Dice’s POV

The night turned out to be nothing less than a complete ass buster. Three parties and then the usual assholes to torment me and MJ with their orders? Tickle me surprised when Dice’s bitchy nature kicked in. At the end of the night I was certain I’d set the world record for the fastest beer popping and handing out. I could only see those dollar bills flashing up in the air along with fingers indicating how much drinks I should make to earn that ten dollar tip. And you really didn’t want to know what I had to do for a twenty...

When Max told me I could have a break, I nearly flew out of the bar not bothering about taking my jacket with me. What I really needed was only that little white coffin nail. It was a miracle I made it out of there alive, tho the party seemed to be hitting not only Johnny’s, but also outside the lovely establishment. The parking lot was filled with guys and gal’s chilling with their, either having their hourly smokes, trying to get laid or simply rocking back and forth from the stiff drinks.

I hadn’t even noticed how the cigarette vanished. I was craving the smoke so badly that it seemed I only took one drag and it was gone. So much for calming the beast. With a sigh and a heavy heart, my fingers kicked the cigarette butt away as I walked back in the bar. Maybe I should make myself a coffee? That is if the coffee machine is still functioning. God knows nobody ordered coffee around here and if they did – I sent them straight to hell. Nobody had time to wait around just for that cup to fill the fuck up. At least I certainly didn’t.

As I squeezed through the crowd, I felt far more than just one squeeze to my ass and I swear, if the bar wasn’t so full, I’d kick some serious ass for that alone. Maybe it wasn’t wise to wear those short shorts, but I haven’t done the laundry in far too long, so this was the only clean clothing piece I had. At it seemed more of a belt than anything else.

I was pushed into the Avenged table, nearly knocking everything off it, when two twice my size dudes started pushing each other around. Oh god... Not again. I kicked one in the ass, his head instantly jerking to me. „Shit... Sorry, Dice. We’ll take it outside.”

„You better,” I squinted my eyes on them and as I regained and straightened up, I saw MJ doing the flip. Oh, shit... Was that Jay? I had to fucking get out of here and conveniently enough, I found the storage room door to be open, granting me the grand escape.

Why the hell was he here? I was too exhausted for this bullshit and really not in the mood to get murdered. I sat down on the stairs that lead deeper in the storage room, placing my face in my hands. I would be super stoked if I could just fall asleep like this... Knock myself out for five years and when I wake up there’s zombie apocalypse troubling the minds of mere mortals, instead of this mind-fuck. I would even be down for being a zombie, that sounded like piece of cake. Just stroll around eating brains. Like it hadn’t been enough with Matt alone up on my plate...

„Dice, you okay?” MJ’s voice brought me back to face the harsh reality where I had to go back and get pissed at the regulars all over again.

I raised my head up from my palms and looked back at her, a small smile on my lips, „Yeah,” I sighed and stood up, „When haven’t I been okay?”

„You wanna tell me why Jay’s looking for you?” She folded her arms and gave me the look my foster mother would give me before she’d slap the shit out of me for hiding food under my bed.

„Technically he’s not looking for me,” I said and pushed past her, figuring the coast was clear. Jay’s looking for Lucy Reed, who’s at the moment not available, ‘cause miss Dice is in charge of this lovely body, so nothing to worry about.

„What do you mean?” She was a single step behind me the whole time I walked back to the bar. „Come on talk to me,”

I noticed three sets of eyes at me once I walked back behind the bar. Had I killed someone? Why were they all staring? Fine, I could handle Zack’s and Brian’s eyes, but there was something about Matt that made me feel very tiny under his glance. So I figured if he won’t be the one to stop staring, I’ll be the one and try and make myself a cup of coffee.

„Dice!” MJ shouted. Oh had I left her hanging? Sorry, I’ll just wave her off then. A low growl left her insides, „You’re gonna tell me, Dice, you hear me?”

„Que? No hablo ingles...” I smirked in the making of my coffee, getting her more and more pissed.

„Bitch,” I heard her muse, before she got to chatting her life away with Brian. As for me? I had my coffee. And absolutely no one to serve. You had to be kidding me. Even Matt and Zack were just happily shit-chatting here at the bar without no apparent reason? Just like all the other patrons? We had to change that.

I decided to turn the night in my favor as I went over to the cord that sent the beat from the jukebox to the speakers and pulled it out, all heads snapping at me at the sudden stop of the music. No more 80’s rock, tonight we’re doing things differently. I ignored the glares the regulars sent me as I attached my phone to the speakers. I pressed the play key to one of the last songs I was listening to and it turned out to be In This Moment’s Beast Within. We could’ve used a bit of the feminine touch in the sound choice around the bar. Besides, I knew my ladies loved the band. Just look at them screaming along from the top of their lunges.

