Everly’s POV

During the morning and working day I tried as much as possible to be my normal self. Whatever the hell that meant?! Because my whole freaking life got completely turned upside down and I had no idea who or what my normal self-acted like anymore.

And I caught myself ever so often thinking about this brown eyed pighead who happened to be my fake boyfriend.

Damn it, I had thought this whole thing would be way easier. To be around him, act with him, but sometimes those acting lines were blurring, and I wasn’t sure myself anymore if this was still a game or if we would put all the cards on the table, and that was confusing me the most.

“Everly? Are you ready? Meeting is about to start” Melinda walked in and tapped her watch. I quickly stood up gathered my laptop and supplies and hurried to her.

“You seem absent? Are you getting a cold?” She frowned at me but her lips twitched with amusement.

“What? No… I’m fine.” I quickly put a smile on and she chuckled “Then it’s the guy. I knew it was… You should have told me you were seeing someone new” She elbowed my side and I groaned, thank you Brian for showing up at work and driving every woman in this company crazy.

“It is just so new, that I didn’t wanna say anything before it’s really… safe to say” I wanted to roll my eyes at myself for that sentence but had to go through with this now.

“Don’t be ashamed, he is a fucking hottie” Melinda whispered “And you deserve something hot and dirty after the way Chris treated you! Don’t worry yourself with what others might think, and believe me all the women here think you won the jackpot, baby” With that Melinda dropped into her chair opposite of me and I sighed, glad the meeting would start and save me from more awkward talks about Brian and my new relationship.

When I reached home it was already five and I wanted my couch and nothing else. I walked in, closed the door with my foot and landed face first onto my couch, burying my face in the pillow and the rest of my body with the blanket.

I closed my eyes and drifted off, I didn’t plan to but it just happened.

“Eve, please. You should come along, the guys are all heading out.” Chris pouted and I rolled my eyes “We don’t always have to go along with them, you know how their party’s always end” I shook my head at him and he walked up behind me, his hands on my hips, my back against his chest, his lips at my ear.

“But I want to go with you, Eve. Come with me, let us have fun together… I don’t care about the guys, I care about us having fun” Chris cooed in my ear and I was slowly melting.

“Chris, I am really tried… can’t we sit this one out?” I tried again, and his hands wandered up and down my sides, leaving a tingling feeling in their wake. “I can go alone…” Chris pulled away and I felt the loss of his body warmth immediately.

Today was a good day with Chris, especially after the last couple of rough weeks that we had. So we just accompanied the gig of Avenged that was near our home town and had supported the band, Chris was having mood swings ever since the tour had started again, but today he had such a good mood, that I couldn’t really say no… “

Okay, we can go, but not all night, we have to head back tomorrow noon. I have to work” I told him, knowing damn well, that these Avenged after party’s would last even longer.

A loud knock on the door sounded together with some yelling and screeching “CHRIS! EVERLY!!! COME ON! PARTY!” Jimmy and Brian stood at our door, arms around each other’s shoulders, both already well drunk as it seemed. “You told them already we would be coming, right?” I asked him and Chris chuckled “I might have said so…yes” He grinned and I rolled my eyes.

Chris walked out and Jimmy laid his arm around him instead of Brian, “Have you seen the solo Brian played, damn that was-” Jimmy gushed to Chris whose eyes had narrowed on Brian, who was waiting for me to grab my purse while Chris had already left with Jimmy without waiting for me.

“Hey Eve” Brian gave me one of his smiles standing off to the side of the door and I smiled back “Hey, great show” I complimented him and he placed his arm around my shoulders “Thanks, you enjoyed it? I made sure you and Chris had the best view and sound”

“It was perfect really” I told him honestly and the smile of satisfaction on Brian’s face gave my stomach a weird feeling. “Good, have you thought about coming to more shows?” He asked his hand around my shoulder playing with my hair.

It felt normal to be around these guys, since Chris and I started dating what felt like ages ago, it was one big family with all of us. “I don’t think so… I mean, I don’t know. With work and all… it’s not always that easy” I told him honestly “Though we would love to” I added when I saw the sad look in Brian’s eyes.

