Almost Easy

Wednesday had rolled around quicker than I could comprehend. The previous forty-eight hours of my life had been absolutely insane. I was putting in nearly fourteen hour days in the studio, trying to keep Tyler afloat, and trying to keep Brian interested without actually seeing him.
We’d spoken over the phone a couple of times very briefly the last few days. He’d told me about a photoshoot they were doing Wednesday morning in support of a new album they’d be releasing soon.
“It’s got this crazy song,” he said excitedly. “The Rev wrote it—it’s insane. You’re going to love it.”
It was called Big Bear or something silly like that.
We’d just wrapped yet another song and I was cooling down outside with my bottle of water—that I’d refilled at least a dozen times that afternoon.
My throat was rupturing, I could feel it. It was difficult to stay on pitch and in tune when my vocal chords were planning their early retirement. Tyler, taking mercy on my tired soul, had offered to record some leads to take the spotlight off of me.
I was ever grateful for him.
I’d just lit my cigarette when two black-clad figures were approaching from the parking lot. It was easy to recognize them—Jimmy had a haircut that you’d swear made him look like someone from the British invasion. On him, it was adorable. It was also obvious to recognize that they’d come from some sort of Avenged Sevenfold event—Brian’s hair was spiked out in every direction.
I guess he wasn’t Brian today. Today he was Synyster Gates.
“Hey!” I called to them waving with my free hand.
“Blair!” Jimmy called excitedly and took off in a direct sprint toward me.
I braced myself for impact.
He took me into his long arms and lifted me up to eyelevel. To ease the load on his biceps, I wrapped my legs around his waist and strung my arms around his neck.
“I missed you,” Jimmy smiled at me. “It’s been so long.”
“It’s been three days,” I groaned playfully. “And as I recall, you ditched me the last time I saw you.”
He gasped, “I would never!”
“You did!” I insisted with a giggle. “Brian, tell him that he ditched us!”
“He ditched you,” Brian winked. “He would never do that to me.”
“That’s true,” Jimmy nodded, frowning at me. “Sorry, Kid.”
“How was the photoshoot?” I asked as I hopped down from my Jimmy tower.
“Great! I look super cool,” Jimmy grinned, showing off his guyliner, “And this guy looks like a tool. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
“Aw,” I frowned. “You don’t look like a tool.”
Brian smirked.
“I think you look good,” I wiggled my eyebrows. “Real good.”
“Stop it,” Jimmy whined. “Keep it in the cage, ladies.”
I took a drag of my cigarette, “Sorry, Jimmy.”
He cleared his throat, “Ahem.”
I looked to Brian for clarification, he only shrugged.
“What?” I asked finally.
“Today, young lady,” Jimmy started, circling me like a shark, “I’m not Jimmy. What kind of name is that anyway? Today, I’m the Rev.”
“Fine,” I laughed. “As long as it’s the Rev and I don’t have to say the whole fucking thing. It’s really—it’s just so long.”
“That’s what she said,” Jimmy grinned.
“Why don’t you go in,” Brian suggested to the Rev. “I need to talk to Blair.”
“Uh oh,” Jimmy sung. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“Can you just go?” Brian groaned.
Jimmy shrugged and skulked off into the building. I thought then that I probably should have warned everyone—to be fair, though, I hadn’t known that The Rev was coming. I’d only known about Brian—err, Synyster Gates. And even then, I wasn’t totally sure that he’d actually show up.
He never ceased to amaze me.
“What are your plans for the night?” Brian asked, reaching out for my cigarette.
I gave it to him, studying him as he inhaled, “Don’t have much. I’ve been here until ten the last couple days.”
“I know,” he replied. “Any chance you want to skip out early today?”
“I don’t know about that, Brian,” I paused. “It’s kind of crunch time.”
“Come on,” he cooed, pushing himself dangerously close to me.
My spine shivered.
“Brian—”
“I want to take you out,” he said abruptly. “And I don’t mean tagging along with Jimmy’s binge drinking. I want to take you out.”
“Synyster Gates wants to take me on a date?” I half-laughed.
“No,” he squinted, “Brian Haner wants to take you on a date.”
“Haner?” I repeated dumbly.
It was the first time I’d heard his full name.
“Junior,” he added with a smirk.
“Brian Haner,” I repeated to myself. “Brian Haner.”
“What are you doing?” he asked from behind my cigarette.
I held my hand out to get it back.
“I really like your name.”
He shrugged, “It’s no Blair Peterson but it’s a name.”
“Shut up,” I scoffed. “What kind of date?”
“What kind of question is that?” he laughed. “A fucking date, I don’t know.”
“You haven’t planned anything?” I challenged him playfully.
He shook his head, “You’re impossible.”
“And apparently dateable.”
He looked at me oddly, “I didn’t realize that was a secret.”
“It isn’t a secret,” I chuckled. “I just didn’t realize you wanted to date me.”
He got his back up then, “I don’t know that I do. I thought, though, given how hot things were getting the other night…the least I could do is buy you dinner.”
