Maya’s POV

To say that I was pissed, was probably the understatement of the year. She fucking kissed him, and he let her, he even smiled…
He wanted this to be exclusive, he wanted to call me his girlfriend and there, right there he was being kissed from someone else and he didn’t do anything about it… he stared at the tits of this blonde bimbo for something that felt like an hour and didn’t even glance at me twice.

I knew I was being irrational right now and I knew it was his job being nice with the fans, but then again, enough is enough… he gave us the title and wanted this, then he should at least act like it, too.
And if he wanted to back out of it now, he shoulder better say it now!

And then again I was feeling bad for Ave, because she didn’t even know where she was standing with Gates, and he also acted like an ass, but then again, even though I should know where Matt and I stood helped me and my raging feelings nothing, he was making me furious!

And why I felt this way was even weirder, I wasn’t used to having to care about someone, at least not someone besides Ave…
And I didn’t like to share, and thinking about sharing Matt was not possible, not in any way.
I felt a stupid hurt blooming in my chest thinking he could right now be doing god knows what with any of these women… and the insecurity I normally never felt was getting bigger and bigger, maybe this was a dumb idea… a really really dumb idea I should have never agreed to.

“M?” Ave’s voice sounded behind me and I didn’t even hear her coming to the room.
She looked bewildered and did I see tear in her eyes, shit… I shouldn’t be concerned about what Matt was doing, when apparently Gates was breaking my friends heart right this moment.
I would kick that pricks ass, he was in the verge of jumping from my shit list to my friend list again, but the way my little Gnome was looking right now he was back on top of the shit one, that was sure.

“Ave, what happened? What did he do? Should I kick his ass in front of all the people? I will, you know I will” I told her and was about to move past her when she shook her head, and she looked so pale.
“Shit, babe… you scare me. What happened, are you getting sick?” I asked now really concerned and Ave shook her head again.

“No… I… Maya, we got a real problem now.” She said and her frightened eyes met mine.
“What is it, Ave? What happened” I guided her to the couch and she sat down beside me.
“I just ran into Jason…” Ave started and I winced “And? Was it bad? Shit, maybe you should talk to him again and if you don’t feel good with Brian, maybe-” I started but she shook her head.

“No, wait… no…” Ave shook her head and met my eyes again “It had nothing to do with that, he had a magazine… and we were in it, Maya. You and Matt and Brian and I… from our clubbing yesterday. There must have been a paparazzi, he took pictures… Maya, if my Dad sees them… we are fucked!” Ave said quietly and my heart stopped for a second.

“What?! What was on the pictures? Was it… like… bad? Was it precise showing us in inappropriate situations?” I asked wincing, shit… I haven’t thought about keeping any distance towards Matt during the party time. I was so happy to be with him again and have fun, that I didn’t think about anyone seeing us… and I would have never thought anyone taking pictures, we should have been way more careful and not acting like a couple… oh no, don’t say we were just here for another day to be send off by Larry for good in the end.

Ave sighed and put her head in her hands “Jason thinks it’s not too bad, but the article says something like ‘Are the Avenged boys settling down’ And that they saw us with them before… I was dancing with Brian on a picture, but you couldn’t see my face. And on the other I sat on his lap but my face was only in profile… but my Dad will know it was me! And you are clearly shown, Matt having his arm around you… Maya, we gotta think about something real quick if my father sees this, he will send us home!” She finished and I swallowed thickly.

“Maybe your Dad doesn’t see them at all… I mean he is not reading every article about every of his bands, right? And we just need to be more careful and keep our distance, we can’t be so openly about it anymore, not as long as we are out where someone can take pictures of us…” I mused and well maybe I would execute the distance idea right away, cause I still didn’t forget what happened out there.

“I don’t know… Maya… if he sees the picture, what if he calls me and asks me about it? What should I tell him?! You know I can’t lie to him… I can’t!” Ave looked panicked and I pulled her into my embrace.

