When Brian opened the bathroom door, he was faced with the unexpected. Johnny. Standing right in front of him.

“Gates?” Johnny questioned as he tried to step into the bathroom but Brian was still standing in the doorway, frozen.

Aubrey’s eyes widened, hidden by Brian’s torso, as she recognized the voice in front of them.

“What’re you doing? Why’d you lock the door?” Johnny asked, bemused and skeptical of his friend’s strange actions and even stranger demeanor.

Brian didn’t say a word. His brain raced with an excuse, a way to get out of the bathroom and get Aubrey out of the bathroom without Johnny seeing.

“Okaaay. Move, dick,” Johnny spat, shoving Brian out of the way and revealing Aubrey behind him, looking like a deer in headlights.

“AC? What are you...“ Johnny trailed off as his eyes widened. He looked over at Brian then back to Aubrey. Then back to Brian. Then back to Aubrey.

She looked down at her feet sheepishly, silently confirming Johnny’s growing suspicion.

Johnny’s jaw dropped as the realization hit him, and he screeched. “Holy shit!”

Brian grabbed Johnny by the collar of his shirt and yanked him into the bathroom then slammed the door behind him, locking it again.

Johnny’s eyes were wide with understanding and fear as Brian shoved him up against the back of the door roughly. “You two just fucked in here!”

Brian exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he had been holding in and let go of Johnny’s shirt. He took a step back and looked at Aubrey, who glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Neither of them made a sound.

“Oh my GOD, you two have been fucking, haven’t you?!” Johnny realized, looking at Aubrey then at Brian. He was getting worked up, panting as he tried to quickly get his words out. “I knew there was a reason why you weren’t bringing a ton of girls back to the bus! The girls you fucked haven’t been ninjas - they’ve been AUBREY! They haven’t been sneaking out quickly, they’ve been right in front of us this whole time! SHE’S been right in front of us this whole time!” Johnny put his face in his hands, covering his eyes, then slowly dragged them down his face, looking up at them with realization. “Oh shit, this is blowing my fucking mind.”

Brian and Aubrey just looked at each other again, unsure of what to do or say. They had been caught. And they hadn’t talked about their “relationship” with each other, much less with anyone else. How were they going to explain it? How did they want to explain it?

Suddenly, Johnny started cackling. “Oh boy, and I’m the band’s colossal fuck up? I’m the idiot?” Doubled over with laughter, he pointed to Brian. “You’ve been fucking AUBREY! Our merch girl! No wonder she’s not going on any more tours with us! Oh god, wait till the guys get ahold of this!”

Brian’s face fell. He hadn’t thought about it like that. Maybe that is why she didn’t want to go on tour with them anymore.

“Johnny, no,” Aubrey said with anguish, reaching for him.

Once more, he looked back and forth between the two of them, seeing the frightened look in Brian’s eyes and the imploring look in Aubrey’s. Just one look in both of their desperately pleading eyes and Johnny knew he couldn’t tell a soul.

“…son of a bitch,” He grumbled, narrowing his eyes at them. “The one time someone - who’s NOT ME - does something worth blabbing about... And you dickheads aren’t gonna let me say a word, are you?”

If he was being honest, Brian didn’t care if the guys knew. At first, he wanted to keep it a secret, knowing how ridiculously stupid it was to sleep with their live-in merch girl while they’re on tour, having zero intentions of a relationship with her, but now? Now, he didn’t care. One of the guys knew - why not just tell them all? Why hide it?

“Please, Johnny,” Aubrey pleaded. She found solace in her friendships with the guys, Brian included, and she didn’t want anything to change. If this knowledge spread, things would definitely change. “I don’t want them to find out like a piece of gossip. We’ll tell them on our own terms. When we’re ready.”

He narrowed his eyes at them yet again, flickering his gaze from Brian to Aubrey back to Brian then back to Aubrey. He sighed, relenting. “For you, AC, I’ll keep my mouth shut,” he said then turned and pointed to Brian. “But you? Oh my god, you owe me. This is going to be such good blackmail.”

“I’ll owe you,” Brian agreed, knowing Johnny would give him shit for it any chance he could, but if that’s what Aubrey wanted, he’d suck it up and take it like a man.

After pushing himself between them, Johnny moved over to the urinal and unzipped his pants. Brian and Aubrey just looked at each other, trying to gauge each other’s feelings about the situation. Neither seemed to show much emotion about it.

