James’ POV

“Why don’t you guys fly over there then? You know check in on them and makes sure they are okay? Maybe take them to a hotel away from the press until it dies down a little bit?” Danny’s words and the followed conversation just wouldn’t leave my mind.

“So you’re willing to just sit here and watch Avery get eaten alive by the press and crumble from the stress?”Avery, just her name let my heart flutter a little, I didn’t know what this woman had done with me, but whenever she was concerned my rational thoughts were shut off and I just wanted to come to her rescue, no matter what and when.

“We get to be the knights in shining armor and put the girls back together. They will come back with us like nothing ever happened.” Ben’s word gave a complete different ring to the situation, but made it worth a shot, right?! Would it really be a good idea to show up there, but then again, Maya and Ave were completely alone, they must be frightened and out of their minds.

We couldn’t just let them handle everything on their own, not when we had the time and the better knowledge on how to deal with a situation like this. It was like our duty to help them, we were friends and that meant we had to help them in stressful times, be there for them, right?!

“Then it’s settled, you blokes are headed to sunny California a week early! Better start packing!” Danny grinned and we three headed out of the car and straight for Sam’s home.

We were greeted at the door and went straight to the living room. Ben was on his phone already, typing away something and I leaned over his shoulder to check in.

“Whatcha doing?” I asked frowning and he gave me a look like I had missed something important.
“Checking flights, idiot. Or how do we get to the US early?” Ben answered and he was looking happy, that was a different look for him.

Not that he had been unhappy all the time lately, but it had been a hard way for him to forget about Maya and what happened, not that he was really over the time already, but he found an arrangement with himself and the situation.

I knew he hadn’t been talking to Maya much, probably too hurtful since she was the first woman who stole his way into his heart and took it with her, Ben always seems like a tough guy and didn’t talk much about it, but that had hurt him more than he let on, and only we knew, his best and closest friends.

While I still had contact on a regular basis with Ave, our friendship had become stronger, even though it was hard over the distance and knowing that her fiancé didn’t approve of it, but he couldn’t do anything against a normal friendship. Even if, sometimes I still wished that if Ave gave me the opportunity, we could have been more… and that I could have made her happy.

I did made her happy while she was with me, the problem had been Haner interfering. Was it weird to think about that!? I mean, I would never come between the relationship she was having, I wouldn’t want to break up a happy home… but if she had given us a chance, maybe we would have been together now and I could have made her happy, maybe even happier than he could?!

I sighed and shook my head, those musings were for no good. It had changed and she was back with Haner while Ben and I were here alone and only getting friend-zoned… which was fine really… but I couldn’t shut off the ‘what if- thinking’ sometimes.

And as it seemed Ben was having the same trouble, so much to being over Maya, right?!
“You found something?” I asked and tried to sort my out of control thoughts. “Yeah, but checking for better times” Ben replied and I nodded.

“You guys coming outside with us, or what?” Cam asked and I looked up, seeing him holding out beers to Ben and me. “Yeah, give us a second” Ben took the beer and absently clicked on his phone, while I swallowed half of my bottle with the first gulp.

I hadn’t even realized I had been this thirsty. “You guys are okay?” Cam asked and Danny answered before any of us could. “They are fabulous, let them be. Come on, let’s go outside, the two will follow us in a minute, right folks?” Danny slurred, when had he started drinking already? It wasn’t even five yet.
Not that it was a weird behavior for Worsnop, but still…

“Okay?!” Cam looked back to us and then walked outside joining Sam on the terrace with the BBQ built up.
“Got something. Reserved the flight” Ben announced just as the door closed.

“Let me write Ave a message” I pulled out my phone, but Ben held his hand up “Wait, what you wanna write? Why not better surprise them?” He asked a mischievous grin on his face.
“Well… you think that’s better?” I asked with a frown and he nodded “Just write something like, we will think of a way to help them and that we are there for them.” Ben smiled satisfied with his idea and I nodded, maybe he was indeed right.

I opened the messenger and wrote a text to Ave.

