I Know It's Hurting You, But It's Killing Me (A7X Fan Fiction)

Chapter Fifteen: Oh for F**k's Sake!

            The drive out to the restaurant was awkward. Johnny couldn’t stop thinking about how everyone forgot about his birthday. He had been almost certain that Lyric was taking him to a surprise party, until she mentioned Kirk Hammett.

            Pulling into the parking lot of a local restaurant close to the beach, Johnny saw a devilish smile take over Lyric’s face for a split second before it disappeared and she got out of the car. Then he got out as well and hesitantly followed her inside.

            Once inside and seated, Lyric told Johnny she was going to the bathroom and she’d be back in a minute.

            Leaving the table, Lyric walked in the direction of the restrooms, but once she was out of Johnny’s sight, she walked over to the waitress, who also happened to be one of her only best friends.

            “Hey Lyric!” her friend called, and Lyric gave her a death stare, signaling that she was being too loud. The other girl gave her an apologetic smile.

            “Cayleigh!” Lyric greeted, pulling her into a hug. “Everything’s ready, right?”

            “Absolutely. Just give me the signal when you’re ready,” Cayleigh responded before running off to seat another party.

            Lyric carefully maneuvered through the restaurant, making it look like she had come out of the restroom and she quickly removed the knowing smile off her face before taking her seat.

            “I went ahead and ordered you a drink. Didn’t really know what you liked, but I figured I’d be safe with Daniel’s?” Johnny said, taking a sip of his own drink, a long island iced tea.

            “Thanks! How’d you know?” Lyric joked, loving the taste of Jack Daniel’s almost as much as her brother.

            “Well, I figured if you’re anything like Zacky…” Johnny laughed, making her smile.

            Lyric could tell she was going to enjoy hanging out with Johnny. She’d also heard that he could drink with the best of ‘em, so maybe she found a new drinking buddy too!

            After they had eaten and were just sitting at their booth, talking about anything and everything, Lyric pulled out her phone and started reading what Johnny assumed to be a text message. He watched as she quickly typed out a longer response, a wide grin slowly creeping across her face. Johnny just sat there, enjoying his long island iced tea, hoping she wasn’t plotting something.

            “Sorry, I had to text a friend of mine back,” she told him, flagging the waitress down to refill her Daniel’s.

            “It’s cool,” he replied, the expression on his face unreadable.

            “So one more question for the night, why do you alwa…” Lyric started, but a very energetic Jimmy came bounding over to their table.

            “Hey guys!” he yelled, earning many dirty looks. He simply ignored them and pulled Lyric into a hug.

            “Hey Jimmy,” Johnny greeted as he watched the other three guys walk up as well.

            They all took a seat, Johnny being squished up against the wall as Zacky and Matt slid into his booth and across the table sat Jimmy, Lyric then Syn.

            “Not to be rude or anything, but why are the rest of you here?” Johnny questioned, breaking the slightly awkward silence that hung in the air.

            “You’re not the smartest, short shit,” Matt told him. “We’re here to celebrate a special day!” he announced.

            “Why is today special?” Johnny asked, playing dumb once again, almost exploding from anticipation of hearing someone finally wish him a happy birthday.

            “Damn, I thought you knew what today was! It’s Owen Wilson’s birthday!” Matt exclaimed, using all of his might not to break out in laughter.

            Johnny hung his head in defeat, finally realizing that either they all forgot it was his birthday, or they just didn’t care.

            “Don’t look so sad, Johnny-Boy! It’s also Nathan Kress’s birthday!” Brian said, and everyone looked at him like who the fuck is that. “He’s an actor on this new show, iCarly,” he said, and when he was asked how he knew that, his answer was simple… His half-sister McKenna. All the guys knew that when McKenna obsessed over something, she made sure that everyone around her knew about it.

            “Hey, what about Carter Burwell, the composer of the Twilight Soundtrack? It’s his birthday today too!” Zacky told everyone.

            Everybody just stared at him in disbelief. “Seriously, Vengeance? How the fuck do you know this shit?” Matt asked causing the whole table to shake with laughter.

            Poor Johnny just sat there, unable to believe this was going on. Why don’t they just get a fucking list out and name EVERYONE whose birthday is today, except MINE! He thought to himself. Putting his elbows up on the table, he rested his head in his hands. He knew this was going to be one looong ass night.

            “Oh for fuck’s sake!” The Rev cried over all the laughing. Then he stood up and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Attention everyone in the restaurant: Johnny Christ from Avenged Sevenfold is sitting over here and today’s his birthday! He’s so nice he agreed to sign autographs and take pictures with anyone who wants it!!!!” He yelled loud enough for the whole place to hear him.

            Johnny quickly snapped his head up and gave Jimmy a death stare. “You mother fucker!” he said as a wave of people rushed over to the table.

            Matt and Syn jumped up and helped direct the people and got them into a line while Zacky ran off, only to come back with a box of brand new sharpies and set them right in front of Christ who had scooched over so he was now sitting at the end of the table.

            Lyric got up and kneeled on the floor beside him. “Sorry Johnny-Cakes,” she said sympathetically, slinging an arm around his shoulder. “The birthday thing was my idea… the pictures and autographs… all on Jimmy, I swear.”

I feel bad for Johnny... but I will make it up to him in the next chapter (: