Brian’s POV

"It needs to be more melodic like....do do do do do..." Matt explained, singing my newest guitar solo as Zack and I sat on the patio outside the studio. Was he fucking serious right now? Did I not know how to play guitar or record? "You know, like..."

I toned Matt out as I took a slow drag from my Marlboro, feeling a slight release from my irritation. Damn these were a good smoke. I took another long drag and exhaled it slowly, blowing a cloud of smoke around me. Ah, I never got tired of that smell.

As Matt continued to rewrite my solo and babble on, I pulled my black beanie down over my eyes. Not only did I need to block out the bright California sun, but it was the only thing keeping me from snapping back at Matt. I knew he had good intentions for the bonus track we were writing, but I knew what I was fucking doing!

"Gates are even fucking listening?"

"Yes," I groaned. "Got it. You want more legato in the high section and more lyrical. Yes I know, it needs to be perfect," I cut in as Matt opened his mouth again. "I'll be back in after my smoke."

"Awesome, man. See you inside for your next take!" Matt smiled and patted my back. I turned to watch him go back inside and once he was out of sight I let out a scream and covered my whole head with the beanie. I thrashed myself around as I screamed in frustration.

"Let it out man," Zacky laughed. I pulled my beanie back up to its rightful place on my head just in time to be engulfed in a cloud of Zack's smoke.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Zack? Did that really just happen?" I raged, standing up pacing back and forth.

"Yes it did," Zack said, taking another drag from his cigarette. He looked calm and relaxed in the patio chair with blue-stripped hoodie pulled up over his head. I could tell he was exhausted from Jimmy's party last night. "Glad it wasn't me. I would have told him to fuck off and let my do my job," he chucked, flipping his hair out of his eyes and ashing his cigarette at the same time. Classic Zacky.

"You're my witness that I had nothing to do with writing that solo," I said, half sarcastic and half serious as I pointed to the door. "I must be slouching more than I ever have in my entire life! Not to mention it was only the third fucking take!" I let out another scream before one echoed me from the door. I jumped in surprise.

"What are we screaming about?" Jimmy asked, leaning out the doorway, his arms outstretched and holding onto the doorframe for dear life. One wrong move or slip and he would face plant on the ground.

"I apparently can't write my own solos anymore with out a coach," I sighed, sitting back in the old patio chair. "But what can you do? What can you do?" I added with a Scottish accent.

Fuck, what was I really bitching about anyway? I was making music with my best friends and we were about to go back out on tour in three weeks. Our new record was done and released and now we were working on a new bonus track to release before tour.

"Well I've been telling you that for years," Jimmy chuckled before moving to take the seat next to me. I crumpled Matts lyric sheet and chucked it at him. "Hey! Don't take it personally! You know just a spoon full of Jimmy helps the medicine go down!" He sang and I couldn't help but laugh. Jimmy always brightened my day, especially after my break up with Michelle.

"So are you done with your track?" Zack asked Jimmy after blowing out smoke.

"Yeah just you guys and short shit are left to record. But man you should hear the jams coming from the studio next door! I don't know who's in today but ....damn!"

I pulled my beanie back down over my eyes as I continued to smoke. This was the best part of my day so far.

"Don't give them more credit than they deserve, it's Fatal Facade in there today," Zacky hissed.

I didn't quite remember when we pitted ourselves against the new band Fatal Facade, but what I did know is that they came right out talking smack about us. It was only three weeks ago that Matt and Zacky got into a fight with their basest and lead guitar players, Gunnar Tebo and Axel Fire, at a local bar. It wasn't good publicity for either band. Personally I was going to try and stay out of it, but if my brothers needed me, I would back them up.

"But really they have a great sound," Jimmy continued. "You can hate them for their sucky attitudes and metal snobbery, but you can't hate them because of their talent."

"Fuck them," Zacky said and then spit at the ground. "No new band comes out talking shit. It's so fucking disrespectful..."

I looked down at my phone just as it buzzed with a new email and Zack's and Jimmy's did the same. "Mayhem tour line up!" I sang, my mood lifting even more.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Zack yelled before, throwing his phone back down on the table.

"What?" I was still waiting for my email to open.

"We are co-head lining with Fatal Facade, that's what," Jimmy said with a slight frown. "I think some asses are going to be kicked!" He said in one of his unusual voices that always gave me a chuckle.

"Let them put their money where their mouth is. We've got the late spot on almost every show," I added, finally looking at the email from the Mayhem Festival. "They are like an opener.... so don't get you panties in a bunch, Baker." I laughed before flicking him on the forehead.

"You fucking asshole," Zack laughed before lunging towards me. I knew better than to stay around for Zack's payback. I quickly jumped over Jimmy in his chair and ran towards the studio entrance. It was then that I was suddenly shoved backwards into Zack.

