Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

"Bat Country" hit number one two days in a row after the guys performed live on "Total Request Live." The second leg of their Cities of Evil tour had started. Avenged Sevenfold was sharing the headlining position with Coheed and Cambria and the crowds were bigger than ever.

I had fully intended to fly back home after their appearance on "TRL," but despite his earlier claims that me being on the road with them was a mistake, Brian insisted that I stay with them until the tour was over. I almost refused. I was afraid we'd get sick of each other again and find ourselves back where we'd been before Christmas. In the end, though, I agreed to tag along.

I noticed the change in Brian immediately. He had started ducking out early at every meet and greet and hanging out on the bus with me. We had resumed the planning of our wedding, enlisting the help of Dawn, my mom, and Brian's stepmom Suzy.

"So--" Brian stretched out on the sofa, putting his head in my lap. "--where do you want to go for your honeymoon?"

Absentmindedly, I began playing with his black shoulder-length hair. "It's not my honeymoon, it's our honeymoon. Where would you like to go?"

"You're the woman. You pick."

I quirked an eyebrow, amused. "Why do you think the woman has to pick?"

"Because men always make bad decisions."

I giggled and bent down to peck him on the lips. "Right answer!"

He cupped one of my cheeks in his big hand, keeping me in place so he could deepen the kiss. There was a familiar stirring deep in my center, a spark of heat that would soon grow and consume me, if only Brian would work his magic.

"Hey!" Zacky's voice gave us pause, and Brian's hand fell from my cheek, his eyes closed in a grimace of frustration.

My smile widened and I looked up to find Zacky standing over us. "Hiya, Zee."

"Could you two cool it with the PDA?" Zacky grumbled, sitting at the table across from Brian and me. "You're making all the single people jealous."

"Zee, there are several hot young women out there who would do every thing to you that you can imagine," Brian said, turning his head to regard Zacky with more than a hint of exasperation. "Just go pick one and fuck her brains out."

"Oh, that's nice," I drawled sarcastically.

"What?" Brian said innocently. "He's horny and I'm telling him how to resolve the problem."

"I'm not horny," Zacky muttered.

Brian shot him a disbelieving glance. Even I could barely contain my snort.

"I mean, I'm horny, but it's more than that," Zacky said. "You two are disgustingly adorable, and Matt's been so happy since he met Dawn. It's making me realize how alone I am."

I gaped at Zacky in mock astonishment. "Zacky Baker wants a steady girlfriend? Wonders may never cease."

Zacky flipped me off. "It's not any more shocking than Brian Haner Jr. getting engaged."

"Who did you think would be the first one to walk down the aisle?" I asked.

"Matt," Brian and Zacky answered simultaneously.

"He was the only one who'd ever had a long-term relationship until Brian met you," Zacky said.

"Define 'long-term,'" I said, trailing my fingertips along the side of Brian's face.

"Three years?" Zacky said with a questioning glance at Brian.

Brian nodded confirmation. "Yep. They got together when we were in eighth and broke up at the end of junior year."

"Wow," I murmured.

"Matt likes relationships," Zacky remarked.

I frowned. "And yet he's been single for the last six years."

"He hasn't had time to focus on a girl," Zacky said. "None of us has. Except Brian, and that's only because you were willing to wait while he chased his dreams."

I smiled down at Brian. "It was easy to wait. I believed in him, in all of you."

"Yeah, well, now that we have a little time to breathe, I've decided I kinda want someone to share all of this with," Zacky said, showing a vulnerability that we didn't often see in him.

The door of the bus opened and Jimmy, Matt, and Johnny filed on.

"Move your ass, Gates," Jimmy said.

Brian sat up and pulled me onto his lap. Jimmy plopped down beside us. Johnny and Matt joined Zacky at the table.

"We have a show in Atlanta in two weeks," Matt commented.

"I think we should all go visit Jordan's parents on the way there," Jimmy said. "After all, we're going to be family soon."

"Jim, if they're forced to be around you too much, they may forbid Jordan from marrying into the A7X family," Johnny cracked.

"Good one, JC!" Zacky enthused, giving the shorter man a high-five.

"Wrong! They'll love me, but they may have some concerns about you and all the other gnomes that will invade their garden," Jimmy retorted.

"Eh," Matt said. "I'll give that one a six out of ten."

Jimmy shook his head. "I'm losing my touch."

"Are you sick?" Brian joked.

Matt suddenly got to his feet. He wasn't quite into the bunk area when he took out his cell phone. "Hey, baby," they heard him say softly as he vanished from sight.

Zacky briefly met my eyes, then focused his attention on Johnny.

"I believe it's time for bed," Brian whispered in my ear.

"I believe you're right," I replied.

Cradling me in his arms, Brian stood. "Night, guys."

"Because we actually believe you guys are going back there to sleep," Jimmy said, smirking.

Johnny chuckled. "Sweet dreams, guys."

Zacky lifted his hand in a careless wave. Brian carried me to his bunk and we snuggled together under the thin blanket. The other guys would eventually get loud enough for us to have sex without being heard, but until then, I was perfectly content lying there in his arms, talking about anything and everything at all.

*****

"Sunshine! Hey, Sunshine! Sunshi-i-i-i-i-ne!"

"God, Jimmy, you're like a little kid," I grumbled, sitting up and leaning to peer over the side of the bus. "What?" I called down to him.

Lifting a hand to shade his eyes, Jimmy squinted at me. "What are you doing?"

"Working on my tan," I replied.

"It's about eight thousand degrees out here!"

