Time After Time || Chris Cornell

28. We All Make Mistakes, And You Will Be Fine

Columbus Ohio Sheraton Hotel, May 18 2017

(Chris is 52, Andi is 29)

CHRIS: She looks up at me with those gorgeous dark eyes full of so much love for me that I don't deserve and yet so much worry and the last thing I want to do is worry her. She glances back down at the pills in her hand then suddenly walks away from me and straight into the bathroom.

"Babe?" I ask and follow her to see her dumping them into the toilette and flushing them away.

"Here, keep this and if he asks just tell him you took them or whatever..." She says as she steps back in front of me to hand me the empty bottle back. I take the bottle from her and she looks up at me. "If you have trouble sleeping or if anything happens tonight, I'm right here,"

"What if you slip?" I ask.

"I won't," She says.

"How do you know you won't?"

"I don't know... I just know I won't," She says.

I have to admit that apart of me is afraid of feeling like shit if I just stop taking these pills cold turkey. The worst is the withdrawal, but I haven't been abusing any of the medication that I'm prescribed. Not like I did in the past after Andi disappeared. That's not to say that any of the mess I put myself in is her fault. It's just me and my horrible stupid mistakes that caused the outcome of where I am now. I glance back down at the bottle and even though I had no idea what I was even taking, I'm worried.

"Chris, you don't need those pills. I know you and through all the shit that has happened with us... to us... to you... you never needed to depend on an anxiety pill to make you feel better. We got through it together and I know I said this before but whatever it is you're going through, I'm here," She says looking up at me.

"Andi I - " I start but cut myself off. I can't get into everything right now. She knows about Vicky but she doesn't know what I've been put through these last couple of years. The stealing, the lying, the fucking bullshit that I found out. I look back into her eyes and all I want is to be able to go back in time like she can and change everything from the moment she slipped.

"C'mon babe... lets get some food with the guys," She says so sweetly and I give her a half smile as she lifts herself up for her incredibly soft lips to touch mine. After a few moments, she pulls away from me and I follow her out of the bathroom, she grabs her leather jacket and her phone while I grab mine as well and we head out of the hotel.

*****

Antonio's Pizza Shack and Bar

CHRIS: A short while later we arrive at a local pizza shack that wasn't too far from the hotel. As soon as we walk in the doors, we see the guys in one of the booths and greet them at the table. Once we sit down and get comfortable, the waitress comes over and we order a couple of pizzas and a few drinks and continue to catch up with Andi.

"So, were you at the show last night?" Matt asks as he takes a sip of his drink and then takes another bite of his pizza. Andi glances at me and then reaches for her drink.

"Um, no... I didn't actually catch the show last night... I arrived a little bit later," She says and takes a sip.

"What year?" Kim asks raising his eyebrow at her. Kim always seems to know when she's time slipping and in this case everyone definitely would know since she doesn't look a day over 25.

"'99... we actually just hung out the day before yesterday," She says sweetly and Kim looks like he's trying to wrack his brain to remember.

"Huh... well I wish I could remember that," Kim smirks and leans in to take another slice of pizza.