BRIAN

The bus pulled up to the venue about two hours before the show started. The line that was outside of the building was incredible. There were so many kids out there holding up signs saying ‘foREVer’. None of us could stop the tears from flowing out of our eyes. Zacky and I split the rest of the whiskey and pounded back a lot of beer before we could even get off of the bus. I stumbled down the steps and barely made it into the building before I threw up in a trash can. Matt walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

“I think that’s enough for tonight, huh?” He said. I shrugged him off and started walking to the dressing room so I could change for the show.

Zacky was nursing another beer and Johnny was just sitting on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Mike was warming up on stage and Matt was off somewhere else, probably calling Val.

“You want another?” Zacky finally asked me. I nodded and he tossed one to me.

“I don’t know if I can go out there.” Zacky said quietly.

Johnny and I both nodded in agreement.

“How are we supposed to? How are we supposed to play the songs that we wrote together without him?” Zacky said. His voice was tight, but his words were slurred. He was getting drunker by the second.

I gulped some more of my beer, then stood up and walked over to him. I reached over and took his bottle and set it down on the table.

“Okay Zack, that’s enough.” I told him quietly.

He nodded and pulled me in for a tight hug. I held him back tightly, then I felt Johnny come over and join our hug.

“We have to try.” I said finally in a choked voice. When we pulled away, all of our faces were red and wet with tears.

“We have to try this, for Jimmy. If we can’t get through this one show, we’ll hang it up.” I said to them.

“Okay, that’s the plan then.” Matt said from the doorway.

We all nodded to each other and then headed out to hair and makeup. I expected to see Janet stomping her foot because we were late, but she wasn’t there.

Instead, a tall blonde was leaning against the counter. Her hair was about shoulder length and it was platinum blonde. As we got closer, I could see her icy blue eyes staring back at us. She smiled a toothy grin and waved. She was wearing a white silk top with a black vest over it and black leggings with knee high boots.

“Hi guys, I’m Aubrey. I’m your new hair and makeup stylist.” She said. Her voice was light and airy.

Matt was the first one of us to speak.

“Nice to meet you Aubrey. I think you already know who we are, right?” He said. She smiled and nodded.

“Of course, who doesn’t? Shall we get started?” Aubrey said. Matt nodded and sat in the chair.

When it was my turn, Aubrey was chatting up a storm.

“I’m really proud of you guys for continuing to tour without Jimmy. It takes a lot of strength to do something like that.” She said seriously.

I looked up at her for a moment, her icy blues held my eyes. I felt like a thousand years had gone by, but it was only mere seconds before she turned her head. But I could see a small smile formed on her full, pouty lips.

“Okay Synyster, you’re all done.” She said.

I slowly got down from the chair and started to make my way to the stage. I looked over at Zacky who was shaking his head at me. I walked over and put my arm around his shoulder.

“We can do this Zack. He’d want us too.” I told him.

Zacky took a deep breath and nodded. I nodded once and walked back over to my spot. The opening to ‘Nightmare’ started to play and I took a deep breath to steady myself and got ready.

As I started to play with opening duel with Zacky I thought to myself ‘maybe we can do this.’ I looked into the crowd and saw all the fans screaming, moshing, and crying right with us. They were hurting too but they’re still coming out here to support us, so we have to keep going for them.

Zacky shot me a glance and I could see that he was thinking the same thing. I nodded slightly and I knew that we as a band were going to be alright. As I was looking at Zacky, I saw Aubrey standing off stage singing every word right along with Matt and she was whipping her hair around and dancing. Throughout our whole set, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

When the set was over, everyone was in a good mood. We all celebrated with a drink, then went to shower up.

I was walking to the bus, when I saw a figure leaning against it smoking a cigarette. As I got closer, I saw that it was Aubrey.

“Great show tonight Syn.” She said in her sweet voice.

I smiled at her and lit up a cigarette of my own. She took a drag then turned to me.

“Jimmy would’ve been proud.” She said. I looked at her but said nothing.

Aubrey smiled and tossed her cigarette to the ground then stomped on it with her boot.

“Well I better get back to my bus. I’ll see you around Syn.” She said. As she left, she put her hand on my arm for a moment.

Her touch was hot as a thousand embers burning on my flesh.

“Brian, get your ass in here. We’ve gotta move.” Johnny called from the door. I shook my head slightly and climbed up the stairs.

“Oh by the way, Kate’s texted you like ten times today. Do you ever plan on talking to her again?” He told me.

I slapped myself on the forehead.

“Shit.” I said to myself as I took my phone from his hands.

She had left me about ten text messages all throughout the day and I haven’t even bothered to read them. She’s got to pissed at me by now.

I sighed and tucked the phone in my pocket.

Oh well, a few more hours won’t hurt. She’s already pissed right?

I hope you like this one (: I've written these last two chapter while I was in between classes this week. I should be writing the next one soon (: Thanks for reading!