“Ave, breathe… in and out, calm down. We will figure it out, you will just tell him, that we went out partying, that we were dancing with everyone, no one saw us kissing or sneaking off, not someone who can tell Larry, anyway. And you just said yourself that you and Brian not really know where you stand, so you are not lying to your Dad, think about it Ave, we will just bend the truth as far as possible…” I told her with a wink when Ave pulled away and a small chuckle escaped her but it sounded strangled.

“You always have an idea, don’t you? And why do you always know the right thing to say?” Ave asked and I laid my arm around her shoulder smiling “Cause I am your real significant other, you just have to admit it… you and me, dream team that’s it.” I grinned and the grin fell from my face when the door opened and I saw Zack stuck his head in and when he saw us sitting there he sighed in relief.

“Here are you.” He was pushed into the room and behind him stood Jason, Johnny and soon the room was filled with people some which I saw before and others I haven’t noticed beforehand or have ever seen before.

I got up from beside Ave and wanted to get me a drink and was suddenly pushed into a hard body, I turned around wanting to confront whoever dared made a move like that when I saw Matt’s dimpled smile.
I pulled away from him not wanting to deal with it yet. “I was getting me a drink… can you…” I pulled his hands away and he frowned.

“You okay?” He asked and leaned down to kiss me, but all I knew was him having the lips of that girl on his mouth so I pulled away last chance and he kissed my cheeks looking even more confused now.

“Yeah, totally fine.” I pushed past him and saw he was about to grab my wrist but I quickly moved away and he stood there looking after me.

I sighed filling my cup up and waited a moment longer before grabbing it, regretting it right away when I felt a presence next to me, I wanted to sigh when I realized it wasn’t Matt, it was Jimmy.

“Knife girl, you heard about the magazine and the pictures?” He asked quietly and I nodded.
“I don’t think Larry will read it, don’t worry too much” Jimmy said and I sighed again “I told Ave the same.”
“But?” He asked and looked around as if searching for anyone and I took the time to gulp down nearly all my drink.
“But… nothing.” I didn’t wanna sound stupid, that wasn’t me… being jealous and shit.

“Come here” Jimmy pulled me into his embrace and I sighed smelling his cologne and having his long arms wrapped around me.
“What’s bothering you, babe?” He asked next to my ear but I just shook my head, I didn’t wanna admit that I was jealous, and I didn’t wanna admit that it was probably mostly in my head and nothing really happened, but I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it at all that Matt was acting like nothing happened…

“Maya?!” Jimmy’s voice sounded more urgent now and I sighed “Matt…” I said slowly and he pulled away “You wanna talk alone?”
I shook my head, I couldn’t leave Ave alone, knowing that she had trouble with Brian and with the situation of the pictures.
“Maybe later…” I sighed and he nodded “You can talk to me, you know that, right?” He put a small kiss on my cheek and I nodded “Thanks.”

I turned around and ran into Brian “Hey… where is Ave? Have you seen her?” He asked looking around and I shrugged, not wanting to give him the answer but not knowing it anyway.
With that I left him standing there and he held his hand up in questions, like what the fuck?!

What the fuck, well ask that yourself?! Oh I was in the mood now…
I searched for Ave and found her in a corner with Zack, I stood next to them and they were discussing the pictures of course.
“I bet he won’t see them… and if, then just tell him we took you out to party, that’s nothing he doesn’t know we are doing, they aren’t bad… we just need to be more careful, we haven’t thought about the whole paparazzi thing, but we will from now on.” Zack said and I nodded “See, I told you the same, little Gnome. Don’t worry too much.”

Arms stole around my waist and I felt myself being pressed into a hard body, knowing it was Matt his amazing smell couldn’t be missed, and my body wanted to melt right into him, but my head wanted to distance myself, and now they were battling against each other.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” He murmured in my ear and I sighed “Sure…” Ave and Zack nodded and Matt grabbed my hand walking outside with me.

