James’ POV

“Why did you want me to show up here? I thought we were having a few days off” I looked at Ben who was pacing his living room.
“I know we have a few days off, that’s why I asked you to come over” Ben said, he looked like hell.

I felt bad for him, he lost his love… the first real love that he had admitted, to Shadows.Not that I hadn’t told him right from the beginning that Ave thought it was onlya matter of time that Maya would go back to Matt, but still they looked happy here… and I know it was a pretty hard time for Ben.

His eyes were bloodshot from too less sleep, an alcohol bottle was pretty much attached to his hand, since he received the call and I had no idea when it was the last time he was out in public and actually saw daylight.

I was not feeling much better, the words from Brian still rang in my ears, it hadn’t been enough that Ave just left without telling me a fucking word, no when her vague and short messages ended, and she didn’t even return my calls and I finally got the slight hope she found the time to call me, no I found out through Brian himself where Ave was and that she had been lying to me!? Lying why she was gone…

He took the call meant for Ave and he basically told me to fuck off, when all I wanted was to talk to Ave and find out what was really going on?!
She had feelings for me, I knew that, we had so much fun together, I had picked her up when she was broken and lost, yes we didn’t make the final step, but we would have… I knew we would have if Brian hadn’t crashed the party weeks ago…

But that was past now, even though I knew I should let go, and forget about all of it, cause I knew Ave was back with Avenged now, back with Brian, for whatever stupid reason…
But then again I somehow couldn’t, and if I couldn’t let go of Ave, there was no way Ben would give up on Maya.

I knew he was still not accepting the fact that she broke up with him, he was fixed on the idea that when he could talk a final time to Maya she would come back to him, I wasn’t so sure about that, but maybe I was wrong, apparently my whole thinking might be tinted wrong lately…

I also thought that Ave and I were meant to be… and that was proved wrong again and again as it seemed, still I wanted answers, needed answers… answers I probably would never get, cause not one time did Ave take matters to her own hands and called me… but I deserved that… Hell, what if she got hurt again?!

She meant that much to me still, that I couldn’t stand the thought of her getting hurt, and that asshole Gates being the cause of it… Fuck… This was a senseless topic, my brain and heart wouldn’t function in sync at this matter.

“So what are your plans? Do you want us to do something as band? Make a trip to get to other thoughts? I could call Danny, he always has some ideas…” I asked even though party was the last thing I had on my mind and I thought Ben was feeling the same way, but maybe that’s what he needed?

“No, that’s not it. I did plan to make a trip actually, but not with the band… I meant with you… Just you and me actually.” Ben looked at me with hope in his eyes which made me frown.

“What are you talking about?” I really had no clue, what trip? Just Ben and I?
“I need to talk to her, James… I need to see her a final time, I need to make her see that she and I that we belong together. She is being brainwashed, she needs to see straight again… I booked us a flight to the states… today” Ben finished and motioned to the bag beside his couch.

“Ben, I really don’t think that-” I started and couldn’t believe he was planning this.
“Don’t think, I need you with me bro, I need you… I fuck, James. I need to see her, need to tell her that I love her. I won’t accept anything else.. I knew this was all a rouse from Avenged, to get her away from here, I bet there never was a job… And I know you also want to know the truth, what if Brian is just keeping Ave there, and he was lying to you on the phone? What if she doesn’t know he was talking to you? What-” Ben continued and my thoughts began to wander, what if he was right?!

What if Ben really was right? And even if he wasn’t, I could finally get all the answer that I wanted, no that I needed!

“James, I’m begging you… I need to see her” Ben said and I nodded. “You should get a shower before we leave… Meet you back here in about an hour” I told him with a small smile, I could see how important this was to Ben, he needed to see for himself what was going on, either in a good direction or in a bad, but he needed a finish, just like I did, so I would of course go with my best friend and find out the truth, a truth that we both deserved!

When Ben and I sat side by side in the plane on our way to the United States of America, to Long Beach to be exact, I had no idea what his so called master plan was.
We were both clueless about the outcome, and I still wasn’t really convinced if this was a good idea, but it was too late to back out now anyway.

“Where do we find them?” I asked Ben, he was writing and rewriting a message on his phone.
“What do you think where we find them?” Ben snapped back and I sighed, yeah, he was right, if they were with the Avenged guys, we knew they were at one of their homes.

