Shh, Quiet...

Caught in the Crossfire.

-Arin's point of view-

"I feel like I just walked into Narnia.. This place is fucking massive.." I thought to myself as I weaved my way through a sea of unfamiliar faces. Tonight was the night I got to officially meet the guys. I'd talked with them over the phone, but I was currently wandering around Matt's house in search for them.

I was in Matt Sanders house. M.Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, and I was wandering around inside his massive house.
"Okay, Arin.. Don't make an idiot out of yourself. Do not fan boy. I repeat, Do. Not. Fanboy." a voice in the back of my head keep telling me. I took a deep breath, before rounding a corner, ending up in what seemed like a third or fourth living room.. I'd lost count by now. I looked around, only to feel someone throw an arm around me, pulling me close to them. I went wide eyed slightly, looking up, only to find Matt Sanders starring down at me.

"Arin! Nice to finally meet you man!" he grinned, shaking my whole body by my shoulders. I blinked, before smiling back at him.
"Likewise! How are you? Where's the others?" I asked, instantly kicking myself mentally for sounding like a complete tool. Matt only laughed.
"Zack and Johnny are back in the kitchen seeing who can take the most shots without puking, passing out, or having to piss first, and Brian.." his voice trailed off, his smile fading some. I tilted my head a bit in confusion. He must have noticed. He sighed, patting my shoulder.
"I don't advise you to go looking for him dude.. Him and his girl got in a pretty brutal fight earlier tonight, and he's still fuming.. And believe me, no one fucks with Gates while he's pissed off at Michelle. I don't even like getting in his way. You should see what he did to my glove department of my car." Matt laughed a bit, but I could tell that most of what he said wasn't as funny. He only laughed to keep the mood light. I just nodded a bit.
"But don't worry, if you do happen to find him, I told him to be nice. He's a good guy, I promise. He won't take your head off for nothing" he let out a laugh and I just smiled and nodded. I wasn't up for looking like an idiot in front of these guys tonight.
"Want a drink dude?" Matt asked as he dragged me over to what looked like a bar. In his house.. Jesus, this guy had everything..
"Uh, sure. Just a beer, please" I said, clearing my throat some to make sure he heard me. He grinned, reaching over and grabbing me a can of beer, handing it to me.
"There you go, man. And believe me, there will be plenty more on this tour. I hope you like to party," he smiled, before starting to walk away he pointed at me, "Oh, and make yourself at home. Like I said, Zack and Johnny are in the kitchen, and Brian is.. God knows where. There's a bathroom on every floor, and if your hungry hunt through my cupboards and shit." I just nodded with a smile, cracking the can open and taking a long drink. I leaned against the bar while I drank my beer, wondering what I should do, or where I should go. I finished it off, tossing the can in a nearby garbage before I just started wandering.

After weaving my way through more people, I decided I'd check out the upstairs. I wandered the hall, and it was mostly quiet, aside from muffled yelling coming from the end of the long hallway. My eyebrows pulled together as I made my way down the hall slowly. As I got closer, I recognized the voice. The door was open a bit, and I just leaned against the wall. I knew that listening in would probably get me killed if he realized I was out here, but that was a chance I was willing to take. I could hear him clearly now, considering he was screaming. Why no one else was flocking at the bottom of the stairs to hear this..
""Fine. You want a fucking divorce? You'll get one. Why don't bring the fucking papers to Matt's place? I'll fucking sign them in front of everyone. I'll draw them all a fucking pretty picture of us ending our fucking marriage. Is that what you want, Michelle? To fucking hurt me, just cause I'm not the most affectionate person, or cause I have a lifestyle that you can't fucking cope with? Well, congradu-fucking-lations. You did it. You fucking hurt me. You ripped my heart out, spat on it, threw it on the floor and fucking stomped on it. Bring me the mother fucking papers, and I'll sign them tonight before I leave. Don't fucking call me again!". I just blinked. I don't think I've ever heard so much profanity in one statement before.. And I don't think I've ever heard so much pain in someones voice before.
The next thing I knew, my feet had a mind of their own. I moved to the door, pushing it open a bit more, opening my mouth to speak as I looked up, only to have something hard collide with my face. I yelped, my hands flying to my nose and my eye as I heard whatever hit me, hit the floor. I looked down, seeing a phone, then looked up.

