003. "New Friends"Brian had shown up at Larry’s house right when he was supposed to. 11:30 sharp. So he wasn’t surprised to see the others pulling up at the same time. Larry stood out on his front lawn, arms over his chest, waiting. All five avenged band members exited their cars and met stood in front of their manager.
“Okay,” Larry began, “so I already called the hospital in advance. I spoke with Sarah’s doctor, his name is Dr. Steven Miller. He’s been working with Sarah since the beginning of her cancer. I informed him of who I was and who all of you are. So he’s expecting us there in the next twenty to fifteen minutes. Any questions?” everyone shook their head no, except for Johnny.
“I have a question,” Johnny said.
“Yeah?”
“Is there anything else we know about the girl? Like besides that she’s fifteen, and has cancer? Did the doctor say anything else?”
Larry shook his head no, “only what we read in the letter is what we know Johnny.”
“So,” Johnny said slowly, “we’re going to get to the hospital, introduce ourselves, and wing it from there?”
“Yup.”
“Okay. My question is done,” Johnny clapped his hands together, in an ‘I’m ready’ motion.
“Any questions? From anyone else?” Larry looked around the group. When no one said anything, he pointed to the cars, “well, let’s go meet Sarah.”
All six men proceeded to their cars, and drove off to Laguna Beach Hospital. Brian had noticed how all men seemed eager to meet this Sarah. Before even meeting her, she’s captivated them in some way or another.
His mind flashed back to yesterday afternoon, when he sat by the tour bus window, awaiting his drop off home. While he sat alone, his band members were lounging around, playing guitar hero, having fun, and laughing. Now here he sat, behind the wheel of his car, lonely, not able to feel what the others were feeling.
With his thoughts off in another world, he absentmindedly pulled into the visitors parking lot of the hospital. He pulled into a parking spot, and looked to see that everyone was there and waiting on him.
“Man, you drive too fucking slow,” Zacky laughed. He was trying to lighten the mood. The guys all stood their with annoyed faces. Zacky immediately shut up, and turned to walk to the entrance of the hospital. The rest, following behind, but Brian was in the back, about four paces behind. Noticing this, Jimmy slowed down so he could step in place next to him.
“Can you at least,
pretend you’re interested,” Jimmy hissed. Brian didn’t acknowledge Jimmy in any way. He was still off in his own world.
Becoming frustrated, Jimmy pulled on Brian’s arm halting them both. They were about to turn the corner to reach the front doors of the building, but Jimmy pinned Brian to the wall. “Do you remember what I told you yesterday?”
“Yeah,” Brian said monotone.
“Brian, I cant say that I know what you’re going through right now, but you have got to get over it. Now. This little girl is expecting her favorite band, and favorite
guitarist to show up happy to see her. But that’s kind of hard for all of us when you’re in this pissy ass mood. So get your thoughts together. I don’t care if you need a few minutes to think out here by yourself. We’ll be up there all day, till visiting hours are over,” Jimmy told him. He loosened his grip on his friends shoulders and backed up. Sighing, he ran a hand through his black hair, “come whenever your ready…”
Brian watched the drummer disappear around the corner. He sighed, leaning against the wall, closing his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Reds, lighting up. He needed a smoke, real bad. Inhaling the nicotine, his body relaxed.
“Spare me a light?” he heard a woman’s voice. Brian looked to the side and spotted a woman, a cigarette hanging loosely between her fingers. Brian had to admit, she was
cute, even in her nurse scrubs. Brian handed her his lighter. She gladly accepted with a smile, and lit up. She handed it back to Brian, taking a long drag from her cig. With a content sigh she spoke aloud, “that is one quality smoke right there.”
Brian smiled at her, “sure is.”
“I’m Rachel,” she extended her hand.
“Bri-”
“Yeah I know who you are. Your band is awesome,” she gave him a grin. Brian let one of his own spread on his face. “So what are you doing here, Mr. Synyster Gates?”
He laughed, “call me Brian. And I’m here with the rest of the band and our manager to visit a fan.”
