The Morning after

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Rody's head pounded as he stirred. The covers over him provided him a comfort he missed. The surface wasn't helping either. It felt like he was sucked into it. Like he would ever want to leave it. He began to open his eyes only to be hit with the bright beam of light. He groaned before turning over away from it. His arm landed off to the side. Wait. That can't be right. Rody thought to himself as he began to open his eyes. He should feel the back of his couch, and he could smell bacon. As he became aware of his surroundings he got the answer. He wasn't in his apartment. He was somewhere else. The walls in front of him were painted gray with a white door in the center. With the floor being a dark brown. Through his peripheral vision he could see a black night stand next to him. Rody sat up. His head still hurt and his throat was dry. This definitely wasn't a hangover. He looked over to his left. The bed was made for two. With another night stand next to it. Behind it were two gran windows with black drapes. Rody removed the covers and crawled over to the windows. Stepping closer he could see the one in front of him was actually a pair of doors that led to a balcony overlooking the main road. He could see several cars already making their way along the street. With a few people out and about. Looking back up a familiar sign caught his eyes. "The bistro." Rody whispered to himself. It was still a way away, but closer than his apartment. Rody looked to his right. A black desk was pressed against the wall with a wooden black chair pushed away slightly at an angle. Just waiting for someone to sit in it again. In between it and the window hung a frame. Rody walked over to it. In the dark wooden frame was a diploma for a university. The person majored in music, and minored in culinary arts. Underneath was the person's name. "Vincent Charboneau." Rody said aloud with eyes widened. This has to be Vincent's apartment. Then a quick realization struck Rody. "This is..." The room suddenly felt warmer. Rody fanned himself with his hands before quickly making his way out of the room. Opening the door gave him access to the hallway. The walls were painted a white with the floor being the same dark brown planks. Though they served to outline the rectangular gray rug in the middle. To his right was a small table with an empty vase by a window. To his left the hall began to stretch out. With barely any other option Rody made a left. As he walked he the smell of bacon grew stronger. Joined by something else. Eggs perhaps? Eventually he reached the closest door. It was wide open. Giving him the view into the kitchen. Rody could feel himself flush red. Vincent was in the kitchen cooking away. He was dressed in a baggy gray shirt, and black sweatpants. A white towel with two black stripes on the end flung over his shoulder. The way he moved around the kitchen made it seem like he was on ice skates, or performing a dance. Moving between the stove. Placing freshly made bacon on a plate. Pat it gently before moving it to a different place. Fluffy scrambled eggs placed in a bowl, and quickly covered by a towel. Vincent walked back to the stove. Flipping the pancakes over revealing the beautiful brown they were colored. The smell alone was making his mouth water, but Vincent was the cherry on top. Rody could just sit there immersed in the sight. Though it was quickly interrupted by a growl coming from his stomach. Rody was snapped out of his trance down to his stomach. "Oh you're awake." Vincent spoke, drawing Rody's attention to him. "Yeah. Where am I?" Rody asked as he walked into the kitchen. "My apartment." Vincent answered as he began removing pancakes from the stove and placing them on two plates. "How did I end up here?Rody asked. "How about you sit down and eat breakfast." Vincent replied though it was more threatening than sarcastic. By now any butterflies Vincent made him feel turned into discomfort. Vincent passed by him with two plates. in his hands. Rody figured he'd go along with it. Walking over to the table that felt too large for Vinctent. "What would you like to drink?" Vincent asked. "I'm good." Rody replied quickly. His throat was drier than the savanna desert. A drink would definitely be needed. But how could he really trust Vincent when he literally just woke up in his apartment without any explanation. "I wasn't asking if you wanted a drink. I was asking what you wanted to drink. I've got different fruits for fruit juice, coffee, and tea." Then a hiss burst through the room. Vincent quickly walked over to the stove. "I'll take tea." Rody replied as Vincent moved the kettle off of the stove. "Any particular