Behind Bunk Curtains and Closed Doors

The next day the band had a day off. They all decided to go out and explore the city around the venue. Val and Matt were in their hotel getting ready.

"Val, where were you the other night?"

Matt suddenly asked, his voice sounding out the question carefully.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Val looked at him innocently, dismissing the question like it was nothing. Matt looked slightly irritated but kept his calm.

"I'm talking about when I saw you in the dressing room with Rev and Leana."

"It doesn't matter."

Val looked away, dismissing him once more. That forced him a bit closer to the boiling point. His hands turned into fists. His voice getting louder.

"Yes, it does!"

"Matthew!" Val looked pissed. Her mouth was set in a straight line, her eyes beginning to burn fire, "Leave it, Matt."

"No, Val. It matters! Did you do something? Rev looked pissed."

Val slapped Matt, hard, leaving a red streak across his cheek. One of her rings had been turned around. It cut into the skin. A red welt began to appear.

"Val! Fuck! That's going to leave a mark! Goddammit!!"

Her voice was cool as she spoke

"Whatever, so what? It leaves a mark. Just say it was another bar fight."

Val walked away from him, getting ready for their night out.

Once everyone was ready they all met in the lobby. After a bit of figuring out they all decided on a bar that wasn't too far from the hotel. Once they reached the second bar Zacky was staring at the mark blatantly showing up on Matt's cheek. He had noticed Matt always had marks on him. He got in a lot of fights but he didn't remember a fight at the last bar they went to. Zacky decided he needed to talk to him. He pulled Matt aside.

"Dude, where the fuck did that one come from?"

Zacky asked and pointed absently at the mark. Matt looked confused at first then something flashed through his eyes. As soon as it got there the look was gone. He shook his head and shrugged, touching the mark gently.

"What? Oh, this thing? Umm, it was a bar fight."

Zacky looked at Matt with a raised eyebrow. He took a deep breath. What was wrong with Matt that he would lie about something like that?

"Matt, you haven't been to a bar in between the show and this morning. I know you didn't get in a fight at the last bar we went to either. I was with you pretty much the whole time and I didn't hear of any commotion or us getting thrown out when I wasn't around you."

"What? Oh, right. Well that's why we left didn't you know?"

Matt looked at Zacky with a large grin. Zacky stared at Matt. He was being unbelievable. This was just...wrong. Matt leaned in to Zacky a bit. His voice got a bit quieter, keeping the conversation just between them.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"Matt, you sound like an abused little girl."

Matt grew still. His voice stayed low, but, the beginnings of anger started to heat his words.

"Just fucking leave it."

Just then, Val walked up.

"Hey, Zacky. How are things with you?"

Val smiled sweetly. Zacky looked at her concerned. He looked back at Matt who just stared at the ceiling, then at the floor, then at the bar.

"Hey, Val. I was just talking to Matt about the mark on his face."

Val looked over to where Zacky was looking. Her fingers barely brushed over the mark. Matt's eyes flicked over to Val as she took her hand away, breaking their contact.

"Oh, that. Umm... he got that at a bar fight. Right, sweetie?"

"Val, he hasn't been in a bar fight. You know that, I know that. I do realize he gets in a lot of fights and probably doesn't remember where he gets whatever wound but I know this wasn't from one of those fights."

Val's eyes shifted between them. Her body grew a little bit tense, Zacky couldn't tell whether it was nerves or something else. Her smile stayed sweet, her voice calm and dismissive.

"Oh, well, if Matt doesn't want to talk about it then maybe you shouldn't push it."

Zacky looked confused. Val gave him a tight hug. Matt began to speak.

"Yeah Zacky, just leave it."

Zacky couldn't believe what he was hearing. Something was definately very wrong with this situation. He pulled Val aside to talk just to her.

"No, I don't want to leave it! I'm concerned, and you should be too. Val!"

Zacky was getting annoyed by the situation. He thought Matt would tell him everything and anything. Val grabbed Zacky's wrist and pulled him away from Matt. Her fingers pinched tight on his wrist. He looked at her confused. What WAS wrong?

"Listen, Vengeance. Just leave it be. Don't look into it. It'll be better for you if you just forget it."

Anyone could tell Val was getting angry. Zacky stared at her for a moment. walked away. Val slowly made her way back to Matt.

"What did you say?" Val stood up on her tip toes holding herself as close to Matt's level as possible. "I didn't say anything, Val. He noticed the mark and when I lied he caught me." Matt glared at his fiance. Val looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't look at me like that, sir."

The next morning, they were all sitting at a table in the lobby's diner. Matt refused to make eye contact with Zacky. Syn and Michelle were next to each other but it seemed like they wouldn't look at anyone but each other. Jimmy and Leana never said a word to each other or anyone else. Lacey seemed fine, but Johnny seemed so on-edge it was seeming more and more like he was going insane. Val smiled at Zacky. 'What is going on here' Zacky thought to himself. Rev and Leana made eye contact. She smiled and he just stared at her. Leana's smile faded, sadness creeping into her eyes. She looked a little lost suddenly. She stood up.