Rachel looked around their surrounding, “the rest of the band?”
“They’re already upstairs.”
“Why aren’t you up there with them then?” she asked curiously.
“Is this 20 questions?” Brian snapped, causing Rachel’s jaw to drop. She wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction. “I’m sorry,” he sighed, “it’s been a long couple of months and…honestly, I’m not really up to meeting this girl.”
“Oh, I see,” she said nodding her head. Things fell silent from there, until she spoke up again, “well, why don’t I make you feel better?” Brian exhaled from his cigarette and looked over at Rachel, she wore a sly grin on her face, that Brian just couldn’t refuse. “My shift is over for the day, and I parked my
SUV right over there,” she pointed behind her. Brian nodded his head, “let’s go,” completely forgetting what he was at the hospital for.
-X-
About an hour or two later, Brian and Rachel lay length wise, across her backseat, sweating and naked. Rachel on top of Brian’s lap. Rachel reached for the center console and opened it up, pulling out a pack of Marlboros. She handed one to Brian and lit them both up. “So what’s this girl’s health issue?”
“Cancer,” Brian exhaled the smoke of his cigarette. When Rachel didn’t say anything, he turned to her. Her eyes were a little wide and she looked from his face to the cig between his fingers. Brian wasn’t quite sure what it was she was doing until it hit him. He looked down at the
cancer stick in his hands. While he’s out here smoking the day away, Sarah Cooper was upstairs lying in her [s]death[/s] hospital bed. “I better get upstairs now,” Brian said. He opened the door slightly to make sure no one saw him in the back of this car naked and threw the, already burnt out cigarette, to the ground. He then followed Rachel’s suit and began getting dressed. He stepped out of the car and said goodbye to Rachel.
Rachel nodded, “okay, well, I‘ll see you around.”
Brian smiled and walked away. He entered the hospital doors and walked right up to the lobby desk, “I’m looking for a Sarah Cooper…”
-X-
Sarah Cooper sat in her bed, flipping through the channels of the small TV that hung up on the wall opposite of her. Today was one of those days where she was all alone with nothing to do. It was May, so her friends were in school, and her parents were working. She sighed, still looking for a show to watch. She was about to give up when a knock had come to the door.
“Come in,” her soft voice called out.
“Sarah?”
Doctor Miller responded, stepping into her room, “what are you up to?”
“Trying to find something good to watch! Ugh, you’d think that in one of the best hospitals in Orange County, there’d be something to watch in this place.”
Dr. Miller chuckled and came to sit down on the bed with Sarah. She didn’t mind at all, she even scooted over for him. After developing a five year relationship, she considered him family. “Well, hey I need to tell you something, can you turn that off for a second?”
“Gladly,” she mumbled, “so what’s up?”
He let a smile cross his face, “do you remember that letter you wrote about three months ago?”
Sarah thought about it, then nodded her head, “yeah, my ‘wish letter’ right? I wrote it to Avenged Sevenfold! The greatest band ever…” Sarah wasn’t sure, but she but she could have sworn she heard some chuckling from outside her door.
Dr. Miller smiled, “yes them, well…eh, I wont say anything more.” She raised an eyebrow, what is he- “Hey come on in guys!” Dr. Miller shouted. Sarah had no idea what was going on. The door opened and in stepped [s]five[/s] four of the greatest people on the earth. Her eyes did a double take, she couldn’t believe it. She even had to rub her eyes and pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “Sarah, meet-”
“Avenged Sevenfold,” she said breathlessly, “you guys are…oh my god it’s…you got me-”
“I didn’t get you anything Sarah,” her doctor patted her shoulder. Her mouth was dropped open, and she stared at the men in front of her bed. “I’ll let you guys get acquainted.” When the door clicked shut, Sarah took the time to get her breathing back to normal.
“Hello Sarah,” a man, obviously not in the band greeted her, “I’m Larry, Avenged’s manager. We received your letter in the mail. Sorry we couldn’t get here any faster, it arrived at my house instead of on the road, where the guys were touring.” Sarah was still in shock and didn’t respond. “Here, meet the guys.”
