Matt’s POV

I leaned back in my chair laughing at the exchange between my friends. Damn this double date was exactly what we needed to just blow off some steam after tour and get back to our roots. It felt so good to sit here carefree and just laugh the night away with my girl and my best friends. Not to mention that Avery made this amazing three-course meal that was honestly one of the most delicious things I had ever tasted. I had no idea the girl could cook, and apparently either did Gates. He was one lucky son of a bitch. I made me wonder what hidden talents Maya had that I hadn’t uncovered yet.

“Oh and like you don’t have any embarrassing stories,” Avery countered in response to my short joke. Gates threw his head back with a loud laugh as he looked at me.

Oh, you better not even fucking there buddy. There is no fucking way we are telling the girls about the time that ripped my pants on stage and ended up wearing a pair of Johnny’s. MB grabbed the wrong ones from the dressing room and I didn’t notice until I was on stage and I felt a draft on my ankles. They were so fucking high water that I felt like a man wearing child’s clothing. I looked like an idiot!

“You have no idea,” Gates laughed and I punched him in the arm as the girls looked at each other. If Gates wanted to play dirty, I had some dirt on him too.

Over the laughter, the doorbell rang and I raised a brow at Gates and he just shrugged. Who the hell could that be? I took a sip of my beer as Maya continued and Avery started for the door.

“Oh, please tell, Wild boy,” Maya said and I nearly spit my drink. Shit the look on Gates’ face was priceless!

“You told her that story?” Brian turned on Avery. This was priceless right here. Okay, so I may have let the story slip to Maya the other day, but only because she insisted on listing to that song as she unpacked. I couldn’t help but laugh at the memory and she got it out of me. But hey, if Gates wanted to blame the Little Gnome that was good news for me!

“I didn’t tell her the story,” She laughed, backing toward the door with glass of wine in her hand. It was nice to see her smiling so much again. Hell it was nice to be home with the girls this time and not having to leave. This peaceful feeling among our group was reassuring and I knew things were going to work out for all of us.

“You knew that amazing story and you didn’t tell me?!” Maya gasped and I just laughed harder.

“Matt must have told her because—“ Ave said and I put my hands up in my own defense, pretending I didn’t have anything to do with it.

Suddenly I heard glass shattering on the floor and Brian sprung to his feet. I looked over at Maya and we both slowly stood up, not really sure what was going on.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I heard Brian yell and I stepped around the table just in time to see none other than Ben-fucking-Bruce come flying around the corner.

I blinked a few times in confusing, trying to make sure that I was seeing things correctly. I mean what the actual fuck was he doing here? Wasn’t that asshat supposed to be in the UK? I had to be seeing things or was having a bad dream because this wasn’t fucking happening.

“M…” Bruce breathed, his eyes going straight to Maya as she stood looking agape. Maya looked just as confused as I did and she looked at me with bewilderment written all over her face.

“Ben?” she finally said and I took in a deep breath as she stepped toward him. Maya’s expression was somewhere between surprised, stunned, and was that fear? “Wh-What are you doing here?”

“Yeah, what the hell are doing here, Bruce?” I snapped but no one appeared to hear me. “You can’t just barge into someone’s house!”

Bruce took another step toward Maya, ignoring me and I narrowed my eyes on him. He better not lay a hand on her or else I would physically escort him out of Haner’s house. I didn’t know what he was doing here but I didn’t like it and I knew Maya didn’t either. He had no right to be here! This guy had some nerve.

“I had to see you, M,” Bruce said taking another step toward Maya and I possessively pulled her into my side. No way buddy, she’s mine and she told you as much over the phone. He made a bid mistake by coming here. I would try to remain civil for Maya’s sake but I couldn’t promise anything because his sheer presence pissed me off. I clenched my jaw as he continued. “I need to talk to you.”

“Ben,” Maya sighed, taking a small step away from me. “I don’t think—“

“Maya please,” was Bruce begging? Like that was actually going to work. “You can’t stand here and tell me that there is nothing between us and end our relationship over the phone,” He said, his volume increasing and I could feel my blood pressure rising. “I don’t accept that! It can’t be true.”

Maya’s body stiffened next to me as she let out sigh, her hand squeezing mine. I held her hand tightly, giving her the strength to tell this bastard off. Oh, I was going to enjoy watching his face.

“Ben…I’m sorry I ended it the way I did…but what I said was true. I love Matt and I realized that we belonged together.” Maya’s stunning brown eyes met mine and she gave me a small reassuring smile. My heart seemed to skip a beat—God I loved her. “I never meant to hurt you, Ben…you have to believe me….but I couldn’t stay with you knowing that my heart was with Matt.”

