Avery’s POV

“Ugh!” I groaned, throwing my hands up in the air before collapsing sideways into my pile of wedding invitations on the chaise lounge. “How am I going to pick one of these? I like this one…and this one…and this one…and this one!” I said rolling over onto my back and holding up four different cards.

“Just close your eyes and pick one,” Maya chuckled from the desk across the room. She had been rather quiet all morning, making me wonder what she was up to. Come to think of it, she had been quiet since my bachelorette party two nights ago. I bet it had something to do with her argument with Matt but we all knew it wouldn’t take long for them to work everything out. They were meant to be together and anyone with eyes could see that.

“Does that really work?” I asked, popping up on my elbow to see her staring at the computer screen. What was she doing? Designing? That didn’t make any sense if she didn’t have her stylist out. Should I be concerned? She usually was only this quiet when she was formulating some master plan. Which just like Jimmy, was never a good thing…

“You wont know until you try, will you?” Maya said with a smirk, looking at me from over top of the screen. “Just pick one so we can send them out. Didn’t you say you needed to send them out in two weeks?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I sighed, laying all four invitations out on the floor. I closed my eyes, mixed them around, and picked one up.

“Ladies and gentlemen we have ourselves a winner! See that wasn’t too bad,” Maya teased as I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the invitation in my hand. Somehow the one that I selected didn’t feel right. It was just too…simple. “What’s that face for?”

I frowned and picked up the one by the heel of my shoe. “I actually like this one better,” I mused, holding the two very different invitations up side-by-side. “Yes, we’ll go with this one,” I decided, confidently setting it aside.

“Only you would spend over an hour picking out invitations, pick one, and decide you don’t like it,” Maya chuckled and shook her head. “But now we can at least check invitations off the list, as well as designs for the bridesmaid dresses. I also got the order started for the bridesmaid dresses and shoes but to finish it I need to know what colors you and Gates decided on. Plus I have some questions for you regarding your dress.”

I opened and closed my mouth as I stared back at Maya. She had done all that while I was picking out invitations? Well now I felt bad. She should have been worrying about planning her proposal instead of doing all that for me. “Maya—”

“Don’t even start, Little Gnome,” Maya warned, pointing her finger at me. “I am your maid of honor for a reason and don’t tell me that I should be doing something else. It’s my job to help you while your husband-to-be is away. Besides, what else am I going to do while the guys are gone? You’re all I’ve got left, Ave.”

“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, M.” I quickly moved over behind Maya and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. “Buuut….I could think of some things you could be doing…you know something that has to do with getting rings and asking a very important question to someone you love,” I sang, rocking her back and forth.

Maya blew out a breath and leaned back into me, her dark brown eyes meeting mine. I could instantly see the sadness that was hiding there, though I wasn’t sure if it was about what happened at my bachelorette party or the guys leaving in two days. “What’s the matter, M?” I asked, gently playing with her hair. “Please don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts about your plan.”

“I’m not having second thoughts about proposing to Big Guy,” Maya groaned, running her hands over her face. “I just want him to fully trust me. I thought we had gotten past this part of our relationship but apparently not. I mean we weren’t doing anything wrong!”

I nodded my head in agreement and soothingly rubbed her back. “I know what you mean, M but you also have to remember who we’re in love with,” I giggled lightly, thinking about our very easily provoked boyfriends. “You know how Matt is with his temper and that he cant always control himself in the moment. You are his world, M and he feels so strongly for you that he can’t stand the thought of seeing someone else with you. But when he calms down, he can see reason and feels bad for what he’s done. Hell, Brian is the same way,” I explained and Maya rolled his eyes. “Brian and I had a long discussion about trust and why he reacts the way he does. I know for a fact that Matt has the same jealous instincts that Brian has. It’s just how they are programed and if you think about it, it just shows how much they really care about us.”

“What did you three talk about this together without me?” she grumbled, standing up and making her way across the room. “Seems to be the new thing with Matt…”

“No! Of course not! I only talked to Brian, I swear,” I pleaded, following her behind the tall inventory shelves full of back stock. I grabbed her hands and forced her to face me, my eyes pleading. “But M, just listen to me. You know how stubborn and pigheaded they are about what they want. And honestly after Brian explained himself, I understood where he was coming from. I know I wouldn’t want to see another woman on him, stripper or not,” I continued, twisting my hands in front of me. I felt the familiar panic feeling rising inside of me when I thought back to our split over a year ago. I didn’t ever want to lose him again or feel like that again.