Matt was the first to step up, “Hi, I’m-”
“M. Shadows,” she squeaked, “and Zacky Vengeance, Johnny Christ, The Rev and…” she did not see a Synyster Gates, “where’s-”
“Actually,” Matt cut in, “you can call me Matt. That’s Zacky, Johnny, Jimmy, and Brian. He’ll be here soon. He just had to take care of something real quick.” She nodded her head. Suddenly all of her nerves had disappeared as a conversation started. She had told herself a little about her, as they did about themselves. Pretty soon, everything had turned into a game of 20 questions.
“Favorite color?” Johnny asked, from his seat beside the bed on the right.
“Purple,” she responded, “and bright lime green.”
“Favorite movie?” Matt asked, facing her sitting at the foot of her bed.
“Iron Man, and Transformers.”
“Favorite song?” Zacky asked on the couch to her left.
“Oh god, are you really going to make me choose? Because I can never pick a favorite song.” The guys all said yes, making her answer. “Okay, well, I guess at the moment, it’d have to be…uh,
Dear God.”
“Aw!” Jimmy squealed. Jimmy’s seat, was right beside her on the bed. When he had asked to sit on the bed, she thought he’d take a seat by Matt, but instead he climbed up, right beside her. Now they were so close, he had his arm wrapped around her, in a friendly manner of course. “You picked our song!” Jimmy cooed.
“Yeah, well you guys are awesome, and that song is really, really good.”
“Aw!” they chorused. She laughed. Their conversation only continued from there, until a knock came at the door. “Come in!” everyone shouted.
Dr. Miller popped his head through the door, “everyone enjoying themselves?”
“Yes!” Sarah jumped excitedly, the guys chuckled.
“Well, that’s great. And I’m really sorry to have to break up the fun.”
“What!” they all groaned.
“Sorry guys, visiting hours are over, and Sarah needs to get to the prep room.”
The guys all groaned again. Jimmy turned to Sarah, “we’re coming back tomorrow.”
“Oh you guys don’t have to…” Sarah said softly. The guys all looked at her. “Well, I know you guys are rockstars and everything, and the last thing you probably want to do is spend time with me-”
“Don’t even,” Jimmy started, “we’re coming back tomorrow, whether you like it or not.” Jimmy smiled. She smiled back, and knew that she had officially made a friend. Four new friends for that fact. “Well, we better head out now. Doc over there needs you,” Jimmy gave Sarah a hug, as did everyone else. The guys all walked out, leaving the room. Upon exiting, they saw one person, they had forgotten about for the past hour they were there.
Brian came jogging in their direction, out of breath, hair disheveled, “hey guys where you goi-”
“Where the fuck were you!” Jimmy hissed.
“Dude I was just-”
“Not here for the entire visit!”
Brian sighed, “well let’s just go-”
“Visiting hours are over Brian,” Larry told him. Now Brian felt even more guilty than he already was. “But we’re coming back tomorrow. This time, you’re going to be the first one to walk in the door.” Brian nodded, knowing he was in trouble. The guys all walked by him with disappointed looks on their faces. He officially declared today as not a good day, and turned around to follow the guys. They waited for him in the elevator.
When Brian stepped in, turned to face the doors. As he looked ahead, a man had stepped out of the room, in his doctor’s uniform, followed by a young girl. Brian watched the girl. She was around 5’4”, wearing a hospital robe. She had brown eyes, fare complexion, and the brightest smile spread across her face. But there was one distinction that had really stood out to him. She was bald.
The girl turned only to glance in Brian’s direction, but her glance had locked on Brian’s eyes. She gave him a small smile, but he didn’t return it. He was in too much of a self pity state to do anything. The elevator shut close and made its descent down. Brian looked down ashamed. While the guys got to know her, he was out back fucking the nurse. He knew who stepped out of that hospital. That girl, with a one million dollar smile, was
Sarah Cooper.