Just Sh*t: A New York City Story

Chapter 1: Fools in the Big Apple

In the heart of New York City, five guys shared a cramped, rent-controlled apartment. It wasn't exactly glamorous, but they'd managed to turn it into a home. The apartment, nestled somewhere between a bodega and a laundromat that always smelled faintly of burnt fabric softener, was cluttered with mismatched furniture and half-eaten takeout boxes. The place was always a little chaotic, much like the guys themselves.

Judah, the unofficial leader of the group, lounged on the worn-out couch, scrolling through his phone. His life was anything but boring. As a TV personality, he interviewed celebrities on late-night talk shows, brushing elbows with the who's-who of Hollywood. His natural charisma made him popular wherever he went. At home, he was always full of stories — the time he accidentally spilled coffee on a famous actor's lap or how he had to stall on live TV while a guest had a wardrobe malfunction. The guys loved him, not just because he was funny and smooth but because he made them feel like their mundane lives were connected to something larger.

"Guess who I interviewed today?" Judah called out as the others filtered into the living room, just back from their day jobs. "Angelina freakin' Jolie."

Jackson, sitting quietly at the dining table with his laptop, barely looked up from his work. He was the shy, reserved one, the type of guy who knew the answer to every random trivia question but never flaunted it. He had a cushy finance job that bored him to death, and he liked it that way. The monotony was his escape from the complexities of life. He didn't need excitement when he came home; he needed peace, and the noise of the group somehow offered him that.

"That's cool," Jackson said without a trace of emotion, not because he didn't care, but because he didn't really care about celebrities. Still, he appreciated Judah's enthusiasm. Jackson just liked to quietly observe, nodding along.

Ryan, on the other hand, was full of energy. He had spent the day wrangling a group of first-graders, teaching them everything from how to write their names to