After we had peeled ourselves off the floor, my stomach trying to kill me, we retired to the two couches and one of the chairs. Zach and Brent had gone to one of the couches, and Barry to a chair. It left me with Eric on the other couch.

Barry had struck up conversation with the other two, capturing their attention full on, and it gave me time to talk to my brother.

"You really did sound great, Ana," Eric commented, clasping a hand on my thigh. "Brent was pretty surprised."

I smiled at his words. "Thanks... I've always been so nervous to sing; don't know why... but with you back home, it was never an issue." I laughed. "We could probably still sing .45 like we used to."

"I could never get you off of that song, even when you were, like, ten," mumbled Eric.

"Yeah... Brent would always ask these question during his concerts... like, 'Who has been with Shinedown since day one?' ya know? And... shit, that was in 2003. Now, ten-plus years later, I can still raise my hand or a cheer because I have been. Before they became popular," I replied with a hint of nostalgia. It was awesome, that even at eight, I could say that I had been with them. "Never thought that in my wildest dreams I would get to know them... Even Dad thought it was a ludicrous idea to hope..."

"And look at all of us now," Eric laughed.

"Yeah, now Shinedown pops into my house for family dinners, Barry has taught me more about my trapset, and you are still my favorite pain in the ass."

Eric squeezed my leg and I jumped. So I poked him in the side and we chuckled together. He laid down, his head on my lap, and I ran my fingers though his hair. Time had flown, and I hadn't really taken the time to appreciate what I had. I missed being able to do this. Shinedown was amazing, don't get me wrong, but my brother was still just that. He was my blood. He understood things... helped me through things that nobody else could. He was my brother, and my best friend. How many siblings could say that about their older brother, eh?

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, still stroking Eric's hair. He was practically purring, and I would give it about five minutes before he dozed off. That was fine. We still had a couple hours left before they had to go on. Some other band was opening for them anyways, and it gave us about another hour after them. I was in heaven. I listened to the sounds of Zach and Barry ganging up playfully on Brent, and it brought me back to the Enemies music video. Admittedly, I had laughed like a hyena at the video. Eric fighting Brent... Lord, that was hilarious. But Eric had truly felt bad about injuring Brent with that coffee pot.

"Ana," Eric mumbled.

"Yes, Eric?" I replied.

"Mom and I had a conversation about you... and I don't know how to bring this up, but here goes..."

"Oh, shit," I sighed, still keeping my eyes closed. Probably something to do with school or whatever. Sometimes, Eric acted more like a father than a brother...

"So, you're taking some time off of school, right?"

I was right! "Yeah?"

"Is there anything else that would need your attention over the next few months?"

My ears perked at that. What was he saying? My heart began to thrum in my chest.

"Er, why..?"

"I have already discussed this with Brent; repeatedly, actually... even Barry and Zach seem pretty excited to have you... Brent said yes right away, thinking it would be a good idea..."

"Eric, what are you asking?" I asked, impatient now.

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, looking into mine.

"Do you think you would be able to last the next five or so months with four guys and a set crew?" he finally asked. I was speechless. I just stared at him, unable to form any sentences or complete thoughts...

"I... er... um... uh..." I couldn't get the words out. So, rather than trying to speak, I just nodded my head, almost worried about whiplash for half a second.

"Yes?" Eric asked.

"Yes!" I parroted. We had captured the attention of the other three, and Brent looked concerned for Eric's well-being. He had stood up, looking at the two of us.

"What's going on?" he asked, sounding confused.

"I asked her," replied Eric, sitting up. I was vibrating.

"And..?"

I was out of my spot in less than a second before I jumped into Brent's arms and held onto him like a sloth to a tree. He wrapped his arms securely around my waist, holding me up with no apparent trouble.

"Thank you so much," I whispered into his ear. I could've kissed him at that point... and I really wanted to. But I settled with a kiss to his cheek.

"So, she said yes?" came Zach's voice from not too far. In fact, he was, like, right below me...

Damn right, I had said yes. Brent set me down carefully, and I suddenly missed the warmth. Man, it had already been an eventful day...

Suddenly, my phone went off in my pocket, and so did Brent's. Then it happened again, to both of us. And one more time...

"What the hell?" I mumbled, reaching for my phone. It went off again, and I glanced at the screen. A twitter notification?

"Oh, my..." I unlocked my phone and went straight to twitter. Right on my feed was a picture Brent and me in the same position we had been only seconds before, me kissing his cheek. I glanced to see who posted the picture, which had already gotten fifty likes and seventeen retweets in just the time span of a minute. And it had been posted by... I glanced at the first comment that was below the photo...

"Congrats, Brent!" it read.

I looked over to my brother, who was standing with a wolfish grin plastered to his face.

"Oh Eric!" I called. Brent looked over to my brother, and Barry could hardly contain his laughter.

"Yes, Ana?" he replied calmly. I started to walk up to him slowly, and he started moving toward the door.

