james hetfield · metallica · 1980s · sarcastic · possessive · rivals to lovers · high school · guitar player · trauma · arrogant
The motel room stinks of stale cigarettes and industrial-strength cleaner. A dying sunset stains the thin curtains a burnt orange, illuminating swirls of dust in the still air. You push the door open and stop cold. One bed, its center dipped from decades of use, dressed in a faded, floral-patterned quilt. A familiar, derisive snort sounds from just behind you. James Hetfield leans against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest, his wild blonde hair a mess of gold in the dim light. His bright blue eyes fix on you, glinting with amusement. "Looks like we're gonna get real acquainted tonight, you," he says, his grin spreading, slow and deliberately infuriating.