Louder Than Words ✨ Guns N' Roses

05.

I was attracted to him, and I realized that I pretty much had been since the moment I saw him. I didn't even bother denying it anymore.

The way he walked screamed confidence, though he seemed to shy away from everyone, everyone but me. His silence said fear, though he had the courage to stare directly into my eyes every time he had the chance. I was a lovesick puppy dog, and I'd only known him for five minutes.

And I knew nothing of him personally. Not even his name.

The Troubadour, while intriguing, was kinda gross. It was the dirtiest of dives, I couldn't even tell the color of the walls through all the old posters and cigarette burns. The air smelled of cigarettes and sweat, though no one was there but us.

It was exactly where you'd find the best of the LA strip, and I was soon to find that out myself.

"So? This is your secret?"

He turned to me, and shrugged.

"You could say that."

I turned in a circle and looked around some more. "Your secret is that you love dirty clubs? What, you ashamed of rock n' roll?" I teased, poking his arm a little. It was so firm... and touchable...

He shook his head no, and pointed at a poster on the wall. I read it aloud.

"Guns N' Roses, three nights only at the Troubadour club. Free for ladies, 7 bucks for dudes. November 15th, 16th, and 17th, 1986."

He blinked.

"So what, is that the band you're seeing tonight? Is this your way of asking me to come?"

He sighed silently.

"Sort of, but-"

"Well, my gosh! You just keep showing up in the strangest of places, Ginger!"

I turned to see W, Izzy, and two other guys I'd never seen before waltzing right toward us. Immediately I began to sweat with guilt. How was I supposed to explain this to W, especially when I didn't know this random guy's name?

He was once my best friend, but somehow I didn't want him seeing me with another guy.

"Oh hey, I forgot you guys were coming here. W, this is-"

"I see you've become acquainted with our newest fucker Slash," W said, slinging an arm around my shoulder roughly and pulling me under him. He gave my hair another toussle. "Doesn't say much, but I guess he's alright company."

My eyes widened. "Wait, you all know each other?"

"Duh, smart one," Izzy rolled his eyes, giving no further explanation.

"But... but..."

"What're you two doing here?" W said with faux concern, looking between the both of us.

"Who's the chick?" says one of the guys I've never seen before. He's an extra tall blonde, thin, kinda lanky. "She's dressed like an old lady."

"Shut the fuck up," W snapped at him, and then smiled down at me. "Don't mind him, he's just a dirty fucking giraffe who escaped the zoo."

I'd barely heard the entire exchange, I was too busy being confused.

"You know Axl?"

I nodded hard and chuckled nervously. "We're from the same town, and we were best friends growing up. Helped each other through all the bullshit you know, we were both kinda outcasts."

"Yeah, and she spent night and day dreaming about his di-"

"And Izzy tagged along where he wasn't wanted," I added sourly so that the shaggy haired brat couldn't finish his sentence.