Groundhog Day

Mei groaned when she woke up. Her head hurt, her mouth was dry and she was pretty sure that if she would open her eyes her eyes would burn out because of the intolerance of light. She never should have gotten drunk last night, but there was no other way to forget what was happening at midnight. She just wanted the time to stop 5 minutes to 12, before the clock would strike and bring her into her terrible thirties. She remembered thinking it. Hoping the time would stop.

But here she was, clearly the time had passed, bringing that terrible headache with it. Meaning she did turn 30 last night.
“Ugh, I’m not old enough to be 30” she sighed as she turned on her back and opened her eyes. For a moment she was confused about the scenery. Then she remembered her best friend talking her into getting a hotelroom for her new year’s eve, her new year’s eve on the verge of being 30.

Mei had insisted on them both getting their own room in an attempt to be able to go through this hell that she called her birthday by herself, but she knew that wasn’t going to take long. She knew it would be a matter of time before Kim would break through the door that was connecting their rooms.

Lucky for Mei she was an early bird and Kim was more of a sleep the whole day kinda girl. A glance at the time told Mei she had at least a few hours to herself before the party would commence (her best friend’s words, not hers). She leaned back in the fluffy pillows and enjoyed the comfortable bed. Okay. This had been a great idea. It was definitely better than waking up in her own small apartment.

She grabbed her phone from the nightstand. As expected she had received a lot of messages, people congratulating her for her birthday. It made her feel a little better. She even had to stifle a laugh when she noticed the joke Kim had pulled on her.

Message from Jimmy
Crazy girl! Happy birthday to you! I swear, if you let anyone sing for you before I did I’m not taking you on the great birthday adventure I planned out. Let me know when you are awake, and let me sing to you. Love youuuuuuuu!!!!

Message from Brian
Congratulations with your birthday! That hot ass of yours isn’t looking a day over 21! Don’t sweat it, I’m pretty sure the ageing beautiful doesn’t only apply to handsome men like me! Love you! X!

Message from Matt
Hey don’t be a b**** about turning 30 :P You look as good as ever! Don’t complain, enjoy life. Have a great day! XOXO

Message from Johnny
Happy Birthday!!! We are going to do some crazy partying tonight! Get ready and get you 30 on!! X J

Mei shook her head slightly when she read the messages. She was convinced she already lived through this day, read those messages, went through the motions. This must be how severe case of déjà vu feels like, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. It was a very foreign feeling she was having. She pushed the thoughts out of her head and discarded it.

But hell, how drunk did her best friend think she was for her to believe that these guys would actually send her birthday messages. It did instantly lift her mood though.
She heard a door open in the common living area, then some murmers and a door closing again. Pretty sure her best friend did something really stupid last night and was now getting rid of that stupid thing, she called out to her “I MIGHT BE OLD BUT I’M NOT CRAZY, KIM! AND BY THE WAY! YOU FORGOT ZACK!”

“Goodmorning love, did you say something?” The door opened revealing the man whose name she had just called out.
“Zack?” Mei let out carefully, amazed of the man that was standing in the door opening. He was only wearing some baseball shorts. His colorful chest and arms on full display. Mei couldn’t help but stare. She barely noticed the tray full of all kinds of yummy food. But when she did, she realized it was the most extensive breakfast she ever saw. That wasn’t too hard, seeing she normally never ate anything in the morning.

Zack didn’t answer her immediately, but he walked over to the bed and put the tray next to it. Then he sat on the bed and leaned in, sweetly kissing her lips.
“Happy birthday my love”

Mei was stunned by how Zack acted like it was the most normal thing in the world that he was there. Kissing her. But when his lips touched hers again, those thoughts left her mind quickly. She was here, Zack was kissing her and she wanted more. She moved her hands up to his neck and then to his hair. She weaved her fingers through his locks and pulled him closer. A groan escaped Zack’s throat. It was such a primal sound that Mei was shivering.

“Are you cold?” Zack backed away, looking at her curiously. His green eyes were even more intense than she ever thought. She smiled “how could I, with you so close to me?”
Zack smirked “Are you ready to eat? I ordered everything from the menu, especially to celebrate your 30th”
Mei’s face clouded “Do you seriously want to put all the attention on that? Way to ruin my day” She pouted as she sat back into the pillows.

“Oh baby, don’t be like that” He leaned in moved his mouth to her neck, he started with little kisses, but was soon nibbling on her ear, sending Mei in a quick frenzy. “Come on, let’s indulge on all the food”
“I rather indulge on something else” Mei let out with a naughty smile. The feeling she had just now, long forgotten. She let her finger wander down his chest, to her stomach, letting it linger just above the rim of his shorts.

“Mei…” Zack breathed. She could hear a warning in it, but it was far from convincing. So she decided to go for what she wanted. When she put her finger into the shorts, pulling the band a little, she heard Zack’s breathe hitch. With a reaction like that, on such a small gesture, she was determined to pursue this path.

