A Little Patience

2. Moving Away from L.A

Axl's alarm screamed at him at eight o'clock in the morning. He groaned, wanting nothing more but to throw the alarm clock at the wall. Axl placed his hand on the alarm clock using the strength of his entire arm to try and turn it off. But instead, it fell. Crash. No need to throw it at the wall, he thought. I broke it. 

Axl groaned and lifted himself off of his bed. He didn't want to do anything. The events of last night creeping back on him. From seeing Steven to burning the drugs. Axl knew he had to see Steven again in the afternoon. But he otherwise had nothing to do. Axl became a workaholic to deal with the pain of the drugs and the loss of his dog. He tried getting better but nothing really worked. Except, of course, work. He would do everything! From calling up tour and studio dates to writing songs. But it was never enough. Especially since Steven is in such a bad state. All he could do was call and cancel tour dates. Which out only take a second considering he had nothing to write down. But once he called who needed to be called. He was stuck in his house bored.

Axl looked around his soon-to-be empty house. Boxes were scattered here and there. Today would be his last day in L.A. Then he'd move off to Seattle, Washington. To get a fresh start. Away from drugs, hookers, and alcohol. Because all three of those were all too common in L.A. I should pack to clear my mind. Axl thought. Visiting hours started at two. Axl had time. 

As he packed his clothes, books, records, and pictures. He stopped at a familiar picture. It was of him and Izzy in their high school days. Axl sighed. Thinking back to the day Izzy took that picture sitting on Axl's roof. The only worry they had was Axl's terrible family. But that day, they were the happiest boys alive because they had saved enough money to go to L.A. That was supposed to be the best thing that happened to them. And it was. But it was also the worst. 

Axl carefully wrapped the picture in a newspaper and placed it in a box. He looked at the clock. 2:00 P.M. The plane leaves at three so he had thirty minutes to visit Steven and thirty minutes to get to the plane. It was fine. The airport and the hospital weren't far from Axl's house. So he had a lot of time to spare. 

"Hey, popcorn, how are you feeling?" Axl asked as he walked into the hospital room. Steven had more color in his face and was sitting up instead of laying down. He looked better. Must've gotten a lot of sleep. "The food isn't good here," Steven said scrunching his nose as he looked at the half-eaten tray of food. Axl chuckled. Steven was getting back to his normal self. "When are you leaving?" Steven asked. "In an hour," Axl said. "Well, the plane leaves in an hour. I leave here in about thirty minutes," Axl said reading his watch. Steven hummed. "You're smart. Who knows how long the others will stay away from drugs," Steven said. "Are you moving?" Axl asked. "No, but after this experience I know I'm never going to touch another drug again. I fucking hate the hospital. And this doesn't make it any better!" Steven said. "Why they saved your life," Axl said. "Yeah, but I'll always have this memory of my stupidity," Steven said. "Calm down, you learn. Besides you're only twenty-four. You still have the rest of your life to lead," Axl said. Steven smiled. "That makes me feel better," he said. Axl smiled. He looked at the clock. 2:39. "Shit, I have to go. I'll call, popcorn!" Axl said as he walked out the door. "Bye, have fun in Seattle!" Steven called. 

Axl raced to his house, picked up his suitcases, and then raised to the airport. He almost missed it. But thankfully didn't. He found his place on the plane and stared out the window as L.A was being left behind. Axl sighed. He was already homesick and he hasn't been gone but for a few minutes.