“Damn,” Johnny said as he began to pee with his back to them. “You two seriously just fucked in here? That’s some next level shit, straight out of a movie or something.”

“Jesus, Johnny,” Brian exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose while Aubrey blushed.

Once Johnny was done in the bathroom, the three of them exited together, seeming even more promiscuous that way. On the dance floor, they met back up with Val and Matt, who were also back from their rendezvous, and Zack and Jimmy, who were beyond intoxicated.

It only took an hour for Brian and Aubrey to relax and forget about being caught almost literally with their pants down. Johnny almost immediately disregarded the scene he witnessed - for the time being - thanks to alcohol and random girls to keep his attention. By that point, everyone was gathered around a high standing table on the other side of the club, which was quieter, giving them the opportunity to chat while they continued to throw back drinks.

“Hey, AC?” Jimmy slurred, throwing an arm around Aubrey and grabbing her attention.

“Yeah?” She replied, turning to him. His face was pale - paler than usual - and his brow was furrowed in confusion.

“I think I’m gonna hurl,” he mumbled matter-of-factly.

Brian, overhearing his friend’s confession, reacted quickly. He knew if Jimmy was admitting to feeling sick, he was definitely going to barf. So he grabbed his friend by the arm and dragged him to the men’s bathroom. Aubrey followed, concerned by Brian’s hasty movements.

As soon as they reached a toilet, Jimmy retched, spewing the contents of his stomach all into the bowl.

Aubrey watched with a pouty frown on her face. She didn’t like seeing him so sick. He tried to secure himself by holding each side of the toilet seat with his hands but he continued to sway and stumble anyway. He was hardly able to hold his body still over the toilet as he vomited, so Brian held a hand on his back to steady him.

Knowing it would help soothe him, Aubrey grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser and wet it with cold water. When Jimmy was done throwing up, he leaned back against the wall of the stall, resting his head back against it.

“I wanna go home,” he whined.

“I know, sweetie,” Aubrey cooed as she patted the cold paper towel on his flushed cheeks gently. “We’ll get you back on the bus in a second.”

“No, I wanna go home,” he reiterated. “To California.”

“Not much longer, bud,” Brian reassured, watching as Aubrey wiped Jimmy’s mouth for him. “We’ll be home before you know it.”

Even though the words left his own mouth, it stung as he heard them out loud. He wasn't ready to go home. Because being home now meant being without Aubrey.

Jimmy leaned over and laid his head on Aubrey’s shoulder, slouching greatly because of their height difference. He seemed to have the same thought as Brian because he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.

“I don't want you to leave though,” he whined.

Aubrey exhaled softly, wrapping her arms around him to return the hug. “Hey, my brother lives near Huntington now, so I know I'll be making trips out there. It's only a six-hour drive. I’ll come visit.”

“And phone calls every day,” Jimmy negotiated.

She chuckled gently, glancing at Brian who was smiling but sadly.

“And phone calls every day,” she agreed, rubbing Jimmy’s back.

Satisfied by their deal, Jimmy stood up straight and pulled out of the hug, but he moved too fast, so he stumbled a little. Brian grabbed his arm and helped him steady on his feet.

"Ready to go back to the bus?” Brian asked.

Jimmy nodded lazily like a child.

“C’mon.” Brian patted his best friend on the back then led him out the stall and to the door.

And for the second time that night, Aubrey exited the men’s bathroom with Brian and another male.

“Hey,” Brian greeted the others back at the high table. “Jimmy just puked his brains out in the bathroom, so we’re gonna take him back to the bus. You guys gonna hang out here a little longer?”

“Yeah, we’ll meet you guys back at the bus later!” Matt answered.

Johnny pursed his lips, smirking at Brian and Aubrey knowingly. They simply ignored his look.

“Be careful,” Val warned. “Feel better, Jimmy.”

Jimmy, whose arm was draped over Aubrey’s shoulder for support, saluted haphazardly at her in response.

They said their goodbyes then headed out.

Brian and Aubrey tried their best to get Jimmy through the crowd of people and out the door, but his tall body and lanky appendages made it somewhat difficult as he wavered and staggered around. At one point, his feet nearly came right out from under him. Luckily he was right next to a wall that broke his fall as he smacked right into it.

“Oh shit,” he mumbled, trying to regain his balance. “That wall came out of nowhere!”

Brian and Aubrey laughed, grabbing onto his arms and helping him stand up straight again. Jimmy swayed, giggling at his own mishap, throwing an arm around both of their shoulders.

