Even Now

Chapter 47: The Ghost Of His Present - Part One

Finally!! This chapter is OUT! 😆 unlike me hahah *rip*

I'm not particularly fond of this tactic, but I've split this chapter into two, and fittingly named them 'part one' and 'part two'. It had to be done! I wrote so much, y'all... 💙😣💙 but only because I love you and want to provide you with the best, most detailed story I can!! 💙💙💙💙💙

On to the story...

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July 7, 1994: Seattle, WA, USA

Not many people called Layne anymore. Sure, they'd still try, maybe once or twice every couple of weeks... but Layne would rarely choose to speak with them. He was already maxed-out on socializing; he didn't want people seeing him as he was; and he was content with his current contact list, which consisted of four people: Layne's mom, Layne's sister, Liz, Mike McCready, and... Courtney Love.

Courtney Love called Layne's condo several times a week, by far the most consistent caller he had.
Jerry never knew what she and Layne talked about. It honestly confused the hell out of him knowing that Layne was talking to her at all.

He wasn't exactly one for conspiracies or anything... but the circumstances surrounding Kurt Cobain's death were rather suspicious...

Jerry didn't like the idea of Layne associating with that woman. She seemed extremely sketchy and unstable, to say the least. And one time, when Jerry had answered the phone and Courtney was on the other line, he could've sworn she sounded like a dealer, she was so high.

Just one more junkie to drag him down. That's all he needs. Jesus Christ...

So, when the phone rang and Layne answered it, Jerry had to force himself not to groan a, 'not her again,' out loud.

Luckily for him, it wasn't Courtney Love.

It was Mike McCready. And he sounded pissed.

Jerry could somewhat overhear what Mike was saying, generally along the lines of, 'put him on the phone! I need to know what the hell happened last night!'

"No. You don't need to know," Layne curtly cuts off Mike's angry chattering. "What'd Mark tell you?"

Jerry winces as he gets up off the carpeted floor, his shoulder still quite sensitive from running into the bathroom door. He then notices a painful kink in his back from sitting against the wall all night. He discretely starts to stretch, keeping his distance so he doesn't eavesdrop on the call.

Layne frowns at the beige cupboards of the kitchenette, phone held back a bit from his ear due to the sheer volume of Mike's voice. "Hey- no! That's not... no. No. Just- would you let me talk?!"

Jerry widens his eyes at the defensive ferocity coming from the 100lb figure in front of him.

"Don't- HEY!" Layne yells. "You weren't there! And don't fucking make me choose sides because you know who I'll choose. Mark can just get over it. Or, y'know, he could be a fucking man and call me himself."

Hanging up and throwing the phone behind him onto the counter, Layne puts his head in his hands and leans against the wall.

Jerry stands awkwardly still, hand behind his head as he avoids eye-contact. "So... everything alright?"

"No." Layne looks up at him, crossing his arms. "You broke Mark's nose."

Gritting his teeth, Jerry forces himself to meet Layne's now unreadable expression. "I did?"