"Get the fuck out of my way."

I looked up from my stumble just in time to see a man about my size, covered in tattoos, wearing only a black tank and jeans. However, he wore a brown beanie that was similar to mine. Close behind him was a short little redhead with an ornate flower tattoo sleeve, and I had to admit she was hot.

"Caleb stop!" She said, grabbing the back of his shirt. "I don't see what the big deal is! We’re finally co-headlining on a major tour! It's what we've been waiting for!"

"But it's with those scumbags," he hissed glaring at Jimmy, Zack, and me. All three of us were now standing ready to pounce if this douche decided to continue to run his mouth.

"Who are you calling scum?" Zacky growled taking a step forward. "You're new to this business and it's not good to make enemies with people who have an established name."

"Back off pretty boy, you're old news. Don't be bitter because we're surpassing you." The tattoo man shot back.

"Caleb, enough," the girl said, giving him a good smack on the arm. Now that was my kind of girl. "We are going on this tour and we are going to get along. Now I don't want to hear another word from any of you. We are equal!" She said pointing a warning finger and glaring at us with her ice blue eyes. Damn…

"I'd listen to the lady if I were you," I chuckled. "We don't mess around on tour."

Suddenly those ice blue eyes turned on me with an angry look. "Listen here… Gates right? I don't need you stick up for me." She was walking towards me with her finger pointed at my chest. I slowly backed up as she pursued me, totally amused by the whole situation. The next thing I knew I was backed against the building with her finger firmly poking my chest. Man this was hot...

"I can handle my brother and beat your ass at the same time." Her eyes narrowed at me and I couldn't help but smirk. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am," I said. "Can't wait to share the stage with you."

The redhead backed up and I couldn't help but smile as I watched her walk away. Man did her ass look good in those jeans.

"Eyes off my sister," the other man growled.

"Sorry, didn't catch your names," I said, taking out another cigarette as they walked to a black Mercedes. However instead of an answer, I received a two-person middle finger salute. I smiled and bowed; I was the man of the hour.

"See you on tour!" I laughed and waved as they sped off, though my brain couldn't shake those blue eyes.

"Damn Gates," Jimmy laughed. "Way to piss off Violet Rouge and her brother Axel Fire."

"My pleasure," I replied in a goofy voice. "New project me thinks!"

"To find out what her real name is?" Jimmy asked. "Because there is no way her mother giver her a strippers name...but damn she's hot."

"No fucking the enemy, Haner," Zack said with narrow eyes before I could reply.

I put my hands up in defeat before going back into the studio. No one was going to tell me what I could not do.

As I walked back into the recording studio, all I could think about was that red hair and crystal blue eyes.

Kadence’s POV

"Damn it, Caleb will you please slow down," I begged as my brother flew through traffic. I clutched the 'oh shit' handle for dear life as he took another rough turn. "Where the fuck are we going anyway?"

Caleb shook his head before yelling and slamming his fists into the steering wheel. "I fucking hate them! They are so arrogant and don't remember what they did to me at all. And the way that sleazy guitar player was looking at you...err...I could just gouge his eyes out!" He yelled, making me flinch.

A few years ago, before Avenge Sevenfold had become a popular metal band, Caleb had worked for them. He loved his job and Matt had vowed to help him succeed in the metal world once they were discovered. Cal was so excited for every task that was asked of him. However, a few weeks later, he came home and trashed the apartment. He never told me what had happened but he vowed to get back at Matt.

"He was not looking at me and I would beat his ass if he was. I don't need you to stand up for me, Cal," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. I had no personal vendetta against Avenged Sevenfold, but no one treated my brother like dirt and gets away with it. "Remember Jake at the bar?"

"Yeah, you beat him up so bad that that fucker won't even turn his head when someone walks into the bar," Caleb chuckled. I was happy to defuse some of his anger. He could get violent and I knew all too well what it felt like to be on the receiving end.

"So just relax, I'll call Mason and see if he can switch some of our performance times on the Mayhem Tour," I assured him, looking through my phone to find our managers number.

"Ugh! Matt Sanders will pay for what he did," Caleb hissed, getting worked up again.

"Can you just tell me what happened so I can fully understand?" I asked, hoping this time would be different. Caleb slammed on the breaks and I flew forward, the seatbelt saving me from flying into the dashboard.

"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong, Kadence," he snarled, staring at me with a dangerous look in his eyes. "I just need a fucking fix!"

I didn't dare move or tell my objections to him right now. I knew that I would pay for my words. When Cal was pissed, whoever was in his path would pay. I sat still as he jumped out of the car and ran into a run down house across the street.

