Just letting y’all know I’ve used the ‘c’ word in this chapter :)

I woke up to a really loud twang of what I assumed was a guitar. As I peeled open my eyes I saw that my surroundings were not what I was expecting.

Without a second thought, I shot up and saw a massive mixing board in front of me and behind the glass above it I saw Guns N’ Roses inside yakking and tuning their instruments. They hadn’t closed the door so that was why I could hear everything that was going on in that room.

I rubbed my eyes and starting to think how the hell I got there and what had happened last night. Almost immediately my body jolted at the hazy memory of my boss coming on to me, and I winced. I looked back up at the band and saw Duff. I narrowed my eyes at him, annoyed that he didn’t keep his promise for meeting me at work. If he had come, it’s possible that that whole thing with Bruce wouldn’t have happened. But if it didn’t happen then, maybe it would still be ahead in my timeline. I saw that Duff probably got that feeling when you can feel someone looking at you, because he suddenly looked up from his bass and his gaze was directly aimed at me. He looked apologetic with a hint of desire but it was immediately broken with Axl blocking our view of each other when he walked pass Duff and came into the room I was in.

Axl hesitated slightly before he slumped on the couch with me.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” I replied.

“How did you sleep?”

“How did I get here?” I interrupted.

“I asked first.” He smirked giving me an incredibly sexy smile.

“Yeah... well... I asked second.” I said having a pathetic excuse for a come back.

He chuckled, and it sounded like heaven.

“Good point. Early this morning Duff came to your place to tell me that our recording company was breathing down our neck about our album, so we really needed to get writing and shit, but I didn’t want to leave you home alone after... you know... what happened last night,” I looked down and nodded, “so I carried you down into a cab that took us here, and I plonked you on this couch. I don’t think you stirred one tiny little bit, kid.” He explained.

“You didn’t want to leave me home alone?” I looked up into his pale green eyes.

He chuckled slightly. “That’s all you got out of that?”

I was about to reply but suddenly the rest of the band plodded into the room.

“Holy shit, Phoebe! Axl told us all what happened. Tell me where that fucking cunt is and we’ll bash the ever loving shit out of him.” Izzy said to me seriously looking me straight in the eyes. It was the first time I had ever actually seen his whole face since he was always wearing sunglasses; even inside.

I nervously laughed off his comment.

“We’re serious, sweets.” Steven said from behind. All of the members nodded in agreement except for Duff who was awkwardly standing in the doorway looking at me weirdly; with his hands shoved into his leather pant pockets. I tore my eyes from him to look at the rest of the band all standing in front of me including Axl; all staring at me seriously.

“What?” I eventually asked in a quite voice.

“Where does this fucking prick live?” asked Slash.

“Umm... I don’t know where he lives.”

They all sighed disappointingly until Steven had a light bulb.

“Then we’ll get him at the Whisky!” he yelled proudly with a massive grin.

They all yelled in agreement, almost like they had just won a game of football, and all ran for the door; except for Duff. He was still standing and staring.

“You going with them?”

“Yeah.” He half said and was about to leave, until I stopped him.

“Why didn’t you show up yesterday? You know if you did, that shit might not have happened.” I said curtly. 

“I know.” He said quietly. “I really fucked up didn’t I?”

I had no idea how to respond to that. I think I had just expected him to say sorry and leave it at that.

“Well... I don’t know. I think you being there earlier would have stopped it, that’s all-“

“I really, really fucked up!” Duff said raising his voice a little bit, which scared me slightly. He took his hands out of his pockets and held his hands in the air just at head level.

“I think it’s best I don’t have much to do with you anymore. I seem to fuck up everything for you. Waking you up, not being able to protect you, god! I could’ve given you pneumonia when we went swimming a few fucking days ago!”

His voice kept rising and by now it was quite alarming.

“Duff, it’s okay-“ I was about to place my hand on his arm.

“No it’s not okay!” He pushed away my hand and afterwards didn’t make any eye contact.

“Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to try and make up for it.” And just like that he left the room to follow the boys.

As you can imagine, I was simply standing quite stunned from what had happened in the last few minutes. Hell, the last few days!

I had met L.A.’s hottest underground band, who’d just been signed to a major record label. Already, I was practically in love with two of the members, one had written a song ‘inspired’ by me, my friend had fucked one, and now they all were going to beat the ever-loving shit out of my boss...

Now, the question was, where the fuck was Gemma? She’s usually good at keeping me calm and giving me advice.

And... I probably shouldn’t have been standing there doing nothing while I waited for the guys to beat Bruce.

*

I started running for my life towards work. I didn’t even think to lock the doors in the recording studio. People were staring at me as I was tearing down the Strip trying to catch up with the boys. They must have had magic powers because I couldn’t see them anywhere as I was running straight for the Whiskey.