kind?" Vincent asked. "Earl gray?" Rody replied, it was the only kind he really knew of. Vincent opened a cabinet before pulling out two mugs. Pouring hot water in it and walking back to the pantry. Rody walked over to the table. Vincent went more out of his way than Rody had expected. Several berries in front of syrup, and butter. Right next to the bowl full of scrambled eggs, and the plate of steaming bacon. Vincent walked over to join him, placing one mug next to one plate before sitting at the head with his own mug. Rody took a seat next to him in front of the other plate. "I didn't know if you'd like berries in your pancakes so I put them out in case you wanted them." Vincent explained as he grabbed some blackberries and placed them on his pancake. Rody reached out to take the strawberries, and blueberries. Alongside grabbing the syrup and pouring it on. He placed it back before grabbing two pieces of bacon, and a big spoonful of eggs. A fork and knife had been laid out next to him. He grabbed a fork into the pancakes. As he did he took a look at Vincent. Vincent had very few blackberries spread across a single pancake. Even when he went to grab a bite his fork barely scraped anything more than a few crumbs. Rody ignored it as he pulled his bite out. He quickly noticed how he was given three pancakes over one. Though he didn't mind too much. As the fork entered his mouth Rody could feel the taste explode inside. The berries mixed with the syrup. The fluffy yet fulling texture of the pancake. Rody groaned as he quickly went in for another bite. "This is fucking delicous." He said with a mouthful of pancake. Vincent blinked twice. "It is?" Vincent asked. Rody quickly nodded. Taking another mouthful. "Hell yeah man. I honestly don't know what I was expecting." Rody swallowed his food. "I mean I've never seen you actually cook. You mostly just stand there and supervise. But now I see why Richard hired you as a manager." Rody explained. Vincent remained quiet. Rody looked up at him. Vincent was just staring wide eyed. Though unlike his usual wide eye uneasy stare. This one seemed more surprising. "You okay?" Rody asked. Vincent quickly shook his head. "Yeah. I'm glad you like it." Vincnent replied with a small subtle smile. "So how did I end up here?" Rody asked. The mood seemed to have changed. A tension began to cloud the room. Giving Rody the same uneasiness he had at the party. "Well what do you remember and then we will go from there." Vincent replied. Rody began to think back. Memories flashing through his brain. Memories he'd rather forget. Memories of Manon, Richard's laugh, his intense breathing, his parents. Rody clenched his fists around his fork. His body began to tense up. His eyes remained on his pancakes. "I was going to change the record for you." He took in a shaky breath. "Then I saw Manon." His eyes began to water. He squeezed them tight. Hoping that maybe it would shut everything out. He was about to pull his hands up to his head. Then he felt a cold grasp one of his hands. His eyes shot open and his breathing was intense. He looked down to see Vincent's pale hand over his own. Rody looked back at him. Vincent's face showed something he hadn't really seen from him. It was concern, genuine concern. Vincent may have helped when he needed it, but this was the actual time he really saw something that was genuine. "Deep breaths." Vincent said as Rody tried to take in a deep breath. Though they were just continuously speedy. "Rody follow me. Deep breath." Vincent said as he took a deep breath. Rody followed suit. "Good. Now again." The two took another deep breath in, and again until Rody felt calmer. Vincent reached a hand up to his cheek wiping his tears away. "There you go, you're alright." Vincent said calmly. "I know some other stuff happened. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it any more." Vincent said as Rody quickly nodded. Grabbing his tea and taking a sip. The temperature was now lukewarm, but still tasted good. Rody took another bite from his pancakes. "You passed out." Vincent spoke, catching Rody's attention. "Pardon?" Rody asked. "You passed out." Vincent said again. "How I wasn't that drunk?" Rody asked. Vincent sighed. "I don't know what it was, but I honestly thought you were having a heart attack." Vincent replied as he took a sip of his tea. Rody looked down at his food. