It All Started With A Present

*Crash*1

Amaya sat bolt upright in bed. ‘What in the world was that?’ she thought. She looked at the door to see it open, and light flooding in. She blinked in the bright light.2

“Mmph.” She mumbled as she plopped back into her pillow.3

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” her parents yelled as they stormed in, snapping the light on in the process.4

“Ughhhhhh.” She groaned as she pulled the blanket back over her head.5

“You have an AMAZING vocabulary at 5:30 in the morning.” She heard her friend Laney say to her.6

“Go ‘way” she mumbled. “Why’m I awake?” she asked.7

“Your dad wanted to see you before he left.” Her mom, Jenny, replied.8

“He could see me tonight.” Amaya mumbled.9

“No I couldn’t ‘Maya” Ron, her father, said.10

“Huh?” She looked at her father blearily.11

“You’re leaving tonight, and you’re gonna be gone until Sunday night.” Your other friend Kit said.12

“What about school? And where am I going??” Amaya, still half asleep, asked.13

“No school. And does it matter?” Laney replied.14

“Mmm, ok now, go away” Amaya tried to burrow back under the covers.15

“You’ll want us here for your present” her dad said. He handed her a card. She raised her eye brows at him, so he walked out her door, and leaned down and came back in with a HUGE box, and lugged it over to the bed.16

She opened it up and it was filled with stuff of Avenged Sevenfold, bags, shirts, bandanas, all their cd’s, their DVD, key chains, note books, journals, earrings, Syn Gates gloves, etc. and right on top was a digital camera.17

She pulled the card out of the pile of stuff that had accumulated on her lap. She pulled it out of the envelope and opened it. Another envelope fell out. She looked at the card first. Again, Avenged Sevenfold. The front had Zacky V and Syn Gates on it.18

All it said was “Happy birthday!” She opened the card and there was a piece of paper in it. She opened it up and started reading. Each word made her eyes widen more. 19

It Said:20

Dear Amaya,21

These gifts are not from your family. They have other gifts for you, but these gifts are from me and the guys. I’m Johnny Christ, bass guitar of Avenged Sevenfold. As you already know, you’re adopted, but what you don’t know is that I’m your brother. I’ve never been able to tell you before now, and I’ve asked Ron and Jenny to let me tell you when you’re 17, so here you are, you’re 17, and now you know. I hope to see you soon Kiddo.22

Johnny Christ23

Ps: when you get everything, call 579-359-2273, and ask for Johnny.24

“Oh my holy hell.” Amaya whispered.25

“What is it?” Kit and Laney asked. Amaya handed them the letter with shaking hands.26

She then remembered the envelope; she picked it up and slit it open. There were 3 backstage passes to an Avenged Sevenfold concert, and a 100 dollar bill. She stared at the ticket and the money.27

“Ohmygods” Kit whispered.28

Amaya looked up at her “you’re his… he’s your… oh my god!” Kit stared blankly.29

“You’re tellin' me!” Amaya said. Suddenly she launched herself at her parents, not sure if she wanted to hug them, or punch them.30

It ended up as a “punch-hug”. 31

“Whoa.” Ron said.32

“Thank you guys.” Amaya buried her head in her father’s shoulder.33

“Hey, there’s a phone number you’re supposed to call here.” Laney said.34

“Well, then should I call it?” Amaya asked.35

“Yea, it’s your brother” Kit said.36

So Amaya grabbed her phone and dialed the number.37

“’lo?” a deep sleepy voice asked38

“I-is Johnny there?” she stuttered39

“Mmm,” and then she heard a thump, and a groan and the voice, now distant, said “yo, Christ, some chick’s on the phone… she sounds hott.”40

“Hmm?” a new voice mumbled.41

“Johnny?” Amaya asked softly.42

“Mmhm?” she heard an intake of breath “Amaya?” he asked43

“It’s me.” She whispered.44

“Oh god, Amaya!” he whispered.45

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Amaya heard from Johnny’s side.46

“My sister, now shut up Gates.” Johnny growled. Amaya giggled.47

“So, did you like your gifts?” Johnny asked.48

“Ohmygod, yes.” Amaya gushed “thank you so much”49

They talked for a little while and she learned that her father had died after she’d gotten adopted, and her mother died about 3 years ago. And also that the back stage passes were for any concert at all times for the next 2 years.50

“I have to go Johnny” she said51

“Well, any time you need anything, the phone’s open, just call or text.” He told her.52

“Thanks, I will.” She said, and hung up the phone.53

She looked from her parents, to Kit to Laney.54

She took a really deep breath and said “I think I need to sit down…” as she collapsed on the bed. Laney and Kit sat next to her.55

“Holy shit, this is just… wow” Kit said, nearly speechless.56

They sat around and chatted for a little while longer, and then Laney decided that it was time to get ready to go.57

