Heart to Heart

A lone girl sat on her bed as tears fell from her eyes. Her cell phone ringing with the name ‘Ethan’ displaying on the cover but she continued to stare at the wall that was covered with Avenged Sevenfold poster and pictures she had gathered within seven years. Her hair was skewed in areas that she grabbed when she was frustrated with the thoughts going through her head that brought headaches that made her want to bang her head against the wall. Not wanting to hear the incessant calling, Mari pulled her I-pod out from her handbag that was covered in the patches and pins with rocks bands she loves. Once her ears were plugged she turned the volume high but not before grabbing her phone and turning it off before ‘Ethan’ could another chance to call her again.

Avenged Sevenfold filled her ears with M. Shadow’s deep voice that soothed her frantic mind and Synsyter Gates skilled guitar brought her heart rate down to a normal rate. She began to slowly drift off, her phone left forgotten on the floor and Avenged Sevenfold lulled her to sleep, making everything weighing on her shoulders disappear momentarily.

The alarm clock jerked her awake, confused to why she couldn't hear music anymore but one look at her I-pod told her why; it was dead. Mari unplugged her ears while getting off the bed; she connected her I-pod to her brand new DELL laptop to charge. She grimaced when she felt she was wearing the same clothes from yesterday and how dry her face felt from the tears she cried. Grabbing her towel and clean clothes, Mari made her way to her bathroom but her foot stepped on something. Looking down she saw it was her cell; she bent down and picked up but placed it on her nightstand.

Thirty minutes later, Mari felt bit better clean from the sweat and tears but the dread was still there in her stomach. A ping from her laptop drew her attention away from bittersweet thoughts, as she logged onto her email, she could see that she got ten unread messages and seven of them were from ‘Ethan’, she deleted those without a second thought. One was junk mail, while another was from a person that made anger swell throughout her body. She wanted to write a length email but instead she did the same with the other nine emails and deleted it. But the last caught her attention; it was from her friend from Arizona and the captions really stood; “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!!!!!!”

With one click of her mouse, Mari began to read the contents that were inside the email. The anger that she had earlier came back when she got done reading. Apparently she wasn't the only victim to having an unfaithful boyfriend. Zacorra Bird wasn't just the girlfriend of one of her favorite guitarist but inspiration to Mari and to read that Brian Haner Jr no Synyster Gates has been cheating on Zacorra with a close friend no less. Mari would know how it felt to be betrayed by one’s boyfriend and a close friend. After replying back to her friend from Arizona, Mari began to her mission, a mission that could possibly land her in jail but the anger she had brewing inside her fueled the determination she was going to do.



Mari made her way into the café hopefully to wake up more from staying up all night with the research paper she was doing. It’s been eight months since the incident with her ex and finding out about the scandal with Avenged Sevenfold. In ways Mari felt very emotional when Synyster Gates’s infidelity came into light for she felt betrayed because she idolized them and see one of her idols give into carnal pleasure and betray one of his loved ones for a time of meaningless sex just broke her heart. And added her own pain just fueled the anger and hate she had for most males, Mari found herself posting up discussions online with others that agreed to her opinion about Brian and his mistress which shocked Mari when she found out the identity of said mistress.

Many of Mari’s friend thought that this phase of getting revenge was going to go away but then Mari got bold and actually egged Synyster Gates car. Needless say the look on his face was priceless when he saw his car with the yellow plastered to his car. When that leaked, she got many hate mails but no one knew who she really was thank god for that. But Mari continued her assault of him and Michelle which wasn’t too hard. For one she was able to mess with the dye that Michelle got when she went to go to her monthly appointment at the salon. That victory lasted for a few hours until Michelle demanded the owner of the salon to change her hair back or else she would sue. Thankfully Mari was able to get out before she was spotted and arrested for whatever Michelle would say.

Waiting in line, Mari distracted herself from old memories and from boredom; she looked around the shop, observing others while they do their daily things. Though when she looked in front of her, she couldn’t help but be curious to the woman standing in front of her, the hairstyle looked familiar. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard the woman speak. It was indeed Zacorra Bird standing in front of her, the same café Mari has been going to for the past five months. The sudden giddiness began to boil inside her stomach as one of her female idol stood in front of her. Mari has dreamt of this moment months, practice in the mirror to what she would say to Zacorra but the moment, Zacorra turned and faced her, Mari’s mind went blank. All the practice Mari did suddenly went out the window the moment she and Zacorra made eye contact.

“I—um hi?” Mari stuttered and blushed a bit when she sat Zacorra giggled.

“Hey, I’m guessing that you’re a fan with the star struck look you have going on.” Zacorra said.

“You can tell?” questioned Mari. “I mean of course you can tell, with me wearing A7X’s badge and stiff.”

“I can see that, especially this one.” Zacorra pointed at the pin that said ‘Synyster Gates is fart head’.

“Oh that I was going through a phase with what happened between you too or I still am.” Mari fumbled a bit as she pulled her sweater to cover the pin up. “So what brings you to this lovely café?”

