- Axl, I want you!

- Hey Axl, let me have your babies!

- Axl, I want you to take my virginity!

- I will be your rocket queen!

- Guys, let me in!

- Can I have an autograph?

- Where the fuck is Slash?

Charlie carefully walked by a bunch of young, approximately high schooler girls with Guns N' Roses posters and handwritten banners. There were probably a dozen of them, and it was doubtful that they all got backstage passes. Some of them looked sane, but the others, with make-up all other their faces, were absolutely crazy, jumping, screaming and calling the guys in loud, annoying manner. Charlie could not help feeling something like contempt towards them. She's always been taught self-respect by her family, and these gals certainly lacked it.

Gently bosoming her Polaroid, Charlie made her way through the crowd towards the room where Duff told her to meet him after the concert. She has definitely enjoyed the show a lot, she was still all excited, and she wanted to compliment Duff's work. He looked really impressive and professional on stage, to the degree she couldn't take the eyes of him, despite the fact he was a bassist who usually are underrated. His fingers were so skillful and quick, and his on-stage behavior so confident and charismatic that it made Charlie wonder why he hadn't become a vocalist or a lead guitarist. These thoughts running through her head, she opened the door to the room she thought was the one.

- I am so fucking fed up with watching you dry humping these ungerage sluts! Everywhere! Every fucking day!

Charlie peeped into the room and saw Axl standing opposite a long-haired girl. He looked really cross, and she had a furious expression on her face that didn't add up to her quite unattractive appearance. They were yelling at each other.

- Shit, nobody's holding you! Go to the bloody hell if you want! You can leave the fucking keys right now!

The girl apparently heard the door creak and turned her head to Charlie.

- Who the fuck are you? Another nasty little bitch? Get outta here!

- Shut up you cunt! - Axl bellowed, flipping his wet red hair off his face with one rapid movement and stepping forwards the girl. Seemingly, she couldn't take it anymore as she also rushed closer and slapped him in the face. His reaction was prompt: he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her hard.

Not fully realizing what she just saw, Charlie jumped out, swiftly closed the door and leaned against it. She saw some zing among the schoolgirls in the corridor and took a few steps towards the. She saw they have surrounded Slash, who was signing their memorabilia and photos, still wearing his top-hat. He had a pen cap in his teeth so he couldn't say a word, but he tried to smile in a friendly way when he saw Charlie and nodded to greet her.

- Hi Slash!

He put the cap on and grinned:

- Hi! Want me to sign your boobs?

- No, I am looking for Duff. Have you seen him?

Suddenly Charlie's vision went black, and she couldn't see a thing. She felt somebody's palms on her eyes and heard Slash snicker. Judging by the breathing on the top of her head, somebody who was closing her eyes was very tall.

- Mr Duff McKagan, is this you?

- No, it's not fair, you've guessed too early! Nah, that's me.

Duff made a strange movement, stepping back and opening his arms. Charlie decided he wanted to greet her like that and gave him a loud high five. Duff opened his mouth like he wanted to say something but closed it and shrugged.

- Hi Charlie!

- Guys, anybody fancies a drink out? I can't drink that crap we have in dressing rooms, - Slash scratched his head and beckoned to the doors.

- Uhm, dude, actually we had some plans...

Duff looked beyond confused, having cast his eyes down and shifring from foot to foot. He pouted his lips, deep in thoughts. To complete the picture, Slash leaned on comfortably and gave him a bold look. Charlie made sure they wouldn't notice and snapped a photo of them with her Polaroid.

- O-oh, a rendezvous! Okay, I won't butt in on you. My DD chick is probably starting to get worried about my ass, so good luck, best wishes and don't forget about possible babies.

Duff and Charlie blushed synchronously.

- Slash!

- Fuck off, bastard, don't you think it's none of your business?

- Blondie, calm down, I won't mess with you lovebirds!

- Fuck off, I said!

- Okay, I am leaving you the fuck alone, - Slash took a cigarette out of his pocket and waved at them then walked towards the other end of the corridor. Duff and Charlie watched him in silence. To break it, she took a picture of Slash's bare back and top hat. She'll show the pictures to her school friends so they see she isn't lying about being backstage.

