"You guys were amazing!"
I watched as the guys threw themselves in various chairs and couches, the five of them each coming off of their highs from being on stage. Guns N Roses had worked their way up from the Tuesday slot at the Troubadour to the headlining Saturday night gig. I had watched for months on end as Duff and the guys pushed their way to this spot, even going on tours that ended with them hitchhiking to their next venue. The show in Seattle really cemented how dedicated these guys were. Any other band would have gotten pissed and split up at that point.
"You have to say that; You're married to our bass player. Izzy spoke, a cigarette hanging from his lips. "We all know you enjoy George Michael type music over ours." I looked at him confused. Izzy was one of the first guys I had met through Duff. He was always very quiet but opened up like a flower once he was drunk or high enough. "I like George Michael." Steven announced from the corner. I couldn't help but smile as Izzy simply rolled his eyes.
"So, we gonna party or what?" Slash spoke from the corner, his top hat pushing his curls over his eyes. The guys all agreed, downing what was left in each of their cups or refilling to the brim. I watched as Duff grabbed the bottle of vodka off the table, taking a long swig of the potent liquid. "Want some?" He offered me the bottle. I shook my head, declining his offer. I was never one to drink Vodka straight up. I honestly don't see how Duff or the guys could even do that. Maybe they liked the burning sensation going down or how it immediately took the edge off.
"Don't be a buzz kill, Soph." I turned to look at a smiling Steven. "Just take a drink and be merry." I shook my head at his statement, feeling Duff's arms circling around my waist. He pulled me down into the chair that he was sitting in, positioning me on his leather clad legs. He began to nuzzle his face in my neck, his lips lightly trailing kisses along my skin. I watched as the rest of the guys gathered their things, Axl and Slash leading the pack out the door. Duff and I were left in the room, his lips resting against my bare shoulder. "We should really follow them." He muttered against my skin. I stayed silent, looking at the wall in front of us. We must have sat there for a good five minutes before Duff started stirring underneath me. "Let's get the fuck out of here." Without warning, he jerked up from the chair, throwing my body over his shoulder.
"Duff!" I exclaimed. "What the hell are you doing?" I could feel his body shaking with laughter as he threw open the wooden door, stomping down the dimly lit hallway. "Put me down, you maniac." I slapped my hand against his back, causing more laughs to erupt from his thin frame.
"It's about fucking time." I recognized Izzy's voice. Duff's body came to a halt, his hands still supporting me on his shoulder. I listened as he began talking to Duff and Axl.
"Whatcha doing, Sophia?" Steven peaked his head around Duff's frame. A bright, childlike smile plastered on his face.
I pushed my hair out of my face, giving him a small smile. "You know-" I began. "Just hanging around." He instantly started laughing. I couldn't help but start laughing as well. Besides Duff, Steven and Izzy were my favorite people in the band. Don't get me wrong, I loved Axl and Slash like they were my brothers, there was just something special about Steven and Izzy. Steven reminded me of a friend of mine growing up, so full of life and filled with laughter. Izzy, even though he could be an asshole at times, he helped Duff and I so much at the beginning of our relationship. He was there for us no matter what, even when Duff and I were on the outs with one another.
"That's enough you two." Duff spoke, finally letting me down. I gave him a look as I smoothed out my dress. "What?" He asked innocently. I simply rolled my eyes, turning back toward Steven. "So what's the plan, Adler?" I asked him, placing my arm around his neck. He followed suit, leaning his body into mine.
"You're place or mine?" He joked. I gave him a smile, kissing the side of his head. "I vote we ditch the tall one and just run off together. I'm not as tall or a good cook like he is but I make one mean grilled cheese sandwich." I started to laugh, causing the others to turn and look at Steven and I. "Duff, your wife is leaving you and she's gonna marry me." Duff looked at us, a lit cigarette hanging from his lips.
He reached his hand out for me to take, pulling my body away from Steven's and into his. "I don't think so, Stevie." His grip on my side tightening. He knew Steven was joking but he had to play the macho guy and show who I actually belonged too. I eventually wrapped my arms around his torso, leaning my head against his chest as he and the guys figured out where they wanted to go. Mentions of strip clubs, bars, and various clubs in LA were thrown out, all four guys finally deciding on Gazzarri's.
I kept my hand intertwined with Duff's as the five of us made our way to the nightclub. The guys had played there numerous times so they didn't have to wait in line like the other patrons did. I'm sure it looked odd to some that I was the only female with a group of guys that looked like the Guns guys. Here I was in a short, black dress with knee high boots, paired with Duff's leather jacket. People probably thought I was a hooker or something. The weekends were the only time I could dress this way and get away with it. Working at a preschool in Laurel Canyon Community was not the place to show off my rock n roll lifestyle. I wore clothes that my mother had given me for Christmas or birthday presents, lots of long skirts and pastel color blouses. I had to look like everyone else in the community: rich, sophisticated, and uptight. I can't tell you how many times Duff would come by and the parents and the other teachers would just stare and whisper. It was utterly ridiculous but it was a job, a job I enjoyed.