Just before I was about a block away from my destination, I saw red and blue lights flashing, right where the Whiskey was. As I got closer, and by this time, my boobs were sore from too much jolting, my legs were burning and I could barely breathe. As the Whiskey came clear into sight, for some reason, the whole place (which is on the corner) was completely surrounded by police cars with all of their lights flashing, and the band were all there standing around the entrance. Two cops were standing right by the entrance, almost like bouncers arguing with the guys about something. I saw Steven who had been pushed to the back of the group, and I approached Steven from behind by tapping his shoulder. He jumped and turned around looking startled (he looked pretty cute by the way) until he saw it was only me.

“Hey kid! What are you doing here? I thought we told you to stay back at the studio so we could get up to our manly business here.”

“Actually you didn’t tell me anything. You all left with a bit too much excitement I think. Anyway, what’s going on here?”

“Ah, I think our fun’s been ruined. Someone called the cops on your dickhead boss and sprung him for something – I don’t know.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Well... can we go in?”

“Nup. I don’t think...”

I didn’t really let him finish his sentence since I squeezed past him and all the other guys who all called out to me in surprise, all asking me what the hell I was doing there, but I just blocked them out. 

“Sorry miss, can’t let you in – police business.” The taller cop said to me, stopping me from entering.

“Yeah, well I don’t care, I work here. So if you’d let me get in-“

“Wait you weren’t the anonymous caller were you?” the other policeman asked.

“No...?”

“Oh, well you know too much already anyways, you might as well come inside, but your buddies here can stay outside.” The cop spat, and the tall one brought me inside the Whiskey.

Inside, it was a complete mess. Broken glass was scattered everywhere, including the glass shelves that sat on display behind the bar, which held all of the drinks, policemen were everywhere, and half of them were taking photos of everything they could find.

And then, I saw spots of blood that trailed all the way to the back of the entire place.

Of course I started to freak out, and as my eyes followed the trail, I saw Bruce, covered in bruised and blood holding two ice packs on his face and crotch. Then as I continued searching, at the very back of the room, by the stage, I saw Gemma and one of our newest waitresses both wrapped up in blankets. Gemma looked alright from back where I was, but the other girl, was battered and bruised with a big Band-Aid on her temple. They had two paramedics on either side of them who were bandaging up the girl and checking blood pressure on Gemma.

What the fuck had happened here?!

I broke free of the cops grip and ran towards the girls. Gemma saw me running up and she had a wave of relief rush across her face.

“Where the fuck have you been?! I’ve been calling you all morning!” Gemma yelled as soon as I was close enough.

“Fuck! Sorry! I’ve been with the guys. What the hell happened here?”

“Is it okay if I tell her?” Gemma asked the waitress next to her; and she nodded whilst looking down and Gemma motioned for me to sit down next to her.

She leaned into my ear and said; “Louise here was setting up, you know cleaning and tables and what not, when fuck-knuckle over there,” she jutted her finger at Bruce who was now being handcuffed, “that diseased bastard came into her and cornered her. Luckily before anything happened Lou kneed him in the ball and grabbed a stool and whacked it over his head-“

Louise interrupted Gemma.

“But he just had to get back on his fucking feet as I was running out and he tackled me, and he started to hit me and-“ she would have finished her sentence if she didn’t break down right there. She was about to continue with her “story” but I stopped her.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to continue, Louise. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I got up and stormed over to Bruce and when I reached him, I stopped the cops and went right up to Bruce and gave him the hardest punch.

“You motherfucker!” I screamed. I was about to give him another blow but someone’s hard grip got me from behind and grabbed me out of the air pulling me away.

“Get your fucking hands off me!” I stared to kick my legs and they slammed against this person’s shins. They cursed silently and they bent me over the bar bench and clamped something really cold over my wrists; handcuffs I guessed.

Next I was being pushed out the door alongside of Bruce but I refused to look at him. When we broke through the doors into the harsh bright sun blasting down onto the street, all of the guys spun around and stared at me astonished.

“Woah, what the fuck are you doing to her? Get your fuckin’ hands off her!” Axl randomly screamed out to the cops who had their hands around my arms, about to shove me into a police car that would probably take me to the nearest station.

Axl started to literally punch the cops that had their hands on me, I thought this could be my chance to get away but as Axl attacked one cop, the other took over and shoved me into the car and slammed the door in my face.

Those doors on the police cars were bloody sound proof! I could see the rest of the band shrug their shoulders and then they all, including Duff, started to attack any cop they could see. Sooner or later, every member were tackled to the ground, cuffed and shoved into the same car I was in, with Axl squished up right next to me. They all had big grins on their face, Slash had the biggest and he said;

“Happy? We couldn’t let you get arrested alone.”

WELL! Please tell me what you thought, and I really do apologise for not updating sooner. I had a long period of writer’s block and it nearly killed me!

Anyway, hope you’re all well and hope you enjoyed it!

Read, comment & vote!