“We could call Larry, if they are really there? Or maybe with him?” I asked hopeful, maybe this was really not all as it seemed, even though I should know better and if to confirm that Ben shook his head.

“We will head straight to Gates house, we have been there before, remember? At the party… with everyone? He will know where I can find Maya, and maybe even Ave is with him, so you can finally have that talk. Remember James, what if she is just there because he brainwashed her just like Shads did with Maya. I mean everything had been fine before she left, we talked… she called me… She can’t have just changed her feelings like that… I won’t accept that… You should have heard her say goodbye. She didn’t want that… If she just listened to me and went home to me, I would have made her happy, I could make her happy when she was with me… I can do that again. I fucking love her, that means something, right?!” Ben cursed and I sighed, maybe she didn’t change her feelings, maybe she found the feelings for Matt again, the feelings she buried? Or rather tried to?

“You saw how happy we were! You saw how fitting we are, the way we spend each day and night together… Right?” Ben asked looking at me from the side and I nodded, they did seem fitting, and seeing my friend be so happy with Maya made me yearn to have the same with Ave, I remembered that too, so what if he was indeed right, and just because Matt and Brian saw us with the girls, they
wanted them back, saw how happy they were with us and wanted it all back, and that wasn’t right!

After we landed we grabbed a quick bite in one of the restaurants, then Ben took care of getting us a rental car and we drove towards the area of Huntington Beach that we knew.
We have been here before, Ben was right, at a party about year ago maybe, everything had been so different back then, we were all friends, and now everything was torn wide open in different directions.

Ben parked the car in the driveway and frowned “Someone else is here, too” Ben pointed to the black SUV standing in the driveway.
“Isn’t that Matt’s car?” I asked frowning not being too sure and Ben’s eyes narrowed “Could be, if that means Maya is here, that would spare me another drive and more miles to put on this car.”

“You good, bro?” I asked Ben before he could open the door. “I’m perfectly fine, I’m about to see my girl again and I can’t wait.” Ben said and finally opened the door.
“Ben you keep in mind not to get too hot headed, will you? You know how it ended the last time?” I asked and Ben shrugged “I want my girl back, that’s all I care about”

I saw Ben straighten his shirt and look in the mirror a final time and I don’t know why, but I as well let my hands run through my hair and breathed deeply in and out.
We walked up towards the door and Ben pushed the doorbell, we heard laughing from the inside and it wasn’t only male, that was Ave’s laugh wasn’t it?

Ben rang the doorbell again, when the female laughter just got louder and at this moment I was damn sure that it was Ave who was laughing, my heart began to pound faster, just hearing her laugh, it’s been way too long, and I had enjoyed it way too much to make her laugh… I wanted to be the source, the reason she was carefree and laughing.

“Matt must have told her because-” Ave stood in the doorway, a huge smile on her face until her eyes met mine and Ben’s, the wine glass she had been holding dropped to the floor, splattering all over the nice marble of the entrance.

“Ave” I said softly, while Ben already pushed his way past me and another voice sounded “Ave are you okay? Who is it?” Brian’s voice sounded, then he stopped when he saw me and Ben who was pushing his way past him into the living room.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Brian cursed seeing me but I looked back at Ave, god she looked so beautiful, her long blonde hair looking like a golden curtain her makeup decent, but highlighting her amazing blue eyes and I couldn’t take mine of her. I knew I had so many open questions and maybe I should even keep an eye on my best friend but I couldn’t, I had to look at the gorgeous woman in front of me.

“Ave… I… God, I missed you” I finally said before anything else would come out and suddenly Brian stood in my way, pushing Ave away from me, when I just was about to take a step closer, wanting to pull her into my arms as a greeting, like we used to.

“What the fuck are you doing here? Get lost, we don’t want you here, what is this shit about?” Brian demanded but I tried to move away from him.

“Ave, why didn’t you answer any of my calls? I just wanted to-” I began and again Brian interrupted, “Dude, didn’t you get it the first time or do I have to throw you out? Ave, doesn’t want to see you. You were a friend to her, fine… but nothing else, and now she is back where she belongs, so get the fuck away” He said pushing against my chest but I stayed put and Ave finally moved forward.