“Where’re we going?” Amaya asked.58

“Who cares?” Laney replied, kind of flippantly. “We could go to the farm”59

The Farm was the hang out spot with them.60

“Eh, sure there’s not gonna be anything better to do.” Kit replied.61

“Let me get dressed, and then we can go.” Amaya said.62

She pulled on some jeans and her old Avenged Sevenfold shirt, because hey, it is the FARM. There were horses and mud everywhere.63

She put on her polka dot flats, and her huge hoodie. 64

“LET’S GO!” Laney called up the stairs.65

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Amaya yelled down to her.66

She grabbed the newest CD and her money and passes, and then stopped. “Are we coming back tonight??” she yelled.67

“No! Get all the clothes you need to change into!” Kit yelled back.68

So Amaya ran back and grabbed some clothes to change into, she threw them into her new bag and put her cd and passes in there too. And put her money in her wallet, and grabbed her new digital camera, and ran down the stairs.69

“There’s an A7X concert this weekend, isn’t there?” Amaya asked70

“You want to use your passes already??” Laney asked71

“I didn’t tell you?” Amaya said “I can use them any time I want for the next 2 years. My brother is amazing.”72

“Well, then we’re not going to the farm” Laney said.73

“What?” Kit asked74

“We’re gonna go see Avenged Sevenfold in concert” Amaya finished for Laney.75

“WOO!” Kit jumped up and danced around76

“Kit, you’re a retard.” Amaya said77

She texted Johnny and said ‘I want to hang out with you guys’78

She got one back a minute later that said ‘be at The Hall in 15 minutes.’79

Amaya grabbed her car keys and shoved Kit and Laney out the door. “Where are we going!?” they yelled.80

“The Hall.” Amaya replied. The Hall was where Avenged Sevenfold was playing that Saturday.81

She started the car and pushed her new Avenged Sevenfold cd into the cd player.82

The Rev’s vocals sang out during the chorus, and Amaya thought ‘holy crap, I hope I get to meet this man’83

They drove to The Hall, blasting music, and laughing at each other.84

They pulled up to the hall; they bundled up and got out of the car. They walked over and sat against the building.85

Then suddenly someone took a running dive at them. Kit and Laney scrambled out of the way, but Amaya, not noticing it at first, didn’t move. The person ended up with their head in her lap.86

“you’re Amaya… I hope?” the person asked’87

Amaya recognized him instantly. It was Brian Haner Jr. AKA Synyster Gates. “uh, yea… I am” she replied.88

“good” he said, resting his head in her lap, and closing his eyes.89

Kit and Laney stared, jaw dropped, at him.90

“Close your mouths girls, he’s just a regular guy… a beautiful regular guy” she said, as she slowly brought her hand up and brushed it through his hair.91

“mmm, that feels fantastic. Keep doing it.” Syn muttered92

“GATES!” someone yelled and made Syn and Amaya both jump “What’re you doing to my sister?!”93

“I’m not doin’ anything! She’s doing things to me… fantastic things” he said lifting his head.94

“Gates, you’re a moron” a new voice cut through. It was Jimmy ‘the Rev’ Sullivan.95

Immediately all of the breath went out of Amaya. Kit and Laney stared… again.96

“you’re even prettier in real life.” Amaya said to him.97

“Hey, what about me?” Syn whined98

“yes, you too sexy.” Amaya laughed “oh, and before I forget” She jumped up and leaped onto her brother “THANKS!”99

Suddenly there was a ‘Thud’ and an “OW!” Amaya looked back to see Syn holding his head.100

“whoops.” She said then laughed.101

“well, it’s cold out here. Let’s go back to our room.” Johnny said.102

“Guys?” Amaya looked to Kit and Laney.103

“do you even have to ask??” Kit replied, looking at her incredulously.104

“we have to call someone at the farm.” Amaya said.105

Laney called and got a hold of Brandy. “hey, we’re gonna be in town longer than planned, we’ll come out some other time.” She told her.106

She hung up the phone and looked at Amaya. “Let’s go then!” she yelled.107

“Johnny?” Amaya looked at him “lead the way.”108

They all walked to Amaya’s car.109

“we’re not all gonna fit.” Kit said110

“someone’s gonna have to sit on someone else.” No one seemed to want to, so Amaya decided that she would.111

“MY LAP!” Syn yelled.112

“Gates!” Johnny growled warningly.113

“jeeze. I’ll be fine Johnny.” Amaya rolled her eyes.114

Johnny huffed but let it go, and got into the driver’s seat.115

Kit sat in the front with Johnny, and Laney sat in the back on the outside, and the Rev was stuck in the middle. Syn sat down and drug Amaya into his lap and put his arms around her waist. He lay his head on her back “you’re pretty.” He mumbled so no one else could hear him.116

Her ‘aww’ was drowned out by the music blasting suddenly through the car.117

“HEY!” The Rev yelled, “that’s us!”118

“well, DUH!” Laney said.119

Amaya leaned over to the Rev, “you sound amazing when you sing.” She said “maybe I could get you to scream for me personally” and she winked at him.120

