A7X One Shots

You ever think you're in love with a celebrity? Like, you know literally nothing about them other than what's in magazines, but you would totally die for them? If you met them and they were total douches, you would feel devastated?

I'm that person. I am literally in love with a long-haired, eyeliner-wearing guitarist from a California metal band. I don't even like any of those things, but when he has it... it's like fucking magic. I am in love with a man I don't know, a man who seems like he could do magic with his fingers. And I'm pretty sure he can given his amazing solos. I'm in love... with a man I will never meet.

And the thing that made it all the worse? I was a grown ass woman crushing on man three years younger than me, a man I had no chance of meeting no matter how many of his concerts I went to. I, Maria Alvarez, was in love with Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold.

"Maria, stop staring at the Metal Hammer cover. Syn isn't going to come alive because you stare at it." That voice of reason was my roommate, Kara. She couldn't really say anything though because she was head over heels in love with Johnny Christ and Kirk Hammet. She had a thing.

"I know that, Kar. I'm really trying to suppress my crush, but every time they release something, he gets infinitely more attractive. Like how can a man that wears eyeliner be this attractive!"

Kara sat down next to me, kicking her heels up onto our coffee table. "I have no idea. Why do they always put Johnny at the back? That man is too short, plus we all know he's the real leader of the band."

We couldn't keep our laughter in. Don't get me wrong, I loved that little bassist, but no one could compare to Gates. He was a God, and if I ever met said God, I would drop to my knees in a second. He was more than my little magazine journalist's heart could handle. Why didn't they ever interview metal bands at GLOVER? We were an up and coming music magazine, and we needed some spark to start really selling. No matter how many times I pitched an interview with the California band, my editor rejected it.

"You still trying to get an interview with him and Shadows?" Kara pulled the mag from my hands.

"You know I am. Although, if it ever does happen, I imagine I'll be drooling too much to actually form words."

Kara shot me a look. "Of that, I have no doubt."
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"Alright, GLOVER is not doing best sells wise, any ideas for something that will really get people to start reading?" My editor asked, looking at each of his journalists.

Every one in that room had a special genre that they loved. Miles loved jazz and could find the really obscure, underground bands that college kids seemed to love. Janice was all about classical and went out and about to talk up the newest orchestra performance. Leroy was all about rock; he loved it. And I was the resident metal head, but all of my articles were about country music because my editor said that metal scared people away.

"Look, Henry, we need to appeal to the people in our city. You know what city has a surprising amount of metal heads?" I was determined to get this interview with Avenged since they would be here this week to put on their Avenged Sevenfold tour.

"Maria, I have said this before, no one wants to read an article about a bunch of guys covered in eyeliner and tattoos. Pitch something else."

I shook my head. "They're here this week! We need something that will spice up GLOVER, right? They will. Plus, they're five attractive guys. That will get people to grab the cover and read all about the California boys."

"If it gets her to shut up about metal, I'm all for it," Janice said. She was such a snob because she preferred classical music. It was partly her articles that were losing people's interest. No one cared about strings anymore.

"Fine. Go." Henry shook his head and handed me a press pass and access to one of our cameras. He was so lucky that I majored in photojournalism in college. Not only was I an excellent reporter, but I could take the photos as well.
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I walked into the restaurant that Syn and Shadows had picked and I felt my heart race as I looked at the stunning guitarist. His hair was straight down to his shoulders and his eyeliner made his brown eyes all the more deep and alluring.

"Hello," I said, approaching the table they were sitting at. "My name is Maria. I'm the reporter for GLOVER."

Matt smiled at me. He did have a great smile with those dimples. "Hey. I haven't heard of GLOVER."

"Yeah, it's local to Detroit."

Syn nodded and sat down after I had. "Well, that's cool. So, questions or photos first?"

"Questions, always. So, what sparked the different genres we hear in the white album?"

"Well, we are always trying to expand as musicians," Matt said, "With City of Evil, we really established that we're a metal band. For me, I wanted to put more depth into our songs."

"It's all about seeing what we can do," Syn said and smirked at me. "As amazing as City of Evil was, we are growing up and changing, and I think we just wanted to prove we could do something different while also producing it."

I nodded, thankful I had a recorder with me. "What should fans expect with this tour?"

Syn laughed. "Everything they expect from Avenged and more. We always bring in fire and try to put our Deathbat in there. But this also about having fun, especially with our encore pieces."

We kept going, me asking question after question. Honestly, I was surprised about how chill and down to earth they were. Despite their rock star appearances, they were some of the nicest guys I had ever met. Matt thought about his answer and gave me what he thought would sound best while Syn just whipped it out there. It really reflected who they were. And I was amazed that I hadn't said anything stupid to my crush yet.

"Well, that's it. Pictures?"

They nodded and stood up. I guided them to the bar area of the restaurant. I wanted them to give me a rock star impression while also showing just how fun their music and style was. I put them in various poses and watched as they started to relax and goof off. Matt really changed in front of the camera, as did Syn. They went from calm, funny men to serious, rock stars. It was kind of weird.

"That's it," I said and sent a smile to each man. "Thank you so much. The article will be out next week, and y'all should be on the cover. I can send a copy to your manager?"

Syn smiled and gave me a hug. I could feel an amazing energy enter my body. "Sounds good. I'll give it to you."

Matt smiled as well and also hugged me. It was nice but nothing like what Brian's had been.

"This was an excellent interview, Maria. Really good questions. If you ever get bored in Detroit, we could always use another photographer on tour," Syn said.

My mouth dropped open and my eyes must have been the size of saucers. "Oh my god, really? I love you." I immediately slapped a hand to my mouth. That wasn't supposed to come out.

Syn just chuckled. "Call Larry if you're interested." He hugged me one more time, and I watched my crush stalk out of the restaurant. He was even more amazing than I had originally realized.

Notes

Not as Syn centric as I wanted. It's been a long day. Only story I'm updating today, sorry y'all!