"Ow! Fuck, Matt wasn't kidding when he said you weren't in a good mood- Holy.. A-are you okay?" I went slightly wide eyed. There I was, standing in a studio with Synyster Gates, and he was in tears.
"Leave me the fuck alone. If you're smart, you'll take the phone to the face as a fucking warning" he hissed. Any normal person would have turned the other way and sprinted from this guy, but.. He looked like he needed someone right now..
"With all do respect, Mr.Haner, leaving you alone is the last thing I'm about to do. Yeah, I may have just caught your phone with my face at probably ninety miles an hour, but you're obviously upset about something.." I mumbled, taking an other step closer to him after shutting the door behind me. He turned around, and sized me up as he rubbed his eyes with his palms.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice had a little less venom in it this time. I smiled at him shyly, only to smile wider as he smiled back.
"Hi, I uh.. I'm Arin" I said with my hand out. He looked at me a moment, before placing his hand within mine, gripping it firmly, giving it a shake.
"Brian. Why didn't you run when you had the chance?" he asked with a bit of a scoff, rolling his eyes as he dropped himself into a nearby chair.
"Well.. Cause unlike most people, I don't run when I know someone needs someone to talk to.. Are uh.. Are you okay? Stupid question, I know, but.. You don't have to tell me if you don't have to-" he cut me off with a light laugh and a smile, motioning for me to sit with him. I smiled back, sitting myself on the other side of him.
"I don't normally 'share my feelings' with people, but.. I'm drunk, and too out of it to give a fuck. Can you follow drunken gibberish well?" he asked. I just nodded, balling my hands around the ends of the sleeves of my sweater.
"My wife, is a cunt. Simple as that. She tore my heart from my chest, ripped out all the stitches she put back in it, and just.. Beat it with a blunt object until it was a puddle of fucking filth on the goddamn floor" he looked at me as he cracked open a can of beer that I hadn't seen him grab. He downed half, before taking a breath to speak again.
"Her and I had been having a lot of problems.. I mean we used to fight all the time, but we'd make up and shit and I figured that was just how it went.. You fight with the one you love all the time and it brings you closer or some sentimental shit like that. Don't know, not really a sentimental guy. But anyway, we got into a really brutal scrap before I got here, and shit just.. Fell apart in front of me. All of it. Every last ounce of effort I put into her, and our relationship, and our marriage, and just.. All of it, blown to fucking pieces that I can't fix this time with an 'I love you' and a good fuck.." his voice trailed off as I starred at him. Tears rolled down his face, and he didn't seem to care anymore. His jaw was tight, and I could tell those tears were angry tears. He threw back the rest of his beer before opening an other one, chugging it back faster then I've seen anyone else drink before.
"Man, I.. Mr.Haner I-" he cut me off with a light giggle, waving his hand in the air dismissively.
"Call me Brian, you're gonna be touring with me and the guys, we're past first name bases Arin" he spoke softly, sniffing as he kept his eyes on the mouth of the beer can. I bit my lip, only to have him look up at me, my eyes catching his.

It was like in that very moment, I could see everything that was going on inside his head. I'd never seen that kind or hurt and fear in the eyes of an other human being before.

And again with the un-registered body movements.