- So, I just wanted so say, great show...- she blurted after Slash had disappeared.

- Thanks, glad you liked it.

- And I think it is very much thro' your merit.

- Pff, don't! You didn't even hear me playing.

- I did!

- No, you didn't. My amp's pretty much in bits.

- Don't play modest, I liked it!

- Come on, I am not Lemmy or Cliff Burton. I suck so much in comparison, you should 've heard them play!

- Should? Do ya think I listen to Madonna?

- Hey, I didn't mean it!

- My Misfits tee's actually kind of a tribute to Cliff! He loved them, too.

- Oh, I get it. Charlie is a punk rocker!

- Heck, you got it right! I love the Ramones. Also, don't say you suck! I truly enjoyed the show.

- M-m, good. Wanna join me for some fun in town?

- Is it a date? - Charlie asked, lifting an eyebrow and squinting. Duff bit his lip and uttered something that she didn't understand.

- Me and Steven...He told me he knew some place in Chinatown where they made good cocktails...Do you drink?

- Why not? Where is he?

- He...he is not well, I think.

- Is he loaded? - Charlie asked forward. Duff smirked and looked Charlie in the eyes.

- You've guessed, he is. So drunk he can't stand on his feet, but if you're still interested...we can go together...Or we can take your friend, that blonde...What's her name?

- Elle? She is not here.

- Oh, okay...Let's go then? It's not far from here, we don't even need a car, I assume.

- Sure, come on.

They walked down the corridor, trying not to look at each other. Duff started whistling quietly. Having reached the door, he opened it before Charlie and accidentally touched her hand. She shuddered and jumped back. He ouched and gestured, inviting her to get out.

- Thanks...Where are the people?

- What people? - he frowned, putting on a jacket on the spot as they walked out of the arena. The evening was unusually chilly for Los Angeles, or maybe there was another reason Charlie shivered when the door closed behind them.

- I don't know...The fans, managers, stylists, the guys?

- Fans? I thought you've seen 'em. We ain't got very much, just few lasses crazy about Axl.

- And you? Do you have any?

- Not really...You see, we are not that well-known. We only started playing two years ago...Or was it a year and a half? Something like that, yeah.

- I can be yo' fan if you want to, - Charlie suggested, getting on the pavement border, - I loved these songs, Axl must be a great songwriter.

- Axl? Ha, he is not, - Duff remarked sarcastically, looking askance at Charlie, - he can't write a thing, let me tell ya'. Izzy writes most of the stuff, sometimes me or Slash compose some.

- And Axl?

- He's the one about hanging around telling the girls he is in a band so he'd get laid. That's it.

- Uhm, sounds like you are not on the best terms. It must be a little hard for you to play together, isn't it?

- Actually, I like him, just...in a special way. He's quite of big talent, but his ego is bigger.

- It's fairly noticeable, I must say. But it's rather logical, he looks nice.

- Are you into scrawny guys? - Duff asked, shaking the ashes off his cigarette and turning to her. It was already almost dark, but she could see his face clearly in cigarette's light. His big round eyes were the color that is often called "hazel" but were actually closer to the shade of ripe olives. He stared at Charlie attentively.

- No...I don't know. I've never though of that...I don't think I have a type, my boyfriends didn't have much in common appearance-wise.

- Yeah? And your current one?

- I am single, - Charlie shrugged with a smile. Actually, she hasn't thought about her love life since moving, and somehow it didn't bother her. She was absolutely happy and fully absorbed in exploring the town and its new perspectives. - Why are you asking?

- Just...just surprised you have a free evening. What were we talking 'bout?

- About Axl, I think.

- Yeah...I mean, he is certainly not a bad guy, he is a good vocalist according to the managers, but...we are not on the same wavelength, if you know what I mean?

- Sure!

- Well, yup, he doesn't care what we play...but he cares where we play. Talk about aspiring. It was thanks to him we had the show at Hilton, he literally kissed the big guys' asses.

- Really? I think tons would come to your show anyway, your music's like...a breathe of fresh air. Fresh, raw, true air.

