Reliving the Nightmare

♡LOLA'S POV♡

"Lola, let me introduce you to someone important."

I peered nervously up at the imposing man standing over us, his arms crossed menacingly across his chest and a stern expression painting his lined face. I coughed awkwardly and frantically adjusted my crumpled top, trying to look more presentable for this stranger.

"Dad, stop trying to look macho and help Lola up since you were the one that knocked us over," Brian ordered.

Wait, holdup! Dad?

My mouth fell open as Papa Gates uncrossed his arms with a rueful smile, then lifted me gently to my feet. I thanked him quietly then resumed my state of shock. Was this really Synyster Gates' Dad standing in front of me? As if that wasn't bad enough, his first impression of me was walking in on me having a rather sexy make out session with his son. Not a good start.

"Dad, this is my girlfriend, Lola Ritchie. Lola this is my Dad, Brian Haner Senior," Brian introduced us politely as I reached forward and shook his Dad's hand. My face split into a huge grin when Brian called me his girlfriend without a hint of hesitation or doubt. Wow, I guess if he was telling his Father then we were really official. I had no problem with that.

"Great to meet you, Lola," Brian Sr drawled and I was taken aback at how familiar him and his son were. They had the same compassionate eyes and cute facial features and their accents were eerily similar. I knew as soon as I looked straight into those dancing brown eyes that myself and Papa Gates were going to get on like a house on fire.

"You too sir. You have a wonderful son," I told him honestly, patting Brian on the chest affectionately as he wrapped his arm round my waist.

"He takes after his Father," Brian Sr winked at me, whilst warily eyeing Brian's large hand sitting comfortably on my hip, obviously trying to assess the seriousness of our relationship and how long I would be with his son.

"Now what kind of accent is that I'm hearing? Whereabouts in Scotland are you from?" Brian Sr asked me, and I smiled in surprise that he had deciphered my roots so quickly as my accent wasn't strong at all.

"Just a small town in the North. How did you know I was from Scotland?"

He raised a brow knowingly and I couldn't help but giggle at his playful manner, so like his son. He pulled me away from Brian and walked me into the living room where we sat, talking as we went.

"I'm very good at figuring people out, you know? You just seemed Scottish to me," he sounded deadly serious, but my brow wrinkled at the absurdity of that.

"That's the biggest pile of bullshit I've ever heard. Dad, stop trying to impress Lola," Brian cut in, laughing softly to himself. He turned to me and said, "When you were in hospital, I dropped him a text explaining the situation. My Dad likes to be included in everything so he was the first one to know that I liked you."

"Oh," I mumbled, caught off guard by the vulnerable look on Brian's face, at his admittance that he told his Dad about us. He seemed anxious, almost as if he was worried that I would be annoyed at him. I paused for a second and marvelled at the strangeness of relationships. It was weird to think that this absolutely astounding man beside me was worried about what I thought, little old me. How could he even think that I would judge him about his relationship with his Dad? So what if they were close? Personally, I found it refreshing that they communicated frequently. My Dad never cared about my life.

"Where the fuck is Gates?" a masculine shout came from outside and I saw Brian's face brighten when he heard it. He turned to his Dad with the cutest smile.

"You brought the Berry's?" he asked happily.

His answer arrived in the form of two very built and scary looking men barrelling into the living room, and cheering when they caught sight of him.

"Brian!" They greeted loudly, clasping him in a bear hug, clapping him roughly on the back. I stood quietly to the side whilst they went through this ritual, not wanting to get in their way. Brian, the amazing guy he is, didn't allow any exclusion for long though.

"Lola, these are Avenged's roadies and best friends. Sorry guys, I haven't introduced you to my girl. This is Lola," he announced proudly to them and they nodded appreciatively at me, running their eyes slyly up and down my body.

The broader one stepped forward and before I knew it I had been pulled into a tight and very friendly hug. He wrapped his huge arms round my whole body, engulfing me in his massive frame.

"Awesome to meet you, Lola. I'm Matt Berry," he told me before releasing me so I could resume breathing. "Damn, you're a pretty one, aren't you? Good choice Gates."

I stepped back and smiled at the affable roadie, before I was swept up in another bone crushing hug by the other brother.

