Hold Onto Me

Seven hours later, there was a knock on my front door. I knew it was Ainsley. I groaned and grabbed my purse and opened the front door, and put a fake smile on my face. She grinned hugely before hugging me tightly. After she let go, I locked the door then we were on our way to my doom. The whole car ride the red headed girl kept bouncing in her seat and I wanted to stab her, multiple times. As we pulled into the parking lot, my phone rang. I grinned as his name popped up on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey baby."

"I miss you so fucking much!"

"Have you checked the date lately?"

"No... Why?"

"We come home tomorrow!" I could hear the grin in his voice.

"Oh my god, you do!"

Ainsley excused herself from the car and skipped across the parking lot to stand in line with all the annoying people. She was smart though. Joe's Grotto was a smaller venue than what Avenged usually would play, and everyone would start showing up soon.

"So my love, what are you doing?" He asked.

"Our oh so wonderful babysitter conned me into taking her to a stupid concert."

"Since when do you hate concerts?" He chuckled, a little surprised by what I said.

"Since Melody's sperm donor's band decided to play here."

"Wait, what? Are you serious?" Shock obvious in his voice.

"And to make matters worse, fucking Jimmy showed up at the house this morning and gave Ainsley two backstage passes so I have to fucking see them, John."

"Jimmy came to the house?" He questioned.

"Yeah, he recognized the subdivision and he ran all the way from the I-hop." I giggled, recalling the events.

"Well, baby, I gotta go. Call me later, kay?"

"Of course. I love you, John O'Callaghan."

"Yeah. I love you too."

I opened the car door and started walking across the parking lot after I slammed the door shut. During the five minutes I was on the phone, the line got exceptionally longer and I was hella glad I didn't have to go to the back. I joined Ainsley in line and fixed my hat while she put the all access pass around my neck.

"Ugh. It's gonna be a long night."

***

I stood at the bar, trying to ignore the sounds coming from my brother's band and the annoying fans singing along but it was hard. Joe's was smaller than I remembered. I tossed my empty beer bottle in the trash and pushed through the crowd to find Ainsley. I ended up in the middle of the mosh pit. I shrugged my shoulders and started moshing with them. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a girl on the floor being trampled. I made my way over to her and pulled her out of the mosh pit towards the bar.

"You okay?" I screamed over the music.

"What?" She screamed back.

"Are you okay?" I yelled louder.

"I can't hear you!"

"ARE YOU OKAY?" I screamed louder than before just as the band finished a song, and everyone heard.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Are you?" Zacky laughed into the microphone.

"I don't think she is, Zack. I think we outta take her on over to Bat Country." Matt laughed.

The fans joined in the laughter, making my blood boil.

"I don't need to go to fucking bat country, asshat. Just keep playing your shit music so I can leave." I yelled before taking a swig from my drink.

"You heard the crazy psycho lady, let's keep playing our shit music." Brian breathed heavily into his mike, as Matt started the intro to Bat Country.

I downed my drink before turning back to the girl who was clutching her sides, laughing. I couldn't help but giggle.

"I'm fine, thanks for saving me."

"Oh, no problem."

"I'm Atlanta."

"Atlanta? Nice to meet you, I'm Marissa, but call me Izzy."

We sat at the bar together talking and getting to know each other. She reminded me a lot of myself. It was like we had a connection and we were supposed to meet.

"Alright..." Matt said, taking a drink of water. "We're gonna slow it down for a minute. Three years ago, my little sister, Zacky's fiance at the time, left us. Romie was, no, is the reason for Avenged Sevenfold. It's been rough without her. She's our inspiration and our strength so I'd, we'd like to dedicate this song in her memory, in hopes that one day, she'll come home to us." I listened as Matt told the crowd about me, his voice cracking.

A slideshow started on the venue's projection screens behind the band. It was pictures of me and the rest of the guys and the girls. There was even a picture of me and Lauren in our Short Shit Club hoodies. Zacky and Brian both sat down on bar stools, holding their acoustic guitars. I let out a little gasp as I realized Brian was playing the guitar I left behind. Then I heard Matt start singing Almost Easy and I couldn't help but let a tear fall from my eye.