“But that doesn’t make what they did right!” Maya said throwing her arms up in frustration. “You of all people should be pissed about this, Ave!”

“I never said I was happy about them crashing my party, I just said I understood their concerns…that’s all. Besides, Brian said he and Matt would make it up to us which probably means letting us have a girls night,” I said with an eye roll.

“Yeah every night will be girls night when they leave us to go on tour…”

“M…” I sighed, shooting her a sad look. The last thing I wanted to do right now was think about the guys leaving. We still had to night and tomorrow before they left and I was going to take full advantage of that. Besides, Brian and I were scheduled to leave for a cake tasting in the next twenty minutes. I just hope he didn’t forget.

“I’m sorry…I’m just frustrated with all this stuff going on. And-and part of me is afraid of them leaving again…what if it happens again?” Maya asked, my stomach instantly sinking. No, I wasn’t going to let it happen, not to Brian and I and definitely not to Matt and Maya. We were going to make it through two months—hell it was child’s play!

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around Maya. “It’s not going to happen again. They are only gone for two months this time and there are two breaks in the middle of all that. Then they come back and Brian and I get married and you and Matt get engaged, just liked we planned,” I assured her. “There isn’t going to be any other way.”

Maya closed her eyes and nodded before I pulled her back over to the chaise lounge. “And from the sounds of it Brian is supposed to have his Bachelor party on the road, so if all else fails and we are missing them we crash their party to even the score,” I joked.

“Ave! You are a freaking genius!” Maya grabbed my shoulders and looked down at me with wide eyes. “That’s it! We should crash Brian’s Bachelor party! Between the two of us we could get all the details of where they were going and what they were doing. Oh it would be so much fun and then we could really see what they are up to when we are not around. Especially since Matt was so high and mighty saying that he wouldn’t look at strippers! I’m calling bullshit on that like of crap!”

I frowned and nervously chewed on my bottom lip. Somehow it just didn’t feel right to ruin their party too. I mean, I was only joking when I suggested it. “M…I don’t know—”

“Come on, Ave. It’s only fair!” Maya said with a wicked smirk as my phone started to ring. “It would teach them a lesson and it would be fun!” God I hoped she was joking.

“Fun in a sick and twisted sense…” I added before answering my phone. “Hello?”

“Hey love,” Brain’s voice purred through the speaker, sending shivers down my spine.

“Hey, are you on your way? We’ve got to be at the bakery downtown in a half an hour for our cake tasting,” I said, hearing a wide variety of loud noises echoing through the phone from Brain’s end. Where was he?

“Jimmy will you stop for about three seconds?” Brian grumbled before he sighed into the receiver. “Actually that’s what I’m calling about, love. Our interview got pushed back so they’ve had us in a glorified holding cell for almost two hours now. We haven’t even gone on set yet,” he said, frustration evident in his voice. I could tell just from his tone that his hand moving up and down over the back of his neck.

“And the beer is gone except for what short shit is hiding!” Jimmy screamed, causing me to recoil away from my phone.

“So there is no way you can get here?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose. We only had one more day after today together before the guys left for tour and this wasn’t how I wanted to spend it.

“I’m sorry, Ave. Trust me I would be there if I could—” Brian started before an ear-piercing scream deafened me. “Fucking hell Jimmy! Christ give him the beer or I swear to god I will pummel your ass into next week! Sorry love but I’ve got to go. I love you. ”

“Bri wait! We cant cancel again…we have to get the order in,” I urged but the line had already gone dead. “Shit!”

“What?” I looked up to see Maya watching me with an unreadable expression on her face.

“Brian isn’t going to make it to our tasting…their interview got pushed back…” I sighed, putting my head in my hands. I knew it wasn’t his fault but we were supposed to do this together. I guess, I’d just add it to the list of things that I was doing without Brian, which was everything lately. “I’ll just look like an idiot going cake tasting alone!”

“You wont look like an idiot,” Maya said, grabbing her phone from the table.

