Post by Eddie O'Flaherty on Aug 18, 2009 0:42:19 GMT -5
The sun was coming down right on Eddie's face, and he couldn't take it any longer. He rolled over and opened his eyes, forgetting for just a moment where he was. When he saw the white walls of a college apartment, the rest of the previous night came flooding back to him. He had a lot of fun at Fuddruckers, and Connor had been nice enough to drop Eddie off at his brother's apartment. Eddie had struck a bargain allowing him to crash there at but one cost: he had to pick up his brother from the party he was attending. Eddie had agreed, and sat playing Halo on his brother's 360. It wasn't until about four in the morning that Tom called, and Eddie hadn't even noticed he was up for that long. To add to his late night, Eddie ended up taking his brother to a Del Taco before heading home, where they proceeded to catch up for another two hours. It was only the sun's arrival that the two of them decided to call it a night.
Eddie sat up and glanced at his phone to see what time it was, but what showed up was that he had missed a call. Further investigation revealed the name of the caller: Jessie. Eddie put his phone to his forehead and let out a big sigh.
“Don't call her back.” His brother's deep voice resonated through the room as Tom padded over to the fridge. “I heard it ring earlier. You still have that stupid ass song as her ringtone.”
Eddie glared back at his brother. “Jessie happened to love Blue October, okay?” Eddie knew he should have changed it long ago, but he could never bring himself to do it. It was a ring he had gotten used to hearing for the past two and a half years, no matter how corny it was. He was surprised it didn't wake him up even. It usually always did.
Tom stood by the sink munching on bowl of cereal, watching Eddie stare at his phone. “So she's calling again?”
Eddie paused a moment. “Yeah.”
“When did this start?”
“Valentine's Day. Dad and I were in Colorado at the time.”
“Did you answer it?”
“No. I... we haven't talked since a little after New Year's. I don't know why she started calling me, I can't bring myself to check the messages and I just delete her texts.”
“Cold,” Tom nodded with approval. “It's how you have to be. Otherwise you'll just get caught back up in that mess. You should try to meet someone.”
Eddie knew his brother was right, but the sick feeling in his stomach tried in vain to disagree. Eddie missed her, a lot, no matter how much she had hurt him. But that's what would no doubt happen if he ever tried to talk to her again. He'd just wind up getting hurt like before. Same thing if he met someone else, too. They'd hurt him just like Jessie did.
Tom dropped his bowl into the sink and headed back into his room. His voice boomed out from the bedroom. “I have a busy afternoon here, but you can take my car back to the house. I'll be by tonight for dinner and to help unpack. I'm gonna jump in the shower first, though. Keys are... well, wherever you left them. See ya tonight.”
Eddie sat for another minute, staring at his phone. One thirty-two in the afternoon. That means it was three thirty back home. In Iowa. Jessie would probably be with her friends, but she might be alone...
No. He wouldn't.
Eddie grabbed the keys off the coffee table and left the apartment.
********************
His parents hadn't hassled him about his whereabouts the night before. Eddie felt pretty lucky his parents were so easy going, at least compared to his old friends' parents. But they trusted their two boys to stay out of trouble, and luckily they both had. So far, at least. However, his penance for a night away with his brother was that he head to the store to pick up a few things for dinner. Eddie was happy enough to oblige, though. There was still a lot of unpacking to do, and he had gotten tired of looking through boxes pretty quick.
He stepped outside. It was nice enough out, if a little cool. A car engine disturbed his reverie, and he watched as a very pretty Mustang flew by with a very pretty girl inside. Eddie knew he could get very used to this neighborhood. He got into his brother's car, a comparably uncool Toyota Camry, and started driving towards the store. He had gone once before when he first got into town, so he thought he knew where he was going, but after about ten minutes of driving around Eddie realized he was lost. He knew his parents should have gotten that data plan with his cell! At least he had reached a commercial area, though.
There was an open parking spot in front of a Starbucks, and Eddie decided that would be the best place to stop and ask for directions. And get something to drink, of course. He parked and entered the building, The line wasn't too long, and Eddie ordered and was able to find a seat pretty quickly, luckily right by the front window. He sat staring out at Los Angeles, thinking about the past few days and all that had changed with his life. Something was nagging at his brain, something he had forgotten about, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He looked around the room, hoping something would remind him, that something would jog his memory enough. It was really starting to both him, whatever it was. It definitely felt important. School? No, he didn't think so. Was he supposed to call someone? No. And he'd find that grocery soon enough, there wasn't any hurry there.