“I love you guys,” Jimmy cooed. “So much.”

“We love you too,” Aubrey replied sweetly.

Jimmy smiled, pulling them in close on either side of him. Despite his intoxicated state, he meant those words. In fact, he meant them so much that he felt the need to remind them every few minutes, the whole way back to the bus.

“Oh shit, wait, I love you guys soo much,” Jimmy slurred with an arm still hanging over both of their shoulders as they kept his steps steady walking up to the bus. “Have I ever told you that?”

“You might’ve mentioned it once or twice,” Brian answered, smirking at Aubrey, who returned the smile.

“Well I’m mentionin’ it again!” Jimmy exclaimed, sweeping his head sideways. “I love you!”

Aubrey chuckled. “And we love you!”

They helped him up the stairs and down the hallway until they reached his bunk.

“You guys would be so good for each other,” Jimmy muttered as he fell back onto his pillow. “You two should get married.”

“Okay, buddy,” Brian agreed to appease his friend.

“Am I gonna be the best man?” Jimmy wondered as Aubrey pulled an empty wastebasket over to his bunk in case he got sick again.

“Of course you’re gonna be my best man,” Brian assured, patting his friend’s chest.

“If you switch the vowels in your name, your name becomes Brain,” Jimmy informed randomly, changing the subject without warning.

“I know,” Brian laughed. “You’ve told me that many times.”

"Alright. Goodnight, assholes,” Jimmy said in an innocent, kind voice.

Aubrey chuckled. “Goodnight.”

“Night, Jim,” Brian countered with a laugh.

Aubrey shut the curtain to the bunk then they walked back down the hall to the front lounge.

Brian reached into his pockets for his phone but found something silky and lacy instead. He pulled the material out to reveal Aubrey’s thong.

"Oh, hey, I think this belongs to you," he said as he held her panties out to her.

"Oh shit, I was wondering where the hell my underwear went," she laughed, taking them from him. But not putting them on, he noticed.

"I didn't want to throw them on the dirty bathroom floor, so I shoved them in my pocket," he explained. "But I forgot about them when Johnny busted up in there."

"No problem," she replied, walking down the hall again to discard her lingerie. "Thank you for not throwing them on the ground. You're the only guy to give a shit about my underwear staying clean."

He laughed. Jake probably wouldn't have given a shit about her underwear.

Brian’s brow furrowed. Where the hell did that thought come from? Jesus, he needed to get the fuck over it. Nothing happened between them. But would it have?

He still wondered if she would've gone through with it if he hadn't intervened. He knew it was stupid to bring it up - he fought to keep the words down, knowing no good could come from the conversation, but apparently Jimmy's barfing was contagious because Brian couldn't stop the word vomit that arose when she walked back into the front lounge.

“Were you going to sleep with him?” Brian asked abruptly.

“With who?” She wrinkled her brow. “Jimmy?”

“Noo,” Brian laughed softly. “With Jake.”

This time, Aubrey laughed. “Jake? The bartender from that hotel?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “I overheard him ask you to get a drink with him after work.”

She cocked her head slightly to the side. “Just in case you forgot, I didn’t get a drink with him that night,” she reminded him. “I was in bed. With you. Remember? Besides, I didn’t even say yes to him.”

“You didn't say no either,” he pointed out.

“Why does it matter?” She wondered, getting frustrated with him.

He knew she would ask that. It was a question he didn't have the answer to. So he lied. “It doesn't.” It did. He just didn't know why it mattered. “I just wanted to know if you were actually going to sleep with him or not.”

“I mean, I thought about it.” Her words felt like a punch straight to the pit of his stomach. “Wait, is that why you followed me downstairs that night and seduced me by the fucking vending machines?”

He hesitated, unsure how to answer. “No. Not exactly.”

“Wow,” she breathed, seeing right through his fib. “You are something else, Brian. That was such a memorable night for me. Now it's totally tainted.”

He stared at her. Say something, you idiot.

“Goodnight, Brian,” she sighed, not wanting to continue the conversation any longer.

She started to walk away, back to the bunks.

“Aubrey wait,” he was finally able to speak.

She stopped and reluctantly turned around to face him.

“I was jealous. Okay?” He admitted, suddenly feeling like if he didn't open up to her now, he'd lose her even sooner than he anticipated. “I was jealous and I don't know why, I couldn't tell you why. I know what we're doing here, I know I didn't and don’t have any right to be jealous. But I was.”

