Brian's POV

"You guys ready to go?" Jason Berry asked, poking his head into our trailer.
"Just about." I murmured, still fixing my hair in front of the mirror.
"Ready or not, Gates, you're on in ten, so I'd move my ass if I were you."
"Alright." I groaned, sliding my watch back on. - It was a Rolex, and worth at least six grand, I hadn't wanted to risk it getting damaged by hairspray.

I turned to Jimmy; who had his hood up, absentmindedly drumming in the air in front of him as he paced back and forth. We hadn't said a word to one another since last night and to be honest, I was still pissed at him for lying to Ruby. Things had been tense between us for weeks, and while I understood where he was coming from, it still didn't make the lying okay. I watched him leave the trailer, the rest of the guys trailing behind him as they followed Jason and Thor through the backstage area.



I was the last to leave, taking one last glance in the mirror before following them out. Thanks to Kevin Lyman adding us to the lineup last minute; We were the secret guests on the Lucky Stage this year. But as I peeped out over the crowd that had formed behind the barrier, I had no doubt in my mind that somehow, the secret had gotten out.

"Whoa, that's a huge crowd out there..." Jimmy breathed, drumming in the air as he walked ahead of us. "A lot bigger than last year."
"No kidding..." I agreed, sudden nerves setting in.
"C'mon guys, we're ready." Zacky chuckled, attempting to calm us. "We're gonna kick ass out there."
"And get all the fuckin pussayyy." Johnny sang, humping his Bass.
"You're not if you know what's fucking good for you." I snarled.
"Chill Gates, I'll just wait 'till we get home and plow your Sister." he chuckled.
"A visual I do not fucking need." I cringed. "It's bad enough I fucking walked in on you guys before Vegas."
"I second that." Zacky cut in. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't somewhat thankful Shads stopped fucking my Cousin."
"Hey!" Matt retaliated. "Fresh wound."
"Sorry." he chuckled. "But you got Mimi now, right?"
"Oh, I got her good." he sniggered. "Right before we left for New York-"
"FIVE MINUTES!" Jason called out, ascending the stairs to the stage to do a last-minute check on Jimmy's drum kit.

I fumbled with the clip on my wireless amp transmitter, securing it to my back pocket before walking over to grab the first guitar I'd be using in our set. As I sat down on one of the equipment cases to do a last-minute tune-up, Jimmy slowly sauntered over to me.

"Brian."
"What?" I said, keeping my eyes fixed upon the headboard as I turned the tuning knobs.
"I'm sorry about what I said." he sighed. "I know you're pissed."
"You're right." I replied, still avoiding looking at him. "I'm furious."
"I was just looking out for her."
"And what about me?" I snapped, my hands dropping from my guitar strings as I finally gave him eye contact. "I was trying to make it right and you had to open your big fuckin' mouth."
"In my defense, that time, you deserved it." Jimmy frowned. "Nobody made you fuck Brooke."
"Yeah, I fucked up." I shrugged. "And I acknowledge that, but telling Ruby I fucked around last year, when you knew how devoted I was to Jenna, that was stepping over the line."
"She was shattered." he defended. "As soon as she walked in on you and Jess, she called Demi, totally fucking distraught." he continued; "You didn't see how fucked up she was; crying in my lap, trembling, snotty-nosed, hoarse throat."
I clenched my jaw; not realizing how bad of an impact that one night had had on her.
"I didn't wanna see her like that again, so I tried to deter her, make her go for someone else, and she did, briefly."
"Who?" I asked.
"Jason..." Jimmy muttered.
I cast my eyes up to the stage, where Jason was tapping on Jimmy's snare drum. "Seriously?"
"He's always liked her." Jimmy informed me. "But if it's any consolation; she chose You."
"She did?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.
"They went to the park a few nights ago, Jason confessed how he felt, and Ruby gently let him down." he explained. "He didn't take it so well, and when they talked things over the next day, she told him it was because of you."
I felt like my heart had suddenly fallen into my stomach; adding to the never-ending guilt that had gradually built over the past few days.
"She wants You, Brian." Jimmy stated. "And I can see you want her, too."
"I think I'm starting to see that myself..." I swallowed, easing myself up off the equipment case.
"Are we cool?" Jimmy asked, his blue eyes shining as they pleaded with me.
"IT'S TIME!" Jason called out, jogging down the stairs.
"Yeah, we're cool." I replied, slinging my arm around his shoulders as we ascended the stairs to the stage...

***

Ruby's POV



The crowd roared as the band took the stage, Jimmy tapping away on his cymbals as the giant silver Deathbat with its glowing red eyes slowly ascended into the air above him. Brian stood up on the ego riser at the front of the stage; beginning the opening notes of To End The Rapture.

Brian's hair fluttered as the wind picked up, his dark locks dancing in the air. I felt my chest tighten as I watched him from the crowd, he hadn't seemed to notice I was there yet. I'd missed his set yesterday, having been too busy following Danny around.



