November Rain - a Duff McKagan and Slash Love Triangle

Chapter Thirteen- Back in Black

-

I couldn't even think straight. With my head spinning with questions and frustration, I didn't even hear the door open, and didn't notice Izzy standing next to me until he cleared his throat loudly, shaking me out of my hazy confusion,

"Huh?" I mumbled quickly, not realizing I had spaced out,

"Hey... What did Slash- uh... did he tell you?" Izzy asked, getting straight to the point. I let out a long sigh, wondering if I should confide in my best friend, and nodded without a word. He sighed deeply, "Look, I know you're under a lot of pressure right now, and quite honestly, I don't think you should be making this decision so soon, y'know, considering the shit you just went through. But, I just want you to know, that no matter what you decide, uh... I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Iz. I know you don't really... Do this. Talk about feelings, I mean. I really do appreciate it."

What Izzy was saying made sense, and honestly, I agreed with him. I wasn't ready to make a decision, I really wasn't. But people's feelings were at stake, and I couldn't string them along any longer. I knew that. But deciding was going to be hard.

It's not like when you're at the mall and you can't decide whether to get the black handbag or the tan one, because even though that's a pretty hard decision, deciding which purse to drop two hundred dollars on and deciding which guy you want to spend the rest of your life with are two entirely different things.

But it was good to know that my best friend was going to be here for me no matter what, because after all, I was deciding between his band mates. Izzy wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly,

"You're gonna be okay, I promise. Everything's gonna work itself out."

God, I hope he's right.

-

That night, as the guys were on stage, I sat in what would have been my dressing room, on the phone with Jose,

"I'm so glad you're okay... I still can't believe that psychotic bitch did that to you! And Tyler, my god! What the hell is wrong with him? I mean, hello? He was just begging you to go back to him!" She exclaimed frantically. I nodded as if she could see me and twirled the wire around my finger,

"I know, they're insane. I just can't wait to go home." I said. Jose sighed,

"Babe, I know you want to go to college, but come on... Aren't you gonna miss the guys? And performing?" She asked. I sighed deeply and sat on the floor, planting the phone on the ground next to me,

"Yeah, yeah, of course I'll miss the guys, and performing... I guess? I just- I don't know, J. I can't."

"But you can." She said. I sighed and didn't say a word. I could sense the tension in her voice when she exhaled deeply, "Look, I know you're under a lot of stress right now, and I don't want to get you any more worked up, but it's something to think about." She said. Just then, there was a knock at the door,

"Yeah, yeah, okay, I'll think it over. Thanks J,  I gotta go, I'll talk to you later, okay?" I said,

"Yeah, call me when you can. Bye."

"Later..." I said into the receiver before clicking the phone back into its port, "Come in!" I called to the person in the hall as I stood up and put the landline back on the end table next to the door. The door opened slowly to reveal Tommy, smiling at me. I smiled weakly at him, clearly unable to make any other facial expression towards anyone apparently,

"Hey Tom." I said. His smile faltered,

"Hey Soph... Whats up? You okay?" He asked. I nodded,

"Yeah! Yeah, just tired." I mumbled, walking over to the couch and taking a seat. Tommy sat on the couch across from me,