Matt’s POV

“You ready, Shads?” Dan asked from behind me as I jumped up and down, trying to amp myself up for the show. I could already feel the crowd’s energy and I knew it was going to be a good night.

“Fuck yeah,” I said, now stretching my neck to each side. Only a few more minutes and that adrenaline rush would hit. I lived for that sensation of walking on stage and hearing the crowd screaming our name. It was the best fucking feeling in the world.

“And just think, only five more shows until we get a two week break,” he continued, pushing some buttons on the sound board and cuing the lights. “God I can’t wait to sleep in my own damn bed.”

“You and me both, man. You and me both,” I said just as Matt Berry’s voice pulled my attention.

“Matt? Yo, Matt!” I turned around to see him running towards me and I frowned. That was never a good sign. “Maya is hear and needs to speak to you for a second, seems important.” What the hell did he mean Maya needed to talk to me? We were due to go on stage any minute. What was so important that she couldn’t wait?

“Shit, what is it about?” I cursed, my heart start to race in my chest. I didn’t like this, not at all.

As I moved toward the side entrance, my mind started to play through the worst possible scenarios. Had something terrible happened at the booth? Was someone hurt? Was she leaving me? I didn’t even want to think about any of those options, I just wanted everything to be all right.

When I finally saw Maya, her back was facing. To my surprise she wasn’t wearing her merch booth t-shirt but rather my favorite dress that showed off all of her best assets. What was this about? My eyes instantly moved to her curves as I wrapped my arm around her waist, turning her around to look at me. “Babe, I gotta be on stage now, what is so important?” I urged.

I could feel my anxiety and nerves rising as she looked at me. I couldn’t fight the terrible feeling building inside me. But what confused me even more was the look on that beautiful woman’s face. Why did she look so happy and why was she wearing that dress? I thought this was some type of emergency! What the hell was going on?

“I love you, Matt.” What did she just say? I couldn’t have heard her right, could I?

My jaw dropped as I looked down at her, gapping like an idiot. At that moment, my brain completely shut down and I couldn’t comprehend anything that was going on around me. Wait, she what? Did I hear her correctly? Maya loved me?

Only I didn’t have time to process what was going on. One second Maya was kissing me and the next Matt Berry was dragging me back onto stage. I had no idea what he said to me on the way up on stage or how I even got there because my mind was in such a different place.

“How ya’ll doin’ tonight, Philly!” I called, going through the motions of a show but not being at all with it. I couldn’t move my mind past what just happened outside, and it was no secret that I was distracted. Throughout the first half of the show, I missed entrances and messed up the words left and right, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t even look my brothers in the eye because I knew they would ask questions that I myself didn’t know the answers to yet. So, I kept my distance, my thoughts focusing on one person, and one person only—Maya Brandon.

About halfway through the set I had finally processed and realized what Maya told me. She loved me. Maya fucking loved and I was the happiest and luckiest motherfucker on the planet. I mean, how often does the girl of your dreams tell you she loves you? God, I was on fucking cloud nine. I ran and jumped all over the stage as I sang, not giving a damn what anyone thought. I was ecstatic and I couldn’t wait to get back to Maya. I wanted to pin her to the wall with the deepest kiss, showing her exactly what she meant to me. I fucking love that woman to the moon and back and there would be nothing stopping me from keeping her by my side. I had too have her—she was my drug—my other half.

“What got up your ass?” Short shit called as I walked past him in the last song. All I could do was flip him off and smile. “Did you get laid before the show?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I shot back, shoving him sideways so I could get on my riser to sing the last refrain after the guitar solo. I just couldn’t stop smiling. That beautiful face and addicting eyes were the only thing I could see.

The next thing I knew I was flying toward the roadie bus to find her. I had to let her know how much I loved her and apologize for being such an idiot. I didn’t fucking say it back to her and she must think that I’m the worlds biggest asshole. God, why didn’t I say it back? I was totally shocked and blinded sighted by her words if I was being honest, but she didn’t know that. Or did she? I didn’t fucking know but I had to make it right and show her.

“Where’s the fire, Shads?” Jason called after me as I pushed past him, sprinting toward the bus. Only when I finally reached the bus, Jess was blocking the way. Not only was she cock blocking Gates, but she was also keeping me from sweeping my girlfriend off her feet. Didn’t she fucking understand what was going on? Maya finally fucking said she loved me!

“Where is Maya?” I said, pushing Gates to the side. Maybe she would listen to me? Hell, I just had to see her.

