Tyler.
We ate breakfast In silence, not the awkward type with tension hanging in the air, but the comfortable ones. Keenan had cleared his plate while I was half way done.
"You're still eating this crap?" He asked,"it's awful."
"I'm used to it, trust me," I said.
He laughed,"I need to get to work now. Do you want me to take you home?"
"Can I.. Tag along.. Maybe," I asked hesitantly.
"Of course," he said. I looked down at my clothes. "We can go over to your house so you can change."
I smiled and he dug into his pockets for his car keys.
We got to the apartment and I rapped on the door. I wasn't expecting an answer, since all my family are irresponsible. And family includes my friends. Charlie unlocks the door for us. She looked dressed up in: a purple ripped top and leather pants. Where was she going to?
"Hi Charlie," I greeted.
"You're Charlie," He said, smiling.
"Oh, oh? Tyler, dearest. Nice of you to say a word or two about me to your friend," she grinned,"and by the way, I'm free every Monday to Thursday, but my curfew is eleven.."
I stopped her by pushing her more into the room and she followed me while Keenan waited.
"Charles, why are you all dressed up?" I asked while pulling off my clothes.
"It's the Lord. He directed me into wearing this because he knew my destiny would await me," she said and I burst into laughter.
After getting into decent clothes, I returned to where Charlie's destiny was waiting. He was studying the house in interest. What could I say? I was a good designer.
"All ready," I informed him.
"Please take me with you," Charlie pleaded. She did the puppy dog eyes, making her huge brown eyes to grow bigger. She thought it was cute but she looked like she was trying to make her eyeballs pop out of their sockets.
"Your cousin's cute," he said and I thought she would nearly die. Or if she was fortunate, maybe faint. She simply giggled then did a little victory dance when he got distracted.
"Let's go, ladies," he said,"But let me warn you, it gets pretty boring over there."
"I'll have you to distract me," Charlie whispered.
*****
At the hospital...
The building was exactly the same as it was. Though this time I wasn't practically carried by my best friend. It was tall and with a complex structure. If it didn't smell like medicine and sick people, it'd be much better.
We stepped out of the car and walked into the entrance. From the stares of admiration, friendly greetings and giggles coming from female nurses, I gathered Keenan was quite popular.
He stopped in front of the counter where a woman was positioned behind. She was chewing her gum like her life depended on it and was chatting away on the phone. She had been so engrossed, she didn't notice us. Very incompetent. When she finally saw us, she told the person on the other end 'bye'.
"Oh hello Keenan," she greeted informally. Oh, he and Bubblegum are best buds.
"Hi Anna," he said. "These are my friends, please show them around and take them wherever they want. And of course, get someone to stand in for you."
Hmm, he probably is an important figure here.
"Sure, hello," she gave us a warm smile.
"See you ladies later. I'll try not to take too long," he left. She stared after him.
"Do you know how it feels to love someone and the person doesn't love you?" She asked.
"I so know that feeling, bro," Charlie sighed.
****
"I'm so tired," I said, landing on a nearby couch.
"Today was the best day of my life!" Charlie sang,"the Heavens have finally answered my prayers."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, walking into the kitchen and retrieving a can of lemonade from the fridge. I returned to find Xavier.
"Its you," I rolled my tired eyes.
"It's me," he repeated,"We need to talk. Charlie, your room." She nodded obediently and left.
"Look, X, I have very little time. I'm so freaking tired," I rubbed my temples.
He came a little closer to me and asked, concerned,"are you okay, Ty?"
"Yes, I'm fine," I said.
I don't know how he did it but he was behind me. Dangerously close and he rubbed my shoulders. It felt soothing but I had to shrug his hands off.
Still not facing him, I asked,"What're you doing here?"
"I'm your bodyguard, Tyler. What shouldn't I be doing here?"
"I don't know," I mumbled.
His breath fanned my neck, I was trying to compose myself. What was he doing? Where was his little girlfriend, Ava. We were not on speaking terms. Why, he'd even left me and now he was back.
I turned to face him as soon as he uttered,"I'm sorry."
"For what exactly? You have to be sorry for some reason," I challenged.
"For bringing Ava and Marko without telling you and.. The whole Ava thing, I don't know," he said frustratedly and I had to admit he looked cute. Aww.
"Don't hurt yourself, love. You're forgiven.. Maybe."
"Good," he said curtly.
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