How are you girls holding up?!
We are worried and will think of a way to help you.
We are there for you, if you need anything, give me or Ben a call.
James

That done I felt a lot better, hoping Ave would reply soon so we knew how the girls were holding up.
And they didn’t takelong to answer.

It’s a nightmare, to be honest… we are trapped in Maya’s house and can’t get to work or anywhere, without being rushed and pictures are taken of us…
We hope this dies down soon… but it sadly doesn’t look like it.
Is it as bad with you guys?!
Ave & M

“What did it say?” Ben asked and I read aloud what Ave wrote me back.
“Man, we really need to hurry and get that flight and pack our shit.” Ben said just when Cam and Sam entered the living room.

“What flight?” Sam asked looking confused while Ben and I shared a look, we had to tell them anyway, didn’t we? So why not right away?

“Where Danny?” Ben asked looking behind the two, who only shrugged and motioned outside.
“He fell asleep outside, we left him there…” Cam grinned and I chuckled, that guy… glad we are not on tour yet.

“So don’t try to fool us, what flight are you talking about? And what are you two blockheads planning without us?” Sam asked while sitting beside me.
“Well…” I started not really sure how to address the situation right.

“We gonna fly to the states early. Helping Maya and Ave out for a while before our tour starts.” Ben announced while Cam and Sam sighed heavily and Cam dropped beside Ben on the couch.
“What you mean helping Maya and Ave out?” He asked while he looked suspicious. “You do know, that those girls are taken, right? We already had the whole drama with avenged and it didn’t end well, how come you wanna do the same shit again?” Cam asked looking mainly at Ben, because thank god, I wasn’t in the main stress about it, even though I had my fair share of arguments as well.

“Hey, we didn’t say we wanna start a fight, but you saw the press and all the trouble we are going through, now think of the girls and all the action doubled up. They are all alone and don’t know how to deal with it.” I nodded in agreement and Sam immediately shook his head.

“Guys, just for a second think about what would happen, if you guys fly over there and go to them. Just for a moment, think of the consequences.” Sam said and I thought about his words, the girls were already trapped inside their home, reporter waiting for them, if we would show up there… All hell would break loose… but-

“Fuck” I sighed and ran a hand over my face, the press would hunt us and them even more. We would give them just the right sign to make even more stories up.
“Fucking hell, but we need to do something” Ben hissed and I saw him throwing his phone into the chair next to us.

“But you know what I mean, right?” Sam asked looking from me to Ben and back.
“Ben?!” He asked again while I already nodded, but he still didn’t reply.
“We just want to help them out… I mean, they are all alone not trained to deal with the press or anything…” I suggested again but was brushed off by Cam this time.

“Dude, if you show up at their door, the next thing that happens is that Gates and Shadows will be back there as soon as they can and beat your asses and the whole drama unfolds again, you don’t help the girls with showing up there, you would make everything worse.” Cam finished and I nodded in understanding.

“More stories would be made up, Ben… you and Maya are already rumored to still have an affair, you think that will die down, if you stand at her door out of the blue.” Sam asked and Ben shook his head, closing his eyes in frustration.

“Bloody hell, but then… what can we do?!” He asked when his eyes opened again “We have to do something… It’s kinda our fault she… or yet better… Danny’s fault, that they were now dragged into it… Even James and Ave are in the open now. There are pictures of us four together everywhere.” Ben said and I felt a slight ping of remorse, how were Matt and Haner feeling, seeing pictures of us with their girlfriends, and stories made up about, while they were not home or did they even care, I sure would, if Ave was mine…

“Just be there for them, talk to them.. they will probably need someone to talk to… about their concerns, about just… something else then all this stress… but fucking hell, don’t make it any worse and fly over… just call, write messages… be a friend, but don’t ruin it any more than it already is.” Sam finished and both Ben and I nodded, it had sounded like a great idea to fly over and see the girls again, because I sure would love to spend time with them, but… looking at it now, Cam and Sam were probably right, we should be there for them, but better lay low and from a distance.