The next thing I knew, I had my arms around him, hugging him as tightly as I could manage. A voice in the back of my head was telling me I was going to catch a punch in the face, but I felt a pair of arms wrap around me as he stood up, soft sobs following as he hugged me back.
"I don't know why the fuck I'm getting all emotional and shit with you, but I just.. Jimmy is the only one who's ever seen me really, y'know, break down like this before.."he hiccuped, burying his face in my shoulder. I just hugged him, nodding a bit.
"I-it's okay.. I don't mind.. I'm sorry I'm not much help.." I couldn't help but bite my lip, feeling him shake his head a bit while his face was in my shoulder.
"You're a lot more help then you think.. Thank you, for letting me bawl on you and just.. Holdin' me.. As gay as that sounds, I really needed it.." his voice was soft, but sounded lazy. Like we were having a conversation via pillow talk or something. I smiled a bit, patting his back lightly.
"I'm glad I'm not completely useless.. I'm sorry that things with your wife fell apart, but.. Everything happens for a reason. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true." I offered him a small smile when he came off my shoulder, and he laughed a bit, cracking a grin at me.
"Thanks, Arin. I owe you for listening to me fall apart. Here, I don't like being drunk by myself. Get a few of these into you" he pulled three beers from a small fridge that I didn't notice earlier, sliding me two of them, cracking one open for himself and beginning to chug it. I wasn't about to tell him no, so I cracked one open and threw back half, sitting back down with him.
"It's not a problem at all, Bri. I don't mind being here when you need someone. And, I swear, I'll take it to my grave" I said with a small smile, chugging back an other mouth full of alcohol. Brian grinned at me, finishing off an other beer. I kicked myself mentally for letting myself stare at him too long. I wasn't looking forward to telling the guys that I was bisexual.. I wasn't sure how they were going to take it.
"Yeah, you're right.. Still hurts though, y'know? I loved her.." his voice trailed off a bit as he looked at the mouth of the empty beer can in his hand. I opened my mouth to speak, but was cut off but Matt walking into the doorway.
"Oh, hey, you found him. I see you're getting along... Uh, Bri, I uh.. Hate to be the icing on the shit-tastic day you've had, but.. Guess who's down stairs.." Matt rubbed his neck, and I could tell that things were about to get very ugly, very quickly. Brian let out a bitter laugh, grabbing an other beer, cracking it open, and chugging it back quickly. I bit my lip before opening my other one myself, chugging it as fast as I could as Brian stood up from his seat.
"Come on, Arin. Come meet the woman that gutted me like a fucking animal." Brian's words were slurred as he threw an arm around my shoulders, leaning on me for support. He leaned close, his lips next to my ear as he whispered, "Whatever I do, regardless of who the fuck is down there, play along. Matt will tell Zack and Johnny what I'm doin'. Just.. Play along, or I'll have to seriously hurt you." I just nodded, my heart rate picking up enough to have it nearly humming in my chest as we made our way out of the studio, down the hall and down the stairs.

"Fucking took you long enough to get out here. I thought you would be the one waiting for me, since you're the one who told me to show up."
Well then. Needless to say, I don't like her already.

"Shut your mouth. Give me the fucking papers. Everyone gather 'round to witness me ending my fucking marriage!" Brian yelled as he snarled at the woman that was about a foot away from us. She was starring at me. Well.. More like burning holes through me. She pulled a bundle of paper from her purse, and set them on the counter, handing him a pen. He went to sign it, but I nudged him, causing him to look at me.
"Shouldn't you.. Maybe read it first? What if she's trying to get half your shit-" she cut me off.
"Mind your own business. You're not the one signing them, so but the fuck out-" Brian cut her off.
"Why don't you shut the fuck up? Thank you, Arin. I will read it first. Better yet, Arin, read it to me. Or for me. Whatever works best" he slurred, his hand running through my hair gently, his fingers fiddling with my hair. I swallowed, scanning the paper, looking for anything that stated Brian handing over half of everything. And after reading enough of it, I found exactly what I knew I would.
"Bri, she wants half of your shit.. Half of everything.." I mumbled, watching his face twist to intense rage, only to watch him burst out laughing. Everyone that was in Matt's house was watching this episode happen, and watching me hold Brian up and help him end his marriage. I bet this looked just great..
"Ah, thank you babe. See, he's smart. He's pretty cute too, don't you think, Chelle?" he cooed, moving in close to my face, the tip of his nose nuzzling into my cheek.
Fuck. What do I do?!

RIGHT. PLAY ALONG.

