Perfumed Secrets | Kurt Cobain

And for this gift I feel blessed

Faye stood behind the counter, tapping her fingers impatiently against the polished surface as she glanced at her watch every other minute. The seconds seemed to drag on, each tick amplifying her restlessness. She was counting down the moments until she could leave, the anticipation of the night ahead fueling her impatience. Just as she began to lose herself in her thoughts, she spotted Amy entering the door, and a wave of relief took over her.

"I'll be out in a second," she called out, her voice a bit too eager as she ducked into the back room to change. She quickly shed her work attire and slipped into an outfit that felt perfectly suited for a chilly April evening in Seattle. A pair of ripped black skinny jeans, over that, a dark, oversized flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and a band tee she'd "borrowed" from Kurt, the fabric soft and familiar.

"Ready," she announced, her energy palpable as she grabbed her bag. The transformation from barista to concert-goer was complete. "It's at the hotel not far from here. We should be there in no time."

Faye's animated chatter through their way was a sharp contrast to the more subdued girl she'd been seeing lately.

"You seem up." Amy remarked, glancing at her.

"I'm just so excited for Kurt, you know?" Faye replied, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I love it when they play here in Seattle." She looked out the window as they neared the venue. "It's over there."

As they pulled up, Amy noticed the large crowd gathered outside the hotel. "And they've got a crowd."

They entered the hotel, weaving through the people that had gathered in the lobby. The energy was electric, and the two made their way down the hallway that led to the venue space, the muffled sound of instruments being tuned growing louder with each step.

Near the stage, the band was gathered, huddled in a loose circle, discussing last-minute details. Kurt stood slightly apart from the others, his tension visible in the way he clenched and unclenched his hands.

As soon as he saw Faye, his tense expression softened slightly, though the underlying anxiety was still evident.

"Hey," he greeted her, his voice betraying the nerves he was trying to suppress.

"Hey yourself," Faye replied with a smile, her mood buoyant as she reached out to kiss him. "How are you?"

Kurt let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, nodding slowly. "Yeah, just... you know, usual pre-show jitters."

"Nothing you can't handle," she assured him, her tone light and encouraging. She seemed almost unnaturally uplifted, high and contagious. "You're going to be fine."

The first band of the night was getting ready to start, and the room around them buzzed with energy.

Without much thought, he leaned in closer to her, speaking quietly so only she could hear. "You don't happen to have those pills on you, do you?"

Faye blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered, her expression shifting to one of understanding. "Actually, I do."

Kurt's eyes darted around quickly before he nodded, more to himself than to her. "Could you, you know..."

She reached into her bag and discreetly handed him a couple of pills, their fingers brushing for a brief moment. He hesitated for just a moment, then took them from her with a small, grateful nod. Faye quickly took a few herself, swallowing them down with a swig from a nearby water bottle.

"Thanks," he muttered, his eyes avoiding hers for a second.

She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her voice soft as she whispered, "You'll be alright."