Brian’s POV

Who had this stupid idea with making a goddamn meet and greet today?!
Wasn’t everything worse enough already?
No, we not only had to deal with headlines, after headlines, press, and the normal crazy fans… Nope, now we also had to stand sign autographs, let fans ask us all this private shit, we had no answer for.

I was feeling like I would freak out just at one mentioning of Ave and some guy, or any private information they would want to get out of me.
The whole day had been a disaster, thinking it couldn’t get worse, but no of course… the meet in greet would be the topping to a miserable day.

“You ready, Gates?” MB stood behind me and clapped my shoulder. I shook my head, “Nothing is good in my life at the moment.” I said and looked around if any reporter was near and able to hear what I was saying, feeling paranoid already…

“You talked to the girls today? How are they doing?” He asked and concern was written over his face.
“Yeah, early in the morning I talked to Ave… They are trapped, getting the cabin fever. Man, I wished the tour was over already…” I sighed and he clapped my back reassuringly.

“Next time, maybe… someone gotta stay home with them. Maybe we could share jobs a little, me and Jason or Body, could take turns, just to act as bodyguard or something, so they are save. I mean, those press and paparazzi guys are a plague” He continued to talk while my mind already wandered.

When I woke up I had checked the online sites, I knew I shouldn’t do it and it would upset me only more, but somehow they drew me in and I wanted… fuck I just needed something from Ave. It was even harder to reach her now with all the press rumble going on.

She wrote me one message, saying she and Maya had shut of the house telephone line, too many magazines, and people who tried to sell them they are friends of us wanted a piece of them, so they only talked via cell phone.

More and more often the line was occupied or she didn’t pick up, or well.. the same with mine I guess. We were both having trouble with the connection, but at least not Trevor was interrupting us now, which was some good in the bad.

‘Syn Gates fiancé, enjoying her days of freedom’ Says the headline and even after I had talked to Ave today, where she told me the pictures of her and Cassells were old, I felt a stab of jealousy that I couldn’t suppress.

More pictures of her and Cassells, of Maya and Ben, of Ave and some of the Breaking Benjamin guys while dancing, with titles beneath it saying ‘She knows how to use the touring cycle of her fiancé the right way’or ‘Does Syn Gates know what his girl is doing in his absence? Oh- look he uses his time as well’ a picture of me and a fan was shown on the other page, the girl hugged to my side, completely innocent, but they cut of the picture where I knew she had been holding a cd of us, that I signed earlier, or that Jimmy was standing beside her as well.

It was weird how easily these guys could turn innocent things into the worst possible outcome. I was just hoping that Ave knew I wouldn’t risk our relationship for anything. And hoped she was feeling the same, even though sometimes… those thoughts about what she was really doing and if there wasn’t something true to all the stories was right?!

“Gates?! Hello?! Earth to Gates?!” MB waved his hand in front of me and I shook my head, trying to focus again. “Sorry, I kinda zoomed out” I blinked and tried to concentrate on the here and now “No getting around the meet and greet, man… Sorry” MB pushed me forward and I sighed, shit…

When I walked up behind the other guys that must have passed me during my little day-nightmare I saw them all not looking as easy and joking as every other day. We all knew that it wouldn’t only be fans and fun, some press people would be there of course, and the fans would want to know what was really going on with all the headlines they found their favorite band in all the time.

“Here they are, Avenged Sevenfold” A loud voice announced and I cringed, damn… no way around it, that’s for sure.
I heard some giggling and a lot of people talking at once, flashes in our direction were made and blinded me.

“Gates?! Gates?!” I looked around and smiled at the female voices that called my name. I gave a small wave and moved forward.
We sat at first at a small table, so we could sign autographs and afterwards get in little groups to talk to the fans and in the end take some pictures. At least that was the normal routine, sadly today nothing was normal anymore.