“How do you figure that? There is nothing like a girl sitting in a bakery tasting twenty different cakes all by herself. You might as well make my dress a whole size bigger,” I muttered, being a little over dramatic. I was just tired of feeling alone in all the preparations, even though this occasion was unavoidable. I wanted it to be our wedding not my wedding.

“Please, like I would let you do this alone. Get you bag,” Maya said, grabbing my hand and leading me out the door. Thank goodness we could both leave the shop and Jess and the other manager, and all of our employee’s could handle the workload.

An hour later Maya and I found ourselves in the corner booth of Ocean Side Bakery with about twenty different slices of cake in front of us, each one just as beautiful and delicious as the next. I had already tasted the first three and I had no idea how I was going to choose. Lucky for me that Maya had a very keen taste for exceptional sweets where I could eat anything they set in front of me. She would balance out my decision and hopefully help me pick something both Brain and I would enjoy.

“So Mademoiselle what color were you thinking for zee cake?” The French baker asked, as I tasted the most delicious chocolate and raspberry cake I had ever had.

“Yeah, what colors did you and Brown Eyes decide on? You never told me,” Maya added, closing her eyes with delight at the same piece of cake I just tasted.

“Mmm….We were going to go with purple, silver, and black,” I replied with my mouthful. God, I could go cake tasting everyday if it would make me blow up like a balloon. Maybe I should start running again...

“So how about zee white cake with zee purple and zee black accents?” the chef asked and I nodded my head. “Any special flowers or designs on zee cake?”

I swallowed and pulled my wedding binder out of my purse. “I was thinking something along these lines?” I said, handing over the picture of the cake I had fallen in love with. “Like this but with a little something that makes it unique? Does that make sense?”

“Perfect sense, Madame, I will draw up some sketches and get back to you before you are done with zee tasting,” and with that he disappeared into the backroom, leaving Maya and I with the hardest decision known to man—picking one of these delectable creations.

“How am I going to pick? We’ve tried six different cakes out of the twenty and I like all of them?” I sighed, moaning with a fork full of white cake with white chocolate almond frosting. “Can he make it a sampler cake? Like a section of each?”

“You gest list isn’t that big, love,” Maya teased, licking the spoon. “I know I am leaning toward the chocolate and vanilla cake with that amazing raspberry filling. I wonder if Big Guy would like that,” she mused and I couldn’t help but smile. She was so cute when she thought about him. “He’s not one for sweets but I think he would make an exception for this cake.”

“Speaking of Matt,” I said with my mouth full of the next cake sample. “Have you thought about how you want to ask him?”

A smile instantly spread over Maya’s face as she leaned back in her chair. “I haven’t come up with the how yet. All I know is that I want to be doing something where he would never expect it.”

“Well, I don’t think he will ever expect it,” I chuckled, trying to imagine how Brian would have reacted if I proposed to him. Maya shot me a pointed look and I held my hands up. “I think you should plan a day excursion or something that he really likes to do and ask in the middle of that. You know like take him to a paintball range, get hit and pretend to be hurt and ask him. I can picture it now!” I said, holding my hands out in front of me like I was picturing the scene.

Maya rolled her eyes. “Always a dreamer,” she chuckled. “I was thinking maybe something like a beach day, just the two of us and asking him at sunset. You know, making it one of those days that he remembers forever.”

“I think he’ll remember it forever no matter what you do, M,” I corrected before licking the addicting frosting off my fork. Really, how was I going to choose one? I wanted them all!

“I just want to do it the right way…but maybe your idea has something to it. Take him on a dirt bike range or something manly like that. He’d love it and then have something set up on the side for lunch,” she mused as door opened.

“Now you’re thinking! Oh, he’s is not going to know what hit him!”

“Who’s not going to know what hit him?”

I looked up from the cake I was tasting to see Brian standing in front of our table and I let out a squeal of delight. “Brian! What are you doing here? I thought you had your interview!” I sprang from the bench and jumped into his arms and Maya shook her head at us.

“We just got done so I thought I would see if I could catch you before you ate all the cake,” he teased, whipping a bit of frosting off my face before pulling me in for a hungry kiss.

“And that is my cue to leave. I’ll see you guys at Johnny’s tonight?” Maya asked, grabbing her bag. “Zack just texted about a pre-tour party or something.”

