Penny's POV
Just before 10:00 AM, we were awakened by a loud pounding on the door of the suite. I could hear the guys as they were calling out, "Come on Haner open up we've been trying to call!" I jumped out of bed and grabbed my clothes and whispered "Crap!". Brian sat up and motioned for me to calm down. "It's ok, I have this. Just stay right here, okay?"
I heard him go to the door and say in a sick, sad voice "Hey assholes, can't a guy get some sleep around here?" They teased him and called him a lazy ass. Then Brian said "No really guys, I am sick. I was up all night puking, I'm just going to stay in my room today and hopefully I'll feel better before we have to leave tomorrow morning."
"Damn man, keep that nasty shit away from us. We'll catch you in the morning." I heard Matt Sanders say.
Brian came back to the bedroom and bowed and I applauded his Oscar worthy performance! "Bravo! A musician and an actor. Just two of your many talents!!!"
"Which one do you like best?" he said and walked over to at me, wrapped his arms around me and we kissed. I could tell he wanted to share his other talent again. I wanted to as well, but soon I needed to check out and get my stuff without anyone noticing that I was coming back to his room. I broke our kiss "To answer your question, that's a tough one. I think I need to sample the bedroom talent more before I can answer." He pouted "I mean, you are a really good guitar player" He laughed and I said "I would love to do some research on your talent right now, but I need to take a shower and get checked out and bring my stuff here without anyone seeing me."
He kissed me and said "Want company? I can wash the tattoo on your back, Penelope is bad ass!" I smacked his arm scolding him.
"Oh yeah, it is so bad ass! Stop it Junior or Penelope is going to kick your ass"
"I'm pretty sure I can take you, Penelope with a Purple Paisley tattoo! I'm not a helpless slot machine" he winked at me "Now how about that shower?" And he grabbed my hand and headed toward the bathroom.
"Whoa, Syn Gates! I have a pretty good idea of what a shower with you is like and as much as I would love to, we are running out of time right now for me to check out."
He smacked me on the ass and said "Okay, we'll save that for later"
I was in the shower, I was so deep in thought about all that had happened that I didn't hear the shower door open. I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind. He whispered in my ear "I couldn't wait, I need you now."
I said "You can wash my back, that's it." He couldn't see the grin on my face, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. He lathered up my back and began washing it with his hands, his touch set my body on fire. He reached around me and caressed my breasts and kissed the back of my neck. I felt myself giving in "Brian, I have to..." Before I could finish my sentence he spun me around "This is what you have to do." and he kissed me hard. That was the longest and best shower of my life."

Brian's POV
After ditching the guys, we took a shower together (a really long shower) she brought her stuff to my suite and went to the lobby and checked out. No one really noticed and we were finally settled into our haven for the next 24 hours. I could hear the clock ticking, and I wanted it to slow down. We had breakfast brought up, talking and laughing through the whole meal. Then we made love the second time that day and took another really long shower. We ate lunch and joked that she could hide on the bus and go to Wisconsin with me. We made love the fourth time that day and took another really long shower and taking nap together after. Then before dinner we made love a fifth time and decided to shower after dinner. "I'm going to grow Gills!!" She said.
During dinner it hit me that this day was almost over. I knew that tomorrow morning I had to leave, I was going to make the most of this night. Hence, number six and I lost count after that. "I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow" she said.
"Then you won't be able to get to your car and drive home, I guess I will just have to carry you down to the bus and you'll have to go with me."

Penny's POV
After and incredible day of sex and more sex, I was exhausted. I joked with Brian that I wasn't going to be able to walk. He said he would carry me down to the tour bus and take me with him. I thought it was a joke.
"Very funny Haner"
"I'm not joking, come with me." He was serious.
"You know I can't, Brian."
"Why? Because your worried about the guys, the fans, my career?" He said "I told you the guys will like you and I don't care what the fans think and my career will be fine. I'm Synyster Fucking Gates. Are you afraid of fans like those dumb ass girls being stupid? I will protect you. Is it our age difference? I promise you I don't care about that."
I shook my head. "No, Brian. You think that now, but someday you will meet someone who is younger and can give you children when you’re ready."

