READ THE WARNING

Chapter twenty

!TW!~ crying, mental illness

Saturday arrived quickly and everyone was coming. After some debate, they decided on going to the same coffee shop where Alex, Adam, Marina and Caroline once went on a double-date, the same coffee shop Alex used to take Amy and Anthony when they were younger, the same place where Alex "met Jackson". 

(If you don't remember, the first time Alex and Erebus saw each other when Erebus was in his human form was this coffee shop.)

John and Marina would be in one vehicle. Everyone else would be in the other. They really wanted everyone to be able to ride in the same car, but there wasn't enough room.

Alex somehow managed to sneak Sarah and Damien downstairs and outside without Caroline noticing and Erebus showed up a bit later. The four of them waited for a bit for Shawn to pick them up.

"Hi, Boss man!" Shouted Sarah, as soon as she saw Erebus approaching.

"Goddammit." Sighed Erebus. He sat between Alex and Damien, making a point not to sit near Sarah.

"How have you been?" Asked Sarah. "How's the job? How's the nonexistent wife? How're the nonexistent kids?"

"You are the most obnoxious motherfucker I've ever had the displeasure of spending a day with."

"Aw, I'm flattered!"

"Yeah, so am I." Said Damien.

Alex stayed silent. He didn't really want to be part of this. After a bit, the other three quieted down and Erebus looked back at Alex.

"So how have you been doing, beautiful?" Asked Erebus.

"No worse. How about you?"

"I've been alright. Work's been annoying, but other than that, things have been good."

"Good."

After a minute, Shawn's car pulled up. Alex climbed into the front seat and the other three climbed in the back. 

"Alright." Said Alex. "Guys, this is Shawn. Shawn, meet Sarah, Damien and Jackson."

"Hey, it's nice to meet you guys." Said Shawn.

"Nice to meet you too." Said Jackson.

"I like your hair." Said Sarah.

"Thank you."

Conversation ended up flowing pretty well, thankfully. Alex didn't say anything, he wanted the others to get to know each other. Erebus must have noticed, because he started urgently trying to get Alex involved in the conversation.

After a bit, they parked outside the coffee shop. Marina and John were already there, waiting in Marina's car.

"It's Marina!" Said Sarah, excitedly.

"Yes, we were told she would be here, Sarah." Said Damien.

Alex climbed out of the car, the others following shortly, and walked over to Marina's car.

She climbed out, John quickly following.

"Hey." Said Marina.

"Hello. How have you been?"

"Absolutely horrible. How have you been?"

"Eh, not bad." Alex shrugged. "Anyway, you wanted to meet Jackson, so go talk to him. You know which one he is."

"'Kay, do I make a good impression or do I be myself? If you say 'make a good impression', you're in love with him. If you say 'be yourself', you hate him."