Just when I wanted to take place at the table a camera flashed directly at me and a question followed suit. “Is it true that your fiancé called of the wedding?” My head snapped around and I narrowed my eyes, who said that?!
“Calm down, they just want a reaction from you” Vee’s voice sounded in my ear and I nodded, calm down, one two three four five-

“We gladly answer your questions, as long as they are on the topic of music and our band, thank you.” Zacky said into a mic and I took a deep breath in and out.
I looked at him from the side and he gave me a wink, I nodded once in thanks and then we went back to the main reason we were here the fans.

From then on it went better than I thought, we signed poster, guitars and shirts and made some small talk with fans.

Then we got up and talked in little groups, I heard some people still using Maya and Ave’s name as well as the Asking guys but I tried to not react to it and was making a good job so far.

“Did you always have trouble with Asking Alexandria or just… hmm.. recently?” A girl asked and I had to bite my tongue not to snap a reply at her.
“We don’t have trouble with Asking Alexandria, you shouldn’t always believe what the media says” I replied with a small smile and she smiled back, melting at my smile and I quickly moved on to the next question.

“Is it then true that you have an open relationship?” Another one asked and I swallowed thickly and counted to three, where did this fucking rumor come from?!
“No comment, can we move on to questions concerning the music?” I sidestepped this without sounding too pissed off.

“Goddamn it!” I heard Matt’s voice behind me and then saw how Jimmy went between it before Matt could say something worse or his temper could ruin the whole thing. I guess I was indeed holding up better.

I pulled out my phone and saw a missed call from Ave, talk about bad timing, shit. I really needed to hear her voice. “Are you only doing this festival tour? Or are more shows planned?” Someone asked and I sighed in relief finally a normal question.

“For now there are only these festival shows are planned, but later on we will announce a real concert tour, we see this as a little tease for the fans” I replied and smiled at the girl who asked the question, when suddenly someone ran into me from behind and knocked me to the side, I spilled my drink onto the girl beside me and she shrieked as her white shirt turned see-through from the coke I spilled on her.

She looked up at me with something that looked like shame and shock, while I looked at the mess I made and of course flashes could be seen and pictures were made of me and her and I cursed whoever had caused this situation.

Suddenly Matt was beside me and took of the flannel shirt he was wearing and laid it around the girl to cover her up and took her by the shoulders and guided her away from the prying eyes of everyone, more cameras clicked and flashes could be seen while Matt brought the girl away and I closed my eyes and regretted we didn’t cancel this event, it couldn’t get worse, could it?!

The rest of the meet and greet was rather quiet still some dumb questions were asked, I tried to ignore, or pictures were taken especially when a girl was at my side and I signed something or she hugged me in delight of meeting her favorite musician, but all in all the tension had calmed down.

After about an hour the people slowly left and I walked outside with Johnny for a smoke “You okay? You look like shit, man?!” He said and I flipped him off “Jeez, thanks, you always were the one for the nice words, huh?”

“The whole thing with Ave is driving me insane, man” I said and pulled a cigarette out. “What you mean?” Christ asked and taking a long inhale from his cigarette.
“Everything… It’s a fucking nightmare. I don’t know how long I can do this anymore” I wanted to have Ave with me, had no idea how long I could be without her, how long my nerves and temper would be in check, I knew Matt was on the edge of going insane as well. We needed them with us, as soon as possible.

I opened my mouth to speak again when I spotted a fan with his camera towards us and my mouth went dry, did he record what I just said?!

OH FUCK!

Trevor’s POV

Since we were back at Maya’s and Sander’s house, the two girl’s mood was going down from bad to straight miserable.
They both got as it seemed even after just two days and nights the cabin fever, they began pacing, trying to call the Avenged guys, calling Larry, but nothing seemed to calm them down so far.

Avenged was busy with the press themselves as I believed and still had some shows to make, fans to please and damn… I would please those fans… I grinned to myself, wasn’t I the born rockstar?! I sure would live the life for it.

I made them food, especially for Avery, I have to add and some tea to make the girls think I was caring for them and hoped to calm them down a little so they wouldn’t try and call the guys all the time. How should my plan work this awesomely if they kept contact to the guys every free minute.

