Time After Time || Chris Cornell

19. She Gets Me Higher Than Anyone

Seattle Washington, March 14 1990

(Andi is 20, Chris is 25)

ANDI: Standing in front of our bed, a suitcase laying open with all my favorite pieces of clothing, I try as hard as I can to decide just what to take with me. I wish I could just take everything but that would be completely impractical. Soundgarden has a gig on the 17th in Brooklyn at L'Amours with Faith No More which is about a 2 day drive. I wasn't able to go with Chris the last few shows he's played with Faith No More so this will be the first experience for me with both bands.

"Baby, are you not ready yet?" Chris chuckles as he walks into our bedroom, in a plain black t-shirt and baggy black shorts, his curls well passed his shoulders. He playfully pats me on my ass as he walks over to the guitars that sat opposite of the bed.

"No, I can't decide what to bring," I say as I pick up a shirt, study it for a second and then toss it back down on the bed.

"Babe we're only going for the weekend, just take what you need," He says as he picks up a patch cord and wraps it up. I groan and he glances back at me chuckling. I exhale as a stray curl flutters up and falls back down across my eyes, then I just blindly reach for three random t-shirts, 2 pairs of jeans and a denim mini skirt. I fold them quickly and place them in my suitcase.

"You're not taking that are you?" Chris asks as I fold up my skirt. I slowly shoot him a look and laughs.

"Baby I'm just fuckin' with ya,"

"Yea you would," I smirk and set the skirt in the suitcase.

"Are you taking, one of these too?" He asks gesturing at my three most precious beautiful guitars that I own. The black '81 Gibson, The '59 Sun Burst and my new one, a 1990 silver sparkle Gretsch Duo Jet I got for my birthday - oh and the Martin acoustic, but I don't play that one as much. Chris and I both seem to have a thing for collecting guitars. I swear it started with the '59 Sun Burst that my dad got me and it just obviously grew from there.

"Um, yea the Gretsch," I say as I walk over to my dresser and grab my black leather bound journal.

"Good, I was hoping you would pick that one," He says as he picks it up off the stand and sets it gently in it's leather guitar case with the purple fur interior.

"Only cause you wanna play it," I giggle as I zip up the suitcase. He picks up the guitar with a few of the patch cords and shrugs.

"Can you blame me?" He asks as he walks towards me.

"No," I giggle and he places a kiss on my lips, lingering for just a moment and then pulling away. I reach up placing my hand on his cheek with slight stubble, and touch his lips with my thumb, feeling the whiskers from his faint moustache that is appearing.

"Don't even say it, I know... I need to shave," He says and I smile at him. I then lift myself up again and place another kiss on those soft lips of his, and I pull away as he walks towards the bedroom door.

"Yes you do," I say, though I'm actually really loving the stubble on his face and glance back at him for a moment. He just shakes his head at me and disappears out of the room to put the gear in the van. Once I have everything I need, I grab my suitcase and head out of our bedroom, into the kitchen and grab a piece of paper to leave a note for Xana and Andy. Mother Love bone had a gig last night in Tacoma and so Andy should be back later today. Hopefully Xana will be with him and that they're alright. They have been fighting so much lately.

Left for New York, Be back Tuesday
Don't do anything we wouldn't do Ha Ha,
Love you both...

Love, Chris and Andi