“Sorry, Matt. No can do. You guys see each other at the party. We will get ready and meet you guys there, just wait 30 minutes, an hour tops… okay?” Jess asked and I let out a groan, anxiously jumping from one foot to the other. No, no, no! That’s not how this was supposed to work!

“But I need to see her now,” I begged, but she just shook her head and asked us to go away. Fucking hell! Did no one understand what was going on right now? I so frustrated and anxious right now that I was ready to pull my hair out of my fucking head. I just wanted to see my girl and let her know how happy I was that she said those three little words.

An hour later, I was impatiently waiting for Maya and Avery to arrive. Christ what was taking so long? They should have been here ages ago and I didn’t understand what the fucking holdup was. I even had Maya’s favorite drink ready to go and she was nowhere to be fund. I mean, Jess was fucking here with Jimbo already so where was my girl?

“I’m getting really fucking sick of waiting,” I hissed to Gates scanning the crowd.

“Yeah, tell me about it. What are they doing? Getting ready for the fucking president?” he joked but I wasn’t in a laughing mood, especially when my worst nightmare just walked through the door.

“Look who’s here, infrequent visitors” Jason Berry announced and I cursed out loud. Fucking Valary and Michelle DiBenedetto, the last two people that I wanted to see right now. Fuck, what were they doing here?

“Val?” I gapped, feeling my stomach sink into my feet. God damn it, we hadn’t had a chance to talk to the girls about our past and here they were at the worst fucking time. Why the hell were they here anyway? They lived in California so why were they are our show in Pennsylvania?

Val smiled up at me as she took Maya’s drink out of my hand and downed half of it in one gulp.

“Good to see you, Brian,” Michelle smirked, also taking Gates’ extra drink. He looked just as flabbergasted as me. Fuck this wasn’t good.

“Michelle? What are you doing here?” I heard Gates ask, looking at me trying to get an answer. Fucking hell if I knew. The only thing I did know was that I wanted them gone as soon as possible. Maya and Avery did not need to see the twins, or meet them for that matter.

“Hi, long time no see,” Val announced and pulled me into a hug, while Michelle plastered her body to Gates, laughing.
“It’s really good to see you again, been way too long, right?” Michelle chuckled and I felt like I was going to be sick.

“Val, what are you doing here?” I asked again, my patience running thin. The last thing I wanted for was for the girls to walk in right now. I had to figure out a way to get rid of the DiBenedetto twins before shit hit the fan. Wherever the sisters went drama and chaos ensued, which was part of the reason Val and I didn’t work out so well. Hell, just seeing her made my blood pressure rise.

Val scoffed and rolled her eyes as I stared down at her. “Well it’s nice to see you too, Matt. I’m fine thanks for asking. Seems some things never change,” she said, shaking her head.

“I guess not,” I groaned, rubbing my hands over my face. “But really, shouldn’t you two be in California?”

“Funny you should say that,” Michelle said, looking away from Gates. She had attached herself to his side even though he kept trying to get away. Michelle just wouldn’t budge. “We were actually in the neighborhood.”

“You were just running around Philadelphia?” Gates scoffed, looking irritated. “I somehow find that hard to believe.”

“No we were actually in New York doing some stuff for Mich’s fashion business,” Val explained, taking a step closer to me. “It was fashion week so we were selling and displaying some of the new designs.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re at our after party,” I grumbled, earning an eye roll from both sisters. “Or even at one of our shows.”

Now I remembered why I ended up cheating on Val, she drove me fucking crazy. She always had to be in control and be right, even when she wasn’t. Not that cheating on her was my finest hour, but still, I couldn’t stand to be around her for too long. I still felt guilty for not ending things before I cheated but I just didn’t know how to break it to her. Everything was always a fucking fight and by the end of the relationship I was done and wanted an easy way out. I know it was a dick move and I made a vow to never do it again, especially not with Maya. What we had was completely different.

“What we can’t enjoy your music anymore?” Val asked, pouting her bottom lip at me.

“We didn’t say that. We just want to know why you are here now of all times,” I said again, giving them a pointed look. The sooner we found there motives the quicker we could get rid of them or at least I hoped.

“That’s a good question,” Michelle answered, walking her fingers up Gate’s chest. “Why don’t you ask Mr. Gates here?”

“Ask him what?” Avery’s voice cut through the group. Fucking hell, this wasn’t good.

I looked past Valary to see both Avery and Maya standing in front of us with crossed arms. My eyes went directly to Maya, gapping at the sight in front of me.