“No, no! Fuck, no! I won’t accept that! You can’t really mean that! He was the one that stopped on your heart after throwing it on the ground. We have something together too and I’m not going to let you just throw that away,” he urged, speaking with his hands.

“I’m sorry, Ben. It’s over,” Maya said softly and I felt my heart swell. “I really enjoyed—“

“No, We are not done, M! We are not fucking done! Do you hear me?” Bruce laughed humorously. “This is not over! This can’t be over! I love you! Fuck!” Ben cursed, pacing the floor and pulling his hair in frustration. “Can’t we just fucking talk about this?”

“Ben…I—“ Maya said and I was already shaking my head. There was no way I was going to let her go anywhere with him. No fucking way. Take a hint dude and get lost!

“You owe this to me, Maya…to us,” Bruce said, becoming more demanding and closing the distance between us. He was getting way to close for comfort and my heart was starting to race in my chest. “Let me show you that we belong together. You can’t just throw what we had way without giving me the full chance. I love you M, and I know you love me too. This douchebag has brainwashed you into thinking god knows what. Please, just come back home with me where you belong.”

I couldn’t believe the nerve of this asshat! Who the hell did he think was messing with? Maya was my girl and she even told him that! Where did he get off thinking that I brainwashed her into loving me? That’s not how this shit worked! If he really loved her like he claimed, he would see that she belonged with me. She loved me and there was no way she was ever going back to him. Over my dead fucking body!

“Ben…I’m not—“

“She is not going anywhere with you. You’ve wasted your time coming here!” I finally snapped, giving him a warning look. I’d had enough. If he got much closer I was going to take things into my own hands. Maya was my girl and always had been. No amount of talking or whatever he wanted to do was going to change that. “Like she told you, she’s with me again, End. Of. Story.”

Ben’s eyes angrily snapped up and me before he snarled. “Bullshit. She’s just confused. Besides this doesn’t fucking concern you, so stay out of it, Shadows.” Oh, but if he was talking about taking Maya away, after I just got her back, then it definitely concerned me. “Please Maya…I just want to make things right between us…just come talk to me…you owe me that much.”

“She doesn’t owe you anything,” I raged before Maya could say anything. “And like I just told you, she’s not going anywhere with you so get lost.” Bruce was really trying my patience, especially since he didn’t seem to get the hint from Maya or me. I was staring to feel like this visit wasn’t going to end well. Leave it to Bruce to ruin a perfectly good party—It never failed.

“Will you two please stop,” Maya said but my eyes were stuck on Bruce.

“Well that’s not you choice!” Bruce reached out and grabbed Maya’s hand to pull her away from. “Come on, M, let’s go.”

As soon as he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her away from me something snapped within me. I lost all control and all I could see was red. All I could concentrate on was making this bastard pay for touching my girl and causing a riff between us. All the bullshit and pain we went through was his fucking fault!

I quickly grabbed Maya and pulled her behind me and Bruce stepped right up into my face. “Enough! Guys please!” Maya sighed, stepping in between us.

“Don’t you ever fucking touch her! She’s not yours! She never was!” I raged as I pointed at him, the vein throbbing in my neck. My chest was rapidly rising and falling from the anger pulsing through me and it was taking ever ounce of my being not to beat the living piss out of him. I wanted to teach him a lesson and show Maya who the real man here was. But for her sake, I was trying to keep myself under control. I was slowly failing. “You’re were just a temporary fling!”

“It wasn’t a fucking fling! We have something together and you couldn’t fucking stand the sight of her being happy with me because you messed up!” Ben shot back and I took another step toward him, only to be stopped by Maya. “You fucking brainwashed her into coming back here to keep her away from me!”

“Matt! Stop!” Maya was pulling on my arm to keep me away from Bruce but I was quickly turning into a bull in a china shop.

“I didn’t have to brainwash her, Bruce! She came willingly!” I laughed throwing my arms up in the air. This guy was really delusional! “Because the difference is…” I breathed, stepping up into his face, hoping he would get the picture. “She loves me and not you,” I finished with a smirk, giving his chest a light shove backwards. “And guess what?” I whispered, getting right in his face. “She never will.”

“You fucking bastard,” Bruce raged, shoving me backwards. “Who the hell do you think you are? She’s still my girl! I know it! I just have to get her to see reason!”

“Guys! Come on…please don’t do this!” Maya’s voice sounded but it was distant with the adrenaline rushing through my veins and making in my ears ring.

