"Hey, mum, can you listen to this for a second? I just need another set of ears to hear it besides mine."

"Of course, bunnykins."

I paused.

"Mum, I'm 28. You can't call me bunnykins anymore."

"Oh who cares, none of your friends are around. You're in the safety of your own home." My mother grinned.

I shook my head. "Whatever, just listen to this... please."

My mother nodded her head and sat down next to me on the floor in the living room. I got my guitar ready and had my scrunched-up notepaper by my side.

I try and feel the sunshine
You bring the rain
You try and hold me down
With your complaints
You cry and moan and complain
You whine an' tear
Up to my neck in sorrow
The touch you bring
You just don't step inside to 14 years
So hard to keep my own head, that's what I say
You know, I've been the beggar
I've played the thief
I was the dog, they all tried to beat...

"That's all I've got so far," I said as I scribbled some more notes on my paper.

"Seems very personal, dear. Is it about Melanie?"

"What? No. It's about Axl being a shithea- uh, I mean... poop." I replied censoring myself.

"I see. But yes, dear, I like it. How many songs have you written now?"

"About seven and a half maybe?"

"Good work, bunny. Would you like something to eat?" My mother asked as she stood up and walked over to the kitchen.

"Just some water," I mumbled.

"You know you've been here for 6 months now, and you've barely eaten 10 meals! How are you still alive?"

"It's called heroin. It fucks you up."

I could see my mother's disapproval of my swearing and I quickly apologised.

"You know, you should probably get in contact with your Melanie, dear. You haven't spoken to her in a while. She would be worrying about you. She might actually think you've died."

"Pfft, she's probably moved on. Why would she want to stay with some junkie?" I mumbled again whilst aggressively scribbling more lyrics down on my paper.

"Well, she decided to be with you, and she organised the road to your recovery and to bring you back home. Call her, bunny."

I thought about it for a moment. It wasn't like she'd made any effort to call here and see how I was going. The last time I spoke to her was when I left L.A. I think she called my mum on one of my first nights home, but I didn't want to speak to her as I was ashamed of my behaviour. But it has been 6 months, what if she gave up and moved on to some normal, non-fucked-up guy with a normal job and life?

"Sup douchenozzle?"

My younger, 16-year-old brother suddenly came through the front door and whacked the back of my head with his hand. When my parents got divorced, my mum got remarried a few years later and eventually had a devil child with my stepdad.

"How are you fucknuckle? How was school?" I replied, grinning.

"Ha, boring. Only one more week and summer hoooollliiiidaaaaayyyy time!" Tim ran around screaming and he eventually ran upstairs to his room.

"What do you feed that kid, candy, candy, and more candy?"

"Oh you know Tim, he's just... enthusiastic about life... Anyway," mum handed me the landline, "Ring Melanie. Please."

"Fine," I said with a sigh, "but I bet you she's already got some new guy."

I moved further into the living room, stretching the phone's cord as far as it could go so I could have some privacy. I punched in the numbers and hoped that someone would pick it up.

"Hello?" A familiar voice answered.

"Mel? It's me, Izzy."

"Oh... hey... Izzy." She replied hesitantly.

Oh hey, Izzy? That doesn't as if she's super happy to hear from me.

"How are you going?" I mumbled.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Mel chuckled awkwardly.

"Ha, yeah... well, I'm clean now."

"That's good."

"Yeah, it is. I feel like 200%. My thoughts are clear, my skin feels better, I just feel... good from my head to my toes." I rambled, suddenly feeling like a nervous schoolboy trying to talk to their crush.

There was a long awkward pause.

"How have you been, Mel?"

"Yeah, alright. Just looking after Ripley and I've started working more... which is good."

"Ah yeah... nice".

There was another long awkward pause.

"What else have you been up to?" I continued, now wanting to hear her voice more.

"Um... I've recently helped out on Jon's new video clip."

"Ah yeah, cool- wait, Jon?"

"Yeah."

"Jon who?"

"Jon Bon Jovi."

I blinked, trying to think of what to say and also trying to repress the sudden emotion of jealousy.

"Yeah, we went out in the desert and did a big shoot with helicopters and stuff. It was a lot of fun."

Stupid Jon Bon Jovi. Stupid man with glorious hair.

"Jeffrey? Are you talking to her? Are you talking to Melanie?" My mother squawked in the other room.

I held my hand over the mouthpiece and yelled with embarrassment.

"YES! Mum! Be quiet!"

I hadn't done a very good job of trying to block any noise out as once I returned the phone to my ear I could hear Mel laughing.

"That's a bit cute."

"Yeah, ah, sorry about that," I said furrowing my eyebrows.

"It's okay," she sighed "but look... in all seriousness are you okay? I feel kind of awkward saying this but I've really missed you."

I wanted to cry.

"You shouldn't have. I was a real arsehole to you. I-"

"It wasn't the real you being an arsehole to me, Izzy, it was the drug-infested Izzy being an arsehole."

"Yeah, but it shouldn't make any difference. I treated you like shit. I shouldn't even be calling you right now. You don't deserve it." I mumbled, with guilt hitting me hard in the chest.

She sighed.

"If it's okay I'd like to come and visit you." She said quietly. "I'll bring Ripley."

I did miss my puppy dog.

"Are you sure you really want to see me? You haven't moved on and got some new boyfriend or anything?"

"No of course not, Izzy. You are still my boyfriend... aren't you?"

"Yea- yes of course!" I stumbled, "I just thought- you know- you would be done with me... sort of thing. You should be. I'm fuckin' trash, Mel."

"Don't shame me, mum, he's my boyfriend and we're in love!" Mel laughed putting on a mock teenage voice.

"Tell her to come down and visit!" My mum yelled.

"In a MINUTE!" I screamed back. "Sorry about Mum-"

"I'll be down in a few days, Izzy. We'll catch up then. Your mum has given me your address and everything." I could hear the smile in Mel's voice, and it filled me with joy. I wanted to cry again.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you then?"

"Yes, you will. I'll see you soon."

"Ah- okay, see you then, Mel. I- I love you..." I fumbled.

She paused.

"Bye, Izzy."

And with that, she hung up. 

*

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed! I've attached a photo of what I think Izzy's home would look like :)

Read, vote, and comment! xx