“Yeah, see you there, M!” I called before Brian’s lips captured mine again, making my world spin.

Ben Bruce’s POV

“Hello, we are Asking Alexandria,” I started with a silly voice, looking straight into the camera. “And you are watching Pitcam TV….”

“And you are in for some fucking awesome shit man!” Danny screamed into the microphone before the host took it away from us. I licked my lips as I watched her ass sway side to side in those tight leather pants as she took her seat. Damn I could think of a thing or two to do with her afterwards…

“You heard right, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Amber and I currently sitting back stage with Asking Alexandria who is headlining this year’s Warp Tour. So how is tour going?”

“It’s been good….it’s been fucking hot over here. It was over 100 in Italy last week,” I said, adjusting my hat and looking at my fellow band mates. Hell was it hot in here or was it just me? “but it’s been really good. The crowds have been awesome.”

“Yeah the crowds have been amazing, some of the best we’ve had,” Danny added and shook my head.

“But Danny has been shit,” I added jokingly, gesturing toward him as Amber the host laughed.

“This guy as been shit too,” Worsnop shot right back and I shook my head. “No, I’ve been the best. I’m always the best.”

“That’s right B. Bruce rules,” Sam chuckled and shot a wink at the camera.

“So you guys are nearing the end of the European leg of the tour and are about to head to the states. Were you guys nervous about playing songs from your new album for a larger audience?”

“Erm…It’s our first headlining tour but no we weren’t really nervous. We’ve probably played over a hundred shows now with the new material so we feel confident heading over the pond,” Danny replied, behaving himself more than normal, which was odd.

“But Danny consistently gives us shit so we know what we’re in for,” I joked, causing the host to laugh again.

“So there is really nothing to worry about,” Danny smirked, elbowing me in side. “We know what we’re doing and that that’s all that fucking matters.”

“I’m just so excited to see your show tonight and to hear your new songs,” Amber continued and I nodded in agreement.

“Yes it’s going to be good—I’m going to be good, we already established that,” I said before Cam interrupted.

“And the rest of us are going to be shit. It’s all about B. Bruce here tonight,” he said and I stood up and took a bow, playing up the camera like I always do.

“So what can you tell fans about the new album? What kind of sound were you going for because the two singles that were released are a totally different AA sound then we are used to. We love it but tell us some more about that process,” oh so she wanted to jump into the hard questions now? No worries, I got this since I came up with most of the damn songs.

“For the new album we kind of wanted to change things up a bit. We’ve gone threw some interesting times the past few years, met new people, got new influence, fucked new girls, you know,” I said, glancing over at James who was subconsciously drumming on his legs. Was that stupid fuck really still nervous in interviews? “We wanted something harder with a different kind of spin but we didn’t want to sound like some crappy version of Avenged Sevenfold. We wanted to make something completely unique to us and our sound and I think we accomplished that on the new album. It really is a piece of each or our heart and souls.” I finished and all the guys nodded in agreement.

“That is awesome and Speaking of Avenged Sevenfold,” Amber suddenly transitioned and I mentally kicked myself. Those douchebags were the last people I wanted to talk about in an interview about our new album. “There is a rumor going around that you and the Avenged guys have had some common love interests.”

“You know rock and roll and metal all come from the same love interests, darling,” I said, waving off her comment, though my mind instantly flashed to that haunting pair of brown eyes that I had been trying to forget for months. “We’ve all fucked the same groupies too I’m sure. I just know that those American blokes can only last for seconds. Come to Europe, we know how to treat the ladies right,” I said with a wink at Amber who leaned forward, looking at me with a small smirk.

“So you are saying that rumors of members of your band sleeping with Synyster Gates and M. Shadow’s fiancé’s are true?” What a fucking minute, did she just say fiancé? Since fucking when was Maya engaged? Not that it was any of my business but what the fuck?!

“Let’s just say that we are familiar with those lovely ladies,” Danny said and I instantly shot him a look. This was not the place or time to talk about this, especially not in an interview. Maya had always wanted to maintain her privacy but it looked like all that had been blown out the window.

“So which one of you dated or slept with the girls? Any information on them?” Amber asked, sticking the microphone in my face. If she thought I was going to say anything she had another thing coming.