She simply stared at him, not showing any emotion on her face. But deep down, she was so pleased that he was opening up to her, discussing how he felt about her. She hadn’t realized it before, but she desperately wanted to know his feelings.

He sighed. “At first, yeah I wanted to seduce you, but I thought it wasn't fair, you were drunk and high, and it just wasn't right. So I backed off. But then you started whispering things in my ear, begging me to fuck you.” He threw his hands up in defeat and surrender. “Of course I wanted to keep you away from Jake. And I'm not sorry for it because that night ruined me in the best possible way and I won't ever regret it. And I know you feel the same way. Don't let my immaturity taint that night for you. Please. Despite the fact that I acted like a controlling caveman, that night was perfect and you know it.”

She exhaled audibly. She actually wasn't mad. Truth be told, she was glad he had done what he did. It kept her out of someone else's bed and wrecked her in his bed. But it still sucked to know that someone’s intentions that seemed so pure were actually driven by possessiveness.

“I'm not sorry for that night but I'm sorry if I hurt you,” he added. “You have to know that I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you.”

“I know,” she acknowledged. “I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight.”

He sighed, defeated, watching as she walked out of the room again. He was overcome with a sudden onset of new emotions. He wanted to follow her. To kiss her. To make her forgive him. To beg her to stay with them on tour. To move to Huntington Beach. To do all of these things he suddenly realized he wanted.

But none of those things were what she wanted. And he couldn't stomach groveling like a little bitch just for her to turn him down.

Ø

The next morning, Aubrey woke early. And by the grace of God, she woke without a major hangover, but she still needed a pick-me-up. So she meandered into the front lounge to find some type of energy drink or coffee, something to wake her the hell up. But what she found instead was picture perfect.

Jimmy was on the couch in the lounge, curled up, clutching a burrito from Taco Bell to his chest, practically snuggling with it. Johnny was asleep at the table with his face in an open taco, drooling into it. And Zacky was sprawled out in the middle of the floor, using his own meal from Taco Bell as a pillow. There were balled up taco wrappers and random pieces of food all around them.

“Val is going to kill you, guys,” Aubrey whispered, but not loud enough to wake any of them. She snapped a couple photos of them with her phone, mostly for her own enjoyment, but also in case she needed any good blackmail material.

She moved over to the counter to start brewing a pot of coffee.

Brian woke up shortly after, chuckling quietly and shaking his head at his ridiculous friends when he walked into the room. He turned to move into the kitchen area when he noticed Aubrey.

Her back was turned to him as she set up the coffee maker. He wanted to say something but he didn't know what to say. So he stayed silent. But he couldn't suppress his overwhelming need to touch her, he couldn't stop himself from walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He nuzzled his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent. God, he loved the way she smelled in the morning.

She didn't stop her initial task of setting up the coffee pot; she didn't even acknowledge his presence. It made his chest hurt.

“Please don't be mad at me,” Brian whispered pleadingly into her hair.

She didn't respond, but she wasn't mad - not anymore - although she did enjoy hearing him plead for her forgiveness, doting on her sweetly to win her over. If she had been mad, it would've worked like a charm.

He kissed her ear through her hair. “You're breaking my fuckin’ heart, babe.”

Aubrey sighed, stopping what she was doing and touching his hand that was flat against her tummy. She leaned her head softly into his and he kissed her ear again, relieved.

“You pigs,” Val’s voice spat behind them.

Brian quickly jumped away from Aubrey who whipped her head around. Val was looking at the three unconscious Taco Bell fiends with a disgusted face.

“I had nothing to do with it,” Brian said with his hands up in the air.

Val whipped her head to the side. She hadn’t even noticed them in the room. Aubrey exhaled with relief.

“You liar,” Val accused, pointing a sassy finger at Brian. “You bought them this shit. You’re cleaning it up.”

“Yes, Mom!” He called as she hurriedly turned and went back to her bunk.

“When did you get them Taco Bell?” Aubrey asked.

“A couple hours after you fell asleep,” Brian explained. “They all came home obliterated, wanting food. They woke Jimmy up, who decided he was hungry too, even though he was still shitfaced. Taco Bell was the only thing open within walking distance.”

Johnny suddenly stirred. His eyes fluttered open as he lifted his head. Pieces of shredded lettuce and ground meat were clinging to his cheek. He glanced from side to side then looked up at them, confused. He peeled a piece of lettuce off of his face as he narrowed his eyes at them. Slowly, he lifted his finger and pointed at them.

