Burn It Down

Simone and I stood in the crowd, we had worked our way down to the middle of the pit, the opening band was one that I had never heard of before, but we were in Alabama so who knows they could be cool. Their name was Killer Sausage, god damn kids now days knew how to get creative. Simone was dressed in jeans and an avenged crop top, accenting her waist as I wore my skinny low rider jeans and a shirt that had “Syn” written across it. I loved this shirt and knew he’d pick me up right away.

Simone and I had thrown our hair up in a bun that way when we moshed, we wouldn’t get it ripped out. I jumped as the band started and I was picked up from behind. “EMBER!”

I giggled knowing that voice and turned seeing Jimmy in his sun glasses and shook my head, “Take those off, you don’t need them.”

Johnny laughed beside Simone, slinging his arm across her shoulders, “Of course he does, he’s not as pretty as me.”

“You take that back!” Jimmy yelled at him playfully and I jumped into Johnny initiating the mosh pit for the band and Simone joined me as we started pushing and shoving around and around.

By the end of the first band we were so amped up it was hilariously fun, Jimmy and Johnny were noticed by fans so they had to leave us, and after awhile Simone and I quit being bothered as well. When Avenged came on, I refused to look at Matt…I was still pissed off, until they started playing “I won’t see you tonight part 1,” which was one of my favorite songs ever. I instantly looked up at Matt and he was looking back at me and Simone.

My eyes instantly teared up, this song, even though he didn’t know this, this song had gotten me through the rough times. All the times that I had considered suicide when I was with Scott and thought I had no way out. Simone reached down and grabbed my hand and squeezed, I looked over at her and she smiled. I returned the smile and then looked up to see Matt go over to Brian and slung his arm over his shoulder as a sign to me that everything was gonna be alright.

Brian winked at me and I felt my heart flutter and I blew him a kiss which made him smile at me whole heartedly. After that song was done, they changed tempo moving into one of Simone’s favorite songs, and it was clear that this was going to be an apology show, and a trip through the albums. As the starts of Critical Acclaim came on I felt hands on my waist and instantly I pulled away and looked around coming face to face with Scott. “What the fuck?” I asked immediately as Simone pulled me away.

“Honey, I’m home,” Scott smirked at me with his hateful icy blues.

“Shhh be quiet you might piss somebody off…” Matt started singing and I turned to look up and him and he pulled off his sunglasses and immediately stared down at Scott, giving him a death glare as he sang. Brian and Zacky walked over meeting with him and Johnny in the middle, glaring at Scott as they continued the song.

Simone took a step forward, “Get the fuck away from her.”

“Make me sweetheart,” Scott smirked stepping closer.

Simone and I both took steps forward and shoved him into the flowing mosh pit next to us and took off at a dead run to the security pit. We heard him grunt as he got hit, and we struggled to pull our badges out, “EMBER! SIMONE!” Jason and Matt B came running up the hallway and the security guard turned to look at them, “They’re with us, let them in.”

Security stepped aside and let us through just as Scott reached us and grabbed my arm hard, I knew he’d leave a bruise. “Not so fast, we’re not done.”

“Sir, I need to see your pass, you need to let the lady go,” The security guard said.

“I don’t believe this has anything to do with you,” Scott mouthed off to the guy.

“Call the cops on him please,” Jason said coming over to the security guard and actively pulling Scott’s hand off my arm before hitting him square in the jaw. “Don’t you ever come near her again. Do you understand me?”

“Fuck off, you’re nothing but a damn paper boy for them. Grow up and get a real job,” Scott mouthed off to Jason as Security called for backup. Scott instantly slipped back into the crowd and was lost.

I hugged Jason and went to Simone who hugged me, we walked to the side stage and stood there watching the show. “Gah! We can’t have one fucking night off without something happening!” I told Simone exasperatedly.

Simone hugged me as Zacky hurried over during one of the short breaks to exchange guitars as we were on stage right, “You girls alright?”

I nodded, “We’re good.” I tried to hide my arm.

“Except for her arm,” Simone commented and nodded towards my arm that was starting to bruise.

“Yeah, except for that,” I cringed and saw his eyes light up like the fourth of July in anger.

Zacky shook his head and ran back out on stage as they continued with Bat Country, I sighed as Zacky made a comment to Brian. Who instantly looked up and met my eyes. I tried to meet him with a smile but he was not having it. I could see he was extremely upset too. Maybe it wasn’t just stress the other day at the coffee shop. Maybe I wasn’t losing my mind.

****************
Before the last song of the show, Matt stepped up to the microphone, “So usually we go out with a bang, but tonight, I want two very special people to know how much they mean to us. So tonight, we’re going to end with ‘Dear God’. This one’s for you Em and Simone,” Matt motioned over to us as Brian started with the acoustic guitar.

I smiled and looked over at Simone and hugged her, we sang along to the lyrics, this being one of our all time favorite songs and we agreed upon it, we would forgive Matt.

After the show, we walked back to the dressing room, meeting up with the guys there, I instantly ran to Brian and leapt into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist, “You were amazing.”

He laughed and held me close kissing me, “Are you okay?” He asked concerned and I showed him my arm and felt his grasp instantly tighten.

“Brian, I’ll be okay,” I whispered and kissed his cheek hugging him tightly.

He gently lowered me then kissed me again, “I know, I’ll make sure of it.” He sat down immediately and sighed as Matt walked in and walked over to Simone and me.

“I’m sorry for the stupid prank this morning,” he said looking between us. We both nodded and hugged him, he pulled us tightly against him. “Are you two alright? I noticed the need to run through security.”

I nodded, “He just got my arm,” I showed him.

“Let me grab a pic of that real quick,” he dropped his arm from around my shoulders, pulled out his phone and took a picture of my arm where the bruise was. “What about you?” he looked at Simone.

She shook her head, “I’m okay. He didn’t get me.”

He kissed her forehead, “Thank-you for protecting her.”

Simone blushed, “We both did Matt. She fought back by my side.”

I smiled and sat down on Brian’s lap cuddling up to him, “Do we get a hotel room tonight?”

“Yes we do, let’s go there then we’ll hit up the bars, we could use a drink,” Zacky said as everyone nodded their heads.

“PARTY TIME!” Jimmy yelled excitedly.

Notes