“Maya,” I breathed. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in a new dress, or at least one that I had never seen before. At that moment our eyes met, nothing else in the room mattered and I pushed past Val and Michelle and pulled Maya into my arms. The second she was close enough, I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her with such passion that she would surely feel it all the way to her toes. The kiss made my heart flutter and brought me to the verge of tears, making me realize exactly how much I loved this girl. I had had fallen for her so deeply that I knew that I couldn’t lose her without completely losing myself. She was the only one for me.

“Hem, hem,” I heard someone clear there throat and I slowly pulled away, looking into Maya’s dazed eyes. Oh, I could tell that she felt it.

“I love you, too,” I whispered in her ear just as Val’s voice cut through the air. But event that irritating voice couldn’t pull the smile off my face. All I could do was look down at Maya and she her smiling right back at me. I was on cloud nine all over again.

“So are you two going to introduce us to your new…friends?” Val sneered, not looking pleased at all by my actions. And by the looks of it, Michelle didn’t look happy with how Brian had replaced her with Avery at his side. Had Gates done the same thing with Ave that I just did with Maya?

I ran my hand over my face with a small sigh. Fuck, I didn’t want to do this. I just wanted to take Maya back to the bus and have my way with her, but it didn’t appear like I was going to be that lucky. “This is my girlfriend Maya,” I said, putting my arm firmly around her. “And this is Gates’ girlfriend Avery.” I made sure to accentuate the world girlfriend so that the twins would get the picture. And of course neither of them looked happy with the news.

“Really? A girlfriend, Bri?” Michelle said, raising her brown and looking amused. “I didn’t think you were capable. Unless you are just using the title so you can screw her.” Avery’s brow furred as she frowned at Michelle’s words, obviously offended.

“Yeah, I didn’t think that word was in your vocabulary, Gates,” Val added with a smirk on her lips. These girls were obviously up to something and I didn’t like it.

“Me either,” Gates replied honestly. “But Ave turned my world around,” he said, leaning down and pecking her lips. “Don’t know what I’d do without her.” I watched as Gates squeezed her to his side and kissed the top of her head, earning a pout from Michelle. I felt a little bad for her because I knew she had longed for exactly what Brian and Avery had, but she never got it.

“And who are you?” Maya cut through my thoughts.

“Oh, I’m Matty’s ex-girlfriend Val and this is my twin sister Michelle. She dated Gates for a while,” she said proudly, stroking my arm. I could only frown and pull away. “Didn’t they tell you about us?”

“No, I guess they failed to mention that,” Maya frowned, moving her gaze between the girls and then back to me. I could see something hiding in her eyes but I didn’t know what it was. God I hoped she wasn’t angry with me for not mentioning my ex. I knew we should have told them about the twins before.

“Yeah, we go way back,” Michelle continued, moving over to Gates’ other side to put her hand on his shoulder. “We all went to high school together and dated for what was it? Four years?” Oh, fuck, that look on Maya’s face wasn’t good.

“Wow,” Avery said, shooting a look at Gates and crossing her arms. “You guys do go way back, huh?” She looked a little upset with the whole situation and I didn’t blame her. We should have come clean before now but it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one in the doghouse for this. “Well if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get a drink. Maya?” she said before taking her best friends hand and heading for the drink table.

“Was it something I said?” Michelle asked, trying to be all innocent. “I hope we didn’t upset them.” But we all knew that’s exactly what they had planned to do.


Avery’s POV

“Come on, M! We’re late for the party! Let’s go!” I yelled to the back of the bus as I put on my heels and headed down the steps. I couldn’t wait to see Brian’s face when he saw me. I was wearing a new dress that Maya had made for me and it hugged me in all the right places. It really was the perfect little black dress and I knew it would have Brian drooling.

“Okay, here we go!” Maya ran up behind me and took my hand as we headed to the party. She had been on cloud nine ever since she finally came clean to Matt about her feelings. It was a huge step for her and I felt like a proud momma. She had come so far and I was glad she finally realized how good she and Matt were together. They were peas in a pod just like Brian and I. And speaking of that handsome devil, where was he?

When Maya and I entered the party, we scanned the room for our boyfriends. Only when I spotted them my heart dropped. To my horror, there were two blonde girls hanging off of them and I felt jealously course through my veins. Low and behold, the guys had exs that they neglected to tell us about. And they dated for four years? Are you freaking kidding me? What were they even doing here? Did the guys invite them?

“Well if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get a drink. Maya?” I said, pulling away from Brian and heading toward the drink table. I didn’t want to leave him alone with Michelle but if I stayed any longer I would have said something rude. The woman had done nothing to me so I decided to take the higher road.

“I’m Matty’s ex-girlfriend Val,” Maya mocked once we were out of earshot. I could tell she wasn’t pleased with the new guests either. “Why didn’t they fucking tell us about them? Did you and Gates talk about it?”