“You two about to fuck?” He asked simply.

Brian instantly snorted laughing.

Aubrey rolled her eyes. “Good morning to you too, short shit.”

He grunted then laid his head back down in his taco.

By noon, everyone on the bus was awake and dressed, moving around the kitchen and making their lunches. Everyone except Jimmy.

“Alright, James,” Val called over to him, knowing he needed to wake up soon for sound check and load-in. “Time to get up.”

Jimmy didn’t budge.

Matt, noticing his friend’s severe lack of consciousness, walked over to him and nudged him. When he didn't get a response from his bandmate, he looked over his shoulder at Val, Aubrey, Brian, and Zack, confused.

“I don’t think he’s moved since I’ve been awake,” Brian stated, suddenly realizing the fact.

“Jimmy,” Matt pushed him harder.

“Jim,” Val said sternly. When he didn’t flinch, she got louder, “James. James Owen Sullivan.”

Concern grew among everyone as Jimmy didn’t stir. Brian, a bit panicked, wedged between Val and Matt and jabbed his two fingers into the side of Jimmy’s neck to check for a pulse.

As he did that, Jimmy’s eyes shot open, startling Val, who clutched her chest and inhaled sharply. Jimmy sat up straight, wide-eyed and glanced around the room at everyone. He looked down at his burrito, realizing it was still there, then brought it to his mouth and took a bite.

“Fucking asshole,” Brian spat, walking back to his original spot.

“I thought you were dead,” Val stated with anger, smacking Jimmy’s shoulder.

“I told you motherfuckers - I am immortal,” he announced with a muffled raspy voice; mouth full of Taco Bell as he held his burrito in the air.

Matt rolled his eyes, relieved that Jimmy was okay but annoyed that he scared everyone. Zack shook his head and Aubrey frowned.

Johnny emerged from the bunks, oblivious to it all, and joined them in the lounge.

“Why’s everyone look so pissed off?” He asked.

“We thought Jimmy was dead,” Val explained simply.

Johnny looked over at Jimmy, confused since he was sitting upright, breathing and blinking and eating.

“Looks alive to me,” Johnny said with a smartass attitude and a shrug.

“Shut up, short ass,” Zack spat.

“What the fuck did I do?!” Johnny asked, throwing his hands up in the air in defeat.

Singlehandedly, Brian laughed at Johnny’s frustration, shaking his head at him.

“That reminds me,” Johnny smirked at Brian. “I want a shout-out at the show tonight.”

Matt’s back was facing Johnny as he made his lunch, so he couldn’t see that his bassist was talking to Brian and he quickly shot him down. “Not a chance.”

“Not from you, dickwad,” Johnny replied. “From Synyster Gates.”

Brian rolled his eyes. He glanced at Aubrey who was giving him a subtle pleading look.

God, he was such a sucker for her. She could ask him to lick Johnny’s asshole and he’d probably do it.

He sighed, relenting. “What do you want me to say?”

Matt and Zack turned to Brian in disbelief, giving him looks of bewilderment.

“Alright,” Johnny began. “Say these words exactly...”

Ø

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make,” Brian’s voice echoed throughout the venue as he spoke into the microphone. “Johnny Christ, also known as our bass player, also known as the most attractive member of the band, is looking for a beautiful woman to woo tonight. As his self-appointed wingman, I have made it my duty to make sure that he finds that woman. Or women. So all you single - or not-so single - ladies, come find him after the show tonight and show him a good time.”

A loud cheer erupted from most of the female crowd at the show.

Brian glanced over at Johnny. “Did I remember it all?”

Johnny pointed to the top of his head.

“Oh yeah,” Brian returned to the mic. “And he’s the king. Of the world. Of everything. Or whatever.”

Brian looked back over at him with an expression that said ‘Happy?’

Johnny gave him thumbs up and Brian rolled his eyes. The rest of their band and Val had the most puzzled expressions on their faces. But from the merch booth, Aubrey laughed, knowing exactly what Brian was doing. And she was so appreciative that he would suffer through Johnny’s bullshit for her.

Notes

Okay, I couldn’t wait any longer to post this! I loved writing this chapter and I couldn’t stand leaving you guys with a cliffhanger! This weekend will be very busy for me, so I wanted to post this now to hold you guys over till next week! Hope you enjoyed it!

As always, thanks to everyone who reads and comments chapter after chapter - you guys keep me motivated! <3 &*