don't follow - layne staley

"Morning, my beautiful bundles of joy!" Jerry hollered as he shoved the blinds open, sunshine forcing itself upon the two.

He was half-naked, only in boxers, with a tin of beans grasped in his hand. Somehow, he didn't even remotely come across as hungover. His unruffled, jaunty self was recharged- ready to face the day. Ivy envied his ability to remain unaffected by alcohol in the mornings.

"Morning," Ivy wobbled as she yawned, fighting back the urge to fall asleep. "Oh fuck- I'm supposed to be with my family today," She slid off the couch, her face cringing as it was hit with sunlight.

The guilt seared through her body- a cold wave of water drained through her. She was so caught up with work and her band; she became so distant with her family. The family that was always there for her no matter the distance or time apart. She focused so much on providing for them, she forgot to spend time with the people she was providing for.

"I'll drive you," Layne croaked, also just woken up. His hair was messier than his mop of hair yesterday. He shifted his position; still laid across the cold floor on a roll-out mattress.

Ivy never enjoyed the morning-after of a sleepover. Bottles of alcohol surrounded them, forming a wall alongside empty food packets. Her headache began to throb torturously and the stench of weed still lingered in the haze of the room. Weaving a sweet out of her hair, she then patted her damp forehead. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for her clothes.

"Don't leave so soon! This is probably the most fun we've had in a while," Jerry admitted, his lips then sealed to light up his morning cigarette. His stare still lingered over Ivy, bursting to beg her to not leave.

He wasn't wrong, it was the most fun Ivy had in a while too, especially with people she only knew for such a little period of time. She was almost proud of the fact that their friendship had moved so fast- she hasn't had a friendship like this since she first met Alex and Eliza.

"I haven't seen them in a while, they'll beat me if I don't come," She joked, rubbing her eyes- black eyeshadow smeared across her fingers. "I'll see you guys soon anyway. I'm looking forward to the show," Picking up her clothes, Ivy poured them into her bag. She wanted to stay forever; to know Jerry and Layne better, but that privilege came with time.

"It'll be sick. You can meet the other two stinky creatures that form this band," Jerry cheered, throwing his hands in the air.

"Just a warning, Sean bites," Layne added, rising from his make-shift bed. His long curls twisted into one birds nest.

"Layne bites too, just when you least expect it," Jerry snickered, pushing Layne's head forward.

~

The bathroom light was flickering, the tap was dripping and a collection of mould was forming in the corners. Charming, Ivy thought.

She squeezed a tube of toothpaste along her finger and began to rub it against her teeth- making the best out of the little supplies she had. Her makeup was still intact, only smudged a little. She analysed herself in the mirror, assuring herself she had no embarrassing pimple on the middle of her forehead or black eyeshadow dragged across her face.

Examining their cupboard, displacing items, she searched for some black eyeliner. Standing on the tips of her toes, her hands reached for the top shelf, becoming coated in a layer of dust. Layne must have some, surely. She thought about him delicately applying it on, standing in front of this very mirror, fiddling with something so feminine. The way he could embrace his femininity made Ivy compelled to him even more.

Fluttering untangled in her stomach. Did she like Layne?

Of course not.

What was she thinking?