He was the only one who heard it because of the music and because Syn had started playing air guitar on her stomach. She giggled when the Rev’s jaw dropped. She leaned back into Syn and laughed at him and The Rev picking on Johnny.121

“We’re here” Johnny announced, parking the car across the street from the hotel.122

Amaya pushed the car door open, but Syn jumped out, and carried her toward the hotel bridal style.123

“You can put me down now” Amaya said124

“I don’t wanna.” Syn said grinning.125

“Gates,” she sighed exasperatedly.126

“what’re you doing to my sister Gates??” Johnny asked127

“carryin’ her” came his smart ass reply “push the up arrow for me” he said to Amaya when they reached the elevator.128

She reached out and hit the button.129

The door opened and Syn carried her in, followed by everyone else.130

“Are you gonna put me down?” Amaya asked131

“well, probably not” Syn said to her. Then the elevator door opened, and they walked to the door to the hotel room.132

“hey, Christ, open the door for me” Syn said.133

“why won’t just put her down?” Johnny asked134

“Because I want to carry her, besides, she looks pretty comfy to me” Syn said, looking down to Amaya, who had her arms wrapped around his neck, and was grinning embarrassedly.135

“he’s not gonna put her down,” Kit said “Just open the door”136

Johnny opened the door and Kit, Laney, and the Rev followed him in. Syn carried Amaya in, and suddenly they heard someone yell “Carryin’ your new bride across the threshold Gates?” It turned out to be M. Shadows. This had Amaya squirming to get down. This made Syn hold on tighter.137

“ooh, we have a Mrs. Gates now?” Zacky Vengeance called across the room.138

Amaya was squirming so much that she nearly toppled out of Syn’s arms. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his chest. He sat down on the couch, and put his arms around her waist again.139

Johnny raised his eyebrows when Amaya finally gave up, but what he didn’t know was that Syn just whispered something to her. “If you keep squirming like that, things could get bad… or good, depending on your opinion.” He whispered.140

“Syn, let me go.” Amaya demanded141

“ok” he said, and released her waist.142

“okay, well, I didn’t really want to go anywhere.” But she got up anyway and went and sat by Kit and Laney on another couch.143

“lucky bitch.” Kit muttered “lucky ass mofo bitch” which made Laney laugh144

“Yea, seriously” Laney whispered “you know you loved him being all over you”145

“I’m a jealous girl now” Kit said.146

Amaya laughed at her friends, and then Zacky and Shadows came over to her “Happy Birthday girlie.” Zacky said to her.147

“Aww. Thanks ya Mister Vengeance” she said smiling.148

“Call me Zacky” he told her.149

“mmm, I think I will” she grinned.150

“scootch over” Shadows said to Amaya and Laney.151

So they all re-arranged themselves on the couch, and it ended up being Laney, Shadows, Amaya, Zacky, and Kit. Zacky drew his arms up and around Kit an Amaya. Kit slanted a look toward him.152

“What?” he asked “it’s more comfortable, I’m fuck’n squished!”153

Kit laughed at him, and Amaya pushed him off the couch.154

‘thunk!’ which made Shadows and Johnny look over.155

“AT’TA GIRL!” Johnny yelled just as Shadows asked “Why are you on the floor Zacky?”156

He was laughing so hard that the only thing that he could manage to make sense was “Mrs. Gates!” before bursting out laughing again. “that was amazing” he finally got out, and laughed again.157

“Shads…” she stopped and giggle at Zacky “Make him go away!” She looked around the hotel room.158

It had 4 beds, a large bathroom, and a good sized kitchen.159

She stopped to watch her brother. He was laughing at something that Shads did. Watching him where he belonged made her smile. Then she realized, everything was just as perfect as it was ever going to get.160

“Ya know, Ams” Kit started “your brother’s kinda hot”161

“oh, well, let’s see here… ew?” Amaya wrinkled her nose “don’t tell me that!”162

Suddenly she got a glint in her eye, an evil one. “Wanna do something fun?” she asked Laney and Kit. They nodded and then Amaya whispered something to them, and then said out loud “Kit – Rev, Laney – Zacky, me – Johnny.” They stood up and tried to make it look non-suspicious, but they soon realized that the guys weren’t paying any attention to them… bad move.163

“now!” Amaya whispered. And they all three took off running to their designated guys. Syn and Shads were facing them, so they saw them coming, and grinned.164

They watched, amused, as Amaya jumped on Johnny’s back, Laney tackled Zacky, and Kit slid and took out The Rev’s legs.165

“AUGH!” The guys yelled. Amaya wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck, so as to not fall.166

Laney was sitting on Zacky’s stomach, and she grinned down at him. She had his hands pinned above his head, and his face was beyond shocked. Kit was laughing uncontrollably, with the Rev sitting, slightly confused, on top of her.167

“Holy shit!” Syn said, before cracking out laughing.168

Shads was holding his sides, and laughing so hard, he was nearly crying. Both were gasping for breath.169

