Penny's POV
I'm not really sure what just happened. Our anniversary turned into a break from each other? What have I done, how did I screw all this up? This day is so similar to a year ago. I'm crying, I'm afraid of never seeing him again and I need to pull myself together to drive home. But this time, he walked out on me.
Suddenly my sadness switched to anger. What the hell? If he really loved me, he would wait for me to be ready. Damn him!! "FUCK YOU SYNYSTER GATES OR BRIAN HANER JR or whoever the hell you are!"
I carried the anger through my whole ride home. Anyone who saw me driving down the road probably thought I was on my phone hands free having an argument. I was talking out loud pretty much the whole way. Sometimes I was even beating on the steering wheel. I was talking to imaginary Brian the whole way. "Really? Is this some kind of fucking joke? Are you bored and want to be free while on tour to screw around?"
It all went on and on for a full five hours. By the time I got home, I was hoarse from yelling and screaming. I pulled into the garage and switched back to crying. I texted Brian "Made it." He texted back a smiley face, obviously he didn't really have anything to say.

I called Bianca and told her what happened. "What should I do?"
"Well first you need to smack yourself up side your head for being a stubborn pig headed idiot."
"What the hell?" I said.
"Penny, he loves you. Do you know how much it hurts him that you don't want people to know about you two?"
"I'm thinking of him, I don't want to ruin his life, his career."
"Bullshit! You are worried about you getting hurt again! He's not Merlin or Jay!"
"Wow Bianca, thanks for the brutal truth."
"You know I love you and I want you to be happy. But you are throwing your happiness and his away because you’re afraid. I know it is even more scary because of who he is. You have to decide do you really love him and is that love enough to overcome your fears, face the haters and take the chance. I know the answer, I'm not sure why you can't see it."
"Bianca, I have to go."

I went out to the gazebo and just sat there. I actually woke up the next morning curled up on one of the built in benches inside. I kept hoping he would call, but he didn't. I started to pick up my phone probably 2 dozen times to text him or call him. I just sat at home, I tried to work but I didn't really get much done. By Tuesday, I was a total wreck. I hadn't showered since the last one with Brian in Michigan. I hadn't even brushed my hair or even eaten anything more than Popcorn. I watched every mushy movie they had on Netflix and cried during every one of them. There was a big void in the house and a big void within me. On Wednesday morning, I went to my studio and tried to paint, but nothing. I went into his music studio and ended up on the floor hugging my knees and crying.
I heard Bianca's voice and the words she said to me.
"You have to decide do you really love him and is that love enough to overcome your fears, face the haters and take the chance. I know the answer, I'm not sure why you can't see it."
I got up and called Bianca. "I see it now"
"It's about damn time! Now, what are you going to do about it?"
"At the end of this week of break, I'm going to accept his proposal."
"Why are you going to wait? Where is he right now?"
"He has a concert in Florida."
"I suggest you get your ass on a plane to Florida today. Do you need me to help you?"
I laughed for the first time in 3 days. "Thanks, but I can handle it."

Brian's POV
All I could do since leaving that hotel room was worry whether or not I did the right thing. I wanted to call her or text her so much, I had her number up many times and all I had to do was press send. I had to see this through, I told myself. I was pretty down and the guys noticed.
On Wednesday night right before we went on stage, Zack came to me.
"Hey Man, what's up with you? Aren't you usually chatting with Penny right now?"
"We aren't speaking to each other right now."
"Did you two have a fight?" Zack asked
"No, not really a fight. I had this brilliant idea that if I forced her to think about us and miss me that she wouldn't want to hide anymore."
"How's that plan working out for you so far?"
"It sucks, I miss her and I'm scared I have pushed her away."
"Why don't you just call her, tell her that you were wrong."
"It's not that easy."
"Brian, we have known each other a long time and I think you are making a huge mistake. Is not being with her at all, better than hiding your relationship and still being with her?
"No, it's not. I'm going to call her tonight after the show. I am going to ask her to forgive me and tell her that I love her and I don't care if we live in a hole underground to keep us secret."