I took a step backwards with a scoff, shaking my head. My anger was about to over flow over the edge. What was it going to take to get this through Bruce’s thick skull? Maya was with me and not him!

“What the fuck do you mean your girlfriend? You’re delusional, Bruce, she belongs with me and we all fucking know it. She LOVES me! So why don’t you just go home now,” I growled, shoving him backwards now. “She knows that you’re not even half the man I am. You’ve never had a chance with her and you never will! Get that through your—“

I stumbled back as a hard fist hit me in the face, instantly burning with contact. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!

Ben’s POV

“Guys stop this!” I heard Maya yell, but it was too late, I had already thrown a punch at Matt. He stumbled backwards and came barreling back towards me, knocking me to the marble tiled floor with a hard thud. “Oh my god! Knock it off! Now both of you!”

“Oh my god!” I heard a shrill scream before quick footfall but I didn’t care. My only concern was making Shadows pay. He needed to learn his place!

“You fucking douchebag! Don’t you ever fucking say that! She is my girl!” I screamed. I was kicking and punching ever piece of Matt that I could reach and somehow I managed to get on top in the scuttle. Fists were flying everywhere and I wasn’t sure which one was mine and which one was Shadows.

“Hey! Break it up!” I heard from the door but I couldn’t stop. I wanted to teach this asshole a lesson. Maya and I belonged together and this was all some kind of farce! He only wanted her back because I had her.

“You’re just fucking jealous of what we have,” I snarled, punching and kicking whatever I could as Shadows pinned me to the floor.

“I said break it up!”

“Enough! I said get the fuck off him, Shads!”

“You don’t have fucking anything! Get. That. Through. Your. Head!” he growled, hitting me with each word. Fuck that was going to leave a mark! “She doesn’t love you and she never will!” Matt screamed and I felt a few hard blows to the face before I found myself standing on my feet again.

“Let go of me!” I growled, struggling against James. I wanted to rip Matt’s head off. No one talked to me like that and got away with it.

“Calm down, Bruce!” James raged, pushing me back into the wall. “I warned you not to get hot headed! I can’t leave you alone for five fucking minutes? Really?” James was in my face, glaring me down but my eyes were still on Shadows as he struggled to get away from Blondie and douchebag Gates. I hated him too.

“Let me go!” I growled. “I need to teach that ass a lesson! Show him who Maya really belongs with!”

“Enough of this! Stop it!” Maya said, looking close to tears. She put her arms up between Shadows and I, looking more than pissed. “And you both know better! This is just ridiculous! And Ben I’m sorry, but like I told I’m with Matt. I need to be with Matt. It’s not going to change…”

“I don’t believe it! I don’t fucking believe it for a second. Not after what he did with you! Maya, we’re good together,” I yelled over Cassells’ shoulder and I saw Shadows flex behind Maya. “I’m not letting you go.” Maya sighed and ran her hands over her face, rubbing her temples.

“Ben…I’m sorry but I love, Matt and I always have.”

“No!” I said shaking my head and pushing against James. I just wanted to hold her in my arms and show her what we had. I just needed to prove it to her. “Please… M you don’t mean that. Can we just please talk about this… alone…” I sent a pointed look at Shadows and he narrowed his eyes at me. “You owe me that much!”

“Don’t make me fucking hit you again, Bruce,” Shadows interrupted with a growl, trying to push Blondie and Gates off him. “She doesn’t owe you shit. I don’t know how many times we have to tell you that its not—“

“Matt stop…please,” Maya begged, holding her hand up to him. Her expression was unreadable and I didn’t like. “Enough of the fighting,’ she sighed.

Maya looked Shadows with a glare and I couldn’t help but smirk. She turned her back to me and whispered to Shadows for a moment. He hung his head, shaking it but she just put her hands on his chest as she continued their private conversation. Go on, Maya, tell him that you’re coming with me. Tell him that you lied and that you finally came to your senses—that I was the only man for you!

“Just let me talk to him, Matt,” I heard her whisper. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, not to mention the high state of tension that was floating in the air. “I do owe him that much…give me five minutes, Big Guy.” What the hell was she talking about?

“Five minutes. That’s all and then he’s out of here!” Shadows growled before Gates pulled him into another room.

“Come on, killer. Cool off. Let’s get you some ice and drink,” Gates and Shadows disappeared into the next room while Blondie nervously looked between Maya, James, and myself.

“Will you guys give us a few minutes?” Maya asked Avery and James as he released me from the wall. “Are you sure, M? I can stay if you’d like,” Blondie said and I rolled my eyes. Just get lost and leave us alone. Blondie better get used to being alone because Maya was coming back to the UK with me anyway. I wouldn’t leave any other way.

