Matt’s POV

I sat outside the terrace alone by myself, I needed this little timeout. It was early morning, day four from our trip to Big Bear.
Even though everything had started pretty slowly with the first day just bitching around and missing the girls bad, we finally started writing songs… and if I say so myself, some pretty damn good songs, too.

Johnny and Zack were in town getting some refill for our nightly writing session, Brian was asleep in bed and Jimmy had passed out during some genius lyrics ideas on the couch again.
I haven’t shown me what he thought of but I bet it was as brilliant as the rest he came up with.

I swallowed thickly and felt my throat hurting, fuck… what was that?! Was I getting ill?
We really couldn’t use that now, we were even planning on doing some demo tapes, I couldn’t get ill!
And normally I never got ill, so what was this?!

I coughed and felt my throat hurting more, now with every swallow I felt the pain. I quickly grabbed the bottle of water standing beside me and drank half of it. Maybe I just scratched my throat open with the food last night?
That could be it, right?!

Even though, when I got ill… We didn’t even have any medication here, not even soup or some shit… Then we would have to go back to town again, when we thought this would be our last day trip to get everything we need until we head back home…

Hmm… I could already picture Maya in a hot little nurse outfit, being my private nurse and at the ready for my every wish. I could think about a thing or two that I would do to my dirty girl, but that all had to wait… wait till Sunday.

Shit, Sunday was still so far away… and I missed Maya bad. I couldn’t even call her each time I wanted to, cause either we were in the middle of a fucking writing session, or the connection wasn’t working, or she was not available, which also could have something to do with the bad signal, but that I would only find out when I was back probably.

I sighed and settled back against the headrest, closing my eyes… what was she doing now? Missing me like I was missing her? Or was she busy opening her store? Had they opened up already?
Fuck, being this caught off sucked ass and I wanted to hear her sweet voice over the phone.

I couldn’t shake off this stupid feeling that something would go wrong. I mean, the last time I left her for more than a few days we ended up parted and hadn’t seen us for half a year. I couldn’t let that happen again… and what if she tried to call and something was wrong and I wasn’t there to help her, to soothe her?!

I pulled my phone from my pants and dialed Maya’s number, I began to pace the front porch and after a few rings I heard some rustling and the voice I had longed to hear for days.

“Babe?” I quickly rushed out and heard a happy sound from the other side.
“Big guy? I can’t really hear you? Are you okay?” Maya asked and I smiled, thank god, she sounded okay.
“Yeah, are you waiting for another call and someone calling you babe?” I joked and heard a chuckle.
“Maybe” Maya said I heard the laughter in her voice but sadly I didn’t think this was funny at all.
“Babe, don’t joke about that shit when I’m hours away, or I’m sitting in the next car, tramping home…” I said and Maya chuckled more.

“I just heard, joke, hours and car back home… The signal is pretty bad…” Maya sighed and I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw my fucking phone to the ground, but that wouldn’t help me in this situation either.

“I love you” I heard Maya’s voice and my heart swelled “I love you, too M. And I freaking miss you… but we got some pretty good material already… I bet that we-” I didn’t even get to finish my sentence and the call was disconnected.
“FUCK!” I yelled all my frustration out when Brian appeared in the door looking around confused.
“What’s going on? Something happened?!” He asked and saw me standing there alone.

“Fucking signal.. I finally reached Maya and in the middle of the conversation it fucking went dead” I cursed and Brian sighed heavily while he let himself plop down on the chair next to mine.
“Yeah… tried reaching Ave too after I got up… nothing.” He let his head hang low and I took the seat next to him.

“At least we got some good work done, right?!” I coughed a little, damn this scratch wasn’t going away.
“You want more attention or what?” Brian shot me a dirty look from the side and I flipped him off.
“I got something stuck on my throat… don’t know what the fuck is wrong” I said and coughed more trying to get rid of that disturbing feeling.

“You getting ill or what?” He asked frowning and inched his chair further away from me.
“Fuck, I’m not. I’m never getting ill” I shook my head, couldn’t be.
“Did Maya say something? Is Ave good? How are they holding up?” Brian looked at me curiously and I shook my head.

“Not much actually… Just a few sentences but she seemed alright… as far as I can tell that after like three sentences.” I shrugged and let my head fall back down against the headrest, closing my eyes against the sun that was getting brighter and brighter.

We sat like that for a few more minutes, in silences, none of us saying a word until I heard Brian shifting in his seat. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and saw him opening his mouth, then closing again and I frowned, what was wrong with him now?

“What is it Gates?” I asked and Brian’s head snapped to me.
“What? Why? I mean… fuck… Can I ask you something?” He looked uncertain and I sat up straight looking at him.
“Sure man, what is it?” I turned to him and he began to shift again and then sighed.

“I can’t seem to shake of that thought from yesterday… I mean…” Brian trailed off and I grinned “The Scream idea? Sexy pole dance from Ave?!” I smirked and Brian narrowed his eyes on me “If anyone is thinking about that it’s me, dude… But that’s not is… that’s what I was thinking about in the shower this morning” Brian chuckled and I shook my head, ass!

“I mean what Zack said… to seal the deal. What do you really think about that?” Brian asked and I frowned.
“You mean about the proposal idea?” I asked a little dumbfounded; I hadn’t thought Brian would really still think about that.

“Yeah.. I mean, I know Ave is the one woman I want. I don’t want anyone else, I know that after everything we have been through, but do you think that’s too early… and I mean, did she say something to you, or maybe to Maya… have you ever talked about this?” Brian looked at me curiously and I frowned thinking back.

“No, I haven’t talked about anything like that with Ave or Maya… I mean… we never even came to that topic but do you… like consider it?” I asked and Brian frowned “I don’t know… I mean… is it? Too early I mean?” He asked and I shrugged.

“If you feel that way, it’s never too early.” I said and thought about it, if I knew that Maya wouldn’t be so hard on commitment and everything I would have probably asked her already to marry me.
She was the one for me and I wanted the whole fucking world to know that, especially some English douche bag should get the message.

“So you think I should do that?” Brian asked and I sighed “Listen Haner, that’s a decision you have to make. And if you feel that way and you think about it and that’s what you want… then you got your answer, if you have second thoughts and not really sure then wait… You never know how she will react, you know. But I’m telling you, if you get Ave to marry you… Maya will be the next, that’s for sure.” I grinned and Brian held his hand up to high five “Sounds like a deal”

“You think Maya would say no?” Brian asked after a while and I chuckled “Probably run away or something… So if I ever plan to ask her, I let you and Jimmy stand near the exits to catch her and talk some sense into her” I chuckled and Brian shook his head a smile on his face.
“I think you would be surprised by her reaction” He said and I lifted my eyebrow did he know more than I did.

“When did you become so close to my girlfriend, bro? Should I be worried?” I asked him and he began to laugh even more.
“Dude, if I got too close to Maya she would happily kick my ass into tomorrow, no worries there and I’m happy with Ave alone, both girls would be too much too handle.” Brian said and now it was my turn to laugh “I thought I would never hear Syn Gates say something comparable to that, but I think… there is a first time for everything!”

We laughed together some more when suddenly the door slammed open and Jimmy stood there only in his boxers “I got it! Damn I got it! In my dreams… come in! YOU GOTTA COME INNNN!” He yelled and vanished and both Brian and I frowned looking at each other, well what was that about?!
I think we better find out!

Jimmy began to pace the living room, mumbling words and I frowned “Rev, what’s going on? Something wrong?” I asked frowning and he shook his head.
“I have a song… I mean a complete fucking song, look!” He motioned towards the table and I saw two pages of scribbled words.

I took the paper from the table and read the first lines:

Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen.
So unsure but it seems, 'cause we've been waiting for you.
Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste.
Of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway.

I see a distant light, but girl this can't be right.
Such a surreal place to see so how did this come to be,
Arrived too early.

And when I think of all the places I just don't belong,
I've come to grips with life and realize this is going too far.

