Burn It Down

We arrived at the venue and I got off the bus, walking hand in hand with Brian wearing jeans and a tank-top. My flip flops completely opposite of his boots and matching aviator sunglasses. All the guys gave me shit for wearing “guy” glasses but I loved the way they looked and I had always stolen Matt’s so he bought me my own.
“EMBER!” Jimmy came running up to us with Jason next to him.
“When do we start World War Shads?” Jason asked smiling wide and Brian immediately threw his head back and laughed.
“Damn that was quick,” I giggled. “Uhm tonight, after the show?”
“Definitely!” Jason and Jimmy yelled together then ran off.
I laughed shaking my head as Brian chuckled and looked down at me, “God damn, you think that you just made their week by telling them they can fuck with your brother.”
I nodded, “I think I did.”
“Made who’s week?” Zacky asked as he came up holding his cell phone and trying to walk while texting.
“Jason and Jimmy,” I answered smiling then had an evil idea. “Hey Zacky, wanna help out with World War Shads?”
Zacky looked up at me a shocked look on his face, “Sure.” I giggled and pulled him and Brian over to the merch tent telling them what I was thinking before Simone and Matt could arrive.

********MATT’S POV*******
I walked around stage finishing the show and I finished the vocals for ‘Afterlife’ letting the guys finish up the music and I smiled for the fans as I thought about a few things. Fuck, I gotta say, I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I really like Simone, but I figured I would be a gentleman and then we slept together. We hit it off sexually, emotionally, we just click. It’s seriously amazing. I know Ember’s a little pissed because we had sex on the bus, but come on…it’s not like she’ll really listen to my rules…right?
“Thank-you Baton Rouge, you guys have been awesome!” I said into the microphone as the ending chords tapered off.
We heard the screams of the audience as we walked around throwing out guitar pics signed by the guys; I threw a few water bottles and a couple towels that I had used. Jimmy threw out his drumsticks. We all waved and blew kisses and walked off the stage. We knew we’d be going back out for an encore in a few moments just wanting to amp the kids up.
“You alright there Shads? You seem distracted,” Brian said patting me on the back grabbing one more pic.
“Yeah, I’m good. What song are we doing as the encore?” I asked as this tour we were deciding based on how the fans reacted to the songs.
“Honestly, let’s do ‘I Won’t See You Tonight Part 1’,” Zacky replied. “We hardly ever do that song and it’d be kinda cool, I think these kids would appreciate it.
“That’s a bit of a downer for the last song,” Johnny observed.
“Let’s do ‘Trashed and Scattered’,” Jimmy yelled.
I chuckled, “What do you guys think?” I looked around at the group and saw smiles return and we all nodded in agreement. “Let’s do it.”
We walked back out on the stage and the kids started going nuts screaming our names and jumping around, “ARE YOU READY FOR ONE MORE SONG BATON ROUGE?!” I yelled into the mic to be met with screams.
The guys started the music “Keep on writing, you’re just raping yourself…” I began singing and becoming extremely animated as I sang this song. It was one of my favorite to perform live as we didn’t do it a lot and it was honestly a riot whether listening or singing. A confession I have that I would never tell the guys is that when Ember and I get pissed off we end up playing this song and screaming at the top of our lungs to it. It’s one of the quirks that we have in common.
As we ended the song I said into the mic, “You have been a great bunch of fuckers tonight, we love you all and hope you had a great time! Good night!”
The guys threw their final pics and sticks into the crowd then followed me off stage and we went to the dressing room. “Great fucking show,” I said to the Berry’s who passed us to help take everything down.
Jason and Matt nodded but I noticed a glint in Jason’s eye that usually meant trouble was brewing in that mastermind of his. I shook it off as Jimmy put his arm around my neck and one around Brian’s as we walked down the hall. “That was awesome!” Jimmy yelled as we reached the door and jumped up using Brian and I as leverage and kicking the door open.
I groaned knowing if he caused any damage we’d have to pay for it, “Easy Jimbo, don’t need any damage done to the room,” Gates said reading my thoughts perfectly.
Jimmy frowned at us as Johnny and Zacky followed us in and closed the door, we sat on the couches, “When do the Meet and Greet kids get here?” Johnny asked.
“Uhh….probably 5 minutes,” I replied shrugging, grabbing another cold water bottle and sat next to Brian as we stretched out.
“Cool,” he nodded and leaned his head back closing his eyes; he had the same content smile on his face that all of us did. We loved the shows where the kids were so enthusiastic about being there.
There was a knock on the door as Matt Berry poked his head in, “M&G time guys.”
We all stood up ready, in walked the group including Ember and Simone. I raised my eyes in confusion then realized that everyone had water guns…and they were all pointed at me. I immediately ran for cover but was too slow and everyone erupted in giggle when citrus smelling shit sprayed out at me hitting my skin.
“WHAT THE FUCK!?” I yelled, halfway laughing as I tasted it and noted it was Monster, nothing that was going to hurt anything but fuck it was going to be a bitch to get clean.
Ember sprayed me a few more times before the guys carried a huge water balloon over carefully and dropped it on me which luckily had water. Everyone including the fans were laughing so hard I didn’t know how to react.
“Gotcha Mattie bug,” Ember smirked at me thinking she’d won.
I stood up smirking, “Oh baby sister, this is just the beginning.” I smiled, “How about some photos, signatures, and hugs kids?” I asked looking towards the fans who smiled eagerly at me and the others and immediately ran up to us.
Ember and Simone stood off in the corner laughing and high fiving, Oh those bitches were gonna get it. I laughed internally. I couldn’t help it. Yeah I was a little irritated, but it was meant in good fun. After about 45 minutes, everyone had pictures, autographs, hugs, etc. People even wanted pictures with the girls that helped them soak the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold in Monster.
As we all headed back to the bus I hugged Ember tightly who squirmed trying to get away from me and kissed her cheek, “Oh I hope you know what you started baby sister.”
She grinned back at me, “Yup.”
I shook my head laughing, “Alright, let’s go. I need a shower.”
“Yeah you do, you’re all sticky,” she feigned disgust as Brian joined her side. Simone was walking with Jimmy still laughing about the whole thing. I’d have to get her back too.
“Gee, I wonder why?” I tilted my head and rolled my eyes at her.
She shrugged innocently, “I don’t know big brother, maybe you should stop having the sticky sex on the bus.” She smiled innocently then kissed my cheek before disappearing on the bus. Syn chuckled shaking his head.
“She just fucking called me out,” I said in disbelief.
Brian nodded, “She did. I like her. Have I mentioned that? She’s super feisty.” He laughed shaking his head walking up the stairs.
“That she is,” I shook my head before walking up the stairs onto the bus. I went to the back immediately to grab new clothes and a towel before going into the bathroom and taking a shower.