After they played their last song, Ainsley came running to the bar. She was covered in sweat, and I was sure more than half of it didn't belong to her. She was beaming from ear to ear, and I knew she had the time of her life. And then I realized it was all worth it, just from seeing her smile.

"Izzzz! Let's go backstage!" She squealed.

"Okay, okay."

I turned to tell Atlanta bye but I noticed she had an all access pass as well. Ainsley smiled in her direction before looking at me with a questioning look, basically asking who the fuck I was with.

"Ainsley, this is Atlanta. Atlanta, this is my neighbor, Ainsley."

We all walked towards the backstage area and flashed our passes to the security guy. There were maybe fifteen people standing around, waiting on the band. I saw deathbats on at least ten of them and I just laughed. How original. Ainsley, Atlanta, and I talked quietly between ourselves for a good ten minutes. And then, they walked in. Zacky, Johnny, Matt, and Brian stopped at the group of fifteen but Jimmy came straight to us.

"Rissy! I didn't think you'd come!" He laughed hugging me tightly.

"Gah, let go Jimbob."

"You're looking hella good." He grinned.

"Why thank you! Jimmy, you remember Ainsley, right?"

"Of course," He smiled as he kissed her hand. "How could I forget such an exquisite beauty?" He asked, causing her to blush deep red.

"Okay, Casanova. This is my new friend, Atlanta."

"Atlanta, like the city?" He asked, smiling at her.

"Exactly." She laughed.

"That's cool, I wish I would've gotten a cool name."

"Oh no, it's not my real name. It's just the name of the city I grew up in so yeah."

I stayed back as everyone chatted with the five men I spent so long with. I heard my phone ring and everyone turned to look at me, making me feel extremely nervous. I answered my phone and hurried to get out of there. Heading towards the back, I put the phone up to my ear, I really needing this call.

"Hello?"

"Mommy!"

"Melody, baby!" I grinned.

"Let me talk to Melody!" Jimmy screamed from behind me.

"Shut the fuck up, Jimbo!" I screamed back, before turning my attention to my daughter. "I miss you, Mel."

"I miss you too, mommy." She giggled.

"Good, you know D.J. comes home tomorrow, right?"

"Really?" She squealed.

"Yeah, Uncle Patty and Uncle Gar and Uncle Kenny and Uncle Jer too."

"Wooot!"

"Rissy, let me talk to that girl right now!" Jimmy yelled walking up to me.

I sighed and handed him the phone and walked back to where Ainsley and Atlanta stood, completely starstuck. Matt and Zacky were talking to them. I groaned and stood beside my neighbor, ready to get this done with so we could leave.

"You must be Izzy?" Matt asked.

I nodded, not daring to make eye contact with either one. Just a few more seconds and you can walk away, Izz. You can do it. Don't talk, don't say a word. Just nod.

"Ainsley said you were an old friend of the band?" He questioned, studying my face.

I shot her a glare before answering, lowering my face.

"No, more of an old friend of Jimmy's."

"Oh, that's cool. How'd you meet him?" He asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Uh... I met him in California when I was on vacation... With my family... Years ago."

I looked up and noticed Zacky staring at me, practically burning holes into me. I turned away and saw Jimmy return to the room. I held my arm out for my phone and he noticed the tattoos on my wrist.

"Thank you for letting me talk to Melody finally, Romes."

His eyes grew wide as he realized what he said. Matt turned quickly and looked at me, waiting for me to say something. I clenched my jaw and gave everyone a death glare.

"I told you, Brian! I told you the psycho crazy lady was Romie! Gimme my money, ya dick!" Johnny laughed wrapping his arms around my body.

"Glad you guys still bet on me." I spat angrily.

I pushed him off of me and ran out of the exit into the parking lot, pulling a cigarette out of my pack. I was 100% beyond done.