“Can I help you?” The voice knocked Eddie from his reverie, and he realized he had been staring directly at someone for quite a bit.
“No,” he chuckled, laughing at himself more than anything. “Sorry. I was just kinda... my mind has a way of just taking off, you know? Hi, I'm Eddie, and I just moved out here."
Eddie sat up and glanced at his phone to see what time it was, but what showed up was that he had missed a call. Further investigation revealed the name of the caller: Jessie. Eddie put his phone to his forehead and let out a big sigh.
“Don't call her back.” His brother's deep voice resonated through the room as Tom padded over to the fridge. “I heard it ring earlier. You still have that stupid ass song as her ringtone.”
Eddie glared back at his brother. “Jessie happened to love Blue October, okay?” Eddie knew he should have changed it long ago, but he could never bring himself to do it. It was a ring he had gotten used to hearing for the past two and a half years, no matter how corny it was. He was surprised it didn't wake him up even. It usually always did.
Tom stood by the sink munching on bowl of cereal, watching Eddie stare at his phone. “So she's calling again?”
Eddie paused a moment. “Yeah.”
“When did this start?”
“Valentine's Day. Dad and I were in Colorado at the time.”
“Did you answer it?”
“No. I... we haven't talked since a little after New Year's. I don't know why she started calling me, I can't bring myself to check the messages and I just delete her texts.”
“Cold,” Tom nodded with approval. “It's how you have to be. Otherwise you'll just get caught back up in that mess. You should try to meet someone.”
Eddie knew his brother was right, but the sick feeling in his stomach tried in vain to disagree. Eddie missed her, a lot, no matter how much she had hurt him. But that's what would no doubt happen if he ever tried to talk to her again. He'd just wind up getting hurt like before. Same thing if he met someone else, too. They'd hurt him just like Jessie did.
Tom dropped his bowl into the sink and headed back into his room. His voice boomed out from the bedroom. “I have a busy afternoon here, but you can take my car back to the house. I'll be by tonight for dinner and to help unpack. I'm gonna jump in the shower first, though. Keys are... well, wherever you left them. See ya tonight.”
Eddie sat for another minute, staring at his phone. One thirty-two in the afternoon. That means it was three thirty back home. In Iowa. Jessie would probably be with her friends, but she might be alone...
No. He wouldn't.
Eddie grabbed the keys off the coffee table and left the apartment.
********************
His parents hadn't hassled him about his whereabouts the night before. Eddie felt pretty lucky his parents were so easy going, at least compared to his old friends' parents. But they trusted their two boys to stay out of trouble, and luckily they both had. So far, at least. However, his penance for a night away with his brother was that he head to the store to pick up a few things for dinner. Eddie was happy enough to oblige, though. There was still a lot of unpacking to do, and he had gotten tired of looking through boxes pretty quick.
He stepped outside. It was nice enough out, if a little cool. A car engine disturbed his reverie, and he watched as a very pretty Mustang flew by with a very pretty girl inside. Eddie knew he could get very used to this neighborhood. He got into his brother's car, a comparably uncool Toyota Camry, and started driving towards the store. He had gone once before when he first got into town, so he thought he knew where he was going, but after about ten minutes of driving around Eddie realized he was lost. He knew his parents should have gotten that data plan with his cell! At least he had reached a commercial area, though.
There was an open parking spot in front of a Starbucks, and Eddie decided that would be the best place to stop and ask for directions. And get something to drink, of course. He parked and entered the building, The line wasn't too long, and Eddie ordered and was able to find a seat pretty quickly, luckily right by the front window. He sat staring out at Los Angeles, thinking about the past few days and all that had changed with his life. Something was nagging at his brain, something he had forgotten about, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He looked around the room, hoping something would remind him, that something would jog his memory enough. It was really starting to both him, whatever it was. It definitely felt important. School? No, he didn't think so. Was he supposed to call someone? No. And he'd find that grocery soon enough, there wasn't any hurry there.
“Can I help you?” The voice knocked Eddie from his reverie, and he realized he had been staring directly at someone for quite a bit.
“No,” he chuckled, laughing at himself more than anything. “Sorry. I was just kinda... my mind has a way of just taking off, you know? Hi, I'm Eddie, and I just moved out here."