“Brian, please… I told you I owe James some answers… And I am sorry, really… I-” Ave started but Brian started shaking his head “You don’t owe him anything, if he didn’t get what the point of friend zone is, it’s his fault. Babe, you did everything right.”

I shook my head, what the hell… “You left without even telling me… I thought we were friends… and more… Ave, you just left, you acted weird. Do you know that I stood at your freaking door waiting for you to open up, when you have already been gone, gone from the country?!” I told her and saw the guilty look on Ave’s face.

“I know… I’m sorry. I couldn’t find the right words, believe me if I tell you that it was an emergency why I had to leave so quickly. James, I didn’t tell you the way I should have and I am sorry for that, I should have told you the truth but at that time I just couldn’t…” Ave said and made me only more confused, what couldn’t she have told me?!

“But I was your friend, we were so close, so why couldn’t you talk to me? And why didn’t you find the time to say goodbye, I don’t get this Ave… You know how this guy hurt you, how broken you were, and how much I cared about you! So how could you go running back to him?! Why are you here now?!” I demanded and saw Brian take a step forward.

“That is fucking none of your business, the only thing you need to know is that Ave and I are together, and that I will never let her go again.” Brian stared into my eyes and I saw honesty there, but I needed to hear from Ave what was really going on!

“Why, Ave?” I asked again, ignoring Gates as good as I could, with him staring at me like he wanted my head to explode.
“Brian is right, I love him… I never stopped, he made a mistake, we talked about it and solved it. We cannot live without the other and… if you remember at the Graduation party, when I was suddenly gone, Brian and I had a moment an intimate moment together” Ave said and blushed while Brian smirked and I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my body.

“I didn’t tell you, cause I had no idea where it would lead to, but I knew that I still loved him, and that you were my friend, but nothing more. I enjoyed every moment we spend together and I will always be grateful for everything you did for me, but the point is that Brian and I belong together.” She seemed to think for a moment to say something more but Brian and Ave met eyes and they both slightly shook their heads and then smiled and I was slowly getting what this was between them, but I needed proof.

“Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?” I asked and both Brian’s and Ave’s heads snapped towards me, Brian about to shake his head when I pointed at him.
“I meant to talk to you, Gates” I said to make it perfectly clear and Brian looked a little stunned then nodded.

“Whatever… Come along” He guided me towards the end of the hallway in a small room with a couch and a few guitars around, I let my eyes wander around the room, it looked pretty private and that not many people were seeing this room then close friends.

My eyes immediately moved to all the pictured in frames hanging on the walls, or standing on the shelves, some of them with the Avenged guys but a lot also just him and Ave, or even him, Ave and Maya but the one drawing my eyes the most was him and Ave, at a shooting, both clothed in VU stuff, the scene looked like they were staring in each other’s eyes, about to kiss and it felt so intimate that I quickly looked away, it was the one picture exactly centered in the middle, so that you could see it from every corner of the room.

“What do you want, Cassells? Ave won’t go back, she loves me, we are together. I won’t let you get anywhere near her… She is mine” Brian said possessively and I groaned, I knew he wanted to clear the sides right from the start and couldn’t really blame him, could I?

“Then why did you hurt her in the first place, if you know she is the one woman for you, and you really love her like you say, why would you do something to push her away, to hurt her… because you may have not seen how broken she really was, but I fucking have!” I told him and after seeing them together having this mental conversation, and now all those pictures and the way Ave had lied to me, made me realize and come always to the same solution.

Ave wanted Brian all along, and I never stayed even the slightest chance to get between it, I didn’t want to listen to the truth and I got my hopes up, fails hopes… but now at least I could make sure, Gates knew I wouldn’t let Ave get hurt again, especially not by him, and he should be afraid of that, afraid I am breathing down his neck.

“I never meant to hurt her… Believe me, I felt like the biggest jerk on earth, and the way she had cut me out of her life, made me pay dearly.” Brian sighed running a hand over his face and he looked a lot older now, with the way his thoughts were apparently running towards the past.

“So, what is behind all this, you got her back and will hurt her again? If you go back on tour? Throw her away for another chick?” I pressed on, I wanted to be there for Ave, and even if I could only try and make Brian see, that if he fucked up, it would be final.

