The song that changed my heart

Laundry Day

The entire way to Rody's apartment was a quiet one. Yet an underlying tension had fallen between the two. Vincent's face showed no sign he felt it. Rody was a completely different story. His eyes flicked back and forth between the window and Vincent. He could feel small bits of regrets looming in his soul. He wished he had told Rody now. Yet there were always the risks. Rody could've been really drunk and not thinking straight. He probably did not mean any of it. But at the same time there was a small glint of hope somewhere that maybe Rody had meant it. The two arrived at Rody's apartment. Rody walked in and grabbed some clean clothes from his closet. "I'm going to change." Rody said before leaving the room and walking into the bathroom. Vincent nodded as his eyes looked at the couch. A glint of blue caught his eyes. Vincent raised a brow as he approached it. He leaned down to see a blue binder underneath the couch. His mind flashed to when he was vacuuming the other day. Rody had seemed so panicked about Vincent looking under his couch. Vincent had not wanted to pry about it, and just accepted Rody's excuse. Curiosity boiled in him as what was in the binder, but since Rody didn't want him to see what was in it he wouldn't look. Vincent stood back up as he looked at a notepad lying on the coffee table. Lines of musical notes had been written. Taking up the entire page, and even the next few. Vincent looked over trying to figure out the melody. Considering Rody was likely writing this for the guitar the melody may be a bit different from how Vincent was humming it out. But it sounded pretty decent. He heard the bathroom door open. Vincent stood up as Rody walked into the living room. He had changed into a teal long sleeved shirt under an open cream flannel. Light brown pants with a black belt that had some of it dangling down his leg. It annoyed Vincent a bit but he didn't say anything. Rody had his shirt and sweatpants, and boxers in one hand, and a suitcase in another. Rody froze midway and raised a brow. "What were you doing?" Rody asked. A twinge of fear filled his voice. Vincent pointed at the notepad. "I was curious what you were writing. It's pretty good." Vincent explained as he stood up. Rody let out a small smile. "Thanks, I've been getting a lot of inspiration for writing lately." Rody explained with a smile. "Any lyrics for it yet?" Vincent asked as Rody tossed the clothes into the laundry basket. "Not yet. Though I have some things in the works." Rody replied nervously. Vincent furrowed a brow but kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to make Rody feel any more discomfort than he was probably already feeling. Suddenly the phone began to ring. "I've got it." Rody said as he rushed over to the phone before Vincent could even touch it. Rody picked it up and brought it to his ear. "Hello?" Rody said before he sharply pulled away. It was a male on the other end shouting. Giving Vincent way too easy of a way to hear the staticy voice. "RODY WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? I heard you got burnt badly, but you have NOT been picking up for the past few days and missed practice!" "MATHEW! You don't have to shout!" Rody shouted back as he brought the phone back to his ear. He sighed. "I've been at a coworkers house while healing so I haven't been around my phone. Also I got burnt, of course I haven't been showing up to practice. I should be able to come this evening." Rody remained silent for about a minute. "Okay. Yeah that should work for me." He removed the phone from his ear and placed his hand over the talking end. "Hey, do you think you could drop me off at a bandmate's house for practice around six? I can get one of them to take me home." Rody said. "Sure." Vincent replied as Rody smiled. "Yeah I'll be there." Rody replied. Another minute of silence followed and Rody rolled his eyes. "Got it. Bye." Rody hung the phone up. Rody got up and went back to packing. The two remained in silence for the time. It was a bit more comfortable than it had been earlier in the morning. When Rody was done packing Vincent grabbed the laundry basket and the two walked back to his car. Rody directed Vincent to a nearby laundromat. It was almost empty except for the lady behind the counter, and a few other people. It wasn't hard for the two to find several open washing machines. Rody went through the task of sorting through his clothes while Vincent slotted some coins into one before opening it and took a sniff. He resisted the urge to slap his face. Looking inside nothing was left there. He turned back to Rody. "Hey Rody." Rody looked over at him. "Can you smell inside?" Vincent asked as he pointed to the laundry machine. Rody furrowed brow, but still went over. "Smells like laundry detergent." Rody replied. "Does it smell like bleach?" Vincent asked. Rody took another sniff. "Nope." He replied. Vincent nodded as he slotted another two coins into the one next to it. "Do you need me to smell that one as well?" Rody asked as Vincent opened the door to that. "Preferably." Vincent