Amaya grinned, and jumped off of Johnny’s back, and went over to sit on Syn.170

She looked straight into Syn’s eyes, and leaned down as if to kiss him. He closed his eyes, and waited for the kiss, but it never came. He opened his eyes to see her inches away from his face. With every one’s eyes on them, she started to slowly lean down, then suddenly she turned her head a little to the side, and licked him from his jaw, to his forehead.171

His eyes popped, and his jaw dropped. Then yelled “DUDE!” as he scrubbed the side of his face with his sleeve. Everyone was practically rolling with laughter.172

Amaya leaned on Syn with a smug look on her face. “Ya know, that was fun… but you taste weird” She said, which had him pouting and everyone else cracked out again.173

“dude, your sister’s the GREATEST!” Zacky said to Johnny174

“Yea, she’s pretty cool” Johnny replied.175

“Pretty cool?!” Amaya piped up “I’m THE coolest of the cool!!”176

“whoa, down girl” Kit said.177

They sat around and talked for a while longer.178

Kit fell asleep on one couch. Amaya pulled out her phone and looked at the time. It was almost 2:30 in the morning.179

“whoa, we’ve gotta get going.” She said.180

“You can’t be driving through the city at 2 in the morning.” The Rev said “you’ll stay here”181

“yea, just stay here Amaya” Johnny said.182

“well, okay. But I’ll need some help to get this one somewhere else.” She pointed to Kit.183

“I’ll get her.” Johnny volunteered. He picked her up the same way Syn had carried Amaya earlier.184

She shifted, and drew herself closer to him. He blushed, but he carried her over to a bed.185

He tried laying her on the bed, but he couldn’t get her to let go.186

“Uh, guys?” he said with a panicky voice.187

“Everyone looked over and cracked out laughing. 188

He ended up just laying down with her, and soon enough, he was asleep too.189

Amaya ran over to the bed across from Kit and Johnny, and jumped in the middle, then said “whose bed is this?”190

“Mine and Zacky’s” Syn said.191

“mmm, mind sharing?” she asked.192

“with you? Not at all.” Zacky said to her.193

She jumped off of the bed and walked toward the door “Synnn, come with me, I have to go get some of my stuff out of my car.”194

“ok” he said following her out to her car.195

On their way there and back, he asked about her life. After about the 7th question, she said “why all the questions?”196

“I just want to know more about you. You fascinate me like no one ever has.” He replied.197

Amaya smiled softly.198

She grabbed her bag and headed back to the room. In the elevator Syn gently grabbed her hand and held it. When the door opened to their floor, they were still holding hands, and even as they walked through the door of the room, they were holding hands. Syn was feeling like a love struck teenager. When they got in the room they saw that Laney had fallen asleep on the couch, and Zacky, Shads, and The Rev had all gone to their beds. Amaya pulled her hand away reluctantly, and went into the bathroom to change her clothes. She changed into an Avenged Sevenfold tank top, and a pair of short black shorts.199

When she came back out, she looked over to the bed she was going to be sleeping in that night. Syn was pulling his pants off. She squeaked and stared wide eyed at him. Syn looked up at her.200

“You’re sleeping in that?” he asked looking distressed.201

“yea.” She said simply, walking over to the bed. She climbed under the covers and looked up at Syn, waiting for him go get in the bed.202

But he never did. ‘dude, this is Johnny fucking Christ’s sister!! but she’s so beautiful, funny, and interesting… she’s just amazing. But JOHNNY’S FUCKING SISTER!’ he fought with himself.203

He looked down at Amaya, so beautiful, waiting for him to get lay down.204

Amaya noticed his hesitation and discomfort, and climbed out of the bed to run into the bathroom, slamming the door. She sat on the floor with her back against the door, and started crying.205

Syn stood by the bed, bewildered, staring at the door. The slam had woken up Kit, Johnny, Zacky and The Rev, so all four stared at him. “Gates, what’d you do to her?!” Johnny whisper-yelled. He had noticed that Amaya was gone, and he put 2 and 2 together and figured out that it was Amaya who slammed the door.206

“I don’t know.” Syn said softly “Amaya?” he said walking over to the bathroom door.207

“Go away Gates!” Amaya yelled “Just get the hell away”208

Johnny unwound himself from Kit, and went over to the door. He pushed Syn out of the way “Amaya? He talked through the door “what’s wrong?” when she didn’t answer, he tried pushing open the door. “Let me in ‘Maya” he whispered softly. Then he gently opened the door when he heard her move.209

He closed the door and sat against it. Amaya scooted back to lean against it, and lay her head on Johnny’s shoulder, so he pulled her into a hug.210

“What happened?” Johnny whispered gently.211

“I like him. But when I was waiting for him to get into the bed, the expression on his face was like… I was disgusting, again” she whispered the last part.212

Johnny barely caught it. “Again?” he asked “what do you mean again?”213

“when I was younger, everyone picked on me, called me fat, hideous, everything they could think of to hurt me. It made me feel horrible, and now he’s looking at me the same way they did back then.” She started crying again.214