- That's kinda what are we aiming for, - Duff agreed with a satisfied expression on his face. - Folks are getting tired of glam, high heels and big hair...

- But you have big hair! - Charlie giggled.

- I know, but nonetheless...We wanted to do something truly wild, full of...hm, masculinity, perhaps? Glad if that's what we sound like.

- I would never guess Izzy writes this music...Honestly, I can't say he looks wild...More mysterious, cagey, I'd say?

- He has a bit of everything. Okay, we are at the place. Is it called "Vegas"?

Having crossed the bustling, glowing part of the city, Charlie and Duff were standing in front of the tiny old building that was strikingly different from other houses around. It was neither big, nor glamour-looking, and seriously lacked neon lighting so popular in this area. Instead, the building had a tiny red roof which resembled the ones fairy tale houses have, and a door so old Christopher Columbus could have knocked on it, had he reached the west coast with his expedition.

- Very Vegas, - Charlie commented after taking a glance on it, - are you sure it's what he told you about?

- As long as it's called "Vegas", it's it, - Duff replied, sounding unsure, - but there is no banner...Let's get in? They're said to have everything.

- What do you mean by everything? - clarified Charlie, taking the staircase to the porch.

- From booze to speed. I don't know, that's what Steven said!

They hesitated for a moment, standing on the porch. Duff scratched his arm, walked round Charlie and pressed the doorbell. Nothing happened. He pressed the button again, and Charlie knocked on the door with her foot.

- Hey, is anybody out there?

They both jumped on their feet when the door was suddenly kick opened with loud crack. A middle-aged dark-haired man with a swollen face was standing in the way, his arms crossed. He had nothing on except for a dirty sleeveless tee and a greasy pair of pajama trousers.

- Dat the heck d'ya want?

- We're from Steven, - Duff explained, trying to look friendly, - can we get in?

- Stop, man, whataya talkin' 'bout? Ain't no bloody Steven here! Get the hell outta there or imma call the cops!

He closed the door, nearly knocking Charlie off her feet. She managed to steady herself by grabbing the porch's and exchanged glances with Duff.

- What the actual fuck has just happened? - he run his fingers through his teased blonde hair and pouted his lips.

Charlie grimaced after having taken a photo of the creepy place.

- God only knows. Perhaps Steven has messed up with the address or that guy was too hammered to think clearly?

- Can be. So...what are our plans then?

Charlie made a couple of weird gestures that should have expressed that she was lukewarm. She kept silent.

Duff didn't say anything either and lit up a cigarette although he didn't want to smoke right now. Then, after a pause, he took off his leather jacket and put it on Charlie's shoulders. She turned around and caught his glance.

- You must be cold...it...it's rather cool.

- Thanks, I should have thought of that, - she agreed, rubbing her upper arms with her palms, - I dressed like I was going to the beach!

- Ha ha, that's okay! We have desert weather here, - he laughed, - are you hungry? We can hit it to some diner, they must be open 24/7.

- Great idea, I haven't eaten a thing since lunch, - Charlie said, looking at the horizon of multicolored buildings, - I've always wanted to explore night LA!

However, they were rather unfortunate that night. Whatever place they walked into was either closed or packed with people, and Duff didn't let Charlie try to get into the opium restaurant on Barnaby road. Knocking on every door, they soon reached the coastline. To their luck, they succeeded in grabbing some donuts and tea in the tiny dusty doner on the corner of Georgian drive, and, holding a pack and plastic cups, walked towards the shore.

Charlie breathed the salty sea breeze and beamed broadly.

- Smells like seashells! Fantastic!

- I'd say seashells smell like sea, - Duff corrected with a smile, - wanna take a swimming challenge?

- Are you nuts? It's 2 pm! What if one of us starts to drown?

- Charlie is a chicken! - he teased, taking off his shirt and throwing it on the sand, - Charlie is a little chicken!

- I am not! - she yelped, casting her Polaroid and the packet with donuts on one of the nearest sun beds, - save yourself, Mr Duff McKagan!