“No, not even the mention of having another girlfriend,” I sighed, picking up the whiskey and pouring it into my cup. “From the way all the guys acted and talked, it seemed like he had never had a girlfriend before, so why is one showing up all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know, Ave. I just hope they don’t think they are going home with them tonight. Did you see the way they were touching them? Over my dead fucking body,” Maya said, taking a long swig of her drink.

“Yeah, I part of me wanted to pull Brian away so Michelle would stop touching Brian. And what are they even doing here?” I asked Maya, picking up the coke to add a splash. I usually wasn’t one for strong drinks but tonight seemed like an exception, considering the twins were here.

“It’s funny you should ask that,” a shrill voice answered behind me. I closed my eyes and held in a groan. Those girl really didn’t follow us to the drink table did they?

Maya and I both turned around to see the tall and gorgeous blonde twins standing before us. “Why is it funny?” Maya asked.

“Well, because,” Michelle said, moving to my side and refilling her cup. “Brian was the one who invited us.” My breath automatically hitched in my throat at her words. He did what? Why the hell would he invite his ex to a show?

“He did?” I asked, a frown coming over my face. I couldn’t believe it. She had to be bluffing. There was no way Brian invited her!

“Yep, he called me three times the other night,” Michelle said, exchanging glances with her sister. “What trouble in paradise?”

“N-no,” I pulled my cup to my lips, enjoying the burn that went down. Just then both of them waved at Johnny and Zack as they passed by.

“Why would you come anyway? Specially if they are your exes?” Maya took over and I was thankful. I was too flustered right now with these women. Who did they think they were? They walked in and just acted like they owned the place and that didn’t sit well with me. Maybe it was because I had never been or never would be that bold, or maybe it was because I knew they all had a history together. Would Brian go back to Michelle?

“Well, you see,” Val started. “When Matty and I first started dating, Mich was Brian’s go to gal. Whenever he needed something, or someone, he called my sister. They’ve always been like that. Whenever Bri needed something, he always called my sister.”

“He called you? When?” I gapped, still not believing the story. So what, she was his old fuck buddy? That didn’t mean he actually called her for that, did it?

“Oh yeah,” Michelle smirked, pulling out her phone and handing it to me. “He called me three times. He was looking for the old times, he said. Sorry, I didn’t know he was with someone when he asked us to come by tonight.”

I gapped and shook my head. No, that couldn’t be true. Brian couldn’t have done that but here was the proof on her phone. He had called her three times and all within two hours…the same time the girls and I were at the club. Did that mean that he was trying to move on? Was he really going to throw all that we had away so quickly? “E-Excuse me,” I whispered, pushing past Val and leaving Maya alone with the twins.

I had to get out of here, to talk to someone one. I didn’t want to believe it—no I couldn’t. We just made up and made plans for the future. I even fucking signed up for online classes today when the booth was slow. Brian couldn’t have been so desperate for someone that he called her when we had an argument.

As I pushed open the door, the cool night air hit me in the face, slightly calming me in my panicked state. I couldn’t get that woman’s words out of my head and it was just spinning around and around. Feeling my frustration peak, I collapsed down on the concrete steps and put my head in my hands. This couldn’t be happening right now!

“Ave?” Oh, great I wasn’t fucking alone. I was never fucking alone!

I looked up to see Zacky push off the concrete wall with a cigarette between his lips. He had a look of concern etched on his face as he moved to sit next to me? “Are you okay?”

I groaned and took the cigarette out of his mouth, taking a few deep drags. Not even the nicotine was helping me, great. “No, I’m not fucking okay!” I raged, feeling the angry tears starting to rise. I was so sick of crying about all this and about things to do with Brian. Is this how it was always going to be? “Brian’s ex is here!”

“Brian’s ex?” Zacky repeated, looking extremely confused. “Ave I don’t know who you’re talking about. Haner doesn’t have an—“

“Michelle! Val and Michelle are here,” I clarified, throwing my hands up in the air. “And all because Brian apparently invited them!” I could feel the hurt of that though rise all over again and I felt like I was going to be sick.

To my surprise, Zack chuckled and took his cigarette back from me as I blew out a cloud of smoke. “Somehow I find that hard to believe,” he chuckled. I didn’t find anything about this situation funny so I didn’t know why he was laughing.

I shot him a death glare and he straightened up. “What I mean is Michelle was never anything more than a hook up to Gates and for a good reason. The two of them cant fucking stand each other, just like Matt and Val. There is a reason Matt ended up cheating on Val and why Brian never officially dated Michelle,” he explained and I just gapped at him.