“Just a second” he said sliding her away from the door. He opened it up, and looked out, Syn was sitting on the couch, with his head on his hands, staring at the ground by his feet. He looked up at Johnny when the door opened “Come here” Johnny waved him in. Syn started toward him, but then he heard Amaya yell “NO!” and he stopped. “Gates, come on.” Johnny said, so Syn walked into the bathroom, and sat in front of Amaya. When he did, she kicked at him, kicked, punched, scratched, and screamed at him. Even without knowing what he did, he took the beating, because he had made her cry. Finally she stopped, and when she did, she broke down and sobbed.215

“Amaya, sweety. What’d I do? Please tell me.” He begged her.216

Without them realizing it, Johnny slipped out. When Amaya calmed down, she was finally able to tell Syn what was wrong. “You look disgusted by the thought of being in the same bed with me,” She said “and I’ve had enough of that, so please tell me now, so I can start getting over it!”217

“What?! No!” Syn said “I was just thinking about what Johnny would do to me if we got together! Because I want to…” he whispered.218

Amaya started crying again “oh god! What’d I do now?!” Syn asked frantically.219

“nothing” Amaya sniffled, then laughed “They’re happy tears.”220

“But I-“ He was cut off by Amaya’s lips crashing down onto his.221

When they broke apart Amaya bit her lip shyly and smiled. She then laid her head on his lap and closed her eyes.222

Syn held her hand in one of his, and stroked her hair with the other one. Her breathing slowly became deep and even, she had fallen asleep.223

He closed his eyes, and laid his head against the wall, within minutes, he was asleep.224

He was woken up some 2 hours later to someone banging on the door.225

“What the hell are you doing in there?!” It was Shads, the only guy that wasn’t woken up by the previous night’s commotion.226

Syn gently picked up Amaya and managed to open the door. Matt stopped yelling, and gave them a look and said “Shit… this is awkward.”227

Syn chuckled sleepily. “Shut up Shads, it’s…” He checked the time “5:30 in the morning, and I’ve only had 2 hours of sleep, so go away.” He carried Amaya over to the bed, and lay her near the middle, and lay down beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she cuddled back into him, and whispered “Syn.” In her sleep.228

He smiled and went back to sleep. A couple of hours later, Amaya woke slowly, and remembered every detail of the night. She grinned to herself. Suddenly she heard a gasp, and a squeal. She looked up to see Laney staring between her and Syn, and Kit and Johnny.229

“OHMYGOSH!” She whispered in shock “HE’S NOT WEARING ANY PANTS!!!!” She pointed at Syn.230

“I am” Amaya said “don’t worry!” and laughed.231

She sat up and stretched, then she looked over to Kit and Johnny.232

Kit was lying, holding hands with Johnny, and had her head on his chest.233

“Aww, that’s just too cute.” Then she looked down at Syn. He looked adorable, just laying there, mouth slightly open.234

She grabbed the band of his boxers, pulled the side out as far as it would go, and let it snap back.235

Syn’s eyes popped open, he yelped, and kicked his legs out, knocking Zacky to the floor in the process.236

“WHAT THE HELL?!” They both yelled.237

Laney and Amaya were basically rolling with laughter.238

Zacky looked up over the bed “what the hell was that for? Dick.”239

Syn just stared at him “whoops?” He said, which made Amaya and Laney laugh even harder.240

“Holy shit…” Laney said “that was fuck’n amazing”241

Kit had looked up when Zacky fell on the floor “What the fuck’s going on over there?!” She asked242

“I-I-I” Laney tried to say “I’d tell you…” she broke off laughing again “but I can’t” Laugh “fuck’n” laugh “stop laughing!”243

Syn was pouting, so Amaya gathered him up into a hug and kissed him square on the lips. Needless to say, the pout was dropped.244

“WOO WOO!” Kit yelled. Amaya flipped her off, without breaking the kiss.245

“mmm, Yummy” she said when they broke the kiss.246

“What time is it?” Zacky asked, still sitting on the floor.247

“9:27… and why are you on the floor?” Johnny asked.248

“Fuck’n Gates” was all Zacky said.249

“Vengeance… you’re an idiot.” Johnny said.250

The door opened “GUYS! Get your asses up, we have to be in sound check in an hour and a half.” It was Shads.251

“Where the hell have you been?” Zacky asked.252

“At the Hall” he said then stopped “Vengeance, why are you on the floor?”253

Everyone cracked up laughing, except Zacky. “Gates kicked me!” he whined “and I just… haven’t gotten up yet.” He said, then started laughing.254

“get off the floor, dumbass.” Shads laughed. “And someone wake up Jimmy!”255

“I’ll do it!” Laney offered. She walked over to him “Jimmy… Jimbo!” She whispered “Oh Jimmmmmmyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!” she sang. Then when he didn’t wake up, she walked back, looked at the group, and winked, Then she turned around, ran toward him, Jumped and yelled “WAKE UP!!!!” as she landed on him.256