“What’s wrong?” He didn’t beat around the bush now.
“What do you think is wrong?” I shot back lifting an eyebrow.
“The pictures?” Matt asked and before I could even say anything he continued “That won’t be a big deal, Larry won’t even read that… it’s nothing about the music, he will not even bother with it, so don’t worry.” Matt said and I nodded “We should still keep a little more distance…” I said and Matt narrowed his eyes “I don’t think so…”

“Well, I do.” I snapped and he took a step towards me “What’s behind this? Why are you acting so weird?” Matt asked and I chuckled but it was without any humor.
“If you don’t know, then it’s your fault. But if my lips land on another guy, you shouldn’t make a big deal out of it either.” I told him and I knew that was a low blow but I was angry for him not even getting that this could have hurt me… or my feelings, I told him this was something new and he was not even realizing it.

I thought I was a couple of feet away, when Matt grabbed my wrist he looked completely pissed off when suddenly the door burst open and Brian stepped out and grabbed my other arm “I need to talk to you! Now!”

Brian’s POV

I knew something was wrong, Avery was nowhere to be seen and when I saw her she quickly moved away. It just took me a second when I talked to someone else and she had moved away from me and was nowhere to be found.
But why was she doing that?

After the night and evening yesterday… and hell after this morning… my game had been a genius idea and I could pat my back for that again and again, it was a perfect combination in getting to know her, driving her wild and getting my release in the end, or well that had been what I planned to do… which was sadly interrupted, but I didn’t forget that I had still 3 questions open so that would be my entertainment for later, if Avery would finally stop with the hiding game, that is.

I saw Jimmy talking to Mia and Matt walked into my way “I told you they seem pissed off.” I said and his eyes were on Maya “I know… maybe Zack really was right and they are upset about the signing, or is it the pictures… I bet they are nervous about that, but honestly I don’t think that Larry will see that, we need to be more careful, that’s all…” Matt said and I nodded “I agree.”
“Fuck, I will find out what this is about…” Matt said and quickly moved after Maya and I turned around finding Ave finally.

“Hey love.” I grabbed her hand and moved her into my side but she was pushing away “Hey, I need a cigarette and my bag is over there…” She motioned to the couch and pulled away. I sighed she was doing that all the time.

She walked to her bag getting a cigarette out and I joined her, helping her lit it up and then laid my arm around her waist again, this time she didn’t pull away but she didn’t melt into me either, not like she used to do.

What was going on, did Jason tell her something? I mean, he hugged her… he said it was only about the magazine thing and her being afraid because of her Dad, but… what if that was a lie?!

“Ave, is something wrong?” I asked and her eyes shortly met mine.
“Yeah.. no.. I mean… I never have been to a signing before… I mean… I didn’t know what to expect apparently.” She said quietly and did I hear a little jealousy in her tone.
“They are fans, they are here for us, for Syn Gates and the stage person, you know.” I tried to tell her, sounded logical to me, and that would also explain what Zack meant, right?
“Hmmhmm..” Ave hummed but didn’t sound convinced at all and I pushed my cigarette out not really knowing what was going on now.
“I need to talk to Zack again, can you excuse me.” Avery said and I quickly pecked her lips before moving away, and she looked like she didn’t expect that.

Alright, there was more to that, but what was it?! I couldn’t as Zack, he might know, but since she was talking to him now, that didn’t work. I couldn’t ask Matt, cause he was on the hunt for Maya, but he didn’t know what was going on anyway… but who surely know what was going on with Ave was… her best friend!

I needed to talk to her, right now… where have I seen her last… she went outside, right?

I quickly pulled the door open and might have just interrupted a scene here, but I didn’t care, I grabbed Maya’s arm saying “I need to talk to you! Now!”

“Come back later, Gates” Matt nearly growled but I gave a fuck, not possible.
I pulled Maya into the room leaving a stunned Shadz behind and moved her into the next adjoining room with equipment and shit, I didn’t want her to get distracted by anything.

“Normally I wouldn’t have let you done that.” She snapped but I saw her relief as well.
“I need to ask you something, and please be honest with me.” I asked her and she lifted her eyebrows at me.

“Give me one good reason, why?” She shot back and I groaned in frustration.
“Because I wanna know what’s going on with Ave, she means something to me and I know something is wrong. And you are the key to that, since she won’t tell me.” I summed it up and Maya nodded “Why you noticed, not bad… Gates, not bad.” She said sarcastically and this was the Maya I wanted to strange, while the last days I came along with her pretty well.