Brian’s POV

I had to admit this guy sure had a nerve, coming to my house, wanting to see my girl and then trying to lecture me?!
Worst of all I couldn’t even blame him, he was right, I did fuck up but I learned my lesson, I paid for what I did.

I could swear to everything that was holy, that I would never risk again of losing Ave, she was my one and only, she was the one woman that I wanted, needed and had to have in my life.
I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers, not again, not ever and especially not when this douche bag was only waiting for me to fuck up.

And I knew exactly what he was doing now, he seemed to get that he was standing no chance against me, since Ave just told him herself that she belonged to me, but this didn’t seem to hinder him in pulling this speech on me.

“So, what is behind all this, you got her back and will hurt her again? If you go back on tour? Throw her away for another chick?” He pressed on his eyes narrowed and I balled my hands to fists, he was lucky I wasn’t already pushing him against the wall and putting a nice shiner on his face, for talking like that. I would never throw Ave away, a woman like Ave had to be treated like a fucking princess.

“Watch your mouth, Cassells. I can throw you out of my house whenever I want. And I won’t accept any foul speech about my girl. I get you are pissed off for me “stealing” Ave away from you, but let me enlighten you, she never was with you. She was always with me, she was in my heart and in my every thought, she was the only thought that kept me sane. I get you want to play the friend card here now, but that’s all you ever were to her a friend, while I am her soul mate. Ave and I belong together, and we won’t part ways again. I am not accountable to you, but still I tell you that I learned my lesson and I paid, everything else is none of your fucking business. So why don’t you go get your friend and leave my fucking house?” I asked him motioning towards the door but James shook his head.

“Listen, and listen closely. I have spent months with Ave, days and nights” James said and I took a warning step forward, but he held up his hands, telling me he wasn’t done, but I wasn’t too sure if I really wanted to hear that.
“What?” I snapped and he gave me a smirk, making me want to wipe that fucking smirk off his face with my fist.

“I spent day and night with her, I got to learn her thoughts, her likes and dislikes, her feelings and even though I kept being her friend, I know her on a good level, believe me. And even if you and I mostly not agree on things, I think we both agree on the fact that Ave only deserves the best” James said and sadly I had to nod “And I don’t think you are the best. You hurt her, and you made her cry, made her broken beyond repair even” James added and I swallowed thickly, that wasn’t right.

“She wasn’t broken, she was missing something, she was missing me, the final piece.” I told him and he closed his eyes as if he was getting frustrated to talking to a kid who didn’t understand.
“She was hurt, and you didn’t give a fuck… you were too much concerned with your own feelings and life to even realize, asshole”
“That’s fucking bullshit!” I yelled and he met me heads on “It’s not, and now fucking listen to the end!”

“I can see now, the way she looks at you, the way she is drawn to you, for whatever reason, when I look at these pictures, it hurts to admit that she seemed to really want to be with you. She never looked at me like that. I have never seen her laugh like that, like she was really complete and happy and maybe you are right, and you were the missing piece, but fuck… I swear to god, if you hurt her again, just the slightest, I will be at your fucking door and tear it down, get Ave out of here and live the happily ever after with her and make you fucking watch” James pointed his finger at me.

“I won’t let you hurt her again! She is precious and I don’t understand what she sees in you, but if you are the one thing that makes her happy, I will accept that, but I will not accept her to get broken again… If that happens, mark my words, I will be there and I will make it final”

I lifted my eyebrows, he was meaning this, and I was a little impressed I had to admit. “I will not hurt her again, and all your words have been unnecessary, but I accept them. Still unnecessary” I shrugged them off grinning cockily and he took a warning step towards me “I wouldn’t be so cocky Gates, this is a final warning”

“Warning received asshole, now grab your fucking friend and get the hell out of my house” I told him when the door was thrown open and Ave stood there “Guys, you need to help… Ben and Matt… and Maya… they fight! You have to help!” She yelled and looked shocked. I quickly looked her up and down, she was a little pale and then her words registered in my mind.

FUCK!

All three of us ran towards the living room, and through all this talking with James, and trying to make him realize that his words were useless and Ave was with me combined with their sudden surprise visit I forgot about Matt and Maya being here, and of course Ben would react differently than his friend James, and especially hot headed Matt…

Shit, now we better get the situation under control!

Notes

Uhh-ohh!
So some of you guessed already who it is!!

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