The Murder House

Eleven - Like Old Times

       "Do you remember what you told me the night I asked you out?" Elton asked smiling like a lovesick puppy. As part of their deal the band was being as honest as possible with Romani and would answer any and all questions. Franco and Dylan were more unwavering with their pasts before the band. Franco explained he lost his mother to a mugging and that after her death he and his father didn't speak, and that he left at fourteen to go live with his cousin in Newcastle. Dylan explained about their gambling father and left it at that, Romani knew not to push them past what they were willing to give. Right now Elton was trying to comfort them, they were slow dancing to one of their old songs they wrote before Romani was born. He didn't think he could want to be more like them when he and River grew older until Dylan smiled the smallest smile ever. Dylan didn't respond, just kept swaying waiting for him to say it. His voice was barely above a whisper, "we could live a thousand lifetimes together," Romani's heart soared hearing that. He loved seeing the more human side of the band, knowing that they too were failable entities. The back door swung open and the force of nature Romani come to know as Joey Bradley smiled brightly at him.

       "Hey Double R!" Her whole face was adorable, you couldn't not look at her and smile. She was like Clementine but grown up, her round chubby cheeks and narrow brown eyes, her flat nose moulded into her face. Her rosey lips were never frowning, she always had a smile on unless she was glaring at Ellis or trying to fix her thigh length hair. Today she had on a pale pink sundress, Romani wondered how she could hear such a short dress especially with the way she jumped around. "Hey Anza! It's got shorts!" She squealed flipping up her skirt.

       "That's lovely Joy," Dylan spoke as if to a child.

       "I meant the other Anza but okay! That dance was really cool but you got to fix your posture, I know he's leading and you're taller but if you raise your shoulders. There you go!" She clapped then jumped on the sofa beside Romani, she leant in almost pressing up against him. "Guess what?"

       "What?"

       "It has pockets too,"

       "Okay,"    

       "Oh you're boring, where's everyone else?"

       "Getting ready for the gig, we aren't as young as we once were," Elton's voice was weak as Dylan let go of him. The best thing about Joy was that she was always willing to help, no matter what was thrown at her or what abuse she heard she would take it on board. She was up instantly helping Elton bend down onto the other sofa. Elton patted her hand and she smiled sweetly, "you're a good one Joy,"

       "So are you Spliff Queen,"

       "If I had the energy I'd fight you,"

       "And you'd lose," Ellis came in with flour on his face and half an egg down his shirt. Joy squealed something in  Korean before jumping on him, he lifted her up and held her in his arms while her legs wrapped around his waist. It was a sight seeing Ellis's dark broody nature holding a literal day of sunshine. She hopped down and flipped up her skirt, he just nodded cleaning his glasses, "I see it has a skirt,"

       "Shorts," she frowned.

       "Yes, that," he couldn't meet her eye. She looked down at herself then back home at him, "you're so pretty and I'm covered in food," he mumbled sulkily. "I'm showing you up, you always come here so pretty,"

       "Ah oppa," she whined.

       "Ew," he stepped away, all sweetness he had lost in an instant. "You know not to call me that, I'm not your Korean friends I'm Spanish. Do you want me to call you hermana? Don't answer that either, I've just got rid of Lloyd asking for Spanish lessons, he can't even speak English let alone Spanish. It's like watching a baby donkey try to swim,"