From: Gates
Just bought TONS OF APPLE JUICE! You ready to fuckin rock guys? -Syn

Matt rolled his eyes at his phone. Their group chat had been active nonstop since the day before, annoying the shit out of him. He was almost at the point where he regretted buying a phone all those years ago.

From: Karma
I take it by Apple Juice you mean something that’s got a similar color…. - K
Matt grinned, knowing that his bandmate meant their favorite whisky.

From: THE LEADER OF AVENGED
Yeah like fuckin piss ahahaha

From: Zacky V
Last time I checked yours was red… or blue

From: THE LEADER OF AVENGED
Fuck you. I’m patriotic alright? Red white and blue

From: Karma
Not to crush your hopes Johnny but that does sound like pancreatic cancer

From: THE LEADER OF AVENGED
Fuck you too you pancreatic LOSER

Matt grinned as he stared at Johnny's caller ID picture. It was an older pic of him with a lamp over his head, fast asleep. Was that Warped? I think so... The next couple of days were going to be amazing with the guys. The group chat showed him that they were almost back to normal, all joking around. He finally swiped across the screen and started typing himself.

To: Group chat
Is it safe to add Brooks now or are you still not done talking about Johnny’s piss?

He felt somewhat nervous about their trip up to his cabin in Big Bear, seeing as Karma and him hadn’t really talked since Val locked them inside her living room. But it was going to be alright, he reckoned.

She was normal in the group chat, and she was normal some days ago when he messaged her, too. Nothing too exciting. He suggested that he could aid Val financially instead of Karma, but he already knew before that, even though she was struggling herself, she would not let him take over this task.

They'd come to the agreement to share the costs, though, which Matt was proud of. It somehow made him feel like the two of them were doing something together, even if it was just him transferring some money to her account after she ordered a new crib for Estelle on Amazon. Matt knew he was helping Karma greatly just by splitting the costs.

He was beyond ready to head up to Big Bear with the band and present them some stuff he wrote. He couldn’t wait to hear the guys’ (and Karma's, but she was one of 'the guys') opinions on it.

They were going to write an album, simple as that. Since Hail to the King hadn’t been out long enough, they could take their time with recording and mastering it and they wouldn't release it immediately. Maybe in a year and a half, that was their rough plan. It just fit right into their schedules at the time, so they all decided why not to do it now?

After getting no response for some minutes, Matt decided it was time to add Brooks. They met him once, and Karma, being the skeptical one, had to hear him twice. He played some of their songs and they were all impressed, so they didn’t hesitate too long, not even her. He was their new drummer.

Although Matt was somewhat the leader figure in the band, he left Brian to deal with firing Arin. The Kid was good, he just didn’t fit into the direction they all wanted to go music-wise. Matt really liked Arin, and he couldn’t stand the thought of having to tell him. Brian was different, and so he offered to do it.

From: Brooks Wackerman
Hi guys, it’s me! Pack your trunks yet or we skinny dipping? ;-)

From: Zacky V
Good to see you're here, we were just talking about Johnny’s piss. Does red white and blue colored seem normal to you?

From: THE LEADER OF AVENGED
Fuck you @Zack you asshat, we said we were not gonna go there

From: Brooks Wackerman
Uh, nice way to say hello I guess. @Johnny: That does sound somewhat cancerous to me.

From: Karma
GUYS I TOLD YOU I ALREADY LIKE HIM

Matt sighed, wondering when their group chat would ever die down. He decided to finally start discussing their trip to Big Bear, which was supposed to start in the afternoon.

To: Group chat
So I’ll drive, 3 of you can come along. I have a lot of stuff in the back so small ones only. @Johnny, @Karma?

From: THE LEADER OF AVENGED
Fuck you. I’m not small. Shotgun tho

From: Zacky
Like shit you’re not haha @Matt then I’m driving the 2nd car aka the BEER CAR. @Syn riding shotgun with me?

From: Syn
Fuck yeah @Zack I'm getting wasted while you're driving ahahahaha sucks to be the driver

Matt felt like texting Brooks. He didn’t know how overwhelming that group chat was to him. The guys weren’t exactly on their best behavior.

To: Brooks Wackerman
I’d say they’re not always like that… -m

From: Brooks Wackerman
But they are? I figured. No worries. We’ll get along just great. Be at your house at 3? Or do you still need help with packing the car?

To: Brooks Wackerman
Nah, I’m good. 3 is great. See you then.


Matt spent the rest of the day packing stuff into the trunk of his car and running errands. He kept thinking about Karma and if it was going to be weird seeing her again. It probably would be. Was it just a matter of time until they couldn’t stay away? He didn’t know.

To him, it felt like a new beginning, only in the wrong kind of way. If he was completely honest, he would have preferred a new start with Karma as his girlfriend over reforming the band. He loved Avenged. But he adored Karma. If he couldn’t have both….

Stop thinking so much, Matt reminded himself. We said we won’t, and so we don’t. As much as it pained him to think about their future - him having to stay away from Karma until his stupid crush faded away - there was no other option. She didn’t want them to be. And it took two.

3 pm rolled around rather quickly and Brooks was the first one to arrive. Matt had a quick chat with his wife Kelly who dropped him off. Johnny’s wife Lacey dropped off Karma and Johnny a couple of minutes later.

“So you guys ready? Forget anything?“ Matt asked as he pulled out of the driveway. “Yeah now is a good time to check whatever you might have forgotten,“ Brooks said. Shit. I forgot my fucking condoms. He didn’t know if anything could happen but he wanted to make sure he was prepared just in case.

He shook his head no. It wouldn’t happen. And if she wanted it to she would have some, right? God, it’s been only days and I already hate this situation. Shit. “I think I forgot my wallet,“ he said and stalled the engine. He rushed up to his bedroom and put all of them into his pockets. God, I look like a fucking pimp now, he grinned to himself.

The drive to Big Bear passed quickly. Matt had a nice conversation with Karma, Brooks and Johnny about everything that came to their minds. They got along great, which he was glad about.

They reached Matt’s cabin in no time. Their car was the first one to arrive, and before Brian’s car pulled up in his driveway, they brought everything into the house.

As always, they had pizza when they arrived. It amazed him that even Karma ate a whole one. Then they went into his cellar and started to jam. Music took over, and it felt like they were quickly getting somewhere with what Matt had written before.

It’s almost like back then when it was good, Matt thought as Brooks pulled a monster solo, is it too good to last?

Notes

Sorry it's just a filler but we all know what could happen in Big Bear, don't we.... :D