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He began to shake. Vincent put a hand on Rody's shoulder. "Hey you're okay. There isn't anything wrong with you that can't be dealt with." Vincent replied. "Are you sure?" Rody asked. Vincent smiled and nodded. "I promise you. We can find a way to deal with this." Vincent said, squeezing his hand again. Rody gave him a small smile. They stayed like that. Rody's eyes staring into Vincent's. It felt almost like they were growing closer. Both physically and metaphorically. Then the sudden ring of the phone quickly drew the two out of the trance. Vincent backed up and made his way over towards the living room. Leaving Rody alone in the kitchen. Rody watched before putting a hand over his mouth. His face turned red. He groaned before quickly grabbing a forkful of eggs and shoving it in his mouth. The eggs were cooler now, but still tasted well. The seasoning was just right, and the fluffiness was perfect. Though he didn't savor it. Swallowing quickly hoping to swallow the shame with it. Though he knew it would never vanish. It would always remain in the back of his head. As he grabbed a piece of bacon he quickly realized Vincent never told him how he ended up at his apartment. He got up and walked towards the living room. From there he could see Vincent standing by the coffee table. Phone in hand, sitting on a couch that looked like it came from a magazine. On it he could see a blanket strewed about on the couch. He raised a brow. Had Vincent slept on the couch? Rody couldn't help but scrunch up his nose. That couch looked so uncomfortable to sleep on. "Yes he's here at my place." Vincent said. "I'll be over there with him to pick up his bike." Vincent said as he stood up. "Bye." He replied before slamming down the phone. He then looked back to see Rody there. "It was Dolly asking if you were alright." Vincent explained. Rody nodded. "Okay also how did I end up here?" "You passed out due to the thing you had. I wasn't going to leave you unconscious at a party that was still going on. The only person who I knew had your address was Richard, but unfortunately he decided his girlfriend's leg wasn't broken enough, and I wasn't about to intrude on anything I didn't want to see." Vincent answered as Rody stood there with a blankface. "I think I am going to go back and enjoy my breakfast." Rody said wanting to drop out of the conversation.

Being in Vincent's car was a new experience for Rody. He hadn't been in a car since he was a kid. Unless Mathew's truck counted. Though he hadn't been in a more expensive car. The inside was just as polished as the outside. Vincent had changed out into a black long sleeved shirt, and pants. Pulling up to Richard's house Rody felt the nerves building up inside him. He hadn't forgotten what had happened the previous night. His only hope was that Richard had. When pulling up he could see Dolly sitting on a chair on the front porch. Both Rody and Vincent got out. Dolly gave them a wave. "Hi you two. Are you doing okay Rody? I heard you saw... Manon." Dolly said hesitantly. Rody gulped. "Don't worry I'm doing just fine." It was a lie, and one both Dolly, and Vincent saw straight through. "Thanks for making sure nobody stole my bike." Rody replied as he grabbed it from behind the bushes. "I'll be heading home now." "No." Rody and Dolly turned to Vincent. Giving Rody the dead face stare. "Not after last night are you biking alone back home. I'm driving you home" Vincent said. "Where would I put my bike?" Rody replied, hoping to not have to go through another car ride with him. Vincent pointed to his car. "It has a bike rack." Rody sighed before bringing his bike over. Vincent attached it to the car. Before the two got back in after waving bye to Dolly. The ride mostly consisted of Rody giving directions. Though they eventually reached a stretch where they would just be going straight. "So why didn't you drink last night?" Rody asked out of the blue. "Light weight." Vincent replied. Rody looked over at him. His eyes were still dead set on the road in front of him. "What does your weight have to do with it?" Rody asked. Vincent groaned and Rody could swear he saw his eye twitch. "Lightweight means it does not take a lot of alcohol to get me drunk. It has nothing to do with my actual weight." Vincent explained. "Ohhh." Rody said before the car became silent once again. "Pull up over here." Rody said as he pointed to the worn down building in front of them. Vincent pulled up into an empty spot before looking up at the building. "Are you sure you live here?" Vincent asked, looking at the old looking building as they exited the car. "Yeah. I know it's a little worn, but it's homey." Rody replied as Vincent removed his bike. "Thank you once again for everything." Rody replied. Vincent nodded. "Take care Rody." Vincent said as he got back in his car. "Bye Vince, see you at work." Rody replied as Vincent's car drove off. As it did, Rody couldn't help but watch. Longing to be in the car with him.                   

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