~ Can't You Help Me As I'm Starting To Burn? ~

Part 7

Matt's POV

"She's late." Brian said for the third time.

"Yeah Brian, we know." Zacky said, already annoyed.

Not only had we gotten here early, we've been waiting an hour and a half for Bella to show up.

"This isnt very professional, guys. Who is this chick?" Papa Gates asked.

We had Fred, Papa Gates and Larry here to meet Bella.

She had us all looking like dickheads.

Her car pulled up and Jimmy ran up to it with a huge smile.

Bella's POV

I pulled into the studios parking lot and I saw them all waiting outside.

"Crap." I muttered.

I didn't even think to call them and let them know I'd be late.

I had a little trouble getting up this morning.

I was sore from the beating I got last night.

Ryan was pissed to say the least.

He screamed at me for staying out so late.

Them for not answering my phone when he called me.

I tried to explain that I couldn't hear the ringer but he didn't listen.

Just hit me over, and over, and over until I passed out.

I didn't have to worry about make up because Ryan never did more then slap my face.

He knew it would leave bruises.

Jimmy ran up to my door and flung it open, pulling me out quickly.

I bit down on my tongue to keep in the yelp.

My body was a lot more sensitive then it was yesterday.

"Hey Jimmy bean." I said with an affectionate smile as I hugged him.

"Hi Bella bear." He said, carrying me over to the group of guys waiting for me.

"I'm so sorry I'm late." I said once Jimmy put me down.

"Don't worry about it." Johnny said.

"No, I should've called and said I would be late. It was so rude." I said.

"Really, its fine. I'm Larry, by the way." An older guy said, stepping towards me.

I took a little step back, then realized what I was doing.

"It's nice to meet you Larry. I'm Bella." I said with a smile.

"Wow, Matt was right. You are pretty." Larry said.

They all laughed as me and Matt started to blush.

"Larry is our manager." Brian said.

"Our favoritist, most awesome manager ever!" Jimmy said, giving Larry a hug.

"I'm Brian senior. This little shits dad. You can call me Papa Gates." He said, pulling me into a hug.

I smiled and hugged him back.

They were an affectionate bunch.

I actually liked it.

"And last but not least. Here's Fred." Zacky said.

"We call him sexy friend. Makes him feel good inside." Matt said with a laugh.

I laughed too as I watched then all interact.

They were really close knit and I loved that.

They were a strong group.

A strong family.

Something I turned my back on when I made the mistake of moving in with Ryan.

I lost them.

And now I couldn't get them back.

I wouldn't make that mistake twice.

"Well guys. Standing out here isn't gonna get those tracks laid down. Lets get inside and do this." I said, walking inside.

I turned around when I realized they weren't following.

I poked my head out the door and Papa Gates, Fred and Larry were all smiling.

"I like her." They said at the same time.

I smiled too and they all walked in.

We dove right into work and we talked, messed around, relaxed.

I love it here.

I can be myself here.

I feel safe here.

Probably because in this studio, surrounded by the men of Avenged Sevenfold, I knew they would protect me.

They made it so easy to like them.

They're the best guys you'll ever meet.

And just spending an hour with them, makes me forget about the hell hole that I left just a few hours ago.

A hell hole I will undoubtably go back to.

But here, I didn't have to worry about that.

I could be me.

And it felt great.