Penny's POV
I decided that it was time to accept Brian's proposal, if he still wanted me. He had left for the tour and tonight's concert was in Miami. I flew to Miami, I watched the concert from the audience (Brian had given me a pass that could get me just about anywhere at any A7X concert).
The screaming girls all around were going nuts when he came on the stage and never stopped screaming for him the whole time. I was so tempted to say "Get back bitches, he's mine!!" But that probably wasn't the right place and they would have just laughed at me.
After the encore started, I went backstage. I ran into Jason and he said there was a Meet and Greet after the concert. I told him that I wanted to surprise Brian. He suggested I go wait in the bus and I could surprise him there.
I went to the bus and no one was around, I was able to go right in. I stepped in and there's this girl sitting there. She didn't look like some crazy groupie or anything. I looked at her and said "Hi".
She replied "Hi".
There was awkward silence. She spoke first. "Are you here to interview the band?"
"I'm here to talk to one of them." I answered carefully. "Why are you here?"
"I am meeting up with one of the guys, I'm an intern at one of the local radio stations. I was at an interview earlier today and really hit it off with one of them. So I am meeting him here for a 'private' interview, if you know what I mean."
"I think I know what you mean." OMG is one of the guys cheating on their wife? I didn't want to ask, but I felt like I had to. "You know they're married, right?"
"Syn's not." She said, as I was jolted into shock.
"Um, I guess he's not. Did he invite you here?"
"What are you? His aunt or something? Yes! He invited me here."
My head was hurting. He couldn't wait! As soon as I turned down his proposal, he's picking up girls! I was so deep in thought I didn't realize the girl was speaking to me.
"Why are you here, again? Were YOU invited?" She asked
"No, actually I wasn't. I just had something to give to Syn that he lost. You know, a Good Samaritan thing. Do you mind giving it to him?" I said. I took the Amethyst that he gave me off my right hand and handed it to her.
"Umm sure, but why were you wearing it?" She asked
"So I didn't lose it." Inside I was about to lose it.
"Ok, I'll give it to him. What's your name, so I can tell him who returned it?"
"You don't have to worry about giving him my name. I don't know him, I don't know him at all."
I got off the bus and just stood there, I didn't know where to go what to do. I felt sick to my stomach and I ran behind the bus and threw up. I recognized the guys voices especially Brian's heading toward the bus. Even though I wasn't on the side that they would see me, I started running. I ran until I threw up again. I found my way to the rental car and feverishly called the airport to get the next flight home. At least one thing went right, there was a flight leaving in 45 minutes, there was 20-minute layover, but I didn't care as long as I got the hell away from there.

Brian's POV
It was a great concert, we put on one hell of a show. I was anxious to get to the bus and call Penny. I wanted to tell her even though I was disappointed with her answer, I loved her and I wasn't giving up.
I was first one in the bus while the other guys were smoking. There was this girl standing there, I had no idea who she was.
"Hello? How did you get in here and why are you in here?"
She approached me seductively "How I got in here doesn't matter. Why I'm here is what matters." She ran her hand down my arm.
I knocked her hand off my arm, it was then that I saw the ring on her finger.
I grabbed her wrist and held up her hand "Where the hell did you get this ring?"
"Some woman was here, she said that you had lost it and she was bringing it back to you. I asked for her name but she said she didn't know you."
"What did this woman look like?" I was starting to get pissed.
"I don't know, light brown hair and about my height, she was wearing a purple leather jacket."
Suddenly I wanted to strangle this girl. "What did you say to her?"
"She asked why I was here, I told her I was here for you and that you invited me."
The rest of the guys walked into the bus, they stood in silence.
"I didn't invite you! I don't even know who you are!" I was trying to understand what had happened.
"I met you at the interview with the radio station, I saw how you looked at me. I thought I'd surprise you."
"Looked at you, I don't even fucking remember you! Do you know what you've done? When did she leave?"
"Who?" She asked. This bitch was a serious dumb ass.
"The woman who gave you the ring!"
"I don't know about 5 minutes before you got here."
I turned around to the guys, "You guys keep this fucking lying bitch here. I'm going to go find Penny and make this slut tell her the truth."
I ran out of the bus, but I didn't know which way to go. I ran toward the parking areas; I think I went through every one of them yelling her name. People were still trying to get out through the traffic. Some recognized me and yelled my name. I just froze, she was gone. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned around and it was Zack. "Brian, running around yelling for her isn't going to help right now. Come back to the bus, Brooks took a video of that bitch telling the truth. We also have her name and the radio station she is from."
I turned and walked back toward where the bus was parked, "Good, I'm going to make sure she is out of a job tomorrow and I am going to do everything else I can to ruin her fucking life!"
"What are you going to do about Penny?" Zack asked.
"I am fucking going to Ohio to get her back."
"But Man, the next show is in 3 days and how do you know she is not still here in Miami."
"I really can't think about that right now and because I know Penny." I started running toward the bus.
The quickest flight with seats available was in an hour and a half. I rushed to the Airport hoping that maybe I would find her there, that maybe she'd be waiting for the same flight. No such luck.

Penny's POV
Once I landed in Columbus, after a half hour layover instead of 20 mins, it took forever for my luggage which made me even more upset. I went to where I had paid to long term park the Fusion, I threw my luggage in the back. I didn't have one piece in all the way in trunk and I couldn't get it to close, I kicked it into the car and closed the trunk. I got in the car and drove like a bat out of hell. I thought of all the times I picked up and dropped off Brian there and I never wanted to see that fucking place again. I will fly out from Dayton from now on, if I ever go anywhere again. What was I thinking falling in love and trusting a guy like that! I was such an idiot, he probably just pushed me to go public and suggested this break because he knew I wouldn't do it. He wanted to make it my fault!
The rest of the drive home, I can't even remember I was so blinded by rage and tears. It’s probably a miracle that I didn't kill myself or someone else. My phone kept ringing, it was Brian. He was texting me too. His little slut must have given him the ring. I finally just turned off my phone.

