Just Before You Go

“Get,” Jimmy instructed me, bouncing on his feet and running his hands up and down my arms, “excited!”
“I’m excited,” I groaned lamely.
He shook his head, still bouncing in place, “Get fucking excited!”
I threw my head back dramatically in protest.
The hangover was real. And it was strong. Instead of sleeping all day to cure my woes, I was being rushed off to the festival. Jimmy was trying to encourage my spirits, but I was way too tired for his antics.
“I need to nap,” I whined.
Jimmy rolled his eyes, “You’re being a baby.”
“Babies are allowed to nap,” I noted pointedly.
He smirked, finally resting on his heels, “Fine. If you want to sleep, the other baby down the hall is sleeping through the afternoon too. I guess you can just come later.”
“Which other baby?”
He didn’t even have to tell me.
“Brian,” he said anyway.
It didn’t take a genius to work out that Brian would be down and out, judging by how absolutely wild he’d gotten last night. The party didn’t stop for the Haner Train. Once we were effectively booted from the bar, Brian decided to throw an impromptu party in his room. Johnny, Jimmy, and I were the only guests. That didn’t stop Brian from drinking until he’d literally passed out.
“It’s your birthday,” I sighed. “I’d be an asshole to stay behind.”
He smiled, pecking my cheek quickly, “Today is whatever, Aria. It’s just another day. Tonight, though. Tonight will be a fucking shit show and I’d rather have you prepared for that.”
“Are you sure?” I asked suspiciously.
He nodded enthusiastically, “Go rest your tired little brain. I’ll catch up with you when you get there—I’ll keep my phone plastered to my head.”
I wrapped my hands around his long neck, pulling his height down to my lips. I kissed him with a little bit of hunger and a whole lot of guilt. He kissed back with nothing but desire.
He broke away from me, grinning like a maniac, “If you keep doing that, I’ll be here all day.”
“Would that be so bad?” I teased, crashing my lips back into his.
His hands moved along my sides, eventually situating themselves on my hips as he bit at my bottom lip. This was a love I could get used to.
But in a split second, Jimmy tensed up and broke us apart once more, “Aria.”
“What?” I snickered.
“I really have to go,” he whined. “We were supposed to meet Matt an hour ago.”
I relented, “Okay, okay.”
“I’ll tell Bri not to leave without you,” he told me, kissing me quickly and then darting out the door before I had a chance to lure him in any longer.
I wasted absolutely no time. My head hit the pillow and I was out.