Brian's POV
This woman has got under my skin in a way I can't even describe. I have had girls beg to go with me, I've even had them try to stow away on the bus. But not Penny and she's got me not sure how to feel. Disappointed? Angry? Insulted? Incredibly turned on? Love?
Love? That's crazy! We just met 24 hours ago! I decided to go with Angry and pretend that I didn't care.
"Fine! I don't need anyone who is going to tell me how to live my life! I don't know why I even asked, anyway."
She looked at me with shock and hurt in her eyes. But I was angry and hurt too. "Most girls would kill to come along! You should probably leave early in the morning before the guys come to get me."
I could see that now she was angry. "For one thing, I am not some star struck girl who wants to screw you. I am an adult with a job, a house and responsibilities! I can't run off anytime I want with some guy who just wants a piece of ass for a couple days!! Why don't I just leave now? I'll get out of your way, Synyster Fuck You Gates!" She started gathering up her things and throwing them into her small suitcase. I realized I had hurt her and I was a giant dick.
"Penny, I'm sorry for being such a jerk" I tried to hold her but she pushed me away. "Please don't go like this, it's one o'clock in the morning for fuck sake! I know you're not one of those girls, you are a beautiful woman in more ways than one. You are not and could never be just a piece of ass to me. Please stay, I want to enjoy the time we have left together."

Penny's POV
I could not believe he talked to me like that! He wanted me out early, fine! I was ready to go right then, until he apologized and looked at me with those hypnotizing brown eyes.
"I'll stay, only because I'm too tired to drive 5 hours right now. But no more sex. I will sleep on the couch."
He smiled a slightly cocky smile and said "I promise, no hanky panky, just roommates. But I will sleep on the couch."
I started to argue with him. He said "My suite, my rules." We finally both laid down but I couldn’t sleep. I just couldn't get comfortable, maybe it was because I was alone in this giant bed with him in the other room on a couch. But mostly because I realized I over reacted. Why was I wasting our last hours together? I'm sure he was having no problem falling asleep. I had decided to go see if he was still awake. Then I heard his voice, it was like a scolded child asking if he could go out of time out. "Can I hold you, I promise I won't try anything."
"I would like that." I said. He climbed back into the bed and wrapped his arms around me with me facing him.
He kissed me gently on the forehead and said "Please forgive me for pressuring you. I hope you don't think I go around just trying to pick up girls."
"I don't think that, I am sorry I said what I did." We kissed and started talking like we did before about our lives. Pretty soon several hours had passed. We both finally fell asleep right there in each other's arms. I wished I could stay right there forever.
In the morning, I opened my eyes and he was there just looking at me. "I loved watching you sleep and I loved seeing those beautiful blue eyes first thing in the morning."
"It's pretty wonderful to wake up and see those gorgeous brown eyes and that smile."
Brian kissed my forehead and said "I have never known anything like this. Penny, I've got to tell you something. I know it's crazy, but I think I'm falling in love with you."
My heart skipped a beat and I wanted to tell him that I felt the same. But my thoughts of younger man, his career and him deserving more kept me from it. He looked at me with expectation and then concern as I lay there frozen. I tried to change the subject, I had to be the logical thinking one in all of this.
"Crap Brian! It's almost 10:00 AM, the guys will be here any minute. We're not even packed. I mean you're not packed and I'm not packed, not both of us packed together. I gotta jump in the shower."
He looked very confused...

How Could You Go and Throw It All Away?

Brian's POV
I put myself on the line and told her how I felt, she basically ignored it and ran off? Did I cross a line? Does she not feel the same? What do I do now? My mind raced as I tried to pull it all together. I decided that if she wanted to ignore it, I could too. I went and got in the shower with her "You're right, we are running behind. I think I'll have to take a shower now too."
She smiled and I knew she was ok with it, "No fooling around, we don't have time." She handed me the soap, now wash my back Haner." I obediently complied.