I don't belong here, we gotta move on dear, escape from this afterlife.
'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

“Fuck Jimmy! This is brilliant” I huffed out and only been reading the first lines.
“Yeah, absolutely, when do you come up with shit like that?” Brian leaned over my shoulder reading.
“I slept and saw everything in my dream… I was trapped in afterlife and wanted to get back out… it’s too early… and when I woke up… everything had to get out, everything formed by writing the first words… a dream… it’s all from a dream” Jimmy sighed and then plopped down on the couch looking exhausted as hell.

“And what have you two been doing outside?!” Jimmy asked looking up to me and Brian and I shrugged “Tried to reach Maya… without much success” And Jimmy nodded “Yeah… 3 more days.” Jimmy sighed and looked at his phone, he had the same problem with Jess as well, but he wasn’t complaining as much as Brian and I were.

We were really annoying if I had to admit, how would that even be when we were on freaking tour again and Maya and Ave wouldn’t be able to come along?!
Shit, I couldn’t even think about that, I think I had to chain Maya to the freaking tour bus so she didn’t have any other chance then come along. I grinned at the image of Maya in chains on my bed, and here we go again… Perfect, Sanders…

I swallowed thickly and coughed a little while I grabbed the next water bottle, “Why are you drinking so much?” Jimmy narrowed his eyes. “I saw the bottle outside as well- You getting ill?”
I rolled my eyes “What? I am not allowed to drink? It’s good for the body and your health, you should drink more too” I said and rubbed my temple… great now a headache was forming too.

“I’m gonna head to bed and sleep another hour, tell me when the guys are back and we start on some of the other songs…” I said and headed to my room at the end of the corridor, maybe some good sleep would help me feel better.

Brian’s POV

I frowned when I saw Matt heading to bed again, something was off about him today. First he got up so early, sitting outside the entire time and now headed back to bed and all the coughing?

I bet he was getting ill, he just didn’t like the fact, but I had to admit, he was right, he normally never got ill, so what was that about?

I sat down in the living room and scanned over the pages that Jimmy had written, damn that guy always had the most amazing ideas, and he had them in his sleep?!
Fine he had been drunk off his ass yesterday so maybe that had been an alcohol induced dream, but I never dreamt entire songs or lyrics…

I dreamt of Ave… shit, she was haunting all my dreams… my thoughts, everything. That’s probably why I couldn’t get rid of the thought of proposing her.
How would she react? Would she say yes? Would she think it’s too early? Or maybe even say no and leave me?!

I ran a hand through my hair sighing loudly “What’s up Gatesy-poo? Wanna have some nice Rev made breakfast?” Jimmy asked and I haven’t even noticed him walking to the small kitchen area.
“Yeah… some scrambled eggs or something…” I said and Jimmy lifted an eyebrow “I said Rev made, not Gates tells Rev what to make- breakfast” I rolled my eyes and he chuckled getting to work.

“What are you thinking about?” Jimmy asked and I sighed “Don’t know… everything. I miss Ave and I’m wondering if she is missing me as bad?! I mean, they are busy with the store and shit, but… since I can’t really reach her with any calls I’m kinda worried.” Why wouldn’t leave the thought that something was going on my mind?!

“You shouldn’t worry too much, man. Ave loves you and misses you. Believe me when we get back on Sunday, the ladies will be waiting for us to come home… desperately, if you know what I mean… but you know… I was wondering if I should take them on a little trip right after-” Jimmy smirked and I began shaking my head.

“No way, Rev! You won’t be taking my girl anywhere! I’m telling you, as soon as I step a foot on homeland ground, I will have Ave so fast in our home and everything secured and locked up that not even you will find a way in.” I smirked and Jimmy just lifted an eyebrow.

“You really think that, eh?” He grinned and I narrowed my eyes “Not funny, James!”
“Don’t James me… Here your food” He placed two plates in front of me, and thank god I got my scrambled eggs with bacon, hmm… the smell was delicious.

We just pushed our plates away when the front door opened and Johnny and Zack were coming back inside, “Look who is here, we got food and drinks and everything we need for the final days of this week!” Johnny announced and I sighed, final days, that sounded not too bad at least.

