December of 1991

Cold.

Snow and wind blew down on the faces of the people of Seattle as they walked the streets, going about their daily routines. Among the mass of bodies, a young, tall boy walked slowly. Lost in his own head. Layne Staley, 20-something years old, had just finished a near two year tour with his band in support of their first record. Being back home was both refreshing and odd for him.

"Hey watch it!" yelled an angry man, bumped into by the spaced out youngster..

"Sorry, man."

"Damn kids.." the older man grumbled as he walked on his way.

After watching the man walk off, the boy turned around and saw a raven haired woman, not much older than he, sitting behind a table with things on it. Looked like she was selling stuff. Interested, he waked over, finally being able to see the things she was selling were paintings.

"How much?" a gruffly old, white haired man asked her, holding a painting.

"Whatever you want to pay for it."

"Not the painting, I meant you." he said, looking over his gold rimmed glasses seductively.

"Arg I'm not for sale." she said, disgusted.

"Oh I'm sure we can work something out." the man continued on, touching her arm.

Layne brushed his long bushy hair to the side as he observed the on goings. Once the crowd cleared a little, he spoke up.

"Excuse me, um, what are these?" he asked, breaking up the convo.

"My art, I'm trying to make rent, so I'm selling everything I have."

The old man sucked his teeth at Layne and walked off. Once the coast was clear, the young woman thanked Layne.

"Hey thanks for running off that creep."

"No problem, just don't like seeing stuff like that. And as far as the painting. Hmm, tell you what, I'll give you $500 and you keep the painting, ok?" he said while holding up the one that had caught his eye.

"Huh?" she grabbed it out of his hand and looked it over.

"Does it suck THAT bad that you'd pay me to keep it?"

"No. no no. I think you shouldn't have to sell your things like this. Especially things ya made." Layne started to pull money from his pocket.

The young woman eyed him suspiciously, "Ok what kind of scam are you running? No one just gives away money."

"Yea, but I'm not 'Noel Juan' , I'm Layne Staley."

She tried to stop herself from dying of laughter at the 'Noel Juan' line. She got the dumb joke, he was obviously being a goof.

"Listen, thanks but I'm not a charity case. So if you're not going to buy and KEEP the painting, beat it."

"You're a tad abrasive aren't you?" he laughed as he looked her over. That was the first time he took a good look at her.

"Wait...Krista? Krista Rogers?"

"Yep, that's me. Hey Layne."

"Oh jeez I haven't seen you since senior year. How have you been...oh yea, not that good obviously."

Krista and Layne had gone to the same high school together. Though they hung with different groups of people, they did speak when they saw each other. Until Krista moved in the middle of senior year. While away, she followed Layne's band, Alice In Chains, she dug them and wanted to see if they would make it one day.

"I hate to take you off your trip down Memory 'Layne', but are you going to buy anything?"

"Alright, alright, I'll buy and KEEP it on one condition. You have dinner with me. Right now."

"What? I can't just leave my stuff like this."

"Don't worry, I just bought you out." Layne pushed the crowd back.

"Sorry everyone but the inventory is closed." the crowd eyed the flamboyantly dressed man and walked off.

"See? All cleared up."

"You know you are fuckin' incredible and not in the good way either." she rolled her eyes

"Ha ha, listen let's take all this stuff back to my place and then grab some food."

"Your place huh? Sorry but I don't put out on the first date." she teased.

"Oh ha ha." he started to pick up stuff, and grabbed at a crutch. "Are you selling this thing too?"

Krista limped over to him yanked it from his hand, "No, that's mine."

"Sorry."

"Yea...well are we going or not?" she asked, wanting to change the subject before Layne asked about her leg.

"Yea, yea, come on, I live right around the corner."

With that they were off to catch up on their lives.