"It only seems that hot because of the humidity, and I'm used to it. I was born in the South, remember?"

We were in Atlanta and it was indeed exceptionally warm for late April. It didn't help that it had rained earlier, adding to the muggy stickiness in the air.

There was a pause, then Jimmy asked "Are you almost done?"

"Not really. Why?"

Jimmy fidgeted from foot to foot restlessly. "I'm bored."

"Why didn't you go with everybody else?" I inquired. Brian, Johnny, Matt, Zacky, Jason, and Matty had left to find lunch. I'd opted to stay behind and enjoy the solitude, making Brian promise to bring me something back. Apparently, I wasn't going to get the peace and quiet I'd hoped for.

"Matt said I gave him a headache and that he couldn't handle being stuck in an enclosed space with me," Jimmy muttered.

I bit the inside of my jaw to keep from laughing. Jimmy had been extremely hyperactive all morning, which was one of the reasons I hadn't accompanied them to lunch. I guess the joke's on me, I thought dryly. Thanks a lot, Shads.

"Jordan!" Jimmy whined.

"What do you want me to do about it, Slim?"

"Entertain me!"

"Jimmy, for fuck's sake, you are twenty-five-years-old! Can't you entertain yourself? And if you make that into something perverted," I cut in as he opened his mouth, "I will come down there and kick your ass!"

Jimmy suddenly looked towards the windows of the bus. "Hey, J? Your phone is ringing."

"Check to see who it is."

Jimmy vanished from sight for a few seconds, then returned with my cell in his hand. "It's your mom."

"Answer it. And be nice," I warned.

Jimmy flipped open my cell. "Hello!"

I hurriedly gathered my towel, bottled water, and book and climbed down from the top of the bus. I could hear Jimmy talking and I briefly worried about what he might be saying to my mother. Sandals slapping against the pavement, I approached him and held out my hand for my cell.

"Here she is," he said, and set the phone in my palm. He immediately set off for the building where the show was being held that night.

"Hi, Mom!" I said brightly.

"Hey, sweetheart. I was just calling to let you know that we're here."

I looked up to see Jimmy watching me. He waved and burst into laughter before sprinting around the side of the building.

"REV!" I yelled, and took off after him, not even thinking about the fact that I was in a black bikini top and a pair of boyshorts with a deathbat on the ass. With his much longer legs, I had no chance of catching up to him.

I ran out onto the paved area in front of the building's entrance. Several fans were already gathered here, waiting, and they were all chatting excitedly while watching Jimmy. A few people snapped pictures as Jimmy made a beeline to my mom and hugged her so enthusiastically that he lifted her off the ground.

I hesitated. Joining Jimmy and my parents would only encourage the rumors about Jimmy and me that hadn't quite died yet. Sighing in defeat, I quickly ducked back behind the building, hoping none of the fans had spotted me.

I had changed into a tanktop and denim shorts by the time Jimmy and my parents ambled onto the bus. I hugged my mom and dad, then turned to Jimmy with a finger raised threateningly. "Did you behave?"

Jimmy adopted a saint-like expression. "Of course."

I frowned at him and glanced at my parents. "Did he?"

Mom smiled. "Yes. He was absolutely charming."

Dad rolled his eyes, but didn't disagree. Jimmy stuck his tongue out at me.

"Where is everybody?" Mom questioned.

"Lunch," I replied. "They should be back soon. Can I get y'all anything to drink?"

Mom declined the offer; Dad accepted a bottled water. We all sat down, Mom and I taking the sofa, Jimmy and Dad across from each other at the table.

Mom was in the middle of telling me about my grandmother's latest health problem when the door opened and Matt, Johnny, Zacky, Jason, and Matty noisily herded onto the bus. They all stopped short at the sight of my parents.

"Guys, these are my parents, Rick and Sharon. Mom, Dad, these are the guys: Matt, Johnny, Zack, JB, and Matty."

The guys all murmured their greetings, oddly subdued in the presence of two older people. I was having a hard time containing my amusement at seeing the guys who always behaved like such bad asses now behaving so meekly.

"Where's Brian?" I queried.

Matt gestured vaguely at the door. "Out there somewhere. He got stopped by some fans."

I arched an eyebrow. "Only him?"

No one said anything, and none of them seemed to want to look at me.

"So, you guys are coming to the show tonight?" Zacky asked my parents, changing the subject.

Damn it. I caught Matt's eye and glared at him. What the fuck is going on?

"Uh, Jordan?" he said, talking over Zacky and my mom. "We need to--" he broke off and we all looked up at the thump of footsteps on the stairs. Brian appeared, a bag of takeout in his hands.

"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews!" he enthused, sweeping forward to give my mom a hug, then shaking my dad's hand. "Here, baby." He handed me the bag of takeout and bent down to peck me on the lips.

His nearness brought the scent of his cologne, cigarettes, and over it all, a flowery scented perfume. As he drew back, I became aware that my mom was watching him with narrowed eyes. She'd obviously smelled the perfume, too, and knew it wasn't anything I'd ever wear.

Matt said he got stopped by some fans, I recalled. All it takes is a hug and he would smell like the girl's perfume.

But that didn't explain why it was only Brian who'd been hailed by the fans, or why the other guys had acted mildly guilty about leaving him out there alone.

I'm overreacting, I assured myself. And I promised Bri that I wouldn't do this again. Everything's been perfect for the last couple of months and I'm not going to screw it up because of some momentary unfounded paranoia.

With that in mind, I focused on the conversation going on around me, talking and laughing and extremely happy that I was with all the people I loved the most.