“Oh the stories we could tell you about those two—” Danny started only for James to elbow him hard in the side.

“What he means it that it not our place to tell that exclusive information. You’ll have to ask M. Shadows and Gates for inside access to their…fiancés,” he hissed like the word didn’t sit well in his mouth either. Shit this wasn’t going well for any of us.

“No comments from you B. Bruce? You’re pretty quiet all of a sudden. Did one of those love ladies steal your heart? It was rumored that you were dating a dark haired beauty a while back. Was she the same beauty that now holds M. Shadow’s arm?”

“You could say that darling creature still holds part of Ben’s heart,” Danny continued and I could literally murder him right now. “That’s who half of the songs are written about anyway. If Brucey baby could sing I bet he would have done that on the track too. Miss Maya’s got his heart still.”

“Shut up Worsnop,” I hissed, trying to get someone to direct the conversation in another direction but it appeared all my band mates were just as stunned as I was by this rush of questions.

“So Bruce had a previous relationship with M. Shadow’s girl? And so the plot thickens. There you have it ladies and gents, the Avenged Sevenfold love scandal hasn’t even cracked the surface yet. Can you tell us anything else?”

“Yeah this interview is fucking over until you can find some questions to ask about the band and not just our rumored love life,” I snapped before walking off the set, closely followed by James and Cam. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! No one was supposed to find out any of that shit and Worsnop had to go and open his big fucking mouth! What the hell are we going to do?”

“Someone needs to tell Maya and Avery before the shit storm comes their way,” James said, his accent thick from stress. I was honestly surprised Danny didn’t give him and Avery away either.

“And how am I going to do that? Call Shadows up on the phone? No fucking way! I’m not suicidal!” I raged, pulling my hair at the ends.

“But she needs to know,” Cam said, shaking his head. “You cant just let the fucking paparazzi attack when this interview drops next week.”

“What the fuck do you suggest then? Huh?”

“Text Maya and tell her what happened. It’s the right thing to do.”


Matt’s POV

From the moment Maya walked out the door, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t let her just walk away from me, not after everything we’d been through. Okay, so I fucking messed up by charging into Avery’s bachelorette party like a bull in a china shop, but she had to see where I was coming from. Didn’t she know how much I loved her and how wanted her with me at all time? Hell, just seeing that guy dancing on her was enough to drive me mad! Maya made me crazy but in the best possible way. I loved her more than anything else in the world and I had to make it up to her.

So without a second thought, I climbed into my car and made my way over to Jimmy’s and spent the night on his couch, explaining everything over and over again to a nodding Jimmy and Jess until I finally slipped into unconsciousness. By the time I awoke in the morning, I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, reminding me of everything I had fucked up last night. I mean, what the hell was I thinking charging into that party? It was stupid and reckless and I could have ruined the best thing that ever happened to me right there! It was no wonder Maya was pissed off at me and thought that I didn’t trust her—though that wasn’t the case at all. I was just a jealous ass that was afraid of losing the one thing he loved the most.

“Just give her some time when she comes downstairs,” Jimmy said, his thigh jumping up and down as he sat next to me on the couch. I could hear Maya’s footsteps echoing down the stairs and it took everything in my power to stay seating in the living room out of sight. Fucking hell, I just wanted to run to her and make everything alright again. “Jess will bring her of the ledge before you jump in. She’s not expecting you.”

“I cant just fucking wait around here all day!” I snapped as I heard Maya’s voice loft into the living room. “I’m going to fix this here and now!”

“Come on Shads just wait a minute—”

“No! We leave in three days and I am not going to spend our remaining time arguing over this shit.” I quickly pushed away from the couch and headed into the kitchen, seeing Jess’ face fall ever so slightly.

“And by was…I mean is…all night… Sorry,” Jess said before she scurried past me out of the room. Finally Maya and I were alone together and just the sight of her made me feel weak in the knees. I wanted nothing more than to scoop her up into my arms and apologize, but I knew I needed to explain myself first.

