Don't You Cry

Chapter 1: Move to the City

"Holy shit Natalie, how much of this stuff do you really need to bring," Izzy asks me with annoyance displayed clearly on his face.

"Well I want to be prepared. I don't know what California is like." I mean how would I?

"I can promise that you will not need a winter coat," he says, barely stifling a laugh.

"Fine leave it here. I don't care," I say while climbing into the packed car he came to pick my best friend and I up in.

A boy with crazy black curly hair occupies the passengers seat with the window slightly rolled down to prevent the smoke from his cigarette from filling the car. Behind him sits two blondes, one who's tall and lanky, and another with a wide grin that fills his entire face. Sandwiched in between them is Makenna, who is visibly uncomfortable.

Then way in the far back, I see a boy with crimson hair, feet pulled up on the seat beside him, Axl. I wrestle my way through the car, move his feet, and plop down next to him.

Suddenly, I am aware of my appearance— definitely not how I wanted to look after seeing him for the first time in years.

"Wow look who grew up," he says with his typical sly smirk plastered on his face. He's one to talk, he looks like a man now, which I guess makes sense considering he's twenty three.

"Wow look who's still an ass," I say and nudge him a little to make sure he knows I'm messing around. Thankfully he does and returns the favor just as Izzy gets in the car and reverses out of the driveway.

It's surreal watching my childhood home fade away in the distance. Izzy turns left, leaving all of the memories, laughs, and cries behind us.

...

After a few hours, I felt the car slow to a stop. I must've fallen asleep at some point, judging by the drool on Axl's t-shirt where I rest my head.

"Haven't been with you for a day and you're already drooling over me Nat," he says with the smirk returning to his face.

"Yeah Will, you wish."

"It's Axl now," he says while the happiness fades from his face and is replaced with a glare.

I realize I must have hit a soft spot and get up to leave the car when I feel his grip on my arm.

"Don't call me Will."

I brush him off, not really sure what to think.

When I get outside, I am shocked by the size of the house. Izzy could tell I was impressed and says, "It has five rooms, so you and Makenna will have to sleep in the basement until you guys figure something else out."

I can tell that Makenna was equally excited as I am when she grabs my arm and we burst through the house and down to the basement, ignoring the beer cans we step on along the way.

The basement was much cleaner than the rest of the house. Someone must have made beds for us on the couch, probably Izzy.

"Awe Izzy, thank you so much for this," I say while pulling him into an embrace.

"Sure thing Natalie, anything for you. Now hurry up and get settled. We have a show to go to."

I almost forgot about their show tonight. I can't wait to see the boys play, especially since I haven't heard anything from this band yet.

As soon as the boys finish bringing all of our boxes down, we pull everything out, trying to find the perfect outfit. I decide on a Led Zeppelin tee with black skinny jeans and Doc Martins. Makenna's outfit is slightly more revealing, leather mini skirt, Motley Crue crop top, and black high top converse. She looked absolutely stunning, like she belonged here.

We hear the tall blonde, who's name I discovered is Duff, yell from the stairs, "Come on girls, time to go."

We pull up to the venue, a place called the Troubadour, and the place is already packed with a line wrapped around the front of the building. I look to my right to see Axl, his eyes glisten in the moonlight, but he looks nervous, scared even. Axl scared? That's something I never thought I'd see.

Once we walk in, the boys lead us through the crowd and back stage. They all had this serious look on their faces. Right before leaving for the stage, Izzy turns to me and says, "Okay, I got you both places in the front row so I can keep an eye on you."

Okay, dad, I think to myself as he continues with a list of rules for us.

"No taking drinks from boys you don't know, no leaving the building without letting one of us know, no kissing boys, and please, for the love of God, don't drink too much."

I quickly agree to his terms and we head into the crowd. You could feel the energy before the concert even starts.

Then I hear Axl scream, "Do you know where the fuck you are? You're in the jungle baby. Wake up! Time to dieeeee."

The crowd was going crazy as the band plays their original songs along with a few covers. Makenna and I of course followed Izzy's rules, well except for one.

Half way through the set, we were plastered. None of the boys notice though, they were too focused on the show. I was having the time of my life, finally letting lose, when the show ends.

Makenna and I go back stage to meet the boys and from the second I walked in, I could tell they were all completely exhausted.

They were arguing about something, but when they notice Makenna and I stumbling and giggling, all the attention shifts to us.

"Can I get some of whatever you guys had," Duff says while laughing.

Izzy is not amused, "God damnit you two, come on, we're going home," which earns a groan from everyone in the room.

"Let's go, get up," Izzy says while pulling Makenna and I off the couch we're sitting on. We reluctantly agree, as do the others, and we drive home.

Izzy's mood seemed to lighten up as we drove home and the rest of the band seemed to catch a second wind, now chattering and singing to the music.

From the moment we walk in, the apartment is buzzing. All of the boys, except for Axl, invite girls to come over. I thought it was weird that Axl didn't, even in high school he was a player.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely hear Axl ask me to dance, holding his hand out for me to grab. Makenna is already dancing with Duff, so I decide it's okay if I dance with him.

We both laugh as I accidentally step on his feet. I look up and meet his eyes. For a second, we just stand there, looking into each other's eyes.

That's when he leans in and places his lips on mine. As he kisses me, the world seems to stop for a moment and it's just him and I.

I quickly pull away, checking to see if anyone saw, but they were consumed with the other people they were with, so no one realized that I just had my first kiss.

My first kiss, oh my god, with Axl Rose.