Thin Walls (Duzzy)

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Izzy's Point of View – 1985 – Somewhere Outside of Phoenix

The bus rattled like it was being held together with duct tape and spit. Arizona heat made everything stick, made every breath feel like a drag of a cigarette too deep. Slash was passed out across two seats, mouth open and a half-drunk bottle of Jack threatening to roll out of his limp hand. Axl was muttering something in his sleep. Steven had his Walkman cranked so loud I could hear Van Halen through the shitty headphones.

And me? I was pacing the back hallway, fists clenched, lungs tight, mind running in circles.

He hadn't looked at me all day.

Duff.

Tall, blond, cocky bastard with a mouth like sin and a laugh that made my gut twist. We'd been doing this—whatever this was—on and off since the summer. Sneaking around like damn teenagers. Which, I guess, we technically still were.

But something had shifted lately. He'd been pulling away, colder. Flirting with groupies louder than usual. Making damn sure I saw him do it.

And I did see it. Every goddamn second of it.

The bus took a sharp turn and I steadied myself against the wall. The hum of the engine vibrated through the floor, but it was nothing compared to the buzzing in my chest. I stormed toward the bunks, yanked the curtain open to find him lying there with that smug look like he knew I'd come looking.

"Enjoy yourself tonight?" I hissed.

Duff blinked slowly, stretching out like a cat, shirt rucked up, all lean muscle and smug satisfaction. "What's your problem, Stradlin?"

My problem? My problem?

I climbed in, grabbed the front of his shirt, and shoved him back against the mattress. "You wanna pretend I don't exist? Fine. But don't you fucking dare look at me like that."

His eyes darkened. "You jealous?"

I hated how much he smirked when he said that.

I hated it even more when I kissed him.

It was angry, teeth-clashing, breath-stealing. His hands were in my hair, mine under his shirt, the bunk barely wide enough for one of us but we didn't give a shit. Not when I needed him like this—furious and desperate, like we were trying to tear each other apart just to feel something.

He let out a loud groan, head thunking back against the wall, and I slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Shut the fuck up," I whispered, breathless. "You want Axl to hear?"

His eyes lit up like that was a challenge.

God, I hated how much I loved him.

The bunk creaked like it was about to give way, and I could hear someone stirring in the front lounge.

Duff pulled back, chest heaving, lips red. "You're the one being loud, babe."

"Asshole," I muttered, but I didn't move.

Didn't want to.

Instead, I curled into him, sweat-damp and reckless and shaking with adrenaline.

"I'm not some fucking secret," I mumbled against his collarbone.

He kissed the top of my head.

"No," he whispered. "You're mine."

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