“And we were wondering, since the writing was going so good, if we don’t want to extend our stay… We could write even more songs!” Zack grinned and my heart stopped a second, and then I shook my head right away, in sync with Jimmy as it seemed.

“What” Zack asked, his shoulder slumped down, “It is going good, isn’t it?” He said and I nodded “Sure it is, it always is when we are here, but…” I trailed off, what but Brian?!
You miss Ave so bad, you can’t stay away fucking seven freaking days from your girlfriend?!
Well, yeah… that sums it up pretty much… If I had at least the phone connection, or this stupid Skype thing would be working here, then at least I had something to hold on to, but like this?!

“Matt’s getting ill… we hope he will even make it till Sunday” Jimmy’s voice sounded beside me and I frowned, damn that guy… brilliant idea, just like I said.
“What? He is never getting ill! Don’t fuck around with us, Rev” Johnny said and shook his head denying.

“I know… I mean, really I know. He is still in the denying phase, but I think when he gets back up he will look even worse to wear” Jimmy said and Johnny narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean, get back up?” Zack asked looking around “And who made breakfast without us?”
I grinned sheepishly, “Jimmy did, and Matt excused himself going back to bed, as you know he was up pretty early.”

Zack sighed and Johnny began to pack away the bottles and food they bought “Well, then we better put those days to good use that we still have, right?”
“I already did that while sleeping” Jimmy held the papers with his song up and Zack scanned over it, “My fucking god… that’s freaking awesome!”
“I know, got a melody in my head too.” Jimmy announced and my eyes widened, he hasn’t told me that.

He grabbed Zack’s guitar and started playing. Zack and I looked horrified at the way he was stretching his fingers on the strings and I cringed when he tried and tried again to reach something, not reachable for any guitar played, but that was probably it when a drummer was writing songs on a guitar.

It took us a while until Zack and I had what Jimmy wanted the song to sound like, we jammed around to find the right tune, while Johnny started making breakfast for the rest of the group, well and us again, because I could use another meal honestly.

When we were satisfied with the outcome we stuffed the next meal into us and Zack looked around, “Well, as long as Matt is still in the denying phase and he is still feeling rather good, we could at least start to record some demo material, so just we have the idea of what we wrote and thought of, don’t you think?” Zack asked and I nodded, that should work out.

“Does anyone else still have some ideas that we haven’t seen?” Jimmy asked and that was when Matt appeared back in the doorway.
He looked still sleepy but he at least didn’t cough yet, so maybe it was really nothing.
“I still got something for you guys to check out” He said and I saw him swallow thickly, well, so much for its nothing I guess.

“You holding back the goods, Sanders?” Jimmy asked with a grinn and Matt chuckled. “Let me get my notebook… It’s a little something where I have some things to explain with, and I think we need to adjust some parts so it’s not too personal” Matt announced and I frowned, well what was coming now? Also a song inspired by the girls… or rather Maya?

I still had to finish my song… maybe when Matt would be talking about his idea I could think about the way to finish mine. It shouldn’t take me too long, just being away from Ave, inspired way too many sappy romantic emotions inside of me.

Speaking of Ave, if I still got some time left, I could at least send her another message, and hope it would arrive with her before I arrived back home.

Hey love,
I hate to be away from you and not able to talk and call you whenever I feel like it.
I love you and can’t wait to have you back in my arms, the times passes way too slowly, but
at least the music is flowing; we have some great ideas… also thanks to you girls…
Greetings to Maya, see you soon…
Love, Brian

Just when I hit the send button a message appeared on my phone:

Hey babe,
Tried to call, but didn’t work out. Miss you bad!
Maya and I are working hard on the store, we really need a little break soon!
Hope you are okay and the work is going good.
I love you,
Ave

I sighed, at least a little sign from her, my heart swelled and I couldn’t get rid of the stupid grin on my face.
Now, I was ready to get back to work, at least for a little while… break didn’t sound like a too bad idea to me either…

Notes

Still so far apart... and missing each other :/

And is Mr. Sanders getting ill?! Or what is wrong with him?!

What do u think will happen next?!

Comments, pretty please :)