„...I wanna see you lose your fucking minds tonight and RIP APART THIS PLACE!” I bobbed my head in the beat of the song. If this wasn’t a fucking hint for them, then I really had no fucking idea what was. I needed those dollars rolling in my pocket. Come on guys. I sipped on my coffee, my eyes scanning the place. All they started to do was dance. Were they fucking kidding me?

My eyes traveled to the MJ who was leaning over the counter and Gates, who was practically eating her up, or eyefucking her – either seemed right. He loves her... Well, I did tell him that. Maybe finally something gets through that thick skull of his. „MJ!” I shouted, raising my face from the cup. When she looked at me she really seemed not in her own mind, „Get lost,” I gestured with a wave, „You’re scaring away the customers. Or is it Gates... ‘Cause I swear there’s a cloud of hairspray around you.” And I was pretty sure it was toxic.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes on the view of them both and jumped to sit on the counter behind me. Well, this was a first, when I actually had the time to enjoy the coffee. Yea, sure, I should’ve checked on those back rooms, but like that’s ever happening. Who the fuck would man the bar, since Max was probably screwing some bimbo down at the stock.

Okay, I just finished my coffee and still no one is waving those green dollars in my face. What the actual hell? But then my face lit up when a guy somewhere around his mid twenties came up to the bar. „Hey sweetheart, can I ask you something?” Aaand my face just dropped. „What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”

That thing right there had to be the cheesiest pick up line I’d ever heard and normally I’d laugh the dude straight in the face, but now? I just kinda kept looking at him, trying to figure if he’s an idiot, or he’s simply drunk.

„Well,” I started, „In prison they told me my stay is already overdue, and since they imprisoned me because I like to hit douche bags like you, I figured to make money out of something I like.” A manic smirk tugged at my lips as the guy went by a couple shades paler. Drunk and with a shitty sense of humor. Clearly not my cup of tea, and to be honest, I don’t even like tea.

One of the regulars- Rick came and pushed the guy out of his way, „Hey, doll, can you make me three Cuba Libre’s?”

„Certainly.” I nodded and in a minute returned with his order.

Since Rick had been the only person to come up and actually order something, I decided just to take the bottle of tequila and three shot glasses from underneath the bar and rudely cut in Matt’s and Zacky’s conversation.

„What’s this?” Zacky pointed to the shot glasses that I was filling.

„A round of shots.” I replied casually, even tho it took every possible drop of mental strength to simply go up to them, correction... go up to Matt and act like I wasn’t dying inwardly and that this didn’t suck majorly. But I knew I had fucked up and we’re never meant to be, so I had to face the consequences of my actions.

„You know it’s always intrigued me, can you actually drink when you’re working?” A wrinkle appeared between his neatly shaped brows.

An innocent smile took over my face as I raised the shot to my lips and shrugged my shoulders, „I don’t think a point like that is stipulated in my contract, so...”

„Have you even read it?” He continued. What was this? An interrogation?

„I think I have... I’m not sure. Wasn’t quite sober when I applied to this job all those years back.” And haven’t been sober since then too. My eyes locked on Matt’s after I had downed the shot. He was sitting silent. Okay, let’s try to play it off as casual, „What’s up? Don’t want the shot?” I pointed to the untouched glass. Come on Sanders, I’m trying over here...

Before I knew it a song came blasting through the speakers. A song that I didn’t want for people to know I listened to. Crud... Why was it in the playlist? Avenged Sevenfold’s Girl I Know wasn’t quite the thing I needed at the moment.

„I thought you didn’t listen to our band.” Matt said. Yeah, and I thought this will be easy.

„Yeah, well, it turns out I listen to you and Backstreet Boys too.”

Brian’s POV

I held MJ pinned against the brick wall down in the storage room, my lips trailing down her neck. I was thankful to Dice for this little opportunity more than she could imagine, so without even hesitating I dragged MJ here. I did feel a bit sorry for Red, even tho she tried to act all tough and be the same little spitfire, I don’t think she could after all that she’s been through. I wasn’t sure what the hell Malcolm’s brother wanted from her, we didn’t quite have the talk since I’ve been far too distracted by this beautiful girl and I was forced to choose between Dice and MJ. I knew MJ thought I still have something with Dice even after the begging on my knees and claiming there was nothing, which by the way was true, and after ... I can’t believe I even said those words. And I can’t believe I kept repeating them for the whole week. Until now I wasn’t sure if I even knew how to pronounce the l.o.v.e. word, but look at me go. Round of applause for me, right?

Did I love MJ? Or was I saying it just because? Well, I’m pretty damn sure this is love, or this is simply Brian Haner stepping on Synyster Gates toes, saying he’s tired of his bullshit. But either way, yes, I admit it, I love her. Maybe not in the sense you understand love, but in a sense where I can’t live without her. I was addicted and I could never have enough. I was close to the fucking overdose and I knew it, but what could possibly happen if I overdosed on love? Has that field been scientifically researched?