Her one finger was quickly joined by the other 4. With her full hand she pulled the shorts a little lower, not yet revealing anything, but knowing it was so close.
“Mei… It should be all about you today, not the other way around” he groaned as he put his hand on hers. Mei gently pushed his hand away “Don’t worry, I will get what I want”

Mei pushed Zack back into the pillows and put a kiss on his lower belly. Her hands found the sides of his shorts and pulled them all the way down. Zack helped her take it off fully and I was a matter of seconds Mei had what she wanted. With her one hand she cupped Zack’s balls, while the other one closed around his hard shaft. Her mouth found the tip and she let her tongue swirl around.
“Shit, I didn’t expect this” Zack hissed, barely containing his hips from moving forward, searching for the warmth of Mei’s mouth. She let him slip in a little further and then closed her lips around him a little tighter. She sucked him harder, tasting the pre-cum from his cock.

“Baby, please…” Zack begged, his hands finding their way to Mei’s hair. Her tongue darted up and down his shaft and she sucked his balls. Instinctively she knew what would push him over the edge, but she wouldn’t. She had other plans. So when she let him fall from her wet mouth, Zack groaned in disagreement.
“Uh Uh” she chastised him “It’s my birthday and I decide when you come. And in my mouth was not what I had in mind”

Zack’s eyes grew big when she pulled the shirt she was wearing over her head. Zack’s eyes grew even bigger when she straddled him and let herself fall over his cock. She got a content smile on her face at the feeling of being filled up so well. Zack replied her smile with a naughty grin and grabbed her breasts. His hands fitting around them perfectly. Then his hips started to do all the work. He build a steady pace and quickened. Mei was soon looking for that release that was so close. She drew her nails over his chest as she met his thrusts, one by one, until she finally felt it coming. Her core clenched around Zack’s cock even harder when she felt him spurt his hot load into her.

Mei fell forward, right into Zack’s welcoming arms. He held her close, both panting. “Shit baby, I should give you presents, not the other way around”
Mei giggled and kissed his collarbone “This was a much of a gift to me as it was too you”
“I love you so much. Do you promise to spend at least 30 more years with me?”
“Sure” Mei sighed after a few seconds, recovering from the fact that Zacky Vengeance just told her he loved her. For a moment they laid there. Enjoying the closeness. But Mei’s mind was speaking up again and that gave her that weird feeling once more. She let Zack slip out of her and stood up from the bed.

“Where are you going?”
“Taking a shower” she tried to not let her voice give away the confusion. But Zack didn’t let her.
“What is going on?”
“Nothing, really” she forced a smiled “I don’t believe you, but for the sake of discussion… let’s say I do.” He stood up from the bed too, getting two giftbags from the closet in their room “Maybe you should just open you presents” he smiled.

Mei opened the first giftbag, finding a complete VU outfit. Zack told her proudly that he had designed it especially for her and that it was one of a kind, but somehow she felt like she had seen it before. The second giftbag contained a picture frame with a collage of pictures of her and Zack in all stages of their lives. Zack stood behind her and pointed at the one where they looked the youngest “Look, this is from the night we first met… 15 years ago already… do you believe it?” Mei stared at their picture. There it was… Her history with Zack and she couldn’t remember any of it. Zack pointed out a few more pictures and Mei slowly started to believe him. When she thanked him for the beautiful gifts he kissed her deeply, leaving no doubt he was caring for her deeply.

“Come on, let’s get ready, we need to be at the venue in a bit.”
“Venue?”
Zack kissed the tip of Mei’s nose “Yes, venue. Show tonight, remember? I already postphoned our arrival to the latest, but they needed me to sound check myself and there is a meet and greet tonight and interviews, so I can’t come in too shortly before the show. I’m sorry”
Mei shook her head, a genuine smile on her face now. “Don’t. I will love it. You know I will”
“I will make it worth your while”
“I’m sure you will”

The couple ate, showered, got half-dressed, enjoyed each other and then really did get dressed. Their afternoon was busy but fun. The boys had a laugh during the interviews and the fans in the meet and greet weren’t too weird or clingy. Some of the fans even brought her small gifts. She felt very grateful and was very humbled when a few fans called her the favorite Avenged girlfriend.
During dinner, they celebrated Mei’s birthday with the band and the crew. She received gifts from everyone and on top of that a special birthday song by Jimmy.

When it was time to get ready, Mei watched them from a corner. Matt warming up his voice. Johnny, Brian and Zack warming up their fingers by silently strumming their guitars and Jimmy warming up his whole body by running around. She had a grin on her face the whole time. She loved being here. Her mind said it was the first time she saw it, but her heart said she had been here before. She had to have been, because everything was just too familiar.