“Matt cheated on Val?” I gapped and he sighed, looking like he said something he shouldn’t have. He quickly shook his head and put his hands up, following my train of thought.

“Many times but that they didn’t have anything like what he and Maya have. Shads was young and stupid and the time and didn’t have the balls to break it off. He regretted hurting her like that but I guess that was the only way to get rid of her. Not that it’s an excuse,” he explained but I was still appalled. The Matt I knew and grew to love wasn’t at all the cheating type. “But back to Gates.”

Yeah, back to the topic that physically hurt to talk about right now. Just hearing those things from Michelle was enough to hurt me, or at least make me really jealous. “So I doubt Gates actually invited her…. besides Michelle has been known to stretch the truth on multiple occasions. She’s a nice person if you’re on her good side, but don’t piss her off…damn don’t piss her off,” Zacky continued shaking his head and passing me his cigarette back.

“But she has proof of him calling her three times on her phone!” I said exasperatedly.

“When? Did you see the date?”

I gapped at him for a moment and thought back to the picture on the phone. “Yeah, it was from two nights ago when we were out at the club! He was already trying to replace me!”

Zack sighed and pulled me into his side. “Ave, Gates wasn’t trying to replace you. He was drunk off his ass while you were out and the guy has the worst case of having to call someone when he is wasted. He probably hit the wrong number by mistake or something. I happens to him all the time,” Zack explained but still I didn’t buy it. Of course he was going to cover for his best friend.

“What if it wasn’t a mistake?” I asked, hating the idea even more. It hurt to think of him with someone else.

“I highly doubt that, Ave,” Zack said again and put out his cigarette butt. “Just remember that he loves you, and that should be all that matters. He sure as hell doesn’t love Michelle…and I haven’t seen him look at another women since you joined the tour. Just go talk to him…he’ll explain everything. Gates is a good guy and I think you know that.” He said and I sighed. He was right. Maybe I was overreacting about all this. “Just go talk to him.”

I nodded as Zacky helped me to my feet. “Thanks Zack,” I smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Any time, Ave,” he called behind me as I entered the room. He was right; I needed to talk to Brian. I knew with even just one kiss form him all my worries go to away.

I quickly turned the concrete corner back to party and stopped dead in my tracks, my heart breaking in a million pieces. I couldn’t breath, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything. I was completely crushed and the tears instantly started to fall. It the feeling could only be described as being shot directly in the heart, and Brian was the one who had done it.

There only a few feet in front of me he stood kissing Michelle. “Brian?” I finally gasped out, shaking my head and running the other way. I had to get out of here because I didn’t want to see anymore. I was completely crushed.

“Ave!” I heard a voice call behind me as I ran down the concrete steps and towards the bus. “Avery! Wait! It’s not what you think! Just slow down and let me explain!”

Suddenly a hand grabbed mine and I yanked around backwards, coming face to face with the man who had just broke my heart. Without even thinking twice, I reached up and smacked him as hard as I could across the face. “How dare you!” I spat, the tears running down my face.

“Avery!” Brian moaned, stumbling backwards and holding his face where I hit him.

“Don’t even start! I saw you kissing her and I know you invited her. Michelle was very generous in showing me her call log where you called her three times the other night!”

“What the hell are you talking about, Ave?” Brian gapped at me and I could only scoff and throw my hands up in the air.

“How long were you going to let his charade go on, huh? Until you got bored with me and went back to your good ol’ fuck buddy, Michelle? Or should I say ex-girlfriend? God I’m such a fucking idiot!” I cried turning around and heading toward the bus again.

“Will you just stop for one minute and fucking listen to me?” Brian grabbed me by the shoulder this time and spun me around. I couldn’t stop the angry sobs that were now raking my body. I was completely crushed by what I just saw he was acting like was innocent. Please, it takes two people to kiss!

“Listen to you what? Make up some excuse? Come on Brian…” I scoffed, shaking my head. “I should have listened to my dad. Was I really just some toy to you? Someone naïve and innocent that you could use until your really mistress came back?” I sobbed as he tried to pull me into his chest.

“No, Ave please just let me explain!” Brian have groaned and half yelled in frustration.

“No answer me! Tell me the fucking truth! Do you love me or are you just fucking around with me? I can play this game. It hurts too much!” I cried, looking into his dark eyes “Answer me!”

Notes

Oh dear, trouble in Brain and Ave paradise...and they just got back together! Will Ave listen to what Brian says or will his temper get the better of him? We are narrowing down this story, only a handful of chapters left! Will they fix this before the end? Comments please! :)