„Do you think Dice’s in trouble?” My head shot up from her neck to see her too serious for the situation. Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously? Don’t you feel my raging boner sticking in your fucking thigh? Why would you bring Dice up?

„MJ, really?” I cocked my eyebrow. Don’t fucking do this to me, babe...

„Yea, no... I’m sorry. Carry on.” She shook her head and smiled at me. That’s more like it. My hands slid down her sides and dropped on her ass. I picked her up with one swift movement, her legs wrapping around my waist and my lips firmly on hers. The joy was short lived tho, ‘cause she pulled away. „No, seriously, hasn’t she talked to you?”

I took a deep breath, cursing only inwardly, realizing I was definitely not gonna get laid tonight since my wonderful girlfriend is thinking of a girl while I’m so desperately trying to get in her pants. „About why he’s looking for her? No.” I shook my head, letting her stand on her own. „I just know she lived with him while in Vegas. Maybe even fucked him, don’t remember.”

„She lived with Jay?” MJ gaped at me. Why so surprised? I mean, this world is rather small after all and I don’t even think Dice knew his name until two weeks in the process of being fucked breathless, which I’m really fucking lacking at the moment. God, why the hell did I decide to be faithful? The blue balls are killing me! „Speak, Brian, what else do you know?”

„That’s basically all I know,” I said whilst inspecting a bottle of Laphroaig I really, really wanted right now. If I’m missing out on real sexual experience, I’ll fucking have sex with booze. Yes. I can’t fucking go a day without fucking something. So what. Sue me, see if I care.

„Liar!” What? I turned around with a frown. Seriously? Is she getting pissed at me because I don’t know anything? Okay, fine, maybe I knew a little, but like she’s not gonna run off to Zack and spill everything looking for comfort since I’m not all fours for MJ playing the detective and snooping around, and like Zack’s not gonna spill everything to Matt. Even tho Matt acted like he didn’t care about Dice, he was really fucking see through when it came to that. Like today... If he really was over her, he’d have no problem coming to Johnny’s after I told him Dice’s too gonna be here. You can’t imagine what a stubborn bitch he started pulling off at the studio. I start thinking Syn Gates begging on his knees soon will be the new thing. „Brian, just tell me what you know,” By then she was pleading.

„Okay, let’s think for a moment, baby,” I came closer, taking her hands in mine, „Even if I told you what I knew, what difference would it make? If Dice would need anyone’s help, she’d ask for it.” Actually no, she’d die thinking she’s the hero even if it’s just a situation where she’d fallen out of the boat and turns out she doesn’t know how to swim. Yes, Red would refuse the lifebelt.

„She never asks for help!” She cried out. But actually that was a false statement, she asked me to sell her car since she couldn’t handle both Matt and her Mustang at once.

„Come on, MJ,” I spoke warmly, „She’s a lawyer, she’s been threatened before. That’s how it goes, besides what’s the worst that could happen to her? She’d die?”

MJ gaped, her eyes wide and eyebrows up high, before she jerked out of my touch and punched me hard in the shoulder, „Don’t you fucking say she could die!”

Uhmm... Okay? Was she immortal? Did she drank the blood like the Rev? But then again they have their knife thing association. „I’m not saying she will die, jesus, woman, cut me some slack...”

„I would. If you told me what you know.” She crossed her arms and cocked her eyebrow expectantly. I rolled my eyes and immediately received another hit in the shoulder.

„What the hell was that for?” I frowned, rubbing the aching shoulder.

„You rolled your eyes,” She stated. Oh... So... Okay. A bit confused, but okay. Where’s my spank? „Now talk.”

„Fine,” I sighed heavily, „look this Jay doesn’t even know that Dice is Lucy Reed. His beef is with Reed.” I took a breath, not believing she actually forced me into saying all of this. „However... sure he can figure that one out by the photo’s from after the trial, but what he wants from Dice is just to take her back to Vegas since what I get from this all – he’s deeply in love with her.”

„You mean to tell me she left me for a guy who wants to kill her?!” That yelling seemed awfully like Matt’s. I turned my head to see truly Shads standing at the top of the staircase. In the doorway. Furious.

I shot MJ a glare, „Thanks, babe,” I turned back to look at Matt, „Okay, chill your anger horse, Shads, she’s not going to no Vegas, but you would know that if you actually maned up and talked to her.”

I noticed his jaw thightening, „Grab a couple Patron’s on your way up,” He spat and just left.

My hands brushed over my face, before I looked back at MJ. „So now can we have sex?”

„Are you crazy?” She grabbed the liquor and walked upstairs, „I have to talk to Dice.”

Great. Awesome! So what the hell am I supposed to do now?

Notes