When we reached the loud party area Chris had vanished completely from my view, while Brian didn’t leave my side. He organized us some drinks, he sat down on the couch with me and we talked.

Jason squeezed in beside us on the couch with some girl, pressing me and Brian even firmer together.

Brian gave me an apologetic look but I waved it away. “You want to dance?” Brian yelled into my ear when Jason and the girl started to heavily make out next to us and I nodded.

Brian got up and held his hand out, he brought me to the dance floor and laid his arms around me, when suddenly Chris appeared out of nowhere “Thanks for watching her” and with that Chris pulled me against him-

“EVE! Open up! Are you ready to go?” Brian’s voice roused me from the memory.

I blinked my eyes open and frowned, that memory had been completely lost on my mind, and I frowned why did it come back to me now.

“EVE! Damn it! Open up” Brian’s knocking got more insistent and I slowly walked over to the door opening up, still in some kind of trance.

“Eve, why aren’t you ready?” Brian stood before me looking me up and down and I looked at him confused.

He was the same Brian from my memory, though the younger Brian had been sweet and caring, and this one was- dangerous to say the least.

I still looked him up and down, the memory making me confused and Brian seemed to realize that I wasn’t listening to him.

He closed the still open door and touched my cheek “Eve, are you okay? Are you sick?” he touched my forehead and frowned “You don’t seem to have a fever”

I leaned into his hand, I don’t know why and I can’t even explain, but I did, and instead of the normal reaction I thought to get from this cocky man, he let his hand run down my cheek and pulled me closer to him. He held me, in silence, just for a while, no joke, no nasty reply, just held me.

Brian’s POV

I put some extra time into my outfit and hairstyle. I made sure I looked perfect, perfect for the occasion, perfect for the location and perfect for the woman by my side.

I rolled the sleeves of my black button down shirt up to my elbows, and opened a button on my chest. I looked at myself in the mirror, put the final touch to my hair and looked again from side to side until I was satisfied with what I saw.

Everly’s bills lay on my counter, I had paid them and would bring them back to her today. Would let her know what I did, so she shouldn’t have to worry about it. Though I didn’t really think, she noticed them missing, with the remaining pile of unopened bills still lying there.

So when I hurried over to her apartment, I wasn’t prepared to find Eve still in her work outfit, her hair messy from sleep and that vulnerable expression on her face.

I had no idea what caused it but it made me stop thinking for a second and I did what came first to my mind and checked for sickness, then did the second… hold her. Pull her into me and hold her.

I might have imagined it but I think she had leaned into me first, wanted my comfort, but I wasn’t sure.

“Eve, what happened?” I asked and was afraid to hear the answer. It might destroy what little progress we had made.

She slowly pulled away, her eyes wide and she opened and closed her mouth but no sound emerging. “Are you okay?” I asked again and she nodded then turned away from me, all connection I had felt served and lost.

“Should I cancel?” I asked again, feeling helpless to her quietness.

“I just remembered something…” She said slowly and I took a step towards her.

“What was it?” I asked curious and Eve turned to me “One of your first tours, Chris and I followed you… Jimmy and you stood at our door for the party… we wanted to dance-” Eve’s eyes met mine and I remembered the night too.

“Chris said they would come, didn’t he?” I asked Jimmy who shrugged “He said he would come, not they” Zack corrected me and I frowned “Why that? They have troubles?” I asked and Zack shrugged this time.

“Nah… don’t think so… Though Chris was behaving a little weird since tour started again, don’t you think?” Matt asked looking at Jimmy.

“Well, who wouldn’t, with him only being able to be here on occasions..” Zack said and I frowned. “Yeah, but at least he is here now” I smiled, it felt like old times again.

All of us back together, I liked that, all our friends around us, being able to spend some much needed time together.

“Come on, Jimbo. Let’s go get them” I grabbed Jimmy’s arm and pulled him along. “Dude, maybe we should let them come-” I shook my head, I wanted my friends around us, I wouldn’t wait and let them think if they wanted to come or not, they wouldn’t get the option from me.

Chris seemed to be happy seeing us and went along with Jimmy right away. While Eve seemed a little surprised about us showing up.