"I'm Jason. If you ever need anything, you just give me a call now, ok?" he pulled back and looked me in the eyes, flashing a dazzling smile.

I returned his contagious happy grin and internally applauded the Mother who had brought up these two charming, polite and handsome men. They were just lovely people; I could see it already.

"Alright Jason, turn it down a notch, would you?" Brian extracted him firmly off of me and placed himself between us protectively. I rolled my eyes at his jealous feelings showing through the cracks and sighed when he grasped my hand in a display of obvious ownership. He was declaring very clearly to these two males that he was the only one who could touch me. Man I loved this guy, but could he maybe cool it down a bit? Jason and Matt looked two of the nicest guys I'd seen, so maybe Brian could back off a bit and let me within two feet of them?

"It's really great to meet everyone," I attempted to tell them all, as I peered round Brian's bulky shoulder from where he was shielding me from these horny, blood thirsty, savage men...

They called back their cheerful replies and I gave up trying to move past Brian, who was clearly not moving anytime soon.

"Brian, could I speak to you alone please?" Brian Sr asked solemnly, cutting through the ambience and creating a heavy mood. I didn't like his deadly serious tone and how his sparkling eyes had darkened to a shade of black. Something was wrong. Brian immediently picked up on his Dad's tone and quickly kissed me before following him out of the room, shutting the door after him.

I girmaced then gestured for the brothers to take a seat, laughing as they both sprawled on the sofa at exactly the same time. Matt wasted no time in propping his huge feet up on the delicate coffee table, his shoes leaving scuff marks on it that I knew I would be scrubbing later.

"So, you're Gates' new plaything?" Jason asked casually. He didn't ask it as an insult or to make me feel bad, it seemed like it was how he was: blunt and to the point.

"Girlfriend," I corrected him with a smile. He seemed to like my response, as he leaned forward and grinned.

"And a girl who knows her own mind. Nice. So how old are you?"

"I'm going to be eighteen in six days."

Matt's eyes bulged unnaturally wide and Jason's mouth dropped open. They turned to each other in shock then turned back to me with the same ridiculous expressions.

"Eighteen? Are you fucking serious?" the disbelief in his voice was prominent and I squirmed in my seat as I was suddenly put on the spot.

"Em yeah," I replied, not knowing anything else to say.

"Damn, Gates is a player! What a lucky bastard!" Jason exclaimed, slapping his knee to emphasise his surprise.

"And in six days huh? How are you celebrating?" he asked.

I frowned and shrugged, "I'm not sure. If Brian wants to do something then maybe we might go out for dinner, but I don't want a big deal."

They exchanged another one of their secret glances then peered at me pitifully.

"Oh Lola. If you're going to survive in Californa, you need to learn how to party. The fact that you're turning eighteen is a huge deal and it needs a party to commemorate the occasion." Jason told me factually as if this should be something I should already know.

"Party time motherfuckers!" Matt shouted and they both leaped up and skipped out of the room, calling out their goodbyes as they went.

Why me? What was with people always wanting to party? What was wrong with staying at home? Now those lunatics were going to organise a huge party that I would no doubt feel extremely uncomfortable at and hate. Yay.

Brian and his Dad walked back into the room, both wearing grim expressions. My heart jumped at their sudden weary faces and I rushed to Brian, circling his wrist with my fingers.

"What's wrong? Can I help?" I asked him frantically, nerves jangling when he shook his head dejectedly.

"It's nothing for you to worry about," his words were meant to be comforting but was it just me or was he holding me tighter than usual? His Dad looked at us once, the worry in his eyes clear, then announced his departure. He left in a cloud of despair and at that point, I was stressing beyond belief. What was going on?

Brian plastered a fake smile on his face and lightened his voice, "So why were the Berry's running out of here looking like they were going to raise hell?"

I pushed away my fears and joined him in this normal conversation. "I think they're planning on throwing me an 18th birthday party."

A smile finally broke through the somber mask and he laughed at me.

"Good luck with that, it'll be the wildest fucking party ever if they organise it," he informed me with a glint in his eye.

Fantastic.

Notes

Uh oh.. trouble is brewing. But what's going on? Any thoughts?