replied as Rody moved over and took a sniff. "Bleach." Rody replied as he looked back up at Vincent. Vincent nodded as went over to the two bags he had brought inside another laundry basket. Rody went back to sorting his clothes. As Vincent grabbed a bag and poured the clothes into the non bleach machine. He grabbed the detergent and poured a cup in over the pile of gray, and black clothes. He shut the door before turning the knob to the preferred setting before starting the machine. Vincent grabbed the second bag and poured the clothes into the second machine. He placed the bags back in the basket before grabbing the bleach and pouring it in with his white colored clothes. He closed the door before putting the machine to the setting he wanted before starting the machine and letting them run. By now Rody was putting his clothes into the machines, and starting them to run. The two sat on a bench just watching the clothes spin. The silence wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. Thankfully the silence was broken by Rody. "Why did you need me to smell the washers?" Vincent looked at him and raised a brow. "Like I know if it smells like bleach you shouldn't put anything but white colored clothes in there. But why did you need me to smell it?" Rody asked. "Remember how I said I can't taste?" Vincent asked. Rody nodded his head. "Part of the reason I am unable to taste now is because some of the nerves in my nose are damaged as well. I can still smell but just barely." Vincent replied as Rody looked back at the washers. "How do you not burn food then?" Rody asked. Vincent looked up at him as he looked back down at him. "Pardon?" "Like if you can't taste, and your sense of smell if shit then how do you not burn food?" Rody asked as Vincent reached a hand up to his forehead. "Sight, and sound. I can hear, and see things and when they are getting burnt." Rody mouth zipped shut. They remained silent for a few more seconds. "Sorry." Rody whispered. Vincent looked back at him. Then looked back at the washers. "You don't have to be." Vincent replied, but honestly he actually felt slightly grateful. Not many people ever apologize when they ask questions that may be offensive. Let alone any other comment. "It still felt kind of rude." Rody replied. As Vincent closed his eyes. "They are. Though not many people actually ever apologize." Vincent replied as Rody looked back at him. "Well if I say or ask anything like that. Please tell me if that is offensive." Rody said with a smile. Vincent could feel his heart pound. "I will." Vincent said as he let out a small smile. The two remained in a comfortable silence. Until Rody's stomach growled. Vincent looked at him. "When we get back to my apartment I'll make us lunch." Vincent replied. Rody smiled, and nodded. He checked his pocket to ensure his wallet was in it. "I'm going to go down to a convenient store, and get a snack real quick." Vincent shrugged. "Alright." Rody got up and left. As soon as he was out of sight of the he began to speed walk to the nearest convenience store. A pay phone was placed outside. Rody rushed over and placed some change in the slot before quickly dialing Manon's number. The phone rang before it picked up. "Hello?" A decently high pitched voice answered. Rody did not recognize it. "Hello, is Manon there?" Rody asked. "Uhm yes?" The person replied. "She'll be on the phone in a minute." The person responded. As Rody nodded. In a second Manon's voice came from the other end. "Hello?" "Manon, I need advice." Rody said quickly. "Rody what's going on?" Manon asked as Rody sighed. "I got tipsy last night with Vincent and we ended up making out." The line went dead silent. "And what do you want me to do about it?" Manon half shouted, half asked. "I don't know. Give advice. Do I ask them out on a date, or just pretend it's never happened because I don't think Vincent remembers." Rody said as he held the phone with both hands. "I think you should tell him about what happened. Then go from there." Manon said. Rody gulped. "I don't know. I don't want him to hate me." Manon sighed. "Rody I think he would decently understand that neither of you were in the right mind. Y'all can talk it out from there. Not communicating is not going to get you anywhere." Rody sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Alright." Rody replied. "Bye." "Bye Rody." Manon said before Rody hung up. He walked into the convenience store, and grabbed a bag trail mix. He didn't entirely like it, and it was kind of expensive, but he was hungry, and it would take almost an hour for laundry to be done. Rody shrugged it before he walked up to the register. As he was being checked out his eyes landed on a box of matches. He thought about Vincent. He had a habit of smoking. Maybe Vincent would appreciate it if he had spare matches for when his lighter ran out of fuel. Rody looked at the price, and quickly realized he would probably not be able to afford them. He would have to save up if he wanted to get them. He paid for his trail mix. Yet he had a weird gut feeling that he should've bought the matches.