Brighter | I. Stradlin

15

MEGAN'S POV

"So Izzy's gone, and now Steven's MIA? Are you kidding me?" Axl yelled. His face was red, and I swear I saw steam coming from his ears. He paced the living room. Charlie, Lauren, Duff, and Slash just watched. I went over to the kitchen, starting to busy myself with cleaning. "Do you happen to know where he is, Meggie?" Lauren asked softly. I looked up, glanced over to everyone..."I'm sorry, I don't."

I had an idea, I saw his plane ticket the night before. It was on the coffee table in his house, next to his drumsticks which still sat on his coffee table. I visited a few times after I broke things off with him. Just so I could get my belongings...and I would be lying if I said I never expected him to be lying there, on the couch lifelessly. Steven's addiction was getting bad. He would go partying, I'd go with and he would be completely wasted. Wasted and high as hell. I didn't mind that, I did it too. It was fun for a bit. But it became a daily thing. He'd wake up and have drugs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He could barely play drums anymore.

It broke my heart, to see the blonde bubble of energy to slowly drain into nothing but grey. I miss the old Steven, I love him.

Charlie knew pretty well what was happening too, I told her almost everything. We grew up together for god sakes. Her and I are like sisters, and I can't lie so...she definitely knew something was up when I started hanging out with Beau more. I just liked having new company, to be honest. If I wanted to go party and smoke, he was down. I'm not living with him, I'm not with him so I don't care what he does every hour of the day. I just need a party buddy.

"Well if you hear from him and he's not dead, tell him to get his ass back here," Axl grumbled, rushing out to go smoke probably. We all sat in silence, even after the door slammed. Slash was the first to break the silence. "How do you deal with his temper?" He asked, turning to Lauren. She bit her lip as she smiled, "I don't usually. We don't really live together, we just-"

"Okay then!" Charlie interrupted, standing up and walking over to me. Everyone slightly laughed as Lauren pouted. "Megan," Charlie called my attention softly, looking at me directly. "Charlotte," I mimicked. She gave me a knowing look. "I can't tell you," is all I said. That made everyone look up and gather around. "So you do know where he is?" Duff asked. I shrugged, "I know where he's supposed to be."

Everyone just waited for me to give an answer. "I promised him I wouldn't tell the guys," I looked over to Charlie with a sorry smile. Slash groaned frustratingly, "You're hooking up with Beau, you broke up with Steven. Why the hell would you try to act like you care now?"

"Because I do! Just because I chose to be happier alone doesn't mean I'm too selfish to care about him."

I knew he was digging at me to get an answer, but it still hurt. I might be a bitch sometimes, but I care...even if I barely show it.

"Look we won't tell Axl, we just need to know..." Duff tried to bargain. I sighed and held my head in my hands. "He's with Dani, okay? I won't tell you where specifically."

I know that all the girls got letters, but the boys (besides Izzy) were still in the dark. I just hope they don't actually know where she is, by some weird accident. "With Dani?!" Everyone seemed to have panicked at the same time. It was odd, kinda funny but also scary. "Hell, everyone is just leaving," Duff tried to joke...no one really laughed, just smiled awkwardly.

"He'll be back, eventually. I guess whenever Dani chooses to come back. It's still January," I tried to reassure. Slash scoffed, "She's been gone since September. It might be another year before she shows up."

"Stop attacking her, what the hell man?" Lauren snapped. "She got in trouble because of you idiots."

There it was, the moment Charlie and I knew was bound to happen. The boys knew the band was slowly breaking, they needed something to blame and Danielle was a perfect excuse. "She took Izzy and Steven with her!" Slash argued. Lauren was angry. Her cheeks and ears were hot red and her glare was like a mom's scolding face. Scary. "Maybe it's 'cause you guys are shitty friends!"

Everyone got quiet again as the door opened, although Slash looked like he wanted to say something. "Everything alright?"

The familiar female voice made everyone turn to look. Lauren was the first to break out of shock, gasp and attack Danielle with a hug. Beau and Steven were by the door, standing there awkwardly. It had only been about a day and a half since he left, but Steven looked a little better. He seemed to have a little sparkle in his eye, a look I missed a lot.

I walked up to him, kind of just taking it in. "You suck, you know?" He stated jokingly. "You're so hot, it's not fair."

I laughed, and jumped a bit as he wiped a tear off my cheek. "I got you to laugh," his goofy small showed.

DANI'S POV

I didn't plan on coming back to LA so soon, I really didn't want to. But seeing Steven again made me realize I left a lot behind and how much I miss it all. I can protect myself from drugs all I want but they still exist. It's just how it is.

Lauren wrapped me in a hug, squeezing me as much as she could. "I was about to kill a guitarist for you," she mumbled into my shoulder. I giggled, glancing over to Slash, who seemed relieved that Steven was here now. "He was worried, it's fine Lauren."

Charlie was next to greet me with a hug, Duff joining her. He smelled of nicotine and tequila, something I didn't miss all that much. "So, when's the wedding Charlotte?" I whispered as Duff went to joke with Stevie. She lightly slapped me, we went back and forth for a bit until she huffed a sigh, biting her lip. "Not anytime soon but...give or take, a few years."

"How about you and Izzy?" She teased, Megan rushing by her side. I felt my face grow warm. I crossed my arms and swayed back and forth. They both, including Lauren, anticipated an answer.
"Eh, I don't know. Give it a year or two," I mumbled. Megan smiled sweetly and shook my arm, "I call dibs on being the wedding planner."