Zacorra lifted her cup up, once again making Mari feel stupid for asking that question. “Oh stupid question then. God I’m sorry it’s just you’re my female inspiration and meeting you here is just got me so frazzled right now. I mean I have practiced this conversation over and over in the mirror so that one day I would be able to talk to you without sounding like a total nerd.”

Zacorra burst out in laughter when she listened to this young woman rant on.

“Okay now I am sounding like a craze person so let’s just forget about that and start over. Hi I’m Mari Summers and I am huge fan.” Mari stuck her hand out which Zacorra returned the handshake.

“I’m Zacorra Bird and it’s nice to meet a fan.” Zacorra said. “And I don’t think you’re a nerd, in fact I have a friend that is very into pin collecting. Do you want to sit down and talk?”

Mari could have died and went to heaven, getting to talk to Zacorra Bird and just awed her. “Sure, but first let me get something to drink.”

Few minutes later, Mari and Zacorra were sitting by one of the tables that were against the window that had a view of the beach. Despite Mari’s awe and giddiness to meeting Zacorra, she had a question at the tip of her tongue for the past months that was eating away at her. Before Zacorra could say anything, Mari blurted out the question catching Zacorra off guard.

“Why did you take Brian back?” Zacorra blinked in surprise at the question, and the look on Mari’s face told Zacorra that won’t back down until she got the answer.

“Well I forgave what he did to me; he knows what he did with deep regret because of his actions he almost tore apart friendship he had with the guys and their loved ones. It’s easier to hate him but it’s hard to forgive him and I realized that I wouldn’t be who I am today. I am stronger, more independent and I learned that lessons we learn can be like getting gutted because it takes us by surprise.” Before Zacorra could continue, Mari interrupted.

“But he cheated on you with a one of your close friends for two years! He tainted the place that you held dear by fucking that ho just because he wanted the thrill of not getting caught. I mean he lied straight to your face about his affair with that Michelle and he didn’t stop until it came into light. What makes him so different now that he realizes the mistake he made isn’t going to happen again? What if he breaks promises again?” By the end of the rant, Mari was breathing a bit hard and some customers were staring at her because of her outburst. “I’m sorry that just came out.”

“I’m sensing there’s a deep issue here because I know you’re mad at what Brian did, and I know that you’re hurting right now though I don’t what from.” Mari tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall; her nose began to flare as old memories were brought back to the surface.

“I recently broke up with my ex well if you call eight months ago recently but anyways we met a comic con. I was dressed as Naruto Uzumaki despite my gender and he was dressed as one of the characters from an anime that I still have no idea is called. Short version is that we both fell for each other but the thing was that he had a best friend that he grew up from kindergarten; they were inseparable until I came along. From what I was told, he chose his best friend over his past girlfriends since they couldn’t stand how close they were. I was okay until I found out that she was deeply in love with him, at first I didn’t say anything because I knew that he didn’t recuperate those feelings back.” A few tears dropped as Mari spilled everything to Zacorra, an almost complete stranger.

“But then Halloween came by instead of getting dressed, I had a ten page paper due the next day and I wasn’t even half way done so I stayed in while Ethan, that’s his name by the way. While he and Astrid went to the annual Halloween bash that college held and I was a bit reluctant but I believed that nothing would happen since Astrid isn’t that kind of girl but I was wrong. It wasn’t until two weeks has passed that Ethan finally confessed that something did happen between him and Astrid. Get this; they did everything except have actual intercourse.” Mari let out a bitter laughter. “We got into a huge argument that we both said some things that were hurtful.”

“I’m sorry.” Zacorra gently grasped Mari’s hands that were clenched together tightly.

“For that, he reassured me over and over that he didn’t feel anything for her except the love of a friend but then he lied. I mean how could do something like that with her if he didn’t feel anything sexual attraction for her? For a few weeks we hardly talked but then finally compromised that we would work things out but I was selfish. I told him that he couldn’t be friends with Astrid anymore after what they did. He got angry but after a while he supposedly stopped talking to her but then he began to look even worse with each passing week. Then I found that he has been conversing with her via email and text messages, I go so angry that I told to leave.” Mari bit her lip as she tried to will the tears away but proved to be useless.

“Am I horrible person asking that of him? To forsake his friendship with Astrid who he had knew his entire life for someone like me, a person he had only known for less than three years? I mean Astrid is actually a sweet girl, but what she did proves that she can do something cruel like that to someone else. I haven’t talked to Ethan in over eight months, I don’t even know if he’s moved on or actually took a chance and started dating Astrid.” By then Mari was trying to keep the sobs from disrupting the other customers.

“I don’t think you’re a horrible person for asking that. What Astrid and Ethan did to you wasn’t okay at all and you do have the right to be angry at them. But it’s never the solution to keep on hating because that bitter feeling will begin to consume you. For me it was sorrow that kept me from moving forward, I kept pity myself each time I saw Brian will Michelle but then a friend of mine told me to get over it. I followed his advice and look where I’m at now. For Brian he had to work to gain my trust back but my love for him will always be there, he knew that but he still worked until I was able to trust him again. Sometime forgiving is the best way to heal.” Zacorra concluded.