They made their way to the stage, all the guys in their own little pre-show world. She followed Zack closely, not wanting to miss any of what he was doing. It was so special for her to be here. Getting a small insight on the life of her favorite band in the whole world.

She watched Zack murmur something as he stood on the side of the stage, his guitar already around his shoulders, his head bent down. She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He jumped.
“Hey. It’s only me. I want to wish you the best time on that stage. Enjoy it extra okay? Just because it’s my birthday” She moved closer to him and kissed his lips. This kiss was nothing like the ones they had shared today. It was hard and clean. No passion whatsoever. She looked at him curiously.

“What is wrong?” she asked without hesitation.
“Nothing” he answered, but she could see he was a little uneasy “Just preshow jitters, don’t worry. They’ll be gone soon enough” He looked her in the eyes “You are gonna stay here the whole concert right? I always play better knowing you are right there.”
“Of course I will”

Mei had no time to explore any further, because Dan started pushing the guys towards the stage. Clapping asses, asking for their phones, checking the last few things. And then the music started. First the drums, then the bass, then the guitars. Matt winked at her before he jumped on stage with a loud scream.

The music was great, the atmosphere amazing and Mei enjoyed herself greatly. She danced, jumped and sang along with every song that the men played. Once in a while Zack popped his head in as if he wanted to make sure she was still there. It made her smile, she always thought he would be very caring, but now she was the centre of his care.

When the guys had ended the first part and they came off stage they were excited “That was a great show!”
“Must be because Mei is here and it’s her birthday” Matt winked at her.
She had no time to response though, because they were already on the stage again.

But in contrary to what she had expected Matt didn’t start with a song. As soon as he started talking she knew she wouldn’t like what he was going to say.
“So. Are you guys enjoying yourself?” The crowed screamed in confirmation.
“You are all very lucky to be here today, because this is a special concert. Our dear friend and the far more attractive part of a couple with Zacky V. has her birthday today! Can you guys sing a song for her?”
The crowd started singing happy birthday and Matt conducted them with his hands. He had a huge smile on his face, constantly looking in Mei’s direction. When the crowd settled, he spoke into the mic again.

“That was beautiful, I thank you for that, but I think we need to get Mei up here. Let her thank you guys herself. Mei? Come here, gorgeous.”
Mei was vehemently shaking her head, there was no way she was going to go on stage. But she didn’t take Dan in account. With one swift move he put her over his shoulder and only put her down when she was next to Matt in the centre of the stage.

Johnny and Brian were laughing their ass of when they saw her face, but she couldn’t find the man that probably had to do more with this.

“I know you don’t like to be the centre of the attention, but I’m sure you will be happy with it soon enough. I promise” Matt put his arm around her shoulder and told her, just low enough to not be picked up by the mic. Then he spoke to the crowd again.

“You know. We all gave Mei some gifts today. Zacky went all out for his girl, like it should. But he wasn’t quite done yet”

It was then that Mei noticed that Zack had come on stage. A little velvet box in his hands. Mei’s heart skipped a beat or two. Was he really doing what she thought he was doing? He walked over to her, kissed her briefly and then took her hand in his. He bend his knee and put it on the stage.
“We have been together for 15 years now and I can’t even remember who I was before I met you. I know you made me a better person and I want to stay that better person. That is why I never want to let you go. You are the love of my life and I couldn’t have found anything that fit me better than you. I wasn’t kidding this morning. I want us to stay together for the next 30 years of your life, hell I want us to be together the next 130 years”

He opened the box and presented her with the most amazing ring she ever saw.
“Mei, love of my life, will you please honor me by telling me you are going to be my wife?”

Mei felt the tears well up in her eyes, her heart swelling up in her chest. This is right where she needed to be, there was no doubt about it. She belonged her, with Zack. So before she knew it, she had whispered her answer

“Yes”

Zack shot up and took her in his arms, swirling her around, catching her lips in a deep kiss. Then he grabbed her hand and dragged her over to his mic stand.

“She said yes!!!! Are you all going to congratulate my wife to be with her birthday?” Zack said in his microphone, his smile so wide it covered his whole face.
“Yes. Let’s congratulate Mei. She hates the fact that she is turning 30 today, but I’m pretty sure we can all make her forget that little fact” Matt added, putting his arm around her. “I really hope that Zack will make her forget after the show, without us” Brian joked, making Mei blush and Zack punch Brian’s arm. Matt chuckled “Okay guys, repeat after me: Happy 30th, Mei”

Then a wave of sound came over her as 50.000 Avenged fans screamed:

“HAPPY 30th, MEI!!!!!!!”

Notes

Another chapter for all of you and especially for Mei. What a cutie that Zacky V! ;-)

One more chapter to go. What will happen now? I think you all could have guessed the path of the story a little... at least until now. What do you guys think will happen at the last chapter?

<3