Penny's POV
I ran away stammering when he said he was falling in love with me. I am so confused and I missed him in the shower with me (we had taken so many the last two days). Then he was there, he didn't say anything about earlier. I told him to wash my back, his touch was something I never wanted to forget. It was a very erotic yet basically innocent shower, when he started kissing my neck I knew I would give in and if I gave in I would be there when his friends came.
"That's enough Junior, I have to get dressed and out of here."
"As you wish, Princess Penelope" he smiled and bowed. I just shook my head and smacked his cute wet ass.
I got out of the shower, got dressed, put my wet hair in a quick ponytail and threw my stuff into my suitcase. He was finishing up showering and I knew my time was limited. He came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. I was standing there suitcase in hand.
"Wow, you got ready fast!! Were you going to say goodbye?"
"Of course, I was waiting on you to get out of the shower. Now come kiss me goodbye!" I told him. I knew this had to be quick or I would start crying.
He walked over and wrapped his arms around me, kissing me. I wanted to remember this forever, his smell, his touch, his kiss...
He broke the kiss and put his forehead against mine. "The offer to come with me still stands."
"You know I can't Brian." He lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. "Ok, I'll call you and we can see each other again soon"
I choked back my tears and said "No Brian, we need to just leave it as two wonderful days together. I will remember and treasure them forever. Goodbye." I turned around and grabbed my suitcase and purse and basically ran out the door. I heard him say "Wait! Penny!"
I ducked into a doorway and I cried my eyes out, I couldn't stop. I can't afford to risk another relationship with a younger man especially a famous rock star, I kept telling myself. A few minutes later I could hear the guys coming up to his suite "Why the hell are you standing there in a towel?" "What the fuck, Man!" "Earth to Brian, hello?."
Then I heard Brian say "I just need to get the fuck out of this damn place."
I knew I had to go now, or I could run into them. I was lucky that I was the only one in the elevator, because I was still crying. Once I was on the ground floor, I practically ran through the hotel and to my car. I sat in my car and cried for a half hour. I looked up once and saw the giant bus leaving and I cried even harder, he was gone and it was over. It had to be over for both our sake, even if he couldn't see it. I told myself that he'll forget me in a day or two and move on. Then I started crying even more, I didn't realize that it would hurt this bad. Imagine what it would have been like if we continued to see each other? Once he met someone else younger and prettier, I would be out in the cold. But this time it would be right there in public, humiliated and alone.
I finally was able to stop crying enough to start the 5-hour journey home. My head was killing me and my eyes were swollen, but like Brian I needed to get away from there.

Brian's POV
I can't believe she ran out like that! I am standing there in the doorway calling for her to come back. I didn't know whether to be pissed or hurt, I didn't even see the guys coming. They were asking me questions and tried to snap me out of it, but at first I could only stand there frozen. I told the guys I needed to get out of there. They came into the suite while I got ready. " Is there plenty of alcohol on the bus"
Johnny said "Hell yeah, always."
"Good, because I'm going to need a lot of it."
As soon as I got on the bus, I grabbed a bottle of rum and started downing it. No drinking glasses necessary.
I didn't speak to anyone the whole trip. When someone tried I told them to fuck off and leave me alone. I passed out about halfway to Wisconsin, which was good because it gave me about 4 hours to sleep it off before I had to get ready for the show. I made it through the show and started drinking again after it was done, drinking all alone. That's how I felt, alone and empty. I needed to shake the fuck out of it. That chick was crazy, I am Synyster Fucking Gates and she rejected me?! Fuck her! I wished I had never met her, I should have let them kick her out. I wasn't supposed to feel like this, I only spent two days with her.
I made it through the next show and we headed back home, I kept drinking and shutting everyone out.

Matt's POV
Something or someone had obviously fucked Brian up. I decided it was time to push pass his "fuck off" routine and talk to him. He was on his way to his third drunken day when I decided to go sit by him.
"Fuck off and leave me alone Sanders"
"Is that the only thing you know how to say now, you're like a damn parrot. Come on man, talk to me."
He was slurring now "She fucking left me standing in the hallway in a towel."
"Who left you?"
"Penny"
"Penny? Penny who?"
"Someone I met at the casino kicking a slot machine's ass."
I was even more confused "Some groupie? Dude I know your single now, but don't go all ape shit over a fucking piece of ass!"
That was definitely the WRONG thing to say. Brian suddenly seemed sober and looked at me with rage, jumped up and grabbed me by the shirt and got in my face.
"She was not some fucking piece of ass and she wasn't a groupie. She's a woman. If you ever say something like that about her again, I'll beat the shit out of you!" the other guys heard Brian yelling at me and came to see what was happening. I told them I had just pissed him off but all is ok now. They understood that I was trying to find out what the hell was going on and left us alone.
"Okay man, I get it. I'm sorry." I said. He obviously fell for this woman hard. "Why didn't you introduce her to us?"
"She didn't want me to. She's very hung up on our age difference."
"Brian, you robbing the cradle now, that shit will get you in big trouble" I warned
"No, she's 10 years older than me."
I tried not to look surprised "Oh" I had to figure out what to say. "You're both consenting adults, so what's the big deal."
"It's weird talking to you about a woman other than Michelle." I knew he needed to talk to someone, I needed him to not feel that way."
"Dude, yes you were married to my sister in law but that has nothing to do with our relationship. You are my band mate, my friend and my brother. You can talk to me about anything. If your worried about Val, she feels the same way, we love both of you no matter what."
"Thanks Matt"
"So tell me about Penny, why are you so upset about her? Why is she hung up on the age difference, you don't seem to be worried about it?"
"Matt, she's not like anyone I have ever met. We spent 15 minutes together and we could talk to each other about anything. We spent two great days and nights together, I asked her to come with us, she said no. I asked when I could see her again and she said that we shouldn't for both our sake. That's when she ran out." I could tell that she had got to him in a short time.
I still didn't understand, I was missing something.
"So you met, had this instant connection, spent all this great time together and you obviously care about her a lot. Why doesn't she want to see you again, did she say she cared about you?"
"Yes and I know she really does. She just won't let go of the age thing. She thinks it will ruin my career being with an older woman, that she will keep me from meeting someone younger that I can have a family with if I want or that if we are together I will leave her for younger woman. That's what happened with her ex-husband. I don't know what to do."
"Well, drinking a case of rum every night isn't the answer."
"It's helped so far." He said "This bitch won't leave me at the door." He held up the bottle and took a swig.
"Come on man, you know that's not going to help."
"Then what the fuck do I do, Man!" He was getting loud again. I didn't know what to tell him, but I figured I'd try.
"Well my friend, you have three choices. You can drink yourself to death, you can go after her and try to change her mind or you can move on and try to forget her."
"I don't think I can forget her." He said in a very in a very low and sober voice.
"That leaves you two choices. Both could ruin your life. Brian, I'm always here to talk to."
"Thanks man" and he put the bottle down.

