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

Ch. 2: Lost In Thought

I dragged myself into the studio the next morning, shades over my eyes, my paper boy cap on, and the scarf around my neck. It was an unnecessary accessory, but I planned on stopping in at the café after practice and waiting around to see if she would show up. Plus, it smelled like a mix of fruit and flowers. The perfume had my mouth watering every time the wind picked up.

"Hey, Izz!" Duff greeted me as I walked through the door.

"S'up, man. Where's Mr. Sunshine?" I joked, looking around the room and noticing that Axl was nowhere to be found.

"Late. As always," Slash chimed in, flashing me a smile from under his bush of hair. "But, you know, what else is new?"

I snorted and strolled over to my white, ES-175, picking it up and beginning to strum it lightly. "Of course, that's fine. But, as soon as I fuck up a goddamn note, all Hell breaks loose."

"Well, stop fucking up, dammit!" Steven yelled at me as he walked passed, feigning anger. He stuck his tongue out at me before sitting down to play his drums. "You're holding us back from our dreams, Izzy!"

I chuckled and shook my head. Steven was such a crazy ass hole.

"So, new scarf? In 75 degree weather?" Duff teased, nodding at my neck where the scarf hung loosely. "Is this the newest trend?"

Axl and I were kind of known as the trendsetters of the band. Hell, I once spray painted one of my leather jackets pink just to make a fashion statement, so I was surprised that Duff was even questioning a scarf.

I tugged at it gently, imagining the beautiful girl I'd seen yesterday and wondering if she was missing her scarf at all. It looked like someone had made it, what with the way that some of the strands seemed too tight while others were too loose. Still, it had a homey feel to it and it was comfortable and warm. I hoped I hadn't stolen her dead grandma's final knitting project or something.

"Oh, I'm just...holding onto it for someone. I have no clue when they'll want it back so I'm wearing it just in case," I explained, not feeling much like going into the whole story. I didn't want them to tease me for falling for some girl, especially one I'd never even spoken to.

"Who's is it?" Steven prodded.

I rolled my eyes as I looked down at my guitar, not wanting them to see the sour look I'd just given them.

"I don't know their name," I admitted.

"Just come out and tell us you stole it already," Slash teased. "Ya' little thief."

I laughed and just ignored him, getting lost in the chords I was playing. As I played, I absentmindedly began to whistle along with the guitar, staring up at the ceiling as I did so. I closed my eyes as I delved deeper and deeper into the music.

A flash of auburn and eyes like tranquil waters. A smile that could turn the devil towards the light...

There is no doubt you're in my heart now...

The words popped into my head out of nowhere, catching me completely off guard. I liked the flow and the way they stuck in my mind.

"Any of you fucks have a pen?" I asked.

"There's a bunch of them in the office," Slash murmured, focusing on tuning his guitar.

I nodded and set down my guitar before heading towards the door.

"Oh, shit! He's in the zone!" Steven shouted, recognizing the focused look on my face. I ignored him, trying to repeat the words in my head so I would be able to remember them well enough to write them down.

I trudged into the office at the back of the building and was instantly met by Axl's pale ass thrusting into some poor woman. She was quiet, but would sigh in ecstacy every now and then. I silently walked up beside Axl and pulled a pen out of a ceramic holder on the desk beside the woman's head.

"Hey," Axl grunted, not even glancing up at me.

"You're late," I informed him, tugging off the pen cap and jotting the words down onto my inner arm.

Axl chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'm almost done here. It should be only about ten more minutes. Unless...do you wanna' join in?"

I shook my head. Not while I was sober. Not while I was wearing her scarf.

"I'll see you in ten," I muttered, turning and walking away.

"Suit yourself!" I heard him call after me.