"Fuck..." I sighed, picking up my phone once Caleb was out of sight. I hoped getting high would help him calm down and have a rational conversation. We were not going to cancel on this tour! We were finally making our dreams come true.

"Marley, are you guys done recording for the day?" I asked after he answered the phone. Marley was our bands drummer and my closest friend. He had my back even more than my brother did.

"Yeah I think we got what we were looking for," he replied with a sigh. "How's Ax taking the news?" Marley knew my brother and I all too well.

"Not well..."

"Did that fucker hit you again? I swear—"

"No, Marley, he didn't but I'm sitting outside the dealers house right now," I said ducking down in the seat as a frightening looking man walked by.

"I thought he stopped that shit," Marley groaned. "Damn it we can't go on tour if he can't make it through without anger management. We need to do something."

"I know, Mar, I know," I signed, putting my head in my hands. Suddenly two gunshots sounded and Caleb came flying out of the house.

"What the hell was that?" Marley and I said at the same time.

"Meet us at our apartment, I gotta go," I told Marley as Caleb jumped in the car.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked as a man with a bloody nose came to the door and started shooting at the car. Caleb stepped on the gas and flew down the street,t the sudden motion pressing me back in my seat. "Caleb?!"

"Shhh quite, you might piss somebody off," he hissed, turning to look at me with deranged eyes. He was fucking high as a kite and now I was pissed.

"You better find a safe place to pull over. Now!" I said, my voice shaking with anger. "You are not driving me home like this."

Caleb slammed on the breaks again and I caught myself on the dashboard, my phone flying somewhere in the back.. "Get the fuck out then! GET OUT!" He screamed before giving me a harsh shove.

"Fuck you, Cal," I said though narrow eyes as I climbed out of the car. Looks like I'll be walking home tonight.

I watched as my brother's black Mercedes flew off into the distance, not stopping at any lights or stop signs in the distance. I was afraid for him. My brother was a loose cannon and he had only gotten worse with the more fame that our band received. Caleb loved to party, drink, and do drugs turning him into a ticking time bomb waiting to explode at any given minute, and it scared the hell out of me.

When we were younger, Caleb and I were constantly let down and verbally abused by our alcoholic father. Caleb was the brunt of most of the abuse and it was bound to rub off on him. I just never realized how much until recently.

As I reached the driveway, I was thankful to see both Marley's and Gunnar's cars. I had been walking for the past hour and I was not in the mood to put up with Caleb alone.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Caleb asked as I shut the front door. He was sitting perfectly content on the couch playing COD with Gunnar.

I shook my head and walked straight to my room. He obviously didn't remember leaving me in the middle of nowhere after taking whatever drug he had taken.

"Ugh." I sighed, driving into my bed. I smiled lightly when I heard my door open, instantly sensing Marley’s presence. "Today was supposed to be a good day but he fucked it up yet again..."

"I know babe," Marley replied, sitting next to me with a red solo cup in hand. "Here, you're gonna want to drink this." I took a swig from the cup and the welcome taste of vodka and cranberry juice.

"Thanks," I sighed, taking another large gulp.

"Well even though your brother isn't happy about the tour, I am. We can kick their asses and gain a big following. I am so ready to be a rock star sex god!" Marley sang before taking a sip of his own drink.

"Oh yeah, you like sex?" I teased, knowing that he was the biggest man whore in the group.

"You know it, Violet Rouge. My favorite hooker!"

"I'm not a hooker! And I bet you a thousand bucks that you can't go a week on tour without hooking up with someone," I dared with a wicked smirk.

Marley pursed his lips and looked up at the ceiling, contemplating my bet, his hand absentmindedly playing with my long red curls. He always played with my hair when we were together. The motion must have been comforting to him.

"I'll take that wager, Kady,” he said in a silly voice, sitting up on his elbow. "And I'll raise you to two grand that you can't go the whole tour without hooking up with one of the guys from Avenged Sevenfold!"

"Are you kidding me? Cal would kill me... you're gonna lose two grand," I laughed, shaking his hand. "Why would you make such an awful bet?"

"I have heard from my sources that Mr. Synyster Gates and Zacky V are quite the ladies men," he said throwing a wink at me.

Marley knew me all to well. He knew that I was a sucker for guitar players with beautiful eyes but I wasn't interested. I couldn't be interested no matter how attractive they were. I was going on tour to achieve my dream and make a name for myself and my band. I couldn't betray my brother like that either. I would not sleep with anyone from our rival band and that was final.

"Prepare to lose my friend."

Notes

So I've decided to re-write and finish this old story of mine! I hope you love this story as much as I do! Let me know your thoughts! I love hearing from you! :)