November 6, 1991| New York City
The band stayed over at a popular hotel at New York City. It was three a.m., Axl was already asleep. Crystal got up from the bed, grabbing the red flannel shirt on the floor and slipped it over her tank top. Taking a last glance at Axl's sleeping figure, she walked out of their hotelroom and met the deafening silence at the hallway that was lit by the faint lights on the ceiling. Obviously everyone's asleep in their own room. Unlike Crystal, she feels like she's suffering from insomnia during the past few days, she could only sleep for four or five hours a day. Dark circles slightly formed under her eyes but she looks even more beautiful as time went by. Her bruises has finally disappeared on her flawless skin. Those pair of icy-blue eyes, her fine features, her sexually attractive body and her long copper hair, she could be a goddess. But she feels empty deep inside though she has Axl, a band of caring friends whom she have once doubted and all of the luxuries she wanted. Sometimes she feels like those things and those people gives her a little bit of happiness and pleasure but leaves her tired and weary.
She leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette, the only thing she could do whenever she feels bummed out. At least, it's not as worse as doing drugs just to forget about her problems. A soft sound of acoustic guitar erupted through the silence. She dropped the half-used cigarette and crushed it with her foot. Tracing the mind-relaxing sound that was coming from the door across the hallway, she knew that it was Izzy.
At least, I wouldn't be alone…
She slightly knocked on the door. The sound stopped and Izzy opened the door.
"What's up?" he made a half smile.
She shrugged, "I can't sleep, may I join you?"
"Sure, come in" she felt a bit tensed when he draped an arm around her waist and led her into his room, closing the door silently. The first thing that caught her attention is his almost empty room and the luggage on the floor. That means only one thing— he's leaving.
"What's going on?" she furrowed her eyebrows.
Izzy sighed and held a forced smile, "Didn't the guys told you that I'm going back home?"
"No" she shook her head.
They stood by the balcony of his room, Crystal observed him as he lean over the railings, watching the running vehicles down the dark roads of New York. He looked totally exhausted and bummed out. He's pitiful…
"You're leaving?" she glared at him with a worried expression.
He let out a heavy sigh, "Yeah"
Her eyes started to water. "Izzy…"
"Oh no, don't cry!" he tried to hug her but she pushed him away. As for Izzy, it was a mistake to touch Axl's girl. But this time, she was crying because of him and he needed to comfort her.
"Hey, look at me Crystal" he placed a finger under her chin and lifted up her face to meet her gaze. She was never this close to him and she have never seen him like this.
"Listen, it's not like I would be gone forever… I would just take a break" he smiled as he wipe away her tears.
"But Izzy you've been with them for years…" her voice trailed off. He laid his hands on her shoulders.
"I know. I love my band more than anything but everything's different now. Those riots during the tour, Axl's chronic lateness, seeing myself like this. I've been living this self-destructive lifestyle for years… I can't take it anymore. I'm really tired" he explained.
"If that's what you needed, I understand… " she muttered, flowering her eyelashes.
"Please, promise me that you won't hate me for this" he asked hopefully.
Does it really matter to him?
"Promise" she finally smiled but still feeling sad deep inside.
"I never know that you care about me. Thanks, but you're with Axl, you should be more worried about him"
She simply nodded, "You're right"
"I've never been so f***ing emotional infront of a girl before, nor with my girlfriend" he shrugged. "I think it sounds funny"
Crystal laughed a little bit. "No, it was actually strange"
You've been always strange…
"So that's it. I'm leaving tomorrow and I want our last conversation to be much better than this"
There was an awkward silence in between them before Izzy finally spoke…
"Why'd you left Axl on the bed?" he smirked at her.
"He's sleeping, nothing to do" she winked.
"Take care of Axl. He really needs someone like you. I believe that you can change him… and please, don't let him abuse you again"
"Yeah, I know Izzy. I wouldn't let that happen again. I'm trying my best to keep the good status of our relationship" she flipped her hair out of her face.
"It's a funny thing that he's a decade older than you" he chuckled.
Crystal rolled her eyes. She knows that. Axl was eleven years older than her.
"But you're more matured. That's what I really like about you" he continued. She blushed slightly, looking away from him.
"How'bout you, aren't you dating someone right now?"
"Uhm, I just broke up with my girl before the tour started" he muttered. "It's long story and I don't want to talk about her"
"You're so bitter" she giggled. Izzy felt a bit pissed off.
"You're a bitch"
"Sorry" she winked at him.
Her gaze fell on the wall clock, hanging beside the door. That's when she realized that it was almost five a.m.
"Oh shit, Axl's gonna kill me! she exclaimed. Looking up to him, she let out a heavy sigh. "I must go back to our room"
Izzy smirked. "Good night, bitch"
She flipped him off and walked towards the door.
"Uhm, Crystal…"
She looked back at him, "Yes?"
"Thanks for everything" he smiled at her.
"You're welcome Izz… " she said before making her way out.
She sneaked back to their room. Good thing that Axl was still sleeping, snoring softly as he cuddle one of their pillows. A scene that reminded Crystal of the moment when he stayed over her house. Flopping down beside him, she finally fell asleep.
***
The next day…
"So long buddy" Duff pulled Izzy into a very tight hug, as well as Slash.
"Thanks for all, guys" he shook hands with Matt and Dizzy.
"Hope that will make your life better" Matt grinned.
"Hope you'll find a girlfriend soon" Dizzy added.
Izzy chuckled, "Damn. I'm gonna miss you all"
Once he stood infront of Axl and Crystal, his smile dropped. "I'm finally going back to our hometown, buddy"
Axl did his rare, charming smile and wrapped his arms around his best buddy. "Farewell"
He pulled away and stared at Crystal who was forcing herself not to cry. If there's one last person whom he wanted to hug before leaving, that would be her. He was keeping a lot behind his silence. Pain and sorrow are the only things that could be seen in those tired-looking eyes.
"Hey there"
"Goodbye Izzy" she smiled and step towards him to kiss him on the cheek, making him feel extremely awkward.
"Look, he's blushing!" Slash yelled. They all laughed.
"You guys are bunch of retards" Izzy rolled his eyes jokingly. Grabbing his luggage, he headed into his Mercury and gave them all one last, smile as they wave goodbye at him. He closed the door and sped off down the road.
He's gone and left some treasured memories. Not only to Crystal and not only to his bandmates, but also in rock music history. He never thought that through his musical hobby, he will be known as the rythm guitarist of a world famous band.