Patience

Five

After the show, I waited around until most people had filed out of the building before approaching the security guard that was blocking the entrance backstage.

"Excuse me," I began, "Can I get backstage? I'm one of Axl's friends."

"Yeah," he laughed, "Haven't heard that one before." He crossed his arms and spread his legs a little so he was blocking the doorway a bit more. He glared at me.

"No, seriously, could you tell him that Lucy is here?" I asked. He gave me a look that told me he didn't seem convinced. "Please?" I begged.

"Fine, but if I come back and you're some stranger, you'll never be allowed in this venue again," He said.

"Okay, thanks so much."

"Yeah, yeah," He said in an annoyed tone as he turned and walked backstage to hopefully get Axl.

I waited anxiously for a few minutes. I picked at the skin around my nails. I stopped and stood still when I heard the guard's footsteps. He sighed and said, "You got lucky, young lady. He knows a Lucy. Right this way."

I followed him behind the door and back through a hallway. There was a dressing room with a piece of paper that had "Guns N Roses" written on it was taped on the door. I began to feel nervous.

The guard opened the door. The room was hazy with smoke. Inside was a large couch that fit the entire band on it. There were a couple of mirrors with lights around them on either side of the room. A table lined the back wall, and it was filled with snacks and drinks. The band also had their own personal bathroom so they didn't have to go use the public one.

"Woah, Axl, who's that?" The curly haired guitar player asked, pointing at me.

Axl got off of the couch and set his beer down. He walked over to me, and he put his arm around me. I nervously swallowed. Something about being pulled in so close to him felt comforting. Stop it, I thought.

"You can leave, now," He told the guard. The guard hesitated, but Axl motioned with his hands for him to get out. The guard just kind of grunted and then left the room.

Axl's attention was then on me. "What made you come back?" He asked. I could see the rest of the band behind him, waiting for a response.

"I- I don't know. I just wanted you to know that I'm not dead," I said, smiling. I gave him a dorky thumbs up, and that seemed to put a smile on Axl's face, as well.

"So, that means you have a place to stay?" He asked me. He led me over to the couch with the rest of the band and lit a cigarette. He handed it to me, and I took it.

"I went back to my sister. She's letting me stay with her for a bit."

"Good to know you're not dead, lovely Lucy," He said, then he turned around to face his band.

"So, who's your lady friend, Axl?" The tall, blonde bassist asked.

"This is Lucy, we actually just met last night," Axl said.

"Hi," I said, shyly. I waved at everyone.

"This is Slash, this is Duff, Izzy, and our drummer, Steven," Axl said, introducing the band to me. He pointed individually at every person as he went down the couch.

"Have a drink," Slash told me, tossing me a beer. I caught it. Duff passed me a bottle opener, which I then used. Axl sat beside me.

"So what'd you think of the show?" Steven asked me.

I nodded, taking a sip of the beer Slash gave me. "It was incredible. One of the best concerts I've ever been to."

"Yeah, setting stadiums on fire is our goal, eventually" Duff said, sinking down further into the sofa.

"We're currently in the studio, working on an album," Steven said.

"Yeah, I think Axl mentioned something like that to me," I said, looking at him. He smirked, blushed a little, and looked away.

"Does anyone have a cigarette I can bum?" Izzy asked. I perked up when I heard him speak, because that was the first thing I've heard him say.

"Here I've got one for you, Izzy," Slash said, handing him a cigarette. It seemed like Slash just had everything on hand, ready to hand out.

"I'm going to get some air," Izzy said, leaving the room to head outside.

"I'm gonna hit the bathroom, I'll be back," Axl said right after, jumping up to leave the room.

"So, Lucy, what really made you come back to see Axl?" Slash asked me.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I met him last night. He really helped me out but I think I just wanted him to see that I don't need his help anymore," I said, "And you're so probably very lost right now. Do you want to know what happened?"

"Yeah, tell us," Steven said.

"Axl won't mind, will he?" Duff asked me.

"How should I know? I just met him. Plus, it's my story," I shrugged.

"She's right. Go on, Lucy," Slash said.

"So, some serious shit has happened in my life, and I lost everything, but that's when Axl found me. He let me stay at his apartment for the night, but this morning, when I tried to leave, he really wanted me to stay. I knew I would find some way to help myself, so I left, and I did," I explained. Short and sweet.

"Wait, you mean Axl let you come and stay at his place for a night and nothing happened?" Duff looked around at Slash and Steven, who just looked down at the floor. "Not to make you uncomfortable," He added.

I looked at him, confused. "No, I just got there and crashed on the couch," I said.

Steven, Slash, and Duff all exchanged glances and then looked back at me.

"You know, I think Axl might have something for you," Steven said.

"What? No, why would he have something for me? That's ridiculous," I said, looking down, trying not to blush. It was like girl talk at a sleepover.

"Right, but Axl doesn't just invite anyone he sees to his apartment to stay the night without doing," Duff's voice trailed off.

"Without having sex. Just say it, we all know it," Slash said, stating the obvious. "He's usually just one and done."

"Oh. I mean, I don't know. I just met him. I've never actually had anyone have a "thing" for me before so I don't know," I said.

"But the real question is," Steven said, "Do you have a thing for him?" He asked.

Right on cue, Axl walked back inside, followed by Izzy shortly after, and they took their spots back on the couch. Axl rested his arm on the couch above me. I looked at Duff and he just smirked at me. I blushed and tried to hide it.

"I should get going. After all, I did take my sister's car here," I said, quickly standing up.

"Okay, I'll walk you outside," Axl said, following me.

We walked outside together and to where I parked Molly's car.

"You parked far away," Axl commented.

"Well, It was packed when I got here," I said.

"That's why you et here early," He told me, nudging my arm.

"I didn't know I was coming until last minute," I said.

Axl sighed. "Lucy," He began, "We've got another show tomorrow. Except this time, its at twelve, and it's just you and me at a fancy restaurant."

I giggled a little and rolled my eyes. He was good at that, I will admit. Though I felt hesitant, I figured why not. "Sure, Axl. Where are we meeting?" I asked.

"Right here," He said.

"Tomorrow afternoon?" I asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon," He confirmed with a nod.