"Jimmy, can I talk to you?" Leana asked in her sweet almost child-like voice. Rev stood up and walked out with her. Rev took a deep breath. He spoke first.

"Listen, babe, I am sorry I have been such a jerk to you, lately. I know I haven't really been with you much, and when I am, it's all about me, but did you have to tell Val?"

He held her hand as he was talking. He tried to keep his voice sounding kind but as he spoke he began to sound irritated.

"What?" Leana's eyes grew large. "I didn't TELL Val anything. She heard us in the closet." Leana explained, her voice soft.

"You mean, none of what happened was planned?"

Rev sounded like he couldn't believe it. He wanted to but...

"None of it was planned. Hell, I don't know how Val did any of it. I didn't even know what she was doing." Leana smiled kindly. "Did you think I wanted that?" Leana asked smugly. Jimmy nodded. "Well, I didn't at the time. But, if you ever do anything bad again, I know who to call." Rev was slightly mad at the last thing Leana said, but he decided to let it go. He bent down and pushed his slightly dehydrated lips against her soft, plump ones. The innocent kiss turned into a heated passionate one.

"Lets go up to the room." Rev said as he pulled the petite girl behind him.

Inside the diner Val had began a conversation that seemed like it was being forced by everyone but her.

"Sweetie,-" Matt interupted her. "Why don't we head back up to the room for awhile?"

"Ok." She said "That sounds fine."

"I think we should do the same." Synyster nodded at Michelle, who almost looked like she was pulled out of a trance.

"Uh-huh" She stood up. The four of them got up and walked away. Gena was the next to speak. Her voice was cheery and inviting. She seemed to be trying to wash away whatever mood was taking over everyone.

"I was going to go shopping today. Does anyone want to join me?"

Gena smiled, her monroe peircing glistening.

"I would love to." Lacey replied all too fast.

"Honey?" Gena looked at Zacky with an implied question. Zacky shook his head and looked over at Johnny.

"No, I think I will just stay here with Johnny." Zacky kissed Gena before she stood up. Johnny just waved goodbye. The girls walked away.

"Hey, Johnny?" Johnny looked at Zacky waiting for him to continue.

"Have you noticed some of the marks on Matt lately?" Johnny's eyes widened. His gaze shifted from side to side as he was thinking.

"Umm... well... Zacky, maybe you should just leave it alone." He stammered out, looking a bit worried.

"What the FUCK!" Zacky couldn't stand hearing another person saying that. Matt was his friend. He cared about Matt and he wanted to know what was going on. Finally he began to explode. Johnny spoke calmly and carefully, obviously conciously picking his words.

"Zacky, there thing things you don't know, and I think you could get hurt if you dig to deep into this." Johnny tried to make his friend understand.

"What are you talking about. Is someone beating up on Matt? Dude. How could that happen. Matt could defend himself against anyone of us with no problem." Zacky just looked more confused Johnny shook his head. This was getting too frustrating.

"Dude, it's not anyone you would imagine." Johnny still tried to hint anyway he could. But soon Val walked up to the table. Johnny looked back down at the food he had been eating.

"Hey guys, I forgot my purse." She reached over Zacky.

"Umm, Val-" Zacky started. "I am still worried about Matt."

Zacky watched her grab her purse. One of her hands was on his thigh. She moved her hand to his crotch acting like it was an accident, still reaching for her purse. Zacky almost jumped when he felt her hand move but she didn't seem to be paying attention so he figured she didn't realize it.

"I told you to leave it alone." Val squeezed his package hard as she stood up and smiled then walked away. Zacky gasped for air, the pain moving up into his stomach a bit. The muscles cramped but slowly began to relax.

"Did that just happen...?" Zacky was in awe over the current events.

"It's Val! She's abuseing him! I can't... she hit him..." Johnny looked down. The words tumbled out and didn't make all that much sense at first but he realized they were true.

"Yeah, Zacky. She... I don't know, she's crazy or something." Johnny looked around kinda paranoid. "I think she might have got to the-" "Johnny!"

It was Lacey's voice that cut him off. "Val called me, if you wanted to see me you should have just called."

Johnny looked at her with something close to horror but quickly fixed his expression. Lacey hurried over to him and took Johnny's hand when she reached him. They walked away, Lacey, chattering about somthing, Johnny, silent and looking at the floor.

As soon as they walked away, Zacky got up. He took a few steps only to run into Val. "Oh, hey Val. What do you want?"

Zacky tried his best not to stamer. "Actually I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, well umm, I actually have to meet up with Gena-" Val interrupted him. "-That's funny. I just called her and she said she was meeting up with my sister while Syn and Matt went out."

Zacky was slightly stunned. She seemed to plan it so perfectly. He knew he couldn't escape. She grabbed his hand. "You shouldn't lie to me." He felt a metal blade against his wrist. "Let's go to my room."


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Next Chapter- What will Val do?