“What did she tell you?” Maya asked finally and I sighed “Not much… she wasn’t to a signing before and something she didn’t expect… I tried to explain that it’s about fans during this time, which doesn’t have anything to do with her or me… she knows that right?” I asked Maya a little curious and she looked away.

“What is it?” I asked when she didn’t answer.
“You were pretty, well, open to the young ladies throwing them at you, you know” Maya said and I wanted to roll my eyes. “You realize that, us watching you like that, wasn’t really the best vision we could have imagined, right?” She finally said and I thought back to the signing, that indeed was what Zack meant, the girls had taken this too much to heart and we hadn’t prepared them for what could have happened, shit… I should have said something to Ave beforehand…
“Okay, I will talk to her about that, do you think that was it?” I asked again and Maya averted her eyes.

“What?” I took a step closer and she finally met my eyes “What is Ave to you, Brian?”
“What do you mean?” I really didn’t know how to answer that.
“If you had to put a name on it, what is she?” Maya asked and I frowned, well… she was a girl, a friend… we were trying it and seeing where this was leading us, which meant we were dating… there wasn’t a real name for that, was it?

“I.. we..” I stuttered a little and Maya nodded “There you have it…” With that she moved away from me and left me standing there…
Fuck, what?!

When I wanted to go behind her and ask her more about it my phone rang and I saw Maya being stopped by Jimmy, I pulled my phone from my pants, seeing it was Larry.
Fuck, what does he want now?!

Matt walked past the room and I waved him over, I knew he still had unfinished business with Maya and wanted to get that out, but I needed him here.
“Shit Matt… it’s Larry.” I motioned to the phone and Matt shrugged “And? Go pickup.. maybe a schedules change?” He asked and tapped his foot impatiently.

“Hey Larry, what’s up?” I put the loudspeaker on and Matt closed the door to shut out the most noise.
“Brian, hey… I tried to reach Matt as well, couldn’t get a hold of him, what’s going on?” Larry asked and I looked over to Matt who pulled his phone out cursing quietly ‘Mute’ he mouthed and I nodded.

“His phone must still be muted, we were just done with the signing we made.” I explained and that sounded logical, right?!

“Oh good, how did it go?” He asked and still didn’t say why he actually called.
“Good, went really good. Lots of fans, lots of name writing, you know that.” I said and heard a chuckle.
“Yeah right… so this afternoon is TRL, you guys ready for that?” Larry asked and I didn’t know why he was making so much small talk, normally he didn’t have much time and was always on the run, so why now?

“Yeah, excited as hell, we got tickets for Avery and Maya so they can come watch the show as well.” I said and kicked myself mentally, why did I bring them up at all.
“Oh okay, yeah that’s nice. They told me you promised them that so they would help you out. They love TRL, bet they are as excited as you guys.” Larry said and I looked at Matt motioning that I didn’t know what Larry wanted and he shrugged his shoulders as well.

“I will be coming over to NYC tomorrow. I know you guys have a day off but I bet you can squeeze in a meeting from me, right?” Larry asked and he sounded like always so I had no idea what this would be about.
“Yeah sure, just tell us if we gotta send Jason to pick you up or when you want us to be ready.” I said not knowing what else I should do.
“Okay, perfect, see you guys tomorrow.” I opened my mouth to ask what this would be about, but he hung up on me already.

“What do you think this is about?” I asked Matt and he rubbed his hand down his neck “No fucking idea, but maybe we should sync our events of the last evening, just in case, Larry wants to know what happened when we went out… I mean… he can’t know anything from those pictures, we just gotta convince him about it, right?”

I nodded “Maybe it’s something completely different anyway…” I said and both Matt and I knew that right now we weren’t too sure if that was really the case.
“I need to find Maya now.” Matt said and nearly ran from the room while I still thought about Maya’s last words… put a name on it?!

Notes

Sooo we need more comments lovely readers!!

What does Larry want, huh?!
And will Brian figure out what's wrong and can he solve it?!
And more trouble for Mattaya :D

So much unfinished business :P