Patience

Eleven

When I woke up, I wasn't asleep on Axl's familiar couch. I looked around, seeing that I was in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. I quickly sat up, as I felt slightly panicked. I put my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes. Where am I? What was the last thing that happened last night?

I kicked the covers off of myself and sat up. I was still in my clothes from last night, except the heels I was wearing were sitting beside the bed. I got up and paced around for a moment, thinking. Then, I instantly knew where I was. Axl must've carried me into his place last night after I practically passed out. I took a deep breath and began to calm down. I'm safe.

I left the room to go use the bathroom. I wiped the makeup off of my face and studied the healing bruise that was hidden underneath it. It was beginning to look much better.After that, I walked into the kitchen and living room area to find Axl passed out on the couch with a sweatshirt being used as a blanket.

I felt bad because he looked a little uncomfortable. I didn't see any other blanket in sight, so I went back to his room to get the comforter off of his bed. I covered him up with it and decided to step outside onto the balcony until Axl woke up.

I might've woken Axl up when I went outside, anyway, because the door made a loud, squeaking noise. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Axl had just sat up, and was looking around, a little confused. 

I quickly turned my head back and looked down at the traffic below. I knew he turned around and spotted me and I knew he would probably come join me. Even though I knew what he was going to do, I was still startled by the obnoxious squeaking noise the door makes. Axl chuckled at me when I jumped.

I put my hand over my heart to be dramatic and said, "You scared me!"

"I saw," He said, smiling, "Did you, um, put that comforter on me?"

"No, the ghost that haunts your apartment did," I joked.

"Haha," Axl said, rolling his eyes.

"I put your suitcase over by the door, if you didn't see it," Axl said.

I nodded. "I know. I saw it when I got up this morning. Sorry for waking you, by the way," I said, motioning to the door.

Axl shrugged. "I needed to get up," He said.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Uh, I'm not sure. Lucy, are you hungry?" Axl asked.

"Oh god, I'm starving," I said, placing my hand on my stomach. I honestly hadn't realized how empty my stomach was until he had said something.

"Want to go to Waffle House?" Axl asked and I smiled.

"Yeah, Waffle House sounds great," I agreed.

Axl went to his room to get dressed. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt out of my suitcase, and went to the bathroom to change. Axl was waiting for me by the door once I finished getting ready.

"Why do girls take so long to get ready?" Axl asked, opening the door for me.

"Because you men complain when we don't look good, and looking good takes time," I told him, straightening my shirt. I knew I didn't look amazing right now, given that I was quite hungover, and I just quickly threw some clothes on.

"Is that really why?" Axl asked. I was midway down the stairwell and Axl was still at the top.

I just shook my head and smiled. "I don't know why, Axl. There's just a lot we have to do," I said.

"You spent all that time on your make up, so would you be mad if I," Axl rushed down the steps to where I was and picked me up with little to no effort. I began to laugh and playfully beg him to stop. He then pretended to dip my head in a mop bucket that we were passing by.

When he set me down, I brushed my clothes off and said, "Yes, that would make me mad."

****

At Waffle House, we took our seats and a waitress came over and immediately took our order. Axl made small talk with me and flirted with me a little before our drinks were brought out to us.

"So," Axl began once we got our drinks, "Can we talk about last night?"

"Last night?" I asked taking a sip of my water.

"Yeah. Do you want to be something more, Lucy?" Axl asked.

I broke eye contact with him and looked down at my drink. I poked at the ice cubes with my straw before looking back up at him and sighing.

"Axl," I said, "I really like you, it's just," I said and my voice trailed off.

"Just what?" He asked, urging me to go on.

"It's too soon for me. I need a little bit of time before I just jump back into a relationship," I explained. "I'm not sure why I said what I said last night. I was intoxicated."

I could tell Axl looked disappointed, and maybe even a little broken. We've only known each other for a few days, but I might have led him on too much, which is something I hate to do. I do like him, I just need some time to get over my ex and to make sure I'm not just feeling desperate, or attaching myself to the first person who shows me any kind of support.

The food was brought out and after a few minutes of silent eating, Axl spoke up.

"It's okay, Lucy. I understand. I really do. I'll give you all the time and space you need. Just promise me if you really don't like me you'll tell me," Axl said.

I nodded. "Of course I'll tell you. Thank you, Axl," I smiled.

"Damn, Lucy, we need to start looking for a bigger apartment," Axl mentioned.

"We?" I asked. I did like the sound of it, but I need to give myself some time.

"Sorry, I mean I," Axl corrected himself, "But I'm hoping that it will eventually be a "we" kind of situation."

"I could still help you look," I told him as I took another bite of my waffle. "What about today after we eat?" I asked and Axl shook his head.

"I've got practice today. Speaking of which, you want to come with me?" Axl asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I don't have anything to do today. Or any other day, for that matter" I said, looking to the side.

"Cool, let's pay for this and get out of here," Axl said.

***

Later that day at the band's rehearsal, the band did zero rehearsing. They got halfway through Paradise City and then stopped because Axl just remembered a good movie he wanted to show everyone.

Now here we all are, packed tightly on the couch, drinking beer and watching a movie. Axl sat on the edge of the couch, me beside him, Duff beside me, and Izzy beside Duff. Steven sat on the floor in front of the couch and Slash was laying on top of Duff and Izzy, his legs hanging off of the couch.

Then, the phone rang.

"Damn it, it was just getting to the best part!" Axl whined, pausing the movie. He walked over to the phone and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, this is he."

"Uh huh."

"When? Tomorrow?"

"Okay, yeah."

"Uh huh."

"Cool, we'll be there." Then, he hung the phone up.

"Well?" Duff asked.

"They want us to play tomorrow night at the Whisky," Axl said, which earned some silent cheering from the band.

"This should be one hell of a show, then," Steven said.