“I’m okay. Go check on Matt for me, okay?” Maya said as I wiped away blood that was dripping from my lip. Fuck that hurt, but nothing compared to my headache. I could already feel my eye starting to swell and was that oozing feeling my eyebrow bleeding too? Fucking hell.

“I’m going out for a smoke,” James scoffed, shaking his head as he watched Avery scamper after Gates. Well that fucking figures that she would go back to that jackass too. Good, she was a pain in the ass and didn’t deserve Cassells anyway.

Maya hung her head and sighed as she watched them disappear, her back to me. Her shoulders rose with a deep breathe and she slowly turned around to face me. I couldn’t help but smirk to myself, thinking that I finally had her to myself. I was finally going to be able to make things right between us and show her exactly what we had. Only the expression on her face was not at all what I had been hoping to see.

Maya had a deep frown on her face as she looked at, her brown eyes scanning my face. But her eyes were distance and full of something that I couldn’t exactly identify. Fuck, that look made me feel like someone ripped my heart out of my chest. What the hell had Shadows done to her? This person in front of me wasn’t the Maya that I knew back in the UK—this was some Avenged brainwashed zombie and I didn’t like that.

“M…look I—“

“Let’s get you some ice,” Maya interrupted with a sigh, heading toward what I assumed to be the kitchen. I shook my head looking around the very posh dinning room. “I’m fine. I just want to talk you, M…let me—“

“You’re bleeding, Ben. You’re not fine,” Maya said and I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I said I’m fine,” I snapped, grabbing Maya’s hands once we were alone in the kitchen. I had to make her see reason.

When I grabbed her hand and pulled her into me, Maya instantly stiffened and tried to pull away but I wouldn’t let her. “God I fucking missed you, M.” I sighed, breathing in her intoxicating scent. I missed this more that I was willing to admit and boy did she feel good in my arms. “You need to come home with me so we can fix this mess…”

Maya shook her head and pulled away from me, grabbing a clean dishtowel and wetting it under the sink. “Ben…I am home,” she sighed, her eyes meeting me. “I belong here in California…and I know you don’t want to hear it, but I belong with Matt.”

“No…you’re just confused,” I shook my head as she gently pushed me back on the one of the island stools, gently dapping the moist towel on my lip. “We’re good together, M and you know it. You love me and I love you…” I winced in pain both with her next and from the abrasion.

Maya shook her head, meeting my eyes for the first time all night. The look there made my heart stop and my breath hitch in my throat. “No Ben…” she said softly. “You love me but-but…I never had that feeling for you…”

“No, you don’t mean that,” I stopped her from cleaning off my face and held her hand in mine. I was shaking my head, trying to fight the feeling of bile that was rising my throat. She was lying!

“I’m sorry, Ben…” Maya frowned at me before she pulled away. “I don’t love you…but that doesn’t mean I didn’t feel something for you at the time…” she added quickly, but I was already spiraling with her last words. What did she mean she didn’t love? That was complete bullshit and we both knew it! She loved me! “I really enjoyed our times together and I did have feelings for you, Ben…I did…but—“

“It’s not what you had with douchebag Shads?” I snapped, feeling hurt and trying to replace it with anger. It was easier that way. “That right because it was better! It was more that what he could ever give to you!”

“No Ben…” Maya bit down on her bottom lip, closed her eyes, and swallowed thickly before she continued. “I know it’s not fare to you…but I never stopped loving Matt. I just tried to push it away and me breaking up with him was a mistake. It was wrong to lead you on the way I did but I thought I could forget about him…but I couldn’t. I couldn’t forget the love that we had together…that we still have together,” Maya said and just shook my head. I didn’t want to hear this bullshit, not when my heart was shattering with each word.

“So I was nothing but a fucking play thing, is that what you’re telling me?” I whispered darkly, my tone full of hurt and anger. “What about all that time we spent together…that meant nothing to you? Goddamn it, M. What has he done to you?”

“Nothing…Ben…I’m doing what I need to do.” Maya shook her head and put her hand on my cheek. “Our time together did mean something at the time…but-but it’s not what I want or what I need.”

“And what exactly do you fucking need?” I hissed. I could hear voices coming our way but I wasn’t done with this conversation.

“Matt…it’s always been him deep down. I’m so sorry, Ben…but I need him in my life. We are like two halves of a whole. But…I don’t want to lose you…you’re right we’re good together…but as friends.” she added and I scoffed.