“Man I would definitely needed that advice eight months ago, right now I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the chance to talk face to face to Ethan since I basically froze him out of him after that argument.” Mari let go of Zacorra hand so she could wipe her tears away and blow her nose. “I’ll still love him but I...”

“You’re afraid to let him in again and you think he’ll hurt her again.” Finished Zacorra.

“Yeah, I just want to be able to trust him again and go back to the way things were but I know that won’t happen because things has changed between us and things were said.” Mari said as she scratched the back of her neck, a quirk she had when she got nervous.

“If Ethan loves you more than anything, then I am betting that he’s waiting for you to call. He knows his mistake because he isn’t pestering as much as before, he backed off to give you space so that you can decide what’s going to happen between you two. Men are proud as fuck but when the things they love are at jeopardy, they’ll do anything to make things right. So my solution is that you two meet up and talk, just let out the emotion both have caged away.” Zacorra said.

“Well that seems like a good idea though I am still a bit stretchy with your choice to letting Brian back but I can see how much you love him and I sense that he loves you too with the pictures I’ve seen online.” Mari pushed her hair back but grimaced when she knots in the back of her head. The bell on top of the door caught her attention and since Zacorra couldn’t see the person that enters, Mari was the only one that saw them. A smirk spread on Mari’s lips as she watches the person look around until his gaze lands where Mari and Zacorra were sitting.

“Well I’ll definitely do what you suggested and it’s been great honor to finally met you and talk to you even though I mostly talked about my love life or lack thereof. Oh in case you’re wondering I was actually the one that egged your boyfriend’s car before you two got back together.” Mari said as she stood up and started to pull her bag back on, her forgotten drink melted but still she took a sip but regretted it. “I hope you and Mr. Spikey Hair live a wonderful life and continue to love each other and thanks for the talk, just something I sorely needed! Adios!”

With a salute to Zacorra, Mari made her way passed Mr. Spikey Hair but not before sent him a peace sign. Synyster Gates or also known as Brian Haner Jr, was confused by Mari’s action but still he returned the peace sign before turning his attention back to Zacorra. While the two lovebirds greeted one another and began to dive into a conversation, Mari couldn’t help but get a bit devious when she spotted one of the waitresses that worked there carrying a jug of what looked like cold fresh water. Without any hesitation, Mari snatched the jug of water and stealthy made her way back to the table where Zacorra and Brian sat.

Before Zacorra could stop Mari, she tilted the jug over the head of Brian. Brian jumped from his seat both pissed and surprise to feel cold water soaking his clothes and going to place he would rather have not unless he was in the shower back at home. Once all the water was gone, Mari bolted before anyone could step into action.

“I swear that’s my last one! It was great meeting you by the way!” screamed Mari as she disappeared out the door and down the street.

“What the fuck!” Brian shouted, but all Zacorra do was laugh as she witness Brian’s once spikey hair fell flat against his head. “It’s not funny, Corra! I’m fucking soaked here and you’re laughing your ass off!”

“I’m sorry, it’s just I finally got what she meant by saying it was her last one.” Zacorra bit her lip to keep the laughter from spilling out.

“What do you mean?” questioned Brian as he attempted to dry himself with the napkins that were on the table but proved to be useless.

“I’ll tell you when we get home.” Zacorra laughed she stood and grabbed her cup and began to lead the way out. “Oh I found out who egged your car back then.”

As the two couple made their way, Mari watched from a distance with a genuine smile on her face one that felt a bit awkward but it felt good to smile for real again. Once the two couple vanished from her sight, Mari pulled her phone out and dialed the number she so desperately tried to forgot but couldn’t Pressing the green button, she brought it to hear and listened as it rang which brought relief to her because Ethan kept his number the same.

“Hello?”

Her breathe hitched when she heard his voice again, her heart started to pound against her chest.

“Hey.” The phone went silent on the other side which made Mari nervous because she thought he hung up on her but the next few seconds changed her mind.

“Mari, is that you?”

“Yeah, um do you think we could meet up and talk? I know it’s been eight months and I know you probably have plans but I thought we could talk.” Mari bit her bottom lip as she anxiously waited for his answer.

“Yes I would like that.”

Mari could feel her heart burst with joy from his answer. Once she got the time and date and place to meet, Mari said goodbye, she felt in way that the pain was almost gone. Though there’s still some issues that had to be taken care, she wanted to be in the place as Zacorra and Brian; happy with Ethan because she couldn’t see herself with anyone else.

For once in her life, Mari felt like things were going to be okay and all she needed was a Heart to Heart talk with something albeit it was a stranger. Once Mari wiped away the tears not from sorrow but happiness, she pulled her famous goggles and made her way to the moped scooter that she brought a year ago with a lighter heart and hope for the future.