“M, please…” I began, watching her body instantly stiffen when she heard my voice. I just hoped she wouldn’t shut me out without letting me explain my side of this whole situation. “I get why you are mad. I will apologize to Ave, I swear. I will make up for it, okay? But don’t be mad… don’t let us waste these last couple of days with staying apart, before we have to leave, please… I’m begging you. I trust you, I do. It’s just… fuck! You mean so much to me, I can’t stand the fucking thought of you slipping away, of you with someone else…” I finished, the last part of my sentence trailing away.

Maya slowly turned around, her eyes scanning over my body before her brown eyes meeting mine. God she was fucking beautiful and I couldn’t help but take a step toward her, my body longing to hold her. It had been way too long since we last touched.

“I don’t want to spend our last few days apart either,” she said softly, her eyes sinking back down to the floor. “But you really hurt me with what you did, Matt,” Maya continued and I sighed. “You ruined something that I put hours and hours of hard work into Ave and for what? Because you thought I would do something with one of those guys? Because you thought I was going to leave you for one of them? Don’t be ridiculous, Matt,” Maya scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I realize that, M, and I’m sorry. I don’t always think rationally when it comes to you and it’s one of my downfalls,” I said, running my hands over my face in frustration. “I just don’t want to lose you again. You are my everything, M. You have to believe me.”

I was now standing so close to Maya that I could feel her warm breath on my chest. I wanted to touch her and scoop her into my arms but I didn’t want to push her away. “Why should I? It’ doesn’t seem like you want to believe me, trust me, or have faith in my decisions!”

“I do, M. I really do…and I will prove it to you. Just please, come home with me. I will make it up to and I will apologize to Ave. Please don’t shut me out for this one stupid mistake…I love you, M…” I begged, my eyes pleading down at hers.

“I love you too…” Maya took in a shaky breath and licked her lips, our proximity obviously have an effect on her too. “But if-if I come home with you,” she started, her eyes locked on mine as my heart thundered against my chest. She had me hanging on her every word and never in my life had I felt so terrified of a line of words. “Then you need to prove that you do trust me and faith in me because if you don’t… I can’t do this…”

“I will prove it to you, make my words, M. Mark my words.”

From the moment I brought Maya home from Jimmy and Jess’ house I had been graveling at Maya’s feet trying to get her to see how much she really meant to me. The only problem was that nothing seemed to be lightening her mood. Yes, she was still talking to me but it felt like part of her was missing from me and I didn’t like that one bit. I had to get her back to me before I left. I just hoped my idea would work.

“Matt are you ready yet? We were supposed to be at Johnny’s five minutes ago,” Maya called from the hallway as I carefully place two VIP tickets for the sold out Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed show next week inside.

I hoped that the tickets would make up for my brash actions at Ave’s Bachelorette and show Maya that I trusted her. I mean, it had been months since we had been to a concert without each other and what better way to say ‘I trust you’ then to give the girls all access VIP tickets to see one of their favorite bands without Gates and myself? Was I happy about letting them go without me? Of course not, especially with how I knew those girls dance on the side of the stage, but I had to let them go. They would be in good hands with Ben Burnley and the crew, who of course knew to keep their hands to themselves. I just hoped Maya would see it as a sign of trust and peace wager with Ave.

“Yeah, I’m coming,” I said, placing the ticket in my back pocket. I hoped to surprise both her and Ave with them tonight a Johnny’s. “Are you sure you’re ready for this pre-tour party? We’ve both been out of the game for some time…but I bet we would work some magic and get back into the swing of things,” I said as I entered the kitchen to see Maya wearing a mouthwatering blue dress. “On second thought we better stay here…” I corrected, but Maya didn’t move, she just gapped down at her phone. “What is it?”

“I-I…fucking hell…” Maya gasped, her chest starting to heave up and down as a look of panic spread over her features. She kept looking down at a text message, shaking her head, her hand over her mouth.

“What happened?” I asked, my protective instincts instantly kicking in. I hated to see her like that, especially when I had the perfect make-up evening planned. “What does it say?”

“Ben-Ben texted me—” Maya started and I instantly felt fire shoot through my veins. If I never heard that name come from Maya’s lips again it would be too soon. He was one person that would forever be on my shit list. “About-about Asking Alexandria’s interview today…and…fucking hell…”

“And what?” I asked, taking step toward her to see the text message.