This did not impress me.
Nor did it incline me to accept his invitation. Rather, it actually sort of enraged me.
“How fucking sweet of you,” I grumbled and flicked my cigarette butt into the road. “I’m so touched.”
His eyes widened, and he faltered, “No, I didn’t mean—”
I was a sucker.
“It better be a good date,” I said warningly. “Without any more snide comments from your party.”
“Deal,” he smiled.
“Should we go in?” I pointed toward the building. “Jimmy is probably terrorizing everybody…”
“Shit,” Brian laughed. “I forgot he was in there.”
“Right, let’s go.”
I was forced back into the box after only just returning. Tyler looked at me apologetically—until he saw Brian behind me.
“Hey, Tyler,” Brian said, extending his palm to my friend.
Tyler nodded, making a point to not shake Brian’s hand, “Hey.”
Brian flinched subtly. Jimmy was in his prime, he was dishing with my drummer off in the corner—trading secrets and techniques. Justin looked more than pleased to be speaking to the Rev.
I was happy to have contributed something uplifting to my tired band.
“I’ll be back,” I said to Brian quietly. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“No way,” he smirked at me.
He watched me intently as I did my thing. I tried not to let it rattle my nerves but fuck was it challenging.
“Blair,” Austin groaned into the mic, “I realize your boyfriend is here but could we get it together?”
My face beat instantly red. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Brian—so I played it off like it was no big deal.
Even though I was dying of humiliation.
“Sorry, Austin,” I lied, “I’m fucking tired.”
“I get it,” he also lied. “But come on, we have to get this done.”
I rolled my eyes and was very obviously not happy about the situation but I did as I was told. This round, I chose not to look at Brian at all. I told myself that he was busy chatting up my band members and had forgotten all about me.
The reality was that he hadn’t taken his eyes off of me.
It was kind of nice to have an outside in the studio. I’d gotten so used to being surrounded by only the band that I’d forgotten what it felt like to show my music off to someone that wasn’t involved.
Even better was that he seemed to dig it.
My voice cracked during the bridge again. They cut the music—I tossed my head back in frustration, running my fingers through my hair.
“Maybe you should quit smoking,” Austin suggested dryly.
“Can we do something else?” I hissed. “For fuck’s sakes, it’s obviously not happening for me today.”
Austin talked to the engineer briefly and then nodded at me.
I freed myself from the booth of humiliation.
“You were awesome,” Brian mused once I’d joined his side again.
“Don’t lie to her,” John said from atop his amp. “It’s only going to further the problem.”
“Shut up, Johnathon,” I growled. “On that note, I’m going to call it a day.”
“What?” Tyler snapped. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes,” I maintained, gathering up my belongings. “I’m done. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
I dragged Brian with me as I made my escape. Unfortunately, Tyler followed.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked bitterly.
I bit at my lip, “Tyler, I’m tired and I’m not feeling well today—I want to go home.”
“You aren’t going home,” he scowled. “You’re going to go fuck your boyfriend.”
I snapped back, “He’s not my boyfriend—and even if that were the case, it’s none of your motherfucking business.”
“You can’t leave the band like that,” Tyler tried.
“This isn’t about the fucking band,” I hissed, throwing my shit to the ground and storming off to get into Tyler’s personal space. “This is about you. This is about you not liking when I have anything going on in my own life.”
“Fuck you,” he spit.
I shook my head angrily, “My whole life can’t revolve around you, Tyler. I need to do some shit for myself some time—if that includes other people, so fucking be it.”
“He’s just going to fuck you over,” Tyler shouted at me.
Brian went to interject but I held my hand up and gave him a warning look. I turned back to Tyler, trying to push down my rage for the sake of our friendship.
“I’m leaving,” I said again, as sternly as I could muster this time. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Blair, don’t go,” Tyler tried weakly.
“Fuck off, Ty,” I growled as I picked up my belongings from the asphalt. “I don’t know who you think are you—but I can assure you that you don’t get to run my life. You know, more than you already fucking do.”
He was speechless. His jaw ajar.
Typically I was ultra careful with my words and tone when it came to Tyler. However, I’d reached my wits end about the Brian subject. It made no sense to me for Tyler to have an opinion about it one way or another. Sure, be concerned for me—but keep it to yourself.
I pulled Brian away with me, making a mental note to apologize to Tyler later when I’d cooled off. He watched me go and didn’t say another word.

Notes

What the hell; one more for good measure ;)

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