Maybe I'll Get It Right Next Time...

Chapter 7: Patience

"Said woman take it slow, and it'll work itself out fine, all we need is just a little patience..."

Los Angeles, California – June 1986

I woke as the morning sunlight filled the bedroom. I opened my eyes. It was quiet. Nothing but the faint smell of last night's cigarettes and the calm rise and fall of Axl's chest under my cheek. I sat up, kissed him softly on the forehead, and slid out of his bed, careful not to wake him. I gathered my clothes, which were scattered on the floor, and put them on.

As I reach the living room, I see Slash passed out on the couch. His head resting on the armrest, his face, almost invisible, lost in a mass of black curls. I climb up and dig myself in between his body and the back of the couch, top to tail, resting my head on the opposite arm rest. He let out a quiet groan and lifted his arms to push the hair from his face.

"Hey you," he said in low groggy voice. "Where's the Ayatollah?"

I frowned at the mention of that nickname, given to Axl by his bandmates due to his, sometimes dictator-like, behavior in the band.

"Asleep," I replied. "I slipped out without waking him."

"Love em' n' leave em'?" he asked with a half-smile.

"There was no 'loving', I said. "Let's go eat. I want waffles."

We stepped out into the bright L.A. morning. It couldn't have been later than 8 am but it was already hot. We sauntered quietly down the alleys and streetways kicking a rock back and forth between one another. Slash was always quiet, but I could tell he had something on his mind and I didn't need a crystal ball to tell me what it was.

"So," he finally said, "what's going on with you and Axl? Are you guys... like a thing?" He sighed deeply as if the question physically hurt coming out of him.

"I don't know... maybe..." I replied, hesitantly.

"I hope he's isn't pressuring you to... do anything you aren't ready for, because if he is—"

"He's not," I interrupted. "Axl is really sweet. He doesn't pressure me at all. Besides, it's not like I'm a still a virgin or something."

It was the first lie I had ever told my cousin. I don't know why I lied, maybe not being a virgin would make me seem more mature? Maybe it would make Slash more comfortable with the situation?

"No?" He replied. "Since when?"

I redirected the conversation to avoid having to lie any further.

"You don't like it, do you? Me and Axl," I asked as if I didn't already know the answer. He let out another big sigh.

"Allie, it's just that... Listen, you know I love you like a sister. You mean a lot to me and I don't want to see anything happen to you."

"Axl is a good guy..."

"Axl is the lead singer in a rock band, that means living fast and groupies and God-knows-what-else, I just don't want to see you get caught up in this world. You are too gentle for it. I want better things for you."

"If it's your world, then it's my world," I said quietly.

Slash sighed again and slung his arm around my neck, pulling me in and kissing me on the side of my head.

"You've got me there." He smiled.

"I think I really like him Slash..."

"I know, that's what worries me. Where do you want to eat? The usual?"