Jay's POV
After returning from a business trip, I was in the parking garage getting ready to leave and I see and hear this woman yelling at her car and kicking it. It took me a few minutes before I realized it was Penny. I watched her practically burn rubber as she left. I followed behind her on the highway, one minute she was going super-fast, then she would slow down, she was drifting in and out of lanes. I thought maybe she was drunk. I tried to call her cell phone and it went straight to voicemail. Something was definitely wrong.
I followed her all the way into town, but she didn't turn the right way to go to her house. I kept following her, she went to a neighborhood with some of the most expensive houses in town. She pulled up to a driveway that was secluded by a wooded area with an automatic gate. She sped in practically hitting the gate. The gate opened and she drove in, but the gate didn't close. I followed her down the driveway around to the back of the house. One of the four garage doors opened and she pulled in. I parked behind her, as she opened the trunk, I jumped out of the car.
"Penny! Penny!" She turned around and looked at me, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, you could tell she had been crying.
"Jay? Why are you here?"
"I saw you leave the airport. I was worried about you, you were driving crazy."
She looked at me, talking through her clenched teeth. "I don't need anyone to worry about me, I'm fucking fine!"
"Okay, can I at least help you carry your suitcases in?"
She just turned toward the door deactivated the security system and walked into the house and said, "Do whatever you want, I don't give a shit anymore."
I grabbed her luggage and carried it in. She grabbed a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator and started chugging it. I sat the luggage down slowly and said.
"Penny, whose house is this?"
"It's mine, no, it’s fucking his, I don't fucking know right now."
"You mean that Brian guy?" I was even more confused than before.
"Yes. My fucking, lying cheating ex-whatever he is or was. I've been such a fool, how could a man like him actually love me? Want to be only with me?" I couldn't get a word in, she just kept going. "I should have learned my lesson with you, BUT NO, I have to go fall in love with a guy even younger! And not just any guy..."
She started crying hysterically and I couldn't understand anything she was saying after that. I gave her a hug, not knowing what to do.
Suddenly the door opened. That's when all hell broke loose...

Brian's POV
I landed in Ohio, got a rental car as fast as I could and headed home, if she would even let me in.
I had to convince her that I didn't invite that girl, that I haven't been with anyone and I wouldn't.
When I got to the house, the gate was open and there was a strange SUV in the driveway behind Penny's Fusion. I ran into the house, when I opened the door. Penny was standing there in some guy’s arms.
"What the fuck is going on? Who the fuck are you?"
The guy turned around and I recognized Jay from the pictures I had seen.
Penny said "Brian!"
Jay just looked at me and said "Brian? Penny, why is Synyster Gates at your house?"
"It's OUR fucking house and I want to know why the fuck you are in it pawing all over my girlfriend? Didn't I tell you not to ever try anything with her again?"
"Your Girlfriend? YOU'RE the one who called me?" This guy just wasn't getting it.
"You called him!! You don't have to worry about his threats, I'm not his girlfriend anymore!" Penny yelled
"Holy Shit! The purple guitar!" Jay realized.
"Way to go, Sherlock. If you ever touch anything of mine again, I'll break your fucking fingers. That includes her!"
"I'm not yours anymore! I am not something you bought and paid for!"
This really isn't going like I wanted. "Penny, I didn't mean it that way."
"What way did you mean it when you asked that Bimbo to meet you in the bus?"
"I didn't ask her, I didn't even know her!"
"Yeah right! Fuck you Synyster Gates!"
Jay started to head to the door, "I'm going to leave you two alone"
I grabbed his arm. "Not so fast, you never answered my question. Why are you in my fucking house?"
He was suddenly in my face. "Because I was worried about her. She was so upset she was driving like a maniac. She could have gotten killed, thanks to you!"
Now this guy is really starting to piss me off. "She invited you here?"
"No Brian, I don't invite people to meet me later!" Penny yelled.
Jay piped in, "She didn't invite me, I followed her here, she didn't know I was behind her."
"So you mother fucking stalked her!" I couldn't believe this. "How did you get the gate open?"
"She didn't close it." Jay said.
I looked at Penny "You didn't close it?" Then Jay jumped in my face again.
"She was upset asshole! Maybe you should worry about screwing around behind your girlfriends back instead of whether she leaves a fucking gate open!"
"You need to shut your fucking mouth and get out of my fucking house! Before I kick your stupid ass!"
"I'll leave right behind you, asshole." He said and pushed me back.
I could not believe this. "Did you just tell me, to get out of my own house? That's it!" I reached back to punch the mother fucker in the face right as Penny went to try to separate us. I hit Penny's face instead. She fell to the floor and pushed herself up to a sitting position, her lip was bleeding and you could tell her cheek was going to have a huge bruise.
She looked at both us with pure contempt "Get out! Both of you! Get out!"
I moved towards her. "Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." I bent down and tried to touch her shoulder, she moved away.
"Get out Brian! Leave now, or I'm calling the police! The house is in my name, remember?"
I walked to the door and turned back to her. "Penny, I know you won't believe me. I love you and I really hadn't ever talked to that girl. I'm sorry for all that happened today. I never wanted to hurt you in any way."
"Just go away Brian."
What could I do? I left. I called Chloe and told her what happened, she said she would go over right away and check on Penny.

Notes