"I don't think you thought one thing through..." I told him, switching sides so I could move toward the door and send him the other way.

"And what was that?"

"You didn't put anything more than 'Awww!' in the caption..." I cleared my throat. "Soon, everyone with a twitter in your arriving fan section is gonna think that Brent and I are together..."

His face switched from smug to "oh, shit" in half a second. Brent just stood there, dumbfounded. And then, Brent shook his head.

"If people think we are together, let them. It's all just speculation. We don't have to comment," Brent said, walking up to Eric and me and slinging an arm over my shoulders. Eric got this... look on his face that I couldn't figure out. Was he happy..? Or...

"Ya know, we could have some fun with this," came Zach's voice. I looked to him and he had a devious little grin. Brent looked at him too, and we had similar expressions. What kind of plan did the jokester have up his sleeve now?

"How?" Eric asked.

"We all have psychotic fans. Good way to keep them back is to let the world know we are taken, right?" I looked at him with my mouth agape.

"Yeah, so what are you saying?" Brent asked. I was sure he knew the answer, but I wanted the same clarification.

Barry stood then. "We aren't going to use Ana as a way to get rid of the psychos. Come on, you idiot... this could end really badly."

I chuckled. Maybe this could be fun... "Hey, I don't care! Why not just have a little fun; come on, who could it hurt?"

"Ana, making an official announcement opens you up for a lot of criticism. Maybe you should think about this..." Brent started, looking down at me. I didn't need more than a second to have my answer. Hell yeah, I would go through with this... I wanted to be with Brent so badly, it hurt. But he was sending a mixed signal... like, he did want to go through with it, but at the same time he didn't...

"I'm fine with it. I mean, come on... I look older anyways. I don't get ID'ed going into bars. People always assume I am in my mid or late twenties. My followers on twitter all think I am Zach's age." I pointed at the blonde.

"Hey! I am not that old!" protested the youngest band member.

I ignored him. "And maybe it could be a benefit to all of you. Eric, you're married... Barry, so are you. Zach, you're engaged. The only free-range one of you left is Brent, and I am sorry, man, but you do have some pretty psychotic women on your coattails."

"True..." replied Eric. Brent nodded his head, though he still seemed a little nervous about this. Honestly, so was I. But I wasn't about to look this horse in the mouth. Maybe it was with selfish intentions, but I wanted this.

"Eric, are you going to be okay with me 'dating' your little sister?" Brent asked, using finger-quotes around "dating."

He stood there and though hard for a minute. Eric was a very intelligent man, and he generally thought through all possible outcomes before most decisions. It was an awkward minute or two with all of us watching him. I needed this answer as much as Brent did.

"I will just say one thing, Brent," came Eric's voice, deadly deep with seriousness. He looked Brent in the eye and I felt his arm tense. "Whatever this is, real or fake, if she gets hurt... and I mean, at all, I will hurt you. Badly."

"Easy there, Dad," I said to him, chesting up a bit in Brent's defense. "Brent, nobody has asked your opinion yet. This hair-brained idea is. like, two minutes old. Are you okay with this?"

He took some time to think about it. This could end in only one of two ways. Either it would work, or it wouldn't and someone was going to get hurt. And I think the latter was what he seemed so worried about, though it didn't seem for his own sake, despite Eric's threat. And we knew that Eric could fight. We both could, growing up in a military household.

"The moment I sense that you are going to get hurt, Ana, it has to be done with. You are all right; we do have psychotic fans with fantasy ideals, and they could damn well go after either one of us." He seemed genuinely worried. I hugged him from the side tightly.

"Don't worry, Brent..." I assured. "It's just for the tour. We can find out something else later in the year. Looks like I will be with you guys anyways, and now I can actually be of some use this time."

All four looked at me and I regretted my words.

"Er, um, what I meant to say was... er... Anyways! Are we doing this or what?" I managed before someone could say something. I looked at Brent and he looked down at me. He still seemed really concerned, but I kissed his cheek. He sighed, tightened his grip on me, and looked up.

"Yes."

"Let's get a picture of the happy couple, eh?" I heard Zach say, trying to lighten the mood. Barry and Eric were discussing what I assumed was this whole game plan. I knew from the looks on their faces that the two elder band members were concerned. Each of the band members was intelligent, but those two always seemed to get into the deepest conversations. Eric always could read people as well as our father could, and I found myself wondering if he truly knew how I felt about the lead singer. I zoned out on the pair, wishing I was privy to what was being said, but I felt Brent lean his head down.

"Are you sure you are okay with this, Ana?" he asked, pressing his forehead to mine. We looked into each other's eyes, pools of sapphire and jade meeting.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Yes, Brent... I am..." He brought his warm, calloused hand up to caress my cheek...

Zach's phone went off with a flash, and it was at that point that the world of Shinedown would believe Brent and I were together.