Book 1: Lost In Translation (Another Reason To Cry) (Izzy Stradlin FanFic)

Ch. 19: Lost In Brotherhood

I led Melody to the two stools I had placed on the stage, motioning for her to sit in the one that was faced away from the crowd of café-goers. She was hesitant, obviously nervous about being on stage in front of a large crowd of people. I couldn't blame her either. Even after filling up stadiums and opening for the likes of Aerosmith, I still felt butterflies in my gut whenever I was in the spotlight. But right now, the only person who mattered was Melody, and just knowing that she would be listening to my music was enough to make my legs quake anxiously.

The root of my stage fright was generally from me trying to put on a good show for everyone while simultaneously trying not to trip over cords and make a fool of myself. In this case, I would be playing an acoustic set and sitting down, so really the only thing I was on edge about was impressing Melody. A feat that seemed impossible to me. I mean, really. How does a mortal impress the gods?

Melody bit her lip before reluctantly taking a seat on the awaiting stool. Her cheeks were a bright shade of red, and she lowered her gaze so that her face could take shelter behind a curtain of auburn hair. I couldn't help but smile down at her. I hadn't seen her this uncertain since the night we had slept together. It was always such a rare sight to see Melody this vulnerable. And still, she was the strongest person I had ever known.

Turning away from her for a moment, I strolled over to my guitar, which I had placed up against the wall before I had ran outside to see Steven pull up in the cop car to deliver Melody. The old girl's strings twanged in agony as I hoisted her up from the floor and wrapped her strap around my shoulders. The sound of her creaking, wooden body was reminiscent of the whisper of the trees back home in Lafayette, as they bent and swayed under the strength of the breeze. 

I closed my eyes, played a few notes to ensure that all the strings were in tune. When I had finished with that, I turned back around to see the audience staring after me. I immediately recognized my band mates, huddled in a group just beyond the blinding stage lights.

Steven was grinning from ear to ear, the leaves in his hair causing him to receive strange looks from those sitting around him. As always, he didn't care. He was like a loyal puppy, his eyes locked on his friend, eager to watch whatever it was that I had to do, giving me his undivided attention as well as ample love and support. Not even caring about the world around him at this very moment.

Then, there was Slash, who was sipping his bottle of Jack and watching me with a content smile, throwing up a thumbs up when he saw me staring after him. A man who I hadn't initially liked much, but one who I had to admit turned out to be my guitar-playing soulmate. In this band, the two of us together was like peanut butter and jelly. Two complete and total opposites, who just somehow always managed to flow together in perfect harmony, despite our differences. Years of working together and touring side by side had eventually allowed us to connect as friends, and him being here for me right now only solidified the idea that we truly had bonded, not just as mutual guitar lovers, but as brothers.

And, speaking of brothers, my eyes flickered to Duff. He was waving and beaming and looking as proud as if he was my own mother. Out of the entire band, he and I got along swimmingly. We had the same values, and many of the same morals, and we were usually the ones left to clean up the mess after another bandmate went off the tracks. He had been the first of my friends to meet Melody, and he had been all too eager to help me include her in my life. He was the epitome of a good friend, and I knew that I would be forever grateful to him for that.

My mind then wandered to my old friend, Axl. The one who couldn't make it here because he was too busy making this all happen. Without him, Melody would still be cooped up in her home, and I would still be pining over her from afar. If anyone deserves the title of 'brother' to me, even Axl trumped Duff in that department.