Jimmy and Chris walked off while I waited for Eve, happy about the chance to spent some time with her as well. I laid my arm around her and we headed together to the party.

I had no idea where Chris and Jimmy went off to, but I’ll be damned if I let Eve alone at this party with guys like myself all over.

Guys would be flocking her in no time, I wouldn’t allow that. Saw Matt hanging on Val too. Knowing what would happen if he left her alone for a minute in this lion’s den.

Eve seemed to be grateful for that and I liked having her in my company, still couldn’t understand how Chris could leave her alone like that.

I looked around and took the chance to offer her to dance, this was a party and it wasn’t the first nor the last time we danced together. That’s what I thought at the time at least… I pulled her on the dance floor and I couldn’t hide the stupid grin on my face, we had fun tonight and I realized even more that I liked Eve, that I had missed her when we were on tour, them..

I mean all friends, not just her, of course. I let my hands touch her waist, and was about to pull her close, when I met Chris eye’s over the dance floor.

A grin was on his face and when I had just pulled Eve close to me, smelled her sweet perfume Chris stood next to us, pulling Eve into his arms and whispering to me,

“Thanks for watching her” with that I was dismissed and found company in alcohol and a willing fan.

I was wondering how Eve had seen that night, I wouldn’t lose the feeling that Chris had waited for me to want something, just for him to sweep in and take it away, and with want something, I mean the moment of me and Eve dancing.

I don’t know why I had wanted that so badly in that moment, but I still felt the urge. Not only because I had liked Eve right from the start, or that that evening had shown me again, how much I envied Chris for having this beautiful and loyal woman by his side, while I had various girls to choose from, but not the one I could confide into.

“Are we too late now?” Eve asked and my heart stopped for a second, what did she just say?

“For the party? Did I ruin it?” My heart started beating again and I sighed in relief? Maybe.

I looked at my phone and shook my head “We are still in time, if you hurry and get ready, but… do you still want to?” I asked not sure if I really wanted to either.

“Sure, we need to. This was meant at the big coming out evening, right? I’ll be getting ready… you look pretty handsome by the way” Eve said, her cheeks blushing nicely.

“Thanks, all for you” I winked and she rolled her eyes, back to her old self I guess.

“Well, then let’s see if I can put off something like that too” With that she disappeared into her bedroom. I walked up and down her living room trying to think of anything but the weird trip to memory land and why the hell Eve had been thinking about that and what it had meant to her.

Was she all sad because she had remembered her past with Chris? Was she confused because it was a memory with me, when we still had been close? Friends? Until the moment she seemed to decide I wasn’t worth her friendship anymore… but when the hell did that happen?

I was getting more and more aggravated and wanted to remember what I might have done, that would hurt her, or make her angry at me, that had us in small fights and nasty replies, gone from close friends to enemies…

But I just couldn’t remember… I mean I have done a few… well maybe a lot of questionable things in my life till now, and I might have done a few nasty things even, but I am pretty damn sure, none of that shit, had anything to do with Eve.

So what was it, that had her acting to me like this? And why the hell was this driving me more and more insane by each day?

“You think this is fancy enough?” Eve’s voice made me turn towards her. Her hair was high on her head, a few strands escaping her, making it look even more beautiful, “If you like the hair down better, I can let it back down” She asked and I shook my head.

Her dress was black, fitting to my outfit, ending down on her feet, but with a slit going all the way up to her mid-thigh, letting the skin peak out giving you an idea of what she was hiding there and I was already fascinated to see more.

“You look fantastic” I finally got the words out and Eve smiled “Fantastic enough to be accepted as Ms. Gates for the evening?” She asked with a teasing voice and I tapped my lip, as if in deep thoughts.

“Yeah, I guess for an evening you will do” I said playfully back, because that was what she wanted, the seriousness was over, she wanted to go back playing games, I was just wondering, when would we leave the games behind us?

Notes

It's more a filler chapter, but... I thought u guys might like to have a little look into the past and how those two had behaved before... it happened :P

Thank you for the comments:
Avengedlover
and
Kimmie

Appreciate all comments to come ;)