Penny's POV
After I got home, I still cried. Everything made me think of Brian. I would cry in the shower, because it reminded me of the incredible showers we took. I changed my Pandora station to Country because I couldn't bear to hear an Avenged Sevenfold song. I did the right thing, I protected myself and him from getting hurt.
I really don't have a lot of friends, it was weird for everyone when Jay and I split up. Even my family loved Jay and I think they blamed me for him meeting someone else. I need to talk to someone and one of the few people I could talk to was my daughter, Chloe. So I called her. She gave me her usual greeting.
"Hi Momma!"
"Hi, how are you?"
"I'm good, schools good, Max is good." She knew the routine. "How are you? How did the concert go?"
"The concert was awesome! It was after that something happened."
"Oh my God Mom, did you get mugged or something? I knew you shouldn't have gone there alone!"
"No Chloe, nothing like that" I could hear her sigh of relief. "I met someone and we had a great time together"
"That's great Mom! Why do you sound like something is wrong?"
"It's a long story and I really need someone to talk to. Can you come over when you have time?" I didn't want to keep her from anything.
"I am done with classes today; I'll be over in 15 minutes." She said.

Chloe's POV
When I got to Mom's house, she was at the front door before I even got out of the car. We hugged and went inside. I have keys to Mom's house and usually just let myself in. Her being there at the door was not a good sign.
"So tell me about this guy."
Mom told me about almost getting kicked out of the casino and a guy named Mr. Haner saving her. She acted like I should know who that is.
"Mr. Haner? Who is Mr. Haner?"
"He plays lead guitar in Avenged Sevenfold, aka Synyster Gates. You know who I'm talking about." She said it like I should've known that, but I'm not real familiar with Avenged Sevenfold or that kind of music.
"I kind of know who you're talking about. Isn't he like in his twenties?"
"He's 34." She said. I tried not to sound surprised.
"Oh-Kay, so what happened after that?."
She told me how she ended up spending the next two nights with him. I could see that she really had feelings for this guy, but I could see why she had reservations."
"What do you think? Did I do the right thing?" I almost felt like she wanted me to say no.
"Well, I understand feeling that way. I have no way of knowing exactly how he feels about you. But, he is a famous musician in a very successful band. He will have women throwing themselves at him and I have heard how those guys like to party. As far as his career goes, it's hard to say how it would be impacted." I could see tears forming in her eyes. "Mom, I don't want to see you get hurt again, but I don't want you to be alone."
"What should I do?" Mom said as one tear ran down her cheek, I know her, the flood gates were about to open.
"Mom, you just need to take some time and see how you feel. Do you have his number or anything?"
"Yes, when he texted me at the hotel."
"So he has yours too. So take a couple weeks, see if you hear from him and then if you still want to, call him."
Mom said "You're right, kiddo. I am going to give it some time, see how I feel."
Somehow, I knew that wasn't going to happen and this wasn't going to be the end of it.

Notes