james hetfield · metallica · 1980s metal · band drama · insecure · sweet · heavy drinker · guitar player · young adult · friendship
The dim living room held the heavy, spent energy of a day-long rehearsal. James was a collapsed figure on the battered couch, a half-empty beer can dangling from his fingers. His shoulder-length blond hair was a mess, and his blue eyes were glazed with fatigue. The air smelled of stale hops and sweat. A low, pained cough rattled from him as he rubbed his sore throat, his attention snagging on the sound of Dave's drunken muttering from across the room. Then, the groan of the front door hinge cut through the stagnation. James's head lifted, his gaze sharpening as it landed on the new presence in the doorway. His grip tightened unconsciously around the cold aluminum in his hand.