I had heard a call between Maya and Sanders where they were both talking about different articles in newspapers. Wasn’t it weird how sure they were of their love and still they had to ask the other if nothing had changed?

Those girls really were ridiculous! And those guys even worse… they had a free brief of fucking around, while they could all put it on the press, why the hell didn’t they use it?!
If I wouldn’t do everything on my own, not even a real break up they could proceed. But I would make sure, by the end of my plan, Maya’s life was as miserable as my had been all those years and I had Ave in my bed… more than once.

I heard Ave was on the phone, probably again talking to Haner. This was getting boring really. I thought about turning down my interference with the calls and messages for a while, but I wasn’t too sure if the plan would really work out if the girls keep acting this way.

It would only be a matter of days until the first couple would break up because of some newspaper article, some pictures leaked and those girls had no idea that it was me, who gave those private information away. That I was selling pictures and gave hints about lovers, and locations they were at every now and then… it was just too easy, really.

“I didn’t have a relationship with him, Bri,” Ave said and I walked a little closer to the door, smiling when I heard the panic in her voice. “I told you everything and that picture must be from one of the first parties that Maya and I went to in the UK. Yes we kissed a couple of times, but that was it. I promise,” Ave assured him and I waited for how this talk would continue, this was going to be great, hopefully the first crack of many more in their starting break up.

“What am I wearing in the picture?” Ave asked impatient and I frowned, what would that have to do with anything.

“That was my first party in the UK when I got so wasted I don’t remember the whole night,” Ave said. “It was a harmless kiss and it meant nothing, babe. I promise you that I don’t have any kind of relationship with James except for a friendship. You are the only guy for me and I cannot wait to be Mrs. Haner Jr. in four short months.”

I lifted an eyebrow at the information I gained, she had no relationship with the drummer, huh? But kissed him… went to parties with him, was she lying to Haner? Even though I wouldn’t see Ave as the lying type, maybe she was just avoiding information… this could be interesting, I should keep this in mind.

“Of course I can forgive you,” Ave sighed. “Just remember that we go together and no one can change that, okay?” I rolled my eyes, what the hell, how could Haner so easily forget what she just told him, what he saw, that son of a bitch, was just an idiot. So it gotta be more to get him to freak out, well we shall see what I could do about that…

“I love you too. So what else is going on? How are the guys?” Ave asked causally like they didn’t have any other problems in the world, I narrowed my eyes and took in everything about her, she was so pretty, I longed to hold her again like I did at the backstage party, when she fell into my arms and hugged me.

“Well, we’re holding down the house,” Ave looked devastated while saying that. “We’ve been trapped for two days. Luckily your dad went and picked up Pinkly from the house. I’m just so sick of this…I just want things to go back to normal.” I waited for a small pause to interrupt, I needed them to make it quick, they already shared enough time they shouldn’t have.

“It can’t come soon enough,” Ave said as I poked my head into the room looking at her.

“Hey Ave, I made some lunch if you want some. It’s for favorite,” I said before turning and going out the door. “Thanks Trev be there soon.”

“Well, I didn’t at first but then he saved me from some creep at the concert a few days ago. I think he really does have our best interests at heart…” I heard those words just when I walked out the door, so there was it the proof. She trusted me and she was even telling her boyfriend about my act as knight in shining armor. He would be so pissed, and if he knew what happened afterwards he would freak the fuck out.

I could see Ave was talking even further but I couldn’t hear from my new position now what she was exactly saying. She looked up to me and smiled and I gave her my perfect white teeth smile back, that had dropped a lot of panties already, and hers would be one of them soon.

When I was done setting up the food and bringing the tea to the kitchen table, I saw how Ave ended her call and Maya approached from the bedroom too. She had tried calling Matt, I guessed, but the face she was making could make me think she didn’t reach him or they didn’t have enough time, or whatever her problem was now.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” I laid my arm around her and hugged her to me. “Didn’t reach him?”
Maya shook her head “I talked to Matt but only for a minute, he was busy” I nodded in understanding when I really just wanted to laugh. Look how miserable she was now, but it was about to get worse.