He snickered and ran towards the sea so quick he was ten meters from Charlie in a blink. She shrieked and chased him, jumping into the warm water in her jeans and top. Having noticed her not far away, he took a few more steps away from the shore. He was already a good way from the bank but the water was only reaching his hips. Charlie, however, being only 5'5, struggled to walk further as she was already beginning to lose her steadiness and starting being swayed by the strong waves.

- Come on, catch me! - Duff yelled, waving at her, - what are you waiting for, I'm here!

- Shut up, d-bag, it's not fair! Your luck you're as tall as Big Ben!

- Swim, Charlie! I am only a meter away!

He poked his tongue at her, and, uttering annoyed exclamations, Charlie started quickly making her way to him. When he was only a footstep away, she tripped on an underwater stone and would have fallen, had Duff not caught her. Giggling, he put Charlie on her feet and turned away from her. She fixed her top that got wet and loosened to the degree it made her bra nearly visible.

- Okay, you win! - he admitted, - come on, tiny, you need some hot tea so as not to catch cold.

Charlie, who was indeed pale, soaking wet and shivering, cringed.

- Don't act like my mother! I am fine.

- I know better, tiny!

- I am not tiny!

- You are! You're like a little china doll.

- Rather corny, but thanks, - Charlie pinched him and took a sip of tea that was already almost cold, - look, the sky is so starry!

Duff put his jacket on the sand so they could take a sit. Charlie dug into her donut and sneezed, as sugar powder got into her nostrils.

- Bless you! - Duff tried to wipe her cheek with his hand but put it away after getting a creeped out look from Charlotte, - you look like you've just snorted!

- Very funny! I have told you I am not a lady before!

- You eat like a child. Like my little sister!

- Do you have a sister?

- Does it matter? You're all covered with sugar! Ick!

- Shit, it's sticky! - Charlie tried to shake it from her shirt and licked her fingers, - I bet it's better than coke.

- Have you ever tried coke? - Duff made an astonished expression, - you badass!

- We are not talking about it! Do you have a napkin or anything?

- No, but I can lick it from your face if you want to, - he suggested playfully, grinning at her. Charlie give him a little kick.

- Stupid, it's nothing to laugh at! How the fuck am I supposed to go home?

- You look like girls in these kinky films with caramel syrup! Uhm, actually, nobody'll be surprised, it's after midnight in LA!

- So what? Do I look like a slut? - Charlie wiped her face with her top when he was not looking.

- I didn't say that. I mean...I can walk you home. Where do you live?

- Is it an elaborate way of learning my address? - Charlie shook her head, trying to dry her hair a little.

- Sorta. Do you have to go?

- I think so...What's the time?

Duff took a look at his wristwatch.

- Quarter to three.

- My roommate is probably expecting me to arrive soon if she's home...Yeah, I think it's high time I went home.

- Is it far from here?

- It's on Delaney street, I guess I can catch a bus?

- If only a night one...Let's go and find the bus stop.

The nearest bus stop was only a three minutes walk from the beach, and Charlie stood, looking at Duff with expectation. He towered other her, smelling of peppermint bubble gum and beer.

- Thanks for walking me, it's rather spooky here at night...Why don't you go home? They must be waiting for you...

- Who are "they"?

- Your family or...

- They don't live here. I am from Seattle.

- I don't know, then your friend, roommate or whatever...

- I have nobody to wait for me, Charlie, - Duff confessed and scratched his unshaven cheek,- the company's renting some digs for us, but it doesn't feel like home, you know...Just a place to sleep. To be honest, I have nowhere to go.

- That's sad...Oh, the bus is coming!

- Do you have any cash? - he asked when Charlie started fussily searching her pockets.

- You don't think I am stupid enough to walk around without money? My burger cash is always with me.

She stood on the steps of the bus and turned to him. With messy hair and tired eyes, Duff didn't look his best. When she was already about to get into, he pulled her hand and turned her to him. She stood for a second, facing him, and licked her lips.

- Lady, are you getting in? I'm driving away! - she heard the driver shout.

Having pressed a kiss on her cheek, Duff whispered to her ear:

- Good night, tiny, you taste so sweet!

Author's note: this chapter is dedicated to my BFF, who I know likes Charlie with Duff. :) I love you, and thanks for reading me!

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♪ The Exploited - Another day to go nowhere