"You wanna dance?"
I looked up from my drink, Steven's hand extended in front of me. I looked over at Duff, his attention focused on whatever Slash was talking about and the glass of Vodka in his hands.
"Sure." I smiled, taking Steven's hand, allowing him to lead me to the dance floor. There was a small house band playing tonight, not many people on the dance floor, leaving space for Steven and I to dance without bumping into others. The band were playing covers of songs from the 50s and 60s, bringing Gazzarri's back to its roots. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow belted through the space, Steven and I stepping back and forth to the rhythm. I couldn't help but laugh as he tried to spin me around, falling miserably and almost bringing us both to the ground.
"You're a terrible dancer." I laughed. He nodded his head in acknowledgment.
The song soon came to an end, the band changing singers and preparing for the next song. "Let me dance with my wife, Adler." Duff's voice sounded, causing me to jump in surprise. I didn't even realize that he had removed himself from the booth and made his way to the dance floor. Steven gave him a smile before walking toward the rest of the guys.
Duff pulled me into his body, his left hand fitting into my right, his other hand placing itself on the small of my back. "Since when do you dance?" I questioned as the song began. He slowly started to move us back and forth, doing a somewhat better job than Steven. The band started playing Dedicated to the One I Love by the Mama's and the Papa's. It couldn't have been a more fitting song as Duff and I moved our bodies to the beat. In the back of my head I knew that he was drunk. Duff would never get out on the dance floor sober and slow dance in front of his bandmates or even those he didn't know. Duff was more of a watcher. He would always watch from the booth or table as I danced the night away with Steven or even Slash at times. He would just sit back, smoke a couple cigarettes, and enjoy a few cocktails. Even though he wouldn't remember this moment in the morning, I was going to cherish it for the rest of my life...
"Oh god."
I looked up from the newspaper as Duff made his way into the kitchen. It was almost one in the afternoon, the sun filling the apartment with light. "Why's it so fucking bright?" He muttered, taking a seat at the table, laying his head down on the hard wood. I reached my hand out, messaging his aching head. He let out a few groans and moans before lifting his head back up, giving me a tired smile. "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, babe." I smiled back. "How ya feeling?"
He placed his head back onto the table, groaning in response to my question. I couldn't help but start laughing at his reaction. I removed myself from the table, reaching into the medicine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of ibuprofen. I dished out two pills and filled a cup with water, placing them in front of him. "Thank you." He muttered.
I was about to sit back down in the chair when the phone started to ring. I walked toward the hallway, reaching out and grabbing the phone off the receiver.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey sweetheart." My father's voice sounded. "How're you doing?"
I rolled my eyes, pulling the phone away from my ear in annoyance. I'm sure my mother was the one who put him up to calling me. "Sophia?"
"I'm fine, dad." I brought the phone back to my ear. I could hear someone whisper on the other end, more than likely my mother listening in on the conversation.
My dad let out a sigh, "Listen kiddo, I know your still upset about what happened during Thanksgiving dinner but your mother wanted me to tell you that she's sorry and she would love for you and Duff to come over for dinner."
I let out a laugh, "You're joking, right?" He could not be serious right now. "Mom wants to have dinner with Duff and I? She hates Duff, Dad. She can't even stand to be near him, let alone let him in her house."
The whispers grew louder, my mom's voice sounding through the other end. "Sophia, I am so sorry about what I did and said. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you so much, darling." Typical Cynthia. Every word that came out of her mouth was a lie. She would say a couple nice things and the rest would be venom. That was her nature. Unfortunately for Duff, he often took the brunt of her wrath. She would be nice to his face for a minute or two and then start dogging him for his life choices. The last time we were all together, she humiliated him by basically telling him that he was nothing and would never accomplish his goals of becoming a musician. She told him that I needed to be with a real man, a man who would support me and our future children. She told him this in front of my father's colleague as well as some of the ladies she had met at the country club. Those were the same words she had echoed to me the other night, right before she slapped me across the face.
"Sophie, please." She pleaded. "You know I would never do anything to hurt you." I could feel tears springing in my eyes. "You're my little girl, Soph." I looked ahead, still seeing Duff leaning his head against the kitchen table.
"Fine." I muttered. "Duff and I will come to your house but if you treat him like shit I assure you that I will never, ever speak to you again." My mother inhaled sharply. "And that's a promise."