“Friends?” I laughed humorously, pushing off the stool and pacing the dark oak kitchen. “You want to be friends? Maya, I fucking love you! I can’t just stand by and watch you be in some other man’s arms.” I stopped and turned back toward her, taking her hands in mine. “Please M…we were happy. What is it going to take to get you back?” I begged, looking into her eyes. I wasn’t going to give up on her. I needed her in my life and I wasn’t going to let her go.

Maya slowly shook her head with her eyes closed as I reached up and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Come on Maya, don’t fucking give up on us! Don’t rip my heart out my chest! Come back to me!

“hmm…hmm…” Maya turned to look at the doorway and my gaze followed. Shadows was standing there with his arms crossed in front of his chest, glaring at me. Behind him I could see Blondie and Gates watching him cautiously, obviously afraid we were going to fight again.

“Times up.”

Avery’s POV

Everything had happened so quickly that I wasn’t really sure what to think. I mean, one minute we were laughing and enjoying a nice dinner, and the next James and Ben were at the front door and all hell broke lose. James and Brian were yelling back and forth about me and I felt so guilty. I knew I owed James answers and I should have just been honest with him from the beginning. I was just selfishly afraid that I would lose him as a friend, which I guess I had done by doing the opposite. The only good thing that came out of this was that I was finally able to tell him the truth. At least James knew everything now…well except for the pregnancy scare.

What surprised me even more was when James asked to speak to Brian alone. I quietly followed behind as he lead him to what we called the ‘writing room’ and shut the door. The whole time they were in there I paced outside the door, hearing occasional yelling but not really able to make out what it as about. I just hoped that they didn’t start a fight in there.

I didn’t have time to think about that, because the next thing I knew, I heard Maya yelling from the dinning room and I booked it over there. I was shocked to see, Matt and Ben pushing each other back and forth. Shit, they were going to kill each other and I had to put a stop to it.

The next thing I knew, Brian and James and broken up the fight and Maya asked everyone to give her and Ben a few minutes to talk things through. I didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone with Ben, especially since I knew how he was when he was angry. I didn’t want him t last out at her, though I knew Maya could hold her own. So I reluctantly went with Brian to help calm the savage beast known as the hotheaded Matt Sanders.

“Ugh! I could fucking kill him!” Matt raged, pacing the back patio while holding the package of frozen peas on his face. He was walking so fast back and forth that I was convinced that he was going to wear a hole through the concrete. “Who does he think he is show up here? He wasn’t fucking invited and Maya wasn’t even talking to him!”

“I don’t know, Shads,” Brian said, passing me a lit cigarette. Oh, thank god, that was exactly what I needed right now. I took in a deep drag and slowly blew it out, letting the nicotine and smoke tickle my tongue. It instantly started to relax me and I leaned back in the patio chair.

“But they definitely had some balls showing up here today. That dick Cassells fucking warned me about Ave, threatening me that he would kick my ass if I hurt her again. The fucking nerve of that guy,” Brian scoffed, blowing a cloud of smoke out his nose.

“He did?” I asked softly, feeling guiltier. James was an amazing friend and I hadn’t been doing my part to return that friendship. I really should have been honest with him from the beginning.

Brian’s brown eyes turned on me with a frown. “Yeah…but don’t worry, babe, that will never happen.” Brian leaned in and gently kissed my lips. I closed my eyes and sighed into it as Matt let out a frustrated growl, throwing the peas on the ground. The bag split and they spilled all over the patio. Shit, that was another mess for me to clean up.

I slowly got up and moved over to Matt, putting my hand on the small of his back, rubbing up and down. “You know she loves you, Matt,” I said softly. “You’re the only one she has ever had eyes for and she even knew that deep down when she was with Bruce.”

Matt’s hazel eyes snapped down to look at me at the mention of Ben’s name. “You are the only one she wants, Matt. Just trust what you have together and remember how Maya is. She has a huge heart and she hates to see anyone hurt,” I explained, my words seeming to sooth Matt a little bit. “She just wants to tell him how she feels about you privately to save everyone from being hurt again.”

Matt sighed and ran his hands over his face. “Your right…” he sighed. Out of the corner I could see Brian chuckling and shaking his head at me. What? Way was this funny to him. “But I still fucking hate him…”

Now it was my turn to chuckle. “Well if it makes you feel any better, I’m not super fond of him either…but Maya will do the right thing and send him on his way.”

Matt’s jaw locked and he nodded his head, starting toward the door. “Well I’m not going to sit around all night and wait. Times up,” he said before storming toward the kitchen. “Time for those Asking Alexandria assholes to go home.”

Oh, god, please don’t let this lead to another fight!

Notes

So Maya and Ben have a moment alone to talk? Whats going to happen?

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