His eyes sprang open “what the hell!?”257

Laney looked down at him “Hey, I gave you fair warning. I told you to wake up at least 3 times.” She said with a smirk.258

He groaned and closed his eyes again.259

“Oh, Jimmyyyy” Laney said “wake up mofo!!!” she grinned as she got off of his stomach.260

She walked back to the group grinning.261

“We might have to keep you around… That’s the easiest he’s ever become conscious!” Zacky said laughing.262

The guys got dressed and they all walked down to The Hall.263

When they go there, the guys went inside, and Kit, Laney and Amaya followed them, showing the front door their passes. They followed the guys backstage, where they started getting everything set up and ready. They watched them and helped when necessary. 264

4 hours later, the guys were finally done. Amaya, Laney and Kit had all fallen asleep in chairs, or on the couch during the time. The guys came in to rest, and start to get ready. Syn started to wake Amaya up, but he decided that she looked too cute asleep on the couch, so he just lay beside her. But she wasn’t as asleep as she looked, because she wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her head on his back. “yer all sweaty” she mumbled to him.265

“I know… sorry” he said266

“ ‘s ok.” She said, falling back asleep. Syn lay with her and talked to the guys for a while before Shads got up and said “Well, 2 hours before the show, we should get showered and ready.” He walked out and into the next room. He came out 10 minutes later, showered and dressed. He walked over to the mirror on the wall, to finish getting ready while everyone else got their showers.267

Amaya had woken up by the time Syn got out of the shower. He came over and sat on the couch, waiting for Zacky to finish getting his makeup on.268

Suddenly, Amaya’s hot breath was on the back of his neck, and her hands sliding under his shirt.269

“ya know, I’ve been told I’m a bit of a masochist.” She whispered, scraping her teeth roughly across his neck”270

“Shit” he breathed, and shivered.271

“Syn, I’m done” Zacky said, which had him jumping.272

He got his hair and makeup done, and yelled to Johnny that he was done.273

He sat down and wrapped his arms around Amaya. She leaned back into him and looked at everyone else. Johnny was getting up from beside Kit, Shads was lying down again, The Rev was in the shower, and Laney and Zacky were talking and laughing in lowered voices.274

“Zacky likes her.” Syn said nodding to Laney. “He’s never like that with a girl.”275

“Aww, that’s cute, cause she likes him too!” Amaya smiled.276

“You should talk to her, and I’ll go talk to Zacky.”277

“ok” she said then yelled “Laney! C’mmere!”278

She got up, and Amaya pushed Syn away, “go away for a little bit, I want to talk to Laney.” She said “go sit and talk to Zacky for a little bit. But you can come back when I’m done.” She smiled at him.279

“ok…” Syn said and walked over to the couch that Laney had just vacated.280

Amaya turned to Laney. “You like Zacky.” It was a statement, not a question. Laney’s eyes widened.281

“Am I that obvious???” she asked distressed.282

“no, I only know because I know you so well.” Amaya told her.283

“so what should I do?” Laney asked.284

“Talk to him, see if he likes you.” Amaya said “now go! Scoot! And tell Syn to come back.”285

Syn walked over to her “what’d he say?” she asked286

“He said he likes her, but he’s too scared to say anything to her. But I’ve convinced him to talk to her.” Syn said, sitting down.287

“Good, because she does like him too, and I told her to talk to him.” Amaya said.288

“Alright guys, we’re on in 15 minutes, we’ve gotta go.” Shads said after checking his watch289

Amaya stood up in front of Syn and wrapped her arms around his neck. And leaned forward to kiss him “good luck” she murmured against his lips.290

“I don’t need luck, I have you” He replied.291

The girls followed them to the side of the stage.292

Syn walked out playing. The girls watched the whole concert. They played Beast and the Harlot, Afterlife, Critical Acclaim, Almost Easy, Seize the Day, and Burn it Down.293

Finally they heard “That’s all we have for ya’ll! You guys are amazing!” and they walked off stage.294

“wow.” Was all Laney and Kit could say.295

“that… was the greatest concert ever.” Amaya told them.296

“Johnny messed up on Almost Easy.” Zacky said “it nearly messed ME up!”297

“sorry guys, I have something on my mind.” Johnny said.298

“What’s wrong?” Amaya asked, walking over to him.299

“We’re leaving early tomorrow morning… and I… don’t want to. I want to stay here with you… and Kit” he whispered.300

Amaya didn’t know what to say but finally she said “seriously? You can’t do that. You have to keep touring.”301

“I know that. I’ve talked to Ron and Jenny, and they’ve told me that when you were 17, you could come live with me, but that was before I met Kit.” Johnny said, looking like he was about to cry.302

“Johnny” Amaya whispered “oh god, let me talk to them. I’ll come by the hotel later, I promise.”303

She walked over to Laney and Kit, and they, seeing tears in her eyes, jumped up ready to fight “what’d he do to you??” Laney demanded.304