“And apparently the interviewer pressed the topic of our relationship and Danny let some details slip about us…”

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” I raged reading the message over and over multiple times. “So now the whole fucking world is going to be digging up dirt on you two?”

Maya pinched her eyes shut, frustration evident in her features. “No not yet. Apparently the video doesn’t release until next week. Ben said he has their manager working to stop that part from being run. Should we ask Larry to step in? I mean the last thing we need is the press flocking us again!”

“I know. I know.” I nodded my head in agreement. “and yes, you’re right. We should contact Larry to stop this bullshit,” I said, for once feeling thankful for something Ben Bruce had done. If he hadn’t texted us we wouldn’t have known about the press leak until it was too late, and for that alone I was grateful.

I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed his number only for it to go straight to voicemail, which meant he was either on the phone or in a meeting. “Fuck, I got the voicemail and we don’t have time for this. The UK is hours ahead of us making our time to fix this even shorter.”

“Do you want me to try him?” Maya offered. “Or Ave?”

“No, forward me that message from Bruce and I will make sure I get ahold of him,” I said as we headed toward the car. If worst came to worse I would drop Maya off at Johnny’s with Ave and go hunt Larry down by myself. We had to get a move on this tonight before it was too late.

“Did you hear anything back from him yet?” Maya asked as I pulled out my phone once we arrived at Johnny’s. Unfortunately there were no missed calls on the screen.

“No,” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “But you go inside and I will try him again. I’ll be inside in a few minutes, okay?” I promised, trying to make her feel a little bit at ease. “And if I still cant get him then we will involve Ave and Gates.”

Maya nodded before she leaned in and gave me a kiss. “Don’t worry we will put an end to this,” I promised her. “and if I cant, I will make sure to hire you a personal body guard before we leave.”

“I don’t think that is necessary but—”

“I will make sure you’re safe, M…that we’re safe. Nothing is going to come between us. Not rumors from the press or pictures that might surface. I trust you and I know that all that shit is in the past, okay?”

“Okay,” Maya nodded before she met up with Avery and Gates at the door.

Unfortunately after three more failed attempts at reaching Larry, I finally decided to leave a voicemail. Maybe once he actually heard what the problem was he would call me back. “Hey Larry this is Matt. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you because it seems that an Asking Alexandria interview with Pitcam TV is set to release and interview with private information regarding Maya and myself. Can you please call me back before the shit hits the fan.” I finished, anger pulsing through my veins. I didn’t know what the AA assholes were thinking but they had no business talking about anything to do with Avenged Sevenfold or our girlfriend in their interview. I just hoped Larry would be able to help.

With that, I carefully slipped my phone back into my pocket with the girls’ concert’s tickets and headed into the bar. If Larry was going to take his dear sweet time getting back to us, I was going to need a drink. Or multiple drinks.

“Hey shads, where have you been?” Gates said, appearing at my side as soon as I stepped in the door. Now where had Ave and Maya run off to?

“I had to deal with a rat that Asking Alexandria leaked into the press,” I scoffed, only for Gates to pass me a drink. “Apparently its out in the open that Maya and Bruce had a relationship… thanks to fucking Worsnop. I swear if they start digging up pictures that I am going to murder someone.”

“Did they say anything about Ave and Cassells?” Gates asked as I took a long sip of my drink, the burn of the alcohol feeling good in my throat. “I fucking hope not and I hope our managers can put an end to this before it gets out in the open,” I replied. “The last thing we need is the press stirring up old memories.”

“Or making up new shit,” Gates suddenly snarled. “Oh he better back away…and fast…”

“What are you talking about?” I looked up and followed Gate’s gaze across the room just in time to see some douchebag grab both of girls into a long hug, his hand sinking a little too low for my comfort.

“Who the hell does that son of a bitch think he is?” Oh that was just the icing on the cake to have some man hitting on my girl and that guy was going to fucking pay. I slammed my drink down on the table and made my way over to the girls and the douche at the bar, my vision blurring red. No one touched my girl for this long—no one!

Notes

Well here is a long over due update for you lovely readers! I am winding down my school year so I should have a little bit more time to be more prompt with my updates. Thank you so much for being patient!

So the news got insight into Ben and Maya's relationship? Does that mean trouble in paradise? And who is the guy talking to Maya and Avery at the bar? Tell us what you think! :)