A loud thumping at my door woke me. I stirred ruefully, resistant to wake up. Naps are funny that way, they provide so much comfort but have the tendency to make you feel like absolute shit upon waking. The thumping continued, inspiring me to slide out from the blankets and drag my feet to the door.
A porcupine greeted me, “Ready to go?”
“What time is it?” I yawned, turning on my heel to head back to bed.
“Five,” Brian said slowly, following me in reluctantly.
I jolted awake. Avenged was playing at seven, which really didn’t leave a lot of time for transit. Plus, Haven was set to hit the stage just after six and I was curious to see Matt join them. If that really was their plan at all. I was still suspicious.
“Just give me two seconds,” I urged Brian as I rushed passed him and into the bathroom.
I fixed my makeup as quickly as possible and ran a quick brush through my hair. As I rushed back out and promptly removed my top, I’d forgotten Brian was there. To my surprise, he’d turned himself away.
Maybe he wasn’t a total piece of shit.
I slid on my gifted Avenged tank and headed for Mr. Gates.
“We can go,” I said happily, grabbing my wallet as I exited the room.
Brian was looking at me strangely as we walked, “You like nice for someone who literally just rolled out of bed.”
“Thanks…” I laughed. “I think.”
He shrugged.
We were split by an awkward silence as we climbed into a cab and headed for the venue. The driver was silent too—the whole thing cried out for static noise. But there was nothing to ease the discomfort.
So, I tried speaking.
“Have fun last night?” I asked awkwardly.
Brian glanced over at me and nodded subtly, “Yeah….You?”
“Yeah,” I nodded back.
We both just sat there, nodding.
“So…” Brian mused.
I was grateful for the attempt. At least it meant that the lines of communication were open.
“So…” I mimicked. “…Jimmy’s birthday, huh?”
“Yup…”
“Do you think you and I will ever not be awkward?” I laughed, trying my best to ease the tension.
Brian smiled, “You yelled at me the last time we really hung out. Or did you forget?”
“I didn’t peg you as sensitive,” I gasped teasingly.
“I’m not,” he shrugged.
“Uh-huh.”
He smirked, “What? I’m not.”
“Well I’m sorry I yelled at you,” I offered with a chuckle. “I was really drunk…Too drunk.”
“You weren’t’ really wrong,” he breathed. “About the way I’ve been treating that girl…”
“Blair Peterson,” I corrected.
He grinned, “Blair.”
“So what’s your deal, Gates?” I asked, trying my best to sound confident in my use of a super cool almost nickname. “What’s with your crush?”
“My crush,” he repeated with a scoff. “I don’t have a crush. I’m not twelve.”
I glowered at him, “Don’t you lie to me. It’s super obvious—but I’m not asking to tease you. I’m genuinely curious about it.”
He eyed me up.
“If you like her, why are you such an ass to her?” I asked seriously.
He groaned, “I don’t mean to be…It’s just…what happens.”
“It’s not charming,” I informed him.
He cocked an eyebrow, “You seriously think I don’t know that? I’m not completely inept in the whole social interaction thing. She just makes me…”
“Nervous?” I suggested.
“Confused.”
“Why?” I asked sadly.
I’d never seen Brian so honest or open…especially with me. I’d seen him acting stand offish, I’d seem him acting like a total ass hat. I had never, not once, seen him speaking to me with any real sincerity or openness about himself. It was a real nice change of pace.
“I don’t even fucking know her,” he laughed, rubbing at the back of his neck. “But have you seen her? How could anyone not swoon over her?”
I nodded seriously, “I could not agree more.”
“I really fucked it up,” he sighed. “You heard Matt, she hates me. I don’t know why I act this way…I guess I’m just a fucking asshole.”
I shook my head, reaching over to give me a squeeze of support, “You’re not an asshole…Not all the time, anyway.”
He laughed a little.
“Why don’t you try,” I paused. “Oh, I don’t know…talking to her?”
He shrugged.
“Obviously you think she’s something special,” I insisted. “So? Work your Synyster Gates charm. Aren’t girls, like, impervious to that or something?”
“Sometimes,” he snickered. “But Matt’s already claimed stake.”
“She’s a woman, not a piece of meat,” I informed him. “If you want her, go get her. It’s pretty simple.”
He looked at me sadly, “Nothing is ever simple.”
The driver took a sharp left, totally disrupting our heart-to-heart. We reverted to silence for a while, both looking out our respective windows.
“I’m glad Jimmy met you,” Brian spoke, still not looking at me.
He looked distant, deep in thought perhaps.
“You’ve been a really good thing for him,” Brian continued absently. “I’ve known that fucker a long time…I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy.”
My heart fluttered and my face burnt up.
“I try,” I said quietly.
“That’s just it,” Brian retorted, finally turning to look at me. “You guys don’t try. You don’t have to…You guys just click…”
That wasn’t entirely true—but it was mostly true. It wasn’t like Jimmy and I hadn’t had our tribulations. It wasn’t constant smooth sailing; there had been a few waves and we’d capsized once. But since then…and even in between it all…
“I want love like that,” Brian frowned.
I tried to be supportive, “I’m sure you’ll have it.”
“Whatever,” he dismissed. “The main thing to take away from this is that I think you’re a good fit for my best friend. So…Don’t fuck him over.”
“I don’t think I could if I tried,” I smiled.
“Did he invite you out on tour yet?” Brian asked curiously.
I nodded.
“Good,” he said firmly. “You coming?”
“I’m not sure…”
He smirked, “Here’s the thing about life—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupted with a giggle. “You’re going to give me a lesson about life right now?”
“Yes,” he nodded once. “As I was saying, the thing about life is that sometimes you get opportunities…and sometimes you dismiss them, thinking you’ll have a thousand other chances…But you don’t. And you won’t. This could be it, you know? This could be the only tour Jimmy ever invites you on…Fuck, this could be the last tour we ever do. You just never know.”
His words were disarming me. I didn’t like it.
“You have to make the most of it,” he told me. “You know, seize the day.”
I groaned, “You had me up until that!”
He laughed loudly, “I had to. It was begging for the reference.”
“It wasn’t,” I giggled. “But I see your point. I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” he said again. “Jimmy would be stoked to have you there. I wouldn’t mind either, if that counts for anything.”
I smiled, “You know it does.”
“We are here,” the driver said formally as he pulled the cab over to the side of the road.
I turned to Brian happily, “Let’s go find the birthday boy.”

Notes

Aw, Bri.

xx