Time After Time || Chris Cornell

36. She Lives All The Things That I've Known

Discovery Park Seattle Washington, July 20 1990

(Andi is 20, Chris is 26)

ANDI: "Come on babe this is stupid," Chris whines as he tries to peak through the blindfold, " I already know where we are,"

"Ok Mr. 'know it all' where are we then? -And hey! no peaking," I say as I lead him through the grass.

"We... um... we are outside," He says with a smirk.

"No shit Sherlock," Jeff chortles and Chris frowns looking in the direction of Jeff's voice as I laugh.

"Would you just tell me where we are?" Chris says as he stumbles a little because he still can't see through the blindfold.

"We're almost there," I giggle as I continue to lead him down a small hill with Jeff behind us.  A few steps later we finally reach sand and I turn back to face Chris, still holding his hand while Jeff runs ahead towards the fire.

"Ok, stop," I say when I place my hand on his chest, feeling him flex through his plain black t-shirt. "You can look,"

He reaches up and lifts the blindfold just a little to peak at me and smirks, then takes the blindfold off completely flipping his long curls that had fallen across his eyes.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!" Everyone shouts from the fire pit.

"What the-?" Chris laughs when he sees everyone. "Did you do this?"

"I had a little help from Susan," I say as Susan walks up to us.

"Hey girl," She says sweetly to me when she places her hand on my shoulder.

"Hi," I turn and smile at her as she embraces me in a hug.

"Don't worry, Stone had the same reaction when he showed up too," Susan says when she pulls away from me and Chris chuckles. 

"Happy Birthday Chris," Susan smiles, and lifts herself up to place a quick kiss on Chris's cheek.

"Thank you," Chris says shyly.

"C'mon," I say to Chris as I pull on his arm and he just gives me that shy smirk as we head towards the fire pit.

*****

Sitting around the campfire, the entire gang of us laughing, drinking sometimes even singing while the glowing flames from the fire crackle and roar, I sit on a blanket in front of Chris sipping my beer while he is firmly planted on one of the logs that some of the boys brought over to sit on.

"Fuck, man you didn't have to get me anything," Chris says as Kim passes him over a box with a ribbon wrapped around and an envelope with Chris's name scribbled across the front. 

"Of course I did, it's your fucking born day alright?" Kim says and takes a sip of his beer.

"Dude -"

"Just open it," Kim says and Chris laughs. He takes the box from Kim setting it on his lap while I watch and sip my beer.

Chris flashes me a raised eyebrow and then slowly opens up the box first. Kim glances at me and I suppress a smile because I know exactly what is in that box.

"Holy shit, no fucking way," Chris smiles as he pulls out an original copy of The Beatles Sgt. Peppers album that was actually signed by Paul McCartney." Babe, look" Chris smiles and had it over to me. I take it from him and look it over. Kim had only just told me about it and it was really fucking cool to see it in person.

"Sorry it's not John or anything but - "

"Oh my god, no...! this is amazing," Chris smiles and gives Kim a hug. "Thank you,"