The neon lights of the Denny's sign shine outside the window beside our booth.

Axl and I's secluded corner that we've claimed is just as calm as the rest of  the mostly dead restaurant.

I yawn a little, the fact that it's past midnight not skipping me. My parents think I'm at Michelle's house, asleep beside her. But in actuality, she was the one who helped me pick out my outfit, and locked the front door behind me as I ran to Axl's car.

"Is that all I can get you kids?"

Our waitress is a sweet older lady, one who has pens stuck in her bun and wears bright lipstick. Her nametag reads "DONNA."

"Yes," Axl and I both say as we nod at each other from across the shiny red table.

Donna smiles as she sets down the check, and then she's hurrying away.

Old songs play over the speakers, singers like Paul Anka and Ritchie Valens. Somehow, Axl has known every single song. He's been singing them to me ever since we got here, humming in my ear while we were waiting for our table, and now, as he goes searching for his wallet in his pockets.

I finish off my vanilla shake, the only thing left on our table. Donna already carried away our plates that held two double stacks of pancakes, one for each of us.

"You make me look younger," Axl beams, his voice audible over the sound of money moving through his hands as he counts out enough for the check.

"You already look young," I tell him.

He might not appear to be seventeen too, but his whole aura gives off the impression of youth. He's goregous, really. His skin is tanned and alive, and the only faint lines on his face are just under his eyes, from all the smiling he's done in his twenty-five years. His hair is thick and long. I can imagine how it felt last in my hands, silky and soft. And I know that underneath his leather jacket, there's muscles upon muscles, his abdomen chiseled, his strong arms painted with vivid tattoos. He looks exactly as he did when I first met him, when I was fourteen and he was twenty-two. Axl hasn't aged one bit. 

He's like a God.

My fingers toy with the straw in my glass as I continue to admire him, moving around the last bit of shake left. "It's your singing that gives you away." I smile at him, still looking at his face.

He's prettier than I am.

Axl cracks a smile, lowering his voice a few octaves as he sings along. "You're mine, and we belong together. . ."

It makes me laugh, but when does he not? All I've done tonight was thoroughly annoy all the people drowsily drinking their coffee and reading the paper in this Denny's with my laughter. All because of Axl.

He closes the checkbook now, money safely inside, tip between the salt and pepper shakers.

"You know, when I said I wanted to talk to you, that didn't mean that I wanted to make you take me out to eat," I tell him honestly. It makes me feel bad that we're here. I already told him all while we pulled into the parking lot.

But of course, he insisted.

"Don't feel bad. I figured you were getting sick of sittin' in my car all the time," Axl says, grabbing my hand on top of the table. His thumb brushes against my skin, a gentle smile on his lips.

"I'm not sick of anything when I'm with you," I counter, interjecting quickly.  God forbid he thinks I feel any differently. "I wanna be with you all the time."

His whole demeanor gets shy then, something he rarely exhibits. A blush spreads across his cheeks, his eyes dipping to the table before they meet mine again. His hand feels so warm against mine, his grip not faltering once.

All I can think is how I wish I could kiss him here, how I wish I had already told him my intentions behind the phone call I made to him yesterday, why I said I wanted to talk to him tonight. Tell him that I want to be his girlfriend. How I want leave this in-limbo stage of our relationship behind. That I can't wait another second.

The nerves are what's made me avoid saying it plainly. Axl is attractive and captivating and eating a meal with him all alone has been one of the most intimiate experiences of my whole life so far, other than every time I kiss him. It's intimidating.

"C'mon honey, let's go."

I brush my thoughts away, telling myself that I'll gather the courage once we're truly alone. I hope. Please. . .

We make a ruckus as we collect ourselves, Axl's keys and necklaces jingling, my laughter audible as Axl has to assist me with helping get one of the sleeves of my denim jacket on properly.

Once we make sure we've left nothing behind, Axl's hurrying me out of the resturant, hugging me into his side as he holds open the door for us both, letting a rush of cool night air hit us.

The Camaro's shimmery, jet black paint shines underneath a streelight, getting brighter the closer Axl and I advance.

Being the gentlemen he is, Axl opens and closes the passenger's side door for me, the way he usually does before he gets in himself.

In the silence, we both look to the dash at the same instant. The big hand rests on the two, the little hand between the four and five.

"Fuck."

I'll admit it, I'm surprised too.

I've never been out so late before. Especially not with any man.

When Axl turns to me, he looks sad. His crimson, full lower lip juts out, casting a small shadow just above his chin.

I've never seen Axl Rose pout before.

"I should take you home, baby."

"No-"

"I should, you're tired, I can tell-"

"But I haven't gotten to really talk to you yet," I pout now myself, my brow furrowing.

"I didn't get to tell you that I want you to be my boyfriend yet."

