Second Heartbeat [Avenged Sevenfold]

Chapter 20

I walked down the stairs behind Jimmy carrying the last of his bags. Brian walked through the front door, making his way over to me and taking the heavy bag from my hands.

"You guys got everything?" I looked up at both Brian and Jimmy who nodded.

"Well we better get going. The bus is here for us." Brian mumbled.

"We'll see you later alright Buttercup? Be ready for us to blow you away." Jimmy smiled pulling me into a hug. I chuckled and hugged him back before pulling away. He waved at me crazily and ran out the door flailing his arms and yelling things that were not understandable.

"My dad will be here around 5 to pick you up alright? I'll see you then." He pulled at my waist and brought me closer to his body. He brought his forehead down and rested it on mine, his shallow breath tickling my face. He placed his lips on mine for a slow passionate kiss before pulling away and groaning.

"You do crazy things to me Scarlett." His comment made me blush which caused me to look away from his gaze. He let out a chuckle, planted a kiss on my forehead and made his way out the door.

---

I walked through the white halls next to Papa Gates. Roadies and venue staff running past me totally engrossed in their own little worlds. I smiled to myself thinking of the countless times I had been in their shoes.
It was my job. Live music is what I live, what I breathe. I missed it a lot. I sighed and pushed open the door to the guys dressing room. Johnny and Lacy were deep in conversation, as was Matt and Val. Zacky and Brian were talking to the roadies and Jimmy was sitting on the couch drumming an insane beat on his drum pad. I made my way over to him and flopped down next to him.

"Where've you been m'dear? Brian over there was freaking out you'd changed your mind and weren't coming?" I rolled my eyes and smiled at Brian's over-protective and worrying nature.

"Papa Gates was early so we went out for coffee and talked about things. We lost track of time and ended up being late." I giggled sheepishly.

"Jimmy, Larry wants you." Brian looked over at Jimmy as he sat down next to me.

"Alrighy. See ya later munchkin." Jimmy quickly planted a kiss on my forehead and made his way over to Larry.

"Where've you been?" I looked up at Brian's face that was plastered with worry. I giggled and brought my hand up to his forehead, smoothing out the lines.

"Stop frowning so much. You'll get wrinkles." He caught my hand in his and interlaced our fingers. His eyes smouldered with desire and a slight smirk formed on his lips.

"You're looking extra beautiful today. Y'know that?" He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on my lips. I smiled at him and returned the favour by planting a quick kiss back on his lips. His smile grew and he pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"You're looking pretty handsome yourself. Ready to get all the ladies?" I winked at him and he threw his head back laughing.

"There's only one lady I want. She's pretty damn beautiful." He planed a soft kiss on my neck which caused shivers to run down my spine.

"Must be one special lady."

"Oh, she is." He mumbled against my neck.

"Absolutely and utterly, amazing." He planted another kiss on my neck before looking up at me. I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and ran my fingers through the bottom of his hair.

"Im hoping that one day I can show her off to the world as mine. But for now, I'm hoping that when she can finally join us on tour, she will let me take her on a date." My breath caught in my throat and I was silent for a few moments. I cleared my throat and looked down at my lap, absentmindedly playing with the rings on my necklace.

Mine and Daniels rings.

"Maybe when she's finally allowed to join you on tour, she will let you take her out on a date." I peered over at Brian who broke out in a smile. His grip around me tightened and he kissed my neck once more which made me giggle.

The door to the dressing room clicked open and brought view to 12 or so girls, dressed in varies typed of lingerie, who made their way swiftly into the room.

"Ahhh here's our girls." Larry shouted as my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Guys these are your dancers for Scream. They'll be joining you for the rest of the tour" Brian's breath seemed to catch in his throat as a girl with fiery red hair made her way over to us.

"Looks like you've got yourself a new toy." Her smirk was unsettling as she looked me up and down. Brian just sat there without saying a word.

"I must say, it's a bit of a downgrade from me." Her words stabbed at my heart. I felt the tears well in my eyes and I bit my lip to keep then back.

"That's enough Jessica." Brian growled. Jessica, her name sounded so familiar. Was this the Jessica Michelle had told me about?

"Oh come on Syn. You know she has nothing on me." She sent him a wink. I pulled out of Brian's grip and stood up.

"I uh.. I'm just going to go get some fresh air." I quickly grabbed my bag and exited the room swiftly with the sound of the guys calling after me. I made my way back trough the winding halls and out into the crisp air. I walked over to a bench and sat down, taking in the colours of the setting sun. I let out a shaky breath and pulled Brian's pack of cigarettes out of my bag, lighting myself one.

How stupid could I be? Thinking that he even liked me, wanted me to be his. Why was I so stupid enough to believe that he liked me, found me beautiful. He's a rockstar that can get absolutely anyone he wanted. Of course he's going to go for someone like Jessica over me. He's just using me because Laura left.

"Scarlett.?" The uncertainty in his voice made my heart pound in my chest. I took another drag of the cigarette.

"What are you doing with that? You shouldn't smoke." He gently took it from my hand and stomped it out.

"You do." I mumbled, crossing my arms over my chest and not making eye contact with him.

"Maybe so, but I'm not going to let you get hooked on something that will inevitably end up killing you."

"Then why don't you just leave?" My voice was calm but Brian was taken aback by my answer.

"W-what?"

"You heard me Brian." I looked him right in the eye.

"Don't you think for a second that I am going to emotionally invest myself in you, for you only to flick me off like some parasite to go after a girl you clearly have a history with. Do you know how hard I have been convincing myself that it's okay to move on? Do you know how hard I have been trying, for you? Because you made me believe that you actually felt something for me."

"I do Sca-" I held up my hand to cut him off.

"No. No you don't. If you did, you would've stood up for me back there. But you didn't. You just sat there like a lost little boy practically eye fucking her. And the worst part is, is that I know that you're going to be on your own with her for two month without me there. You're going to move on and forget about me. I can't take anymore heartbreak Brian. Not yet." I shook my head and bit my lip.

"Y'know what? This was a mistake." I stood up and grabbed my bag.

"Scarlett." Brian stood up and reached out for me with a pained expression. I moved out of the way so he couldn't touch me.

"I wish you a good tour Brian, and a good life. All my stuff will be gone from your house by the time you get back." He stood there not saying a word, frozen on the spot.

"Goodbye Brian." And with that, I walked away.