He looked ridiculously good today; possibly my favourite custom tank by far hugged his torso in all the right places, the shoulders cut a little further back than usual, exposing his perfect arms. The very arms that I had been wrapped in earlier this morning. He'd ditched the fedora and bandana today, along with the usual fingerless gloves. As Brian gazed down at his guitar, his beautiful long hair falling in his face; I found myself absolutely unable to take my eyes off of him.



Matt stepped up beside him and began to sing;

"The wind of life and air from above smells of death. Angels sing of the end. Nothing you say and nothing you try can change time. Human race prepares to die..."

The song ended and they immediately launched into the intro of Eternal Rest. I screamed with excitement, pumping my fist into the air as soon as I recognized the song. It had always been my absolute favourite. And Brian, holy shit... He'd fucking mastered that intro now, I watched, mesmerized, as his fingers flew across the fretboard at the speed of light. He truly was a Guitar God now, and had far surpassed the level of skill he'd been at back when they had played at Chain Reaction a couple of years ago.

"Black enchanting eyes, cut through my heart, with no regret or sign of life. They tear apart my pride, and cold runs through my veins. I feel their stare from miles, haunting every step, and they won't stop hunting me down. I know the time will come, when all around me's burned, and you'll still see me there. Asking where you went too, and what person brought you here. And why you left the burning children, cold out in the night, and calling for you all alone..."

Holy crap, Shadows, how he didn't tear his throat apart with his harsh vocals was beyond me. It was a skill one built over time, I knew, but one I'd had yet to master myself. I'd spent countless hours envying how easily Jack could do it, but never had I asked him to teach me. - Jack was quickly wiped from my mind as Brian struck his guitar strings hard, his muscles bulging as he and Zacky launched into the riff that made me love this song so fucking much.


God. Damn.

I gripped the barrier to steady myself as I began to headbang, my long red locks flying through the air in front of me. I was borderline being humped by the guy behind me as he jumped up and down, but when you were front row watching a heavy metal band; that just came with the territory.



"Dark in their hearts, I can feel it burn inside of me. Tormented young with no souls, haunting me. Pain in their lives all they know is misery. Take these chains away that are holding me down. Holding me down."



I watched as Jimmy twirled his Drumstick in the air, a signature move of his, and despite how pissed I was at him; it made me smile. I hadn't seen him do that in years, due to my absence. Right there in the crowd, sweat running down my back as the hot mid-summer sun beat down on me from above; it felt like home. This was where I should been these past couple of years; traveling with the boys, watching them play. Not in cold, wet Chicago, envying Jack as he sang in sweaty dive bars on tiny stages.

"They'll find you alone, and your desperate and villainous ways. Turning their hearts into stone, they seek more than vengeance. Look in their eyes your pain is their satisfaction. Look in their eyes and see the darkness take hold, I'm controlled by fate..."

Brian stepped up to his microphone, backing Matt up; "Waiting for..."



"Tired of your parade. No sign of vengeance. Burn for the rest of time..."



That amazing riff started again, and I smiled as I started to headbang once more. I don't know why I loved it so much, maybe it was just because it was ball'sy as fuck. The kind of thing that made you wanna gutter stomp anyone who messed with you. Matt let out another massive scream, before launching into the bridge;

"Hear the haunting words, lost children with no heart are crying, and you're the lost mother they're calling. Go now, run and hide (seek more than vengeance). I hear them crying at night (your pain is their satisfaction) outside when the planets are falling (for the rest of time). They want to feel and know you hear them (Go now, run and hide)..."

I screamed along as Matt repeated my favourite lyrics of the song;

"Dark in their hearts, I can feel it burn inside of me.Tormented young with no souls, haunting me. Pain in their lives all they know is misery. Take these chains away that are holding me down..."



"Eternal rest in time, Eternal rest in time..."

The crowd cheered as they finished the song, and Brian finally glanced down; spotting me in the front row. His lips curled upward as he gave me his signature smirk, along with a wink. He knew that was my favourite song, and I couldn't fight the stupid smile that spread across my face as I looked up at him, shaking my head in awe...

Notes

For anyone who missed the Author's Note I left the other day - Sorry for my absence. I had to re-upload all the photos I've used in this to a new source and fix all the links because Photobucket suddenly decided to start demanding I pay to host my images on there.

Annnd I've been busy working on this rad Bomber Jacket, inspired by Brian's ;)



Anyway, I hope ya'll enjoyed this! Ruby finally got to see them play again!
And I promise there's some more great stuff on the way - But that'll require you motivating me with some rad comments, so get on it!!

And while you're waiting for the next chapter, check out this one-shot that connects to this story, and you'll find out what exactly went down between Demi, Ben and Jimmy, including the story of their sudden Engagement:
http://www.avengedsevenfoldfanfiction.com/Story/89457/Make-This-Night-Worth-My-Time/

Also, Daddy Gates turns 36 this Friday, holy shit, what even??



But he still looks damnnn fine for his age ;)

Until next time!! xx