The words flow out so quick that I hardly catch what I've said until my mind plays it back, echoing in my head.

Even in the dark, I can see the redness on Axl's face. "What?"

It's like he can't believe it. He sounds genuinely surprised.

"I've done all the thinking that I can," I say, trying to sound as confident as possible, even though I'm crumbling on the inside. "And-And, I want to really be with you. I wanna know what we are, and keep it that way."

The only sound I can hear is my own breathing as Axl just looks at me. His mouth is slightly ajar, but no words come out. Not until he shakes his head at me.

"I can't believe you're even givin' me the time of day. God, Chas-"

Axl cuts himself off as he kisses me, his lips soft and pillowly against mine. As much as I'd like to stay this way for hours now, especially after what's just happened, we can't.

Anybody can see us. Anyone who were to drive by, anyone looking through the windows of the Denny's. We can't be here like this.

"Axl." I comb my fingers through his hair as I look to the ceiling, his head moving down to my neck.

"Hm?"

"You probably should drive me home. I have a feeling Michelle's waiting up for me."

I already told Axl that Michelle knows. At first, he looked as though he was gonna pass out, but I assured him that she's okay. I think he wants to tread carefully around the subject, but I know that it's fine. He'll fully warm up to the facts soon enough.

Axl pauses, his breath fanning over my skin lightly as he breathes in against my neck. "Okay. Just one more."

I feel his words as they leave his lips, how they're sweet and childish, almost as if he's begging for just one more kiss from me.

Happily, I give it to him, my eyes fluttering shut at how good it feels to kiss him and know exactly where we stand. For the very first time.

When we finally pull out of the Denny's parking lot, I remember that we don't have that long of a drive. We don't have that much longer to spend together like this, while I feel over the moon.

That makes me move a little closer to Axl, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Do you know when I'll see you again?" I can't hide the feeling in my voice, the gloom. I already know it probably won't be like this. I can't even imagine the immaculate lie Axl had to create to leave the world of Guns N' Roses for just one night, to see me.

One of his hands comes off the wheel, to rest on my thigh over my jeans. Immediately, I lay my hand on top of his, eager to keep him there. Please.

"Duff's gonna call you or Michelle to talk about comin' to a show-"

"You're kidding, Axl." I take my head off his shoulder to look up at him.

He keeps his eyes on the road, but he doesn't falter, which leads me to believe he's serious. "No, I swear! So you've gotta act surprised honey, okay? He can't know that I told you or nothin', it's all we've been talking about all week. He's such a worrier. He constantly thinks something horrible could happen to you and Michelle. It took a lotta convincing, but I don't think he's gonna change his mind now."

"And you're not worried about me?" I question as I raise an eyebrow, my tone teasing.

Axl glances at me, his hand on my leg squeezing. "No, I'm not, because you're gonna be right up front where I can see you. I'll never let anything bad happen to you, never again."

I know he's talking about Dylan. It's so obvious, with the pained look on his face.

"I know you won't." My heart beats fast as I reach up and press my lips to his cheek, over the light stubble coming in.

I bet he'd look so good with a five o'clock shadow. Or a beard. What I would give to see that. . .

"Chas, don't do that."

"Do what?" I ask, before giving him another kiss. "This?"

Axl side eyes me then, and I laugh.

"You're gonna make me want to keep you out all night with me. So stop it, let me do the right thing and take you home. Not to mention, the last time you did that, I nearly crashed."

Just to push his buttons, I lift up the hand in my lap, before placing it up a little higher on my leg. I watch Axl's face as I press him against me, laughing a little to myself.

"What if I don't wanna go home still? Especially not now that you're officially my boyfriend, Axl."

His hand feels electric, even over my jeans. I might be trying to mess with him, but I'm only playing myself in the process.

"You better stop it, Chasity Grace."

We're turning onto the street behind Michelle's house now. Everything is peaceful, all the cars that line the street just as quiet as their prospective houses.

Perfect. It's perfect. Empty, dark, not even any streetlights.

"Can I at least get a goodbye kiss?" I try to sound as sweet as possible, hoping he'll agree.

It's looking bleak as he slides his hand out from underneath mine, taking it away. That spot that he occupied on my upper thigh feels cold now.

Axl sighs as he puts the car in park, right in front of the wooden fence that encloses Michelle's backyard, the car rumbling softly still.

When he looks at me, I watch the exact moment he caves. He sighs again, letting his shoulders relax, expression defeated. It's masking his eagerness, though. I know it. He's playing this game too.

"C'mere, baby."

I kneel up on the black leather seat, now considering myself an expert at maneuvering myself into Axl's lap after already having done so at least a few times before. But now, I'm doing so as his girlfriend.

"I can't believe you tried to resist a kiss from me. I'm a great kisser. You've said so yourself," I remind him, laughing. 

