don't follow - layne staley

chapter 5

The tiny apartment reeked of cheap cologne, cigarettes, cat food and body odour. Ivy convinced herself this is probably normal for men. The walls were cream, with pictures laying in dust-clinging frames. Clothes were littered on the floor or on top of the worn sofa, sprawled across the ground; tossed aside until needed again. Plates, forks, knives and bowls left in any place you could think of; all stained with food or various liquids. A huge fluffy cat approached Ivy, it's tail swayed from side to side as it rubbed up against her leg.

"Sadie already likes you, that's a good sign. Silly cat still doesn't like me and I live here," Jerry told her, hanging his jacket onto a golden peg. Ivy then again, convinced herself it was just a coincidence that this cat is called Sadie and Jerry had a roommate. 

She crouched down to allow Sadie to sniff her hands, warming up to the small, adorable animal. He lit up a cigarette, observing Ivy petting the cat, coming to the conclusion that Ivy

"She's beautiful," Ivy said, allowing Sadie's fur to stride between her fingers. Golden in the light with sparkles of brown, her tuffs were soft and like silk. She let out a soft laugh as Sadie fell onto her side, revealing her stomach to let Ivy stroke her.

"I'll go get my singer so I can properly introduce you guys. Feels inhumane calling him 'my singer'" He muttered, smoke pouring out of his mouth as he spoke. He ruffled Ivy's hair before he disappeared down the hallway.

Ivy placed herself on the sofa, continuing to stroke Sadie who began to purr. The apartment had charm, despite being the most untidy thing she's witnessed in a while. To have a cat and your own apartment must be the dream; she thought.

Chatter emerged closer and closer, she prepared herself for someone new.

It was not someone new.

"Ivy?" Layne hesitated, his body freezing up for a second. In his hands he held a cigarette, sat between his two fingers. 

"Layne?!" She stuttered almost, tripping over her sentence. She was in Layne's apartment.

"You two know each other? Oh fuck, is she the chick you keep telling me about?" Jerry questioned, raising his eyebrows. His eye flickered between the two, taking a step back.

Layne shot him a look before returning to his soft expression.

"You never told me you're in a band! Let alone sing!" She blurted, rapidly trying to process all this information.

"I was going to invite you to one of our gigs, but it seems Jerry got to you quicker than I did," He admitted, a guilty smile rests on his face.

"Well you're still not forgiven, invitation or not," She bickered, crossing her arms and turning her face away from his direction.

"I was never obliged to tell-"

"Its quite a big thing to keep away from me,"

"Right, maybe this isn't the friend making I thought would happen," Jerry asserted, slouching into an armchair across from Ivy. "You two bicker like an old couple. It's boring and aimless," He reached across Ivy for a box of cigarettes, sliding one out.

Silence abrupted between them both, allowing them both to simmer and absorb the situation. She was conflicted with the fact that he didn't tell her such a major fact. 

He was in a white shirt, with the sleeves cut so they almost covered his shoulders. The neckline was low, his defined collarbone was visible, glimmering in the sunlight that seeped through their dust glazed windows. His muscular arms were smooth like marble and no flaw could be placed on his body. Ivy flickered her eyes away; not trying to be a creep.