I smirked, turning my head, my nose meeting his gently. He smirked back, perking a brow at me before looking back at.. Michelle? Whatever her name was.. I couldn't think properly. Not when Synyster Gates was hitting on me to piss off his wife. I swear I saw my own life flash before my eyes when my eyes met hers.
"Oh, well isn't that fucking cute. You're fucking a guy? I never would have thought you were a faggot, Brian" she hissed. It must have been the alcohol that gave the confidence to speak up, or the fact she used the term 'faggot'.
"Faggot? Really? Well, at least I know what he likes. Not to mention I was given the gift of being born without gag reflexes." I just smirked, hearing Matt crack up, along with Zack and Johnny.
"Did Jimmy know you were a fag, Brian? I bet he'd have been-" Matt was the one to step in this time.
"Chelle, we all knew. We were waiting for you to figure it out. Now, because you just tried to purposely hurt Brian, you can leave the papers, and get the fuck out of my house. I don't tolerate rudeness in my house. And since you're my sister in law, I can kick you out. Now, leave. We'll mail you the papers after we have a lawyer look at them." Zack went to the front door, opening it and pointing to it. She gave me an other death glare before stomping out of Matt's house, slamming his door behind her. Brian leaned over, whispering in my ear again. I swear, his voice sent these weird shivers down my spine..
"Thank you.. I really, really owe you Arin.." I couldn't tell if I was just thinking dirty, or if I caught something in his voice that he wanted me to hear. I swallowed hard, nodding, thought I wasn't sure why I did. Next thing I knew, I had Matt slapping me on the back, laughing as he did so.
"Dude, welcome to the fuckin' family. That was the greatest thing I've seen since Jimmy's Superman Punch" he laughed, shaking my shoulders a bit as he laughed. Zack and Johnny where nearly on the floor they were laughing so hard. But then again, they were so trashed I was surprised they knew who's house they were in. Brian pulled at my arm, dragging me a bit.
"Pardon us, Matt. Me and my man need to have a chat" Brian imitated a gay guys voice, causing Matt to laugh and just shake his head at him.
"Whatever man, we'll be down here." Brian dragged me back up the stairs. Well, actually I dragged him, but you get what I mean. We got back into the studio, and he burst into a giggle fit.
"Dude, you are really, really drunk aren't you?" I asked as he decided to lay down on the floor.
"Absolutely smashed, babe" he put emphasis on the word 'babe', motioning for me to lay down with him. I couldn't help but cock a brow at him.
"What? You can be all cute with me in front of miss thunder cunt, but Brian gets no cuddles upstairs? Alright, alright, I'll deal" his words were slurred so bad they almost ran together, and I couldn't help but snicker at him. I held my hand out, noticing there was a couch.
"Come on, Bri. The couch is more comfortable then the floor, don't you think?" I asked, and he took my hand, shaking his head as he pulled me to the floor.
"Mm, nope. I like the carpet better." He wrapped his arms around me, and I felt my face burn up as he pulled me into his chest.
"He's drunk, and upset. Very, very drunk, and.. Looking for comfort.." I kept telling myself. My heart felt as if it was vibrating in my chest. I couldn't hear anything else over it.
"You okay?" Brian snapped me out of my own thoughts, and I looked up at him. He may have been smashed beyond recognition, but he still looked like some sort of god.. I really need to stop thinking like this..
"Arin.. Earth to Arin.." again with his voice snapping me from my thoughts.
"Oh.. Uh.. Y-yeah, just tired.." I mumbled, before giving him a smile. He smiled, back, running his fingers through my hair again, causing my heart to nearly explode in my rib cage.
"Thank you, again, for tonight.. I owe you big time.." his lips curled into a smirk, and I felt my face burn up once again.
"Nah, it-" he cut me off, but not in the way I would have expected. My every thought seemed to melt, and drain into my face that felt like it was on fire. My breath hitched in my throat, my hand instantly finding his shirt and twisting it in my fist. Brian Haner, Synyster fucking Gates, was kissing me. I'm way too drunk for this..
It was over before I even realized what had happened. My mind was racing, and I was almost positive that my heart had stopped beating out of both excitement, shock, and a hint of fear.
"I.. Bri.. Uh.." I looked over, only to find Brian passed out underneath me. My face burned as I moved slowly, as not to wake him, grabbing an other beer from the mini fridge near by. Fear rocked through me as I moved to the door, searching the hallway for anything that could have just seen that.

"How could something so wrong feel so.. Right? I hardly know him. Plus he was drunk.. It didn't mean anything. It was the alcohol.." I thought to myself as I cracked open the beer, throwing it back as quickly as I could.
This tour was going to be the death of me, even before it starts..