******EMBER’S POV*******
I smirked as everyone sat at the front of the bus, I winked at Jason who had his camera ready and I snuck back to the bathroom, knowing Matt once again had not locked the door. However, to avoid a mishap of seeing my brother naked again, I had Jimmy with me. Jimmy smirked and with his ninja stealth skills he snuck in grabbing Matt’s towels and clothes, then quietly closing the door behind us. We had Jason positioned in the back bedroom with the camera to capture the moment that would be presenting itself.
Jimmy put the stuff innocently on Matt’s bunk, having grabbed his dirty clothes as well as we snickered and silently high fived walking back out to the front of the bus, where everyone was waiting for us. We all peeked through the corridor waiting for Matt to come out of the bathroom. I snickered and Brian kissed my cheek, “I have the coolest Girl ever.”
The guys all nodded as we heard the shower shut off, “WHAT THE FUCK?” We heard Matt yell. “WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY CLOTHES?” Matt yelled louder then he opened the door and Jason captured the picture. “YOU MOTHER FUCKER, BETTER NOT HAVE JUST DONE THAT!” Jason laughed harder and slammed the back room door locking it.
Matt was instantly banging on the door, leaving his backside exposed which left Jimmy to take another picture, Matt heard the click and saw the flash and then noticed the towel on his bunk and wrapped it around himself. I shielded my eyes laughing so hard knowing I’d be so dead.
“EMBER!” Matt roared, his cheeks flushed red a mix of anger and embarrassment.
“You should have locked the door!” I yelled at him as he started making his way up to the front and I quickly jumped on Brian’s back for protection.
“Brian, put her down now,” Matt said evilly.
Brian shook his head, “No can do sir. I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I did that.”
All the guys snickered, “You’re no gentleman Gates, everyone knows that!” Jimmy spoke up laughing harder.
Simone gently placed her hand on Matt’s chest, “Aww…poor Mattie…let’s get you some clothes, and then we’ll make sure they delete those pictures.”
Matt huffed then looked into her eyes and couldn’t help but smile, “I got a better idea.”
I groaned, “Why do you get to have sex on the bus but I can’t?” I whined at Matt.
“Because I don’t want to hear you,” Matt replied plainly.
“I don’t want to hear you either,” I replied with a ‘duh’ tone.
“Fine, wear headphones then you won’t hear me,” Matt gave me a cheesy look. All of his anger having vanished.
I glared at him, “No. If you have sex, then we’re having sex,” I motioned to me and Brian.
Matt rolled his eyes, “Just be ready little Sister…Just remember paybacks a bitch. You got 2 things coming to you.” Matt winked at me with that mischievous look in his eye.
I smirked having won and pranked Matt, fuck yes, this was fun. Can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with. However, the guys were eager to help me…will the be just as eager to help him?

Notes