself. “Oh come one, MJ, don’t be such a pussy,” she chuckled putting a shot down in front of me. Oh, she knew that tequila made my clothes fall off. What was she playing at?
“Did you hear that, Zacky?” Jimmy screamed in Zacky’s ear after climbing down off the bar. “Blondie’s name is MJ!” My eyes widened as all the guys burst out with laughter. Did that guy not have a quite switch? Jesus, he was about to blow my eardrums. Well, I guess this is as good of time as ever to take this shot. Here goes nothing. Bottoms up!

Dice shook her head at me as I choked down my shot. “Are you honestly telling me that you still don’t know who these assholes are?” she laughed. I smiled sheepishly at her and received a dramatic eye roll. What? I didn’t have a clue!

“Wait? Blondie doesn’t know who we are?” Dimples asked before rolling with laughter. What? Were they famous or something because I honestly had never seen them before I started working here.

“MJ, sweetheart,” Dice said in a soft patronizing tone. “You’re getting fucked up with Avenged Sevenfold.” Who? I had never heard of them. I must have had a look of confusion on my face because she let out a loud sigh. “Okay, fine. This is M. Shadows or otherwise know at Matt,” she said pointing to dimples. “Zacky Vengeance, Synyster Gates—“

“Brian,” I said softly as he watched me over top of his tall glass of scotch.

“Oh, so you finally learned his name. Good for you, love.” Dice shook her head with an amused smirk as he patted my hand. “And this Elfie tower to my left is—“

“I’m Jimmy ‘the Rev’ Sullivan, baby!” He yelled, rolling on the floor and posing slightly. I couldn’t help but laugh. He really was a bit ridiculous. “And puke factory is short shit or Johnny Christ…”
“Yeah… and you’re cleaning up after him,” Dice said, pointing a finger at the four guys. “You created that mess, you’re fucking cleaning it up!” She poured me another shot and stared me now until I drank it.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart,” Zacky said, raising his shot before downing it. Though at that moment, my mind was distracted by the fingers tracing shapes on my thigh and knee.

Notes

Do you think Gates likes MJ or is he playing her? What does Dice really think about MJ getting involved with the guitar god? Does Zacky have a sweet spot for Blondie?