Armageddon

III

"Gasp. I'm shocked," Edward says monotonously after I tell him that Raven dropped my camera and it broke. "Why didn't you just come to my party?"

It's 1 PM and the guilt has been gnawing at me as I spent the entire morning trying to find the best way to break the news to Edward, and the fact that he isn't even upset makes me wish I'd spared myself the agony.

"What are we going to do about the photos?"

"Way ahead of you. I had them backed up on my computer. After you told me you were going to be with Raven, I just couldn't take any chances. I guess my intuition was right."

Is it bad that - at this moment - I'm pleased with Edward's distrust of Raven? I mean, if it wasn't for that, all my work would've been lost and all my chances of getting a job would've been nought again. And I need a job.

"To be fair, it wasn't her fault. Some lady bumped her, and the camera fell."

"Yeah well, nothing is ever her fault," he mutters. "Anyways, just come to my house and we can put the final touches."

"Sure," I respond and hang up.

God, if this worked out. I need this to work out so I can make my life better. Sure, freelancing has been great in terms of 'being my own boss' and shit, but there's no money there and I have to eat. I know it's not guaranteed that I have the job, but just the knowledge that I actually have a shot is great.

Trying not to trip over the dirt in my room - I know; I'll clean it someday - I grab my phone and keys and walk down the stairs while trying not to touch the rails. Everything smells like piss, beer and vagina.

Why people choose to do it on the stairs instead of in their rooms is beyond me.

I find Charlie eyeing my car, and I roll my eyes, but I struggle with hiding the smile that creeps onto my face. "Are you trying to steal my car, you fucking prick?"

He smiles back. "I was worroid when yaouw doy cum back lus noight, so I thought I'd just check if yaouw came back."

"I was at some concert. It kind of just came up," I explain.

"Yaouw doy yav ter apologise."

"I don't think I was. Anyways, I'm going to see Edward. Want me to give him a message for you?"

"Just tell him I still love him."

Laughing, I step inside the car when I see the Pepsis on my dashboard. I give them to him along with the burgers and make my way.

I'm always sort of stoked when I drive into Wandsworth because of two reasons: one is that it makes me ask myself exactly how much money Edward has - but then again, he's dating a lawyer, so there's my answer; and two, I wonder how Edward is able to live here. The old churches, the buildings' traditional style, the lake I just passed in the middle of it - it all just gives this neighbourhood a pretty conservative, family values, vibe.

And we all know that gay couples aren't very good for enforcing British family values.

I don't think my straight arse would survive here. How does Edward do it?

Edward's behemoth gates open after I let him know I've arrived, revealing the even bigger behemoth that Edward calls 'home', and I feel like shit parking my scrap metal in his yard. Just seeing the amount of wealth he has built up for himself makes me feel hungry for success of my own. Sometimes it bothers me that he's made it so far while my life has largely been stagnant, but I've learnt that ice-cream is good at calming those feelings.

Walking, I take in the smell of fresh lavender that fills the space. It completely contrasts the smell of stale food and dirty clothes in my apartment. The hardwood floors clink as our shoes make impact with them, and the almost empty reception room echoes the sound.