We ate together and I tried to distract the girl, we had plugged out the phone, because every few minutes someone called and tried to get an interview out of the girls.
I sometimes talked to reporter outside, giving them small hints, while not making it obvious to the girls, it was just so much fun to play this game.

During the day, I interrupted the girls in their wedding and other plans she was making every now and then with a little fun for myself in showing the girls new headlines and pictures of their men with different new rumored affairs and new home-wrecker headlines about themselves. The girls looked sadder and sadder by the second, if I didn’t knew it any better, they would probably break down and cry, if I wasn’t around.

Later that night, we lay on the couch, Maya and Ave snuggled close and I felt jealousy built inside me. I wanted to lie this close to Ave. I wanted her head on my shoulder, wanted her arm around me, wanted to feel her softness to my hardness, but not now… not yet.

The girls almost fell asleep, I could see their heavy lids closing and smiled to myself, that was my chance again to do some manipulation. I had been lying low for two whole days, now I should be doing something.

I waited until both girls didn’t move and were sound asleep until I grabbed Ave’s and Maya’s phone. I scrolled through messages and saw some fresh ones from Ben and James, oh this was good. Jimmy had send some funny or supposed to be funny messages to Maya as well… what she liked about that guy I had no idea.

A message arrived at Maya’s phone and I grinned what a perfect timing, while Ave’s phone stayed silent, but I knew if one of the guys was free having time to write so was the other so I quickly shut of the ringtone, when it started showing Haners picture with Ave in his arms I flipped him off. Take that, asshole.

I concentrated on Maya’s phone first. Matt’s last message, what could I do about them… they seemed a little more steady than Brian and Ave, or maybe that seemed like it, because I was closer to Avery than my sister…

Babe, don’t believe anything the papers write. There was nothing… I just helped the fan get a set of dry clothes from Jason cause Gates spilled his drink on her… This meet and greet was fucked and I bet someone did that on purpose… can’t talk right now… We have another huge press Problem, but we will fix it… I just had to tell you that I love you, babe. Don’t worry. Will call you as soon as I can.

What the hell was he writing about? Helped the fan? Another press Problem?! I had to check the internet soon, maybe something useful was in it.
I quickly deleted the message and didn’t give him a reply. He would be worried if she got the text and understood what he was saying afterwards is shut the phone of completely.

I would make sure she didn’t understand and never got the text. I smiled even more when Ave’s phone began to lighten up, two texts from Haner. Oh something bad happened as it seemed.

Love, why don’t you pick up your phone?! Its important! Call me as soon as you read this. Don’t believe the video… Yes, that is me, but it was ripped out of context. I love you and I meant the situation of being away from you and nothing else. God, babe… I hate this distance… I love you! Bri

The second text made this so much more fun and easy that I almost laughed out loud at the misery of these people.

My battery is low, can’t find my charger, just call me on the hotel number I send you earlier. Please, no matter when…

2 Messages deleted
Alright, let’s check what these guys had done, and then I decide if I woke up the girls right away or tomorrow.

I searched and then found it already all over the internet, a video of Gates, telling how he was sick of the situation with Ave, then the video was done and left at that, oh my god. That was the final blow, exactly what it needed for Ave to see and freak out.

Then the pictures of Sanders disappearing with a fan who wore his shirt and them coming out together with different clothing both looking caught. And other fans stating how sweet Sanders has acted to rescue the girl from paparazzi and that something had to be going on between them. I clicked on more sites and more pictures appeared, more stories made up. Oh this was heaven, now I could decide what I would show the girls and could already see their reaction, priceless.

This would be the end of the happy life of Maya and Matt and Ave and Brian…

Notes

Upppsss... what happened there?!
Brian's words not coming out right... did they?!

And the AA guys were convinced not to come... better that way?

Leave us some comments!