Time After Time || Chris Cornell

8. The Future In An Instant

Seattle Washington, February 13 1988

(Andi is 18, Chris is 23)

ANDI: A couple of hours later, everyone had decided to move the party back to Andy's place. I found the perfect spot on Andy's couch, right in the corner where I felt the most comfortable, While Chris sat next to me sipping on his Jack Daniels. Everyone else was pretty much everywhere laughing and drinking, bringing out their guitars and what not and playing random cover tunes.

"I had no idea you lived with Andy, I've never seen you any time I've been over here with Xana," I say taking a sip of my Jack and Coke.

"I just got back from touring with the band so you wouldn't have... it's actually the first time I'd been home since August," Chris says leaning back on the couch and resting his leg across his knee.

"Oh, well... welcome home," I smile, feeling awkward. I'm so nervous and Chris is so amazingly gorgeous that I just end up freezing up and can't think of anything to say.

"Fuck, I can't believe that... this is happening, I mean I remember you saying where we would meet and when but when it actually happens it's just...wow," Chris says flipping his curls out of his face and turning towards me more, his gorgeous blue eyes flicking over my body and then landing at mine.

"Chris?"

"I mean, it's been so long since I saw you last. We were in my room and just hanging out and you obviously ended up, you know leaving and - "

"Chris?"

"I just want to tell you everything - "

"-Chris?" I interrupt, trying to get him to focus.

"Yea?" He asks, slightly worried.

"Can we just... maybe back it up a little bit and pretend that you don't know me? Like, this is our actual first meeting... maybe?" I ask, shifting a little and pushing my curls behind my ear, feeling bad but I'm so overwhelmed that I'm doing everything that I can to not stress out and suddenly have a time slip episode with everyone around.

"Yea... yea sure, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Chris furrows his brow and looks down at himself then back to me.

"No, no it's not that I'm uncomfortable, I mean... it's you. What girl wouldn't be excited that Chris Cornell is talking to her? It's just... no one knows that I -"

"Time slip?" he takes a sip of his drink

"Yea... well you apparently know already which is seriously messing with my head a little bit but... you're not making me uncomfortable at all," I re-assure him as I move a little closer and a coy smile spreads across those amazing pouty lips of his.

"I actually feel quite comfortable with you... which is weird, because I'm the queen of shyness," I giggle and he chuckles with me.

"Yea, normally I'm pretty shy myself, but with you I don't feel that way at all," He says with that coy smile again.

"You? Shy? I kind of don't believe that... I mean have you seen yourself on stage?" I say and he chuckles again.

"Yea, but that's different. Performing is a totally different experience than just being yourself in a room full of people, and I usually can't see too far in front of the stage because of all the bright lights, so it pretty much feels like it's just me with the guys anyways," He explains.

"Yea, I get that... performing is kinda like that for me too, but I was never really good at getting up in front of people. When I had to audition for Seattle University to get into their music program, holy fuck, I thought I was going to throw up everywhere. But in a larger group of people I'm not as bad... it's weird," I say and take a sip of my drink.