"I did, didn't I?" Axl has a smug look on his face as he twirls a stand of my hair between his fingers. "That's because I'm the one who taught you how to kiss."

I roll my eyes, but still lean in, planting one right on his lips. "I think I'm more of a natural. It's a talent I was born with."

Axl takes his turn, kissing me back. "Not with tongue. God, I'm never gonna forget that look on your face, and how you sounded when I did that to you after you got over the shock. My ego grew so much that day."

"I said what I said, it still stands. Anyone could've done it, and I would've reacted the same way. Don't even give yourself the credit."

"Maybe, but I'm the only one that actually has. So I don't know, but I feel like I'm entitled to the credit still."

"You're stubborn," I say.

"Yeah, and you like it," Axl says.

"Maybe. Now shut up and kiss me."

I can't get another word in, because then Axl's somehow getting me splayed out across the whole front seat, him right over me. I'm pretty sure one of his legs is kneeling on the floor of the car, the other in between my legs, but he doesn't seem to care. Not as he coaxes my mouth open with his velvet tongue.

My hands roam everywhere, through his hair, down his shoulders, underneath his jacket. His weight just barely rests on me, our bodies so close. The open mouthed kisses don't stop, not even as Axl shrugs off his jacket, exposing his arms. My whole body feels hot, and I wish I could strip off a layer too. Get even closer to him. He tastes sweet, like sugary maple syrup. It makes me groan, high pitched.

"See, there's those noises. And I've hardly even done anything. I can't even imagine how you'd be if I-"

We both see it at the same instant, the white, bright light beaming into the car, through the side window just above my head.

Hot, searing panic fills my insides, and I feel paralysed. I couldn't move even if I wanted to, not with Axl on top of me, who also appears to be on the verge of losing it.

"Oh my god, it's a cop isn't it-"

Right on cue, I get my answer.

The laughter from outside the car makes me go slack against the material underneath me, Axl reaching above me to roll down the window. 

"God, I wish I had a camera. I mean, that would make me just like Dylan, but at least I would've been able to capture both your faces forever, for my own amusement."

Even though I shouldn't, I immediately feel crippling embarassment replace my fear.

"What the fuck, Michelle?! Get out of here!"

Her and Axl immediately shush me, their noises honestly louder than I am.

All I do is look at Axl, who's still on top of me. When we make eye contact, I telepathically try to tell him to get off me so I can get inside and beat up Michelle for ruining the moment.

"Shut that damn flashlight off, Michelle," Axl tells her warily as he moves away from me.

As requested, she clicks it off from where she stands outside the car, and I pull myself up into a sitting position.

Michelle rests her elbows against the frame of the window, peering inside at us. Her expression is full of amusement, a huge smirk on her face, her hazel eyes wide. "So, what'cha doin' in here at three in the morning?"

"I'm going inside, Michelle," I look at her, hoping she'll spare me from her antics.

But it's already too late.

"How was your little date? Was it worth me staying up to watch infomercials?"

"I took our girl here to Denny's," Axl answers.

"How romantic!"

I can hear the sarcasm in Michelle's voice. It makes me envision pulling her by the hair inside.

"It was, actually," I defend. That really was our first date. Oh my God. I just went on my first date.

"I'll be sure to keep it our little secret," Michelle says enthusiastically, grinning from me to Axl, tapping her fingers against the car. "You two look like you had fun," She nods, before taking her arms away from the car door "Well, thanks for taking her out and returning her before the sun comes up, Axl. God knows she needed it, poor girl wouldn't have experienced anything if it wasn't for you-"

"Alright, I'm going." I can't stand it any longer. "Bye, Axl."

My hand rests on the door handle as I go to get out of the car, but Axl's catching my face in his hands before I can make another move to escape.

"Wait."

I'm caught in a mix of embarassment and pleasure as Axl weaves his tongue with mine, kissing me thoroughly as his hands cup my cheeks. It takes me by surprise, makes me melt between his hands, and I manage to forget Michelle is present until I hear her behind me.

Her 'holy shit' is quiet, but still audible. It mimics the one in my head.

I can see the faint trail of wetness still connecting my lips to Axl's once we've pulled away. One of his big hands caresses the side of my face, his thumb even running over my swollen lower lip as he does.

"Bye, baby."

"Bye, Axl," I sound out of breath, and that's because I am.

He's such a showoff, so cocky sometimes. But Jesus, is he good at making me feel good while he does it.

He looks proud about it, really, and for a heartbeat, he just smiles at me before I realize I should be getting out of the car now.

Once I've shut the door behind me, Axl's calling out that he'll see us soon. Michelle and I witness the Camaro speed off from the safety of the sidewalk.

Her jaw goes slack the second the roar of Axl's car can't be heard anymore, and she stares into my eyes.

"Holy fuck, Chas."