First Love | James Hetfield

Angel Of Death

1984

"We can just go to Mick's. We can probably get some kind of family discount anyway." Bea piped up, silencing everybody's arguing. While waiting for Annie and Aurora to finish getting ready, they struggled to agree on a place to eat.

"No." James' voice was firm. Bea darted her eyes over to him at the couch, furrowing her brows.

"We're not going to Mick's." James wasn't sure if he should explain why, because he didn't know if Annie wanted everybody knowing her father was in town, and he wasn't sure if her father would still even be at Mick's, but he didn't want to risk it.

"Well then, king Hetfield, where would you like to go?" Bea crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows at him.

"I don't care. Anywhere but..." his voice trailed off as he caught a glimpse of shiny pink material in the corner of his eye. He darted his eyes to the stairwell, where Aurora was dragging Annie down the steps. She wore the same satin pink dress she wore when they first met.

Aurora grabbed ahold of her wrist, hissing through gritted teeth. "Come on, you whiny bitch. Stop being so dramatic! You look—"

"Hot. So very hot." Kirk stood up from the couch once his eyes landed on the two girls. James was too distracted himself to even realize what Kirk had said.

"Thank you, Kirk!" Aurora looked at him when they reached the bottom of the stairwell. "But I think you're a little late on that one." she smiled apologetically, bawling her eyes to the dumbfounded James who slowly rose from his seat.

He walked toward her after Aurora got caught up in conversation with everybody else. "Christ almighty.." he whispered under his breath, stepping in front of her.

Annie pursed her lips together, rocking back and forth on her heels awkwardly. She still didn't even look him in the eye.

James snapped his agape mouth shut, swallowing thickly. "Isn't this...?" he took a small bit of the satin material in between his fingers.

"Yeah." she answered. "Beer came out after a rinse or two..." she laughed softly, finally meeting his eyes. She wondered how he even remembered. How he knew that it was the dress she wore when they met.

"Alright, we're just gonna go to that country themed place we went to last time." Bea decided. Aurora slumped her shoulders. "Ew, the one with the deer heads all over the walls?"

"Yes, because it's cheap and easy." Bea sighed, already losing the motivation to even go out.

"Alright, let's go then." Lars stood up, clapping his hands together.

~

"The Cure or The Smiths?"

Annie scoffed at Aurora's absurd question. She opened her mouth to speak before Lars chimed in. "Motörhead."

"The Cure, easily." she said without hesitation, ignoring Lars' comment.

Aurora widened her eyes.

Annie held a finger up before she protested. "No, before you argue, hear me out. The Smiths are made up of four men who aren't even named Smith— hell, the frontman doesn't even have a last name!"

"Yes he does. Morrissey is his last name." Aurora interjected.

Annie scoffed. "Okay...? If you're gonna have a stage name, at least make it Smith so your band name is accurate."

"The Cure is literally led by Robert Smith..." she added.

"Yeah, but... The Smiths have Morrissey... The Cure doesn't." Beatrice commented from beside Aurora.