During Matthew's Christmas party I had gotten around to knowing everyone except Michelle she seemed closed off from everyone and everything to her is a threat including me and I can't wait to meet the rest of the Avenged crew and get my placement into the Avenged family Matthew had business to attend to which I didn't ask questions about because I knew that he's also running a business that gets very busy during the holidays orders have been coming in all day and he has been under a lot of stress lately but he's making it through I started to wonder why he's leaving at an earlier time I had to admit dating the other Baker has its perks and I have the biggest perk of all and that's Matthew but I anxiously wanted to go somewhere else with him where it's just him and I.


Huntington Beach was always known for the bars and amazing food and I wanted to explore it a little bit more since Matthew was going to be tied up with holiday orders so I decided to invite Samantha I wanted to get to know her a little bit better she and I would become good friends and I hope I can relate to her as well Zack wanted to stay home and watch after the dogs and get some rest before he and Samantha leave for Cancun in a few days that should be nice they need some time to get their lives in place and move away from the spotlight even though you can never escape the press.



"Where are you going?" I asked.


"I'm going to be out of town for a few days." Matthew replied.


"When will you be back?" I sat on the floor indian style still waiting for my answer.


"Soon honey don't worry." Matthew smiled.


"Just come back to me." I kissed his cheek.


"Okay sweetheart." Matthew gathered up the rest of his suitcases and walk out the door.


Watching Matthew leave kind of makes me unhappy but I know that he's coming back to me so I have nothing to worry about I closed the door and walked up the stairs to sort out my scrapbook I have a get a better hobby because I look like a 90 year old lady to pick up scrapbooking and not the electric guitar like a normal person would.


House sitting was not as enjoyable as I thought it would be I was stuck in this house all day with nothing to do this was just a lot to handle right now especially with the amount of pressure my family is putting on me to make something better for myself rather than be a horrible daughter I moved away from the loud noise of New York to settle down in beautiful California I met Matthew a couple of months after.


"Hey Rita want to hangout later?" Zack asked.


"Sure since I'm stuck in the house all day long.


"Want to go out for drinks?" Zack asked.


"That sounds great." I smiled.



Zack has been such a huge comfort while Matthew was away most people will question our close relationship but he wouldn't cross that boundary with me either way I'm not staying in this house any longer so I accept this invitation for drinks with a Rythmn guitarist but the press is going to be all over this and this is just going to be all over the place and I don't want the press to get all wildest therories that they have in their minds.



Zack pulled up into the driveway and his signature smile caught my eye Oh my gosh stop this nonsense Rita you're dating his brother stop thinking about him that way and he has a girlfriend and she will rip me apart if I stare at him for too long and I don't want any trouble with her.



"Hey are you ready to go?" Zack smiled at me.


"Sure." I replied.


Zack opened the door for me when we arrived at the restaurant and my worst fears were realized the press had their cameras in hand and ready to take pictures and I didn't want this so I shielded my face from the camera while Zack rushed me inside so we can have a private lunch and talk about anything and everything he said that Matthew was the weirder one in the family and he was the smart one.

---

The press had disappeared by the time we were finished and I was beyond relieved that the nightmare was finally over and I can go back to Matthew and cuddle underneath our comfortable fireplace with hot chocolate okay I'm in the Christmas mood and listen to him serenade me with his beautiful voice and when I kiss him I feel like I'm in outer space or another dimension he just makes everything so much better.


"Thank you for everything Zack." I sat in the front seat of his mustang and rubbed my hands together to keep warm.


"No problem I know my brother can be busy most of the time." Zack walked me to the door and then he planted a kiss on my lips and it lasted forever I pushed him away and ran inside of the house.. What have I done?


That kiss was such a blur maybe because I was drunk but I hope that nobody saw us because the media can be anywhere taking pictures okay I sound paranoid and that wasn't a good look I ran into the driveway looking for any sign of Zack anywhere but he had driven off so I waited for Danielle to arrive maybe she can shed some light on my idiotic decision she arrived 15 minutes later she had mascara running down her face so something terrible happened and she just ran to me for comfort.

"Danielle are you okay?" I asked.

"No." Danielle replied.

"Can you tell me what happened?" I dropped my arm over her shoulder.

"Matt has been going out late again." Danielle sobbed.


"Isn't that normal for a guy to do?" I chuckled.

"Yeah but he's been very abusive towards me lately." Danielle whispered.


"Wait he hit you?!?!" I screamed I could hear my voice echoing through out the house.


"Yeah but it's just a minor set back for us." Danielle replied she had makeup all over her face so I could see she was a wreck because of this.


"Darling we need to get you some help." I said after a few minutes of continuous crying.


"I'd like that can you maybe stay with me?" Danielle asked she had a pleading look on her face.


"Sure Matthew has a spare bedroom upstairs you can stay there until we find out what to do." I smiled at her.

"Thank you I owe you one." she gathered her clothes up and walked upstairs to settle down for the night.


I know that I'm doing the right thing and I know Matthew would understand this world is full of horrible people and I'm half of the world trying to help a help friend she has been through enough tonight so this is the only way I can help her I hope tomorrow is a better day.



----
The next morning was a little bit unusual Danielle had disappeared she always goes for a run at this time she was so athletic I wish I could be like her I had woken up and decided to make us breakfast before she comes back for the holidays I don't want her to be alone with nobody to be with her.


"Hey." I heard Matthew's voice from behind me.

"Hey darling." I smiled.


"So you want to explain yourself?" Matthew wasn't a happy camper right now.


"Explain what?" I stood behind the counter confused.


I knew he found out about the kiss between Zack and I and this conversation was far from over we have so much time to argue about things like this but right now I really need him more than ever.

Notes

Here's an update!!
What will Rita do now?
How will Samantha and Matthew react?
Until next time!!!