“Nothing, it’s just that he wants me to leave with them, and I want to, but I don’t know. You guys would have to come with me if did.” Amaya said, crying now.305

Both were left speechless. Finally, “I’ll go with you” Laney whispered. “me too” kit said to her.306

Amaya smiled, but said “We have to ask your parents.”307

“Then let’s go.” Kit said, and drug Amaya out to the car. She started it, and went to talk to Laney’s mom first.308

Laney’s mom, Deb, was one of the coolest people Amaya knew, and when she walked in, Deb knew instantly that something was wrong309

“girls? What happened?” she asked.310

They explained to her what was going on. And when she looked like she was about to say no, Amaya said “we’ll be back every month, you can call, write, or text whenever you want. But please, this is really important to me, that they’re allowed to come.”311

Deb rubbed her hands across her eyes, “Am I really gonna be able to stop you?” She asked Laney312

“Honestly? Probably not” she told her mother.313

“then fine. Now go get packed before I change my mind.” Deb said smiling sadly.314

Laney ran over and hugged her mom “Thank you” she whispered.315

Amaya and Kit left Laney to pack and say good bye to her mother.316

Amaya drove to Kit’s house in silence.317

They walked into the house, and while Kit went to go and find her parents, Amaya sat on the couch, and laid her head in her hands, staring at the floor by her feet.318

When Kit came back with her parents, she was explaining things to them.319

“…Monthly visits, we’ll do online schooling, and we’ll run the merch booth, which is our source of income. You can call, or txt, or write to me any time you want. I’ll come see you on your birthdays”320

“absolutely not! You’re not driving across America with 5 guys!” her mother said.321

When she heard that, Amaya started sobbing. She cried so hard that even Mr. Morrow looked alarmed.322

“Is it really that important to you that she go?” Mr. Morrow asked.323

Amaya nodded, hiccoughing. 324

“Then she can go” Mrs. Morrow decided. “but you’re going to keep those promises, monthly visits, online schooling etc.”325

Amaya looked up at them again, “Thank you” she whispered. And got up. She hugged Mrs. Morrow.326

She walked out the door and went to her car. She started it, and started backing down the driveway.327

‘I can’t believe I’m going on tour with my favorite band’ she thought.328

She pulled into the garage of her home.329

Amaya walked in the kitchen, and saw Ron, her father standing in there.330

“Ron.” Amaya whispered. He looked over to her.331

“you’re leaving… aren’t you?” he said.332

“yes, I’m going to go live with my brother.” Amaya said, and tears streamed down her face again.333

“you’ll be missed around here ya know.” She heard behind her334

Jenny stood behind her, smiling sadly.335

“I know, but I’ll be back every month.” Amaya said “I’ll miss you guys too”336

“that’s good to hear” Ron said to her.337

She went up and packed a month’s worth of clothes, shoes, and grabbed her laptop, and her CD/DVD case. She pulled out her phone as she was carrying everything down the stairs. She dialed the number for the Farm.338

She got Brandy. “Brandy, we’re leaving. We’re not going to be back for a month, and when we’re back, we’ll only be back for a couple of days. I’m probably not ever going to live here again. I’m moving in with my brother. I’ll talk to you later” she said all in one breath. She hung up before Brandy could say anything. She didn’t want the painful goodbye that would have surely been if she had let Brandy talk.339

Amaya carried her stuff out to the car.340

‘what am I going to do with this?’ she thought, ‘I’ll figure something out, but right now I have to go say good bye to Ron and Jenny.’341

She walked back in the house, and looked at them. Jenny’s eyes were red rimmed, from crying.342

Amaya ran over and hugged her “thank you, I love you… mom” at that word, Jenny bawled.343

She hugged Ron too. “thank you, so so so much.” She said, blinking away tears.344

“get goin’ sweety.” Ron said “before we keep you from going.”345

Amaya turned away, and started to walk out the door, and just before she went out, she turned, waved, and blew a kiss at her adoptive parents.346

She went out and started her car, and drove to Kit’s house. She walked in the door, and saw Kit hugging her crying parents. “I’ll miss you guys!” Kit told them.347

Amaya cleared her throat to let them know she was here.348

“Hey Kit, you ready to go?” she asked.349

“yea, help me get my stuff out there” Kit replied.350

So they carried her stuff out, and Kit hugged her parents one last time, and ran to the car.351

They drove to Laney’s house, and when they got there, she was already waiting outside.352

Laney put her stuff in the trunk, and got in the car. “let’s go then” She said.353

They drove to the hotel in silence. They walked in, and took the elevator to the floor the guys’ room was on.354

They walked to the door, and Amaya knocked. The door opened to reveal Johnny, broken up, looking worried.355

“when do we leave?” Amaya asked softly.356

Johnny yelled, and picked Amaya up in a bear hug. He started crying on her shoulder. “thank you so much!”357

Kit and Laney walked in and closed the door. Johnny put Amaya down, and started dancing around the room.358

Amaya walked over to Syn. “I hope you were serious in what you said, because you’re not getting away from me now.” She said to him.359

Syn grabbed her in a hug, and kissed her full on the mouth. “what does that tell ya?” he asked her.360

“I don’t know, tell me again.” She said kissing him again.361

They broke the kiss, and Amaya sat beside him on the couch, and looked around. Johnny was grinning like an idiot, with Kit right beside him, the expression on her face was one of pure content.362

Laney was smiling shyly, holding Zacky’s hand. The Rev and M. Shadows were talking to Johnny, and joking around.363

“wow, this is… perfect.” Amaya said. “I wouldn’t change one thing about it.”364

Syn smiled and held her closer.365

Everyone fell asleep where they were. They woke super early to pack and get going.366

“what about my car though?” Amaya asked Johnny “we’ll bring it with us. We’ll hook it to the hitch on the bus.”367

So that’s what they did.368

Amaya toured around with them for a year, and when the tour was finished, she moved to Huntington Beach, California with them.369

Syn and Amaya had been dating for the whole time, and when they were done with the tour, Syn looked at Amaya “move in with me.” He said.370

“what?!” Amaya sputtered.371

“yea, you need a place to life, and I doubt you want to live with Kit and Johnny.” He said372

“eugh, you’re right, I don’t wanna live with them.” Amaya said “she’s all caught up in her wedding plans.”373

“so move in with me. ‘Cause I want you with me, I love you.” He said374

It was the first time he’d said it to her, and she hadn’t said it to him yet, so she was shocked.375

She gave a watery smile. “you… you do?” she asked.376

“yes. Yes I do. I love you with everything I am. I want you to be my wife.” He said, pulling a ring out of his pocket, and getting down on one knee. Amaya looked around to Kit and Laney to see what they would say.377

Neither of them looked surprised, so she figured they knew all along. And she looked down at the ring in Syn’s hand.378

It was silver, with a simple diamond in the center, nothing big or gaudy… it was perfect.379

“yes” She whispered, barely audible. Syn slowly stood up, and dragged Amaya into a hug, and swung her around in circles.380

He set her down and gently slipped the engagement ring on her finger. “now, let’s go show this fucker off.” Amaya laughed.381

She kissed him long and hard, trying to shove all the love, and adoration into the one kiss.382

“Brian Elwin Haner Jr. I love you too, and I’d be proud to be your wife… and yes, let’s go show this fucker off.”383

-2 Weeks Later-384

Myspace bulletin from: Synyster Gates Fans.385

“The rock world is a sad, sad place today. Well, to the women that is. Synyster Gates, is engaged. So ladies, no shoving yourself on him. He’s happily taken”386

Amaya saw it, and laughed, proud, that it was her who was taking him away from the bachelor world.387

“Zacky, I guess you and Shads were right… the first time we met. When Syn was carrying me into the hotel room. You DO have a Mrs. Gates.” Amaya laughed.388

Zacky grinned, and looked at his girlfriend. “I can see the future. And you’re in mine, Mrs. Vengeance.” Amaya and Kit laughed at him, and Laney just looked at him weird, and grinned.389

Amaya was just finishing moving all of her stuff from her parents’ house to Huntington Beach, which was on a completely different coast from her parents’ home. She walked into her and Syn’s bedroom. She sat on the bed, and closed her eyes, thinking about the first day her and Syn met.390

Syn walked in to see his Fiancée lying on the bed. He walked over to her, and lay beside her.391

“I love you, let’s get married in December.” December was only a month away.392

“Why December?” Amaya asked.393

“because December is a magical time.” Syn said.394

“sure, whatever you want. I’ll just be glad that I get you.” She said kissing him.395

The next month, they were married. They started a new tour in February of the next year.396

The first time Syn went on the stage as a married man, he took the mic, and looked at Amaya. “I want you to all know, that I’m happier than I’ve ever been, I have my band, I have my wife, and I have my friends. This band, is my life, it has been for the past 10 years. And I want to thank you all for being fans for so long. That means so much to us. Thank you, now here’s the fuck’n music!” he yelled.397

When they had played all of their songs, Matt walked to center stage, and said “continuing what Syn was saying before the concert, we do want to thank you for being amazing fans. And we’d also like to thank the 4 people that make all of this possible for us. They do everything for us. Please welcome Victoria Shadows, Kendra Christ, Lacey Vengeance, and Andrea Gates!”398

Val stood behind Amaya, Kit, and Laney, and pushed them out when their names were called. The girls, who didn’t even know they were being called onstage (minus Val) all walked out slowly. Each went to their respective band member. The crowd went wild for them. Val took the mic, and said “they say it wouldn’t be possible if not for us… and well, they’re right! They’re hopeless… with everything except music.” The crowd laughed.399

“Thanks for listening! We’ve gotta get going.” Matt said and they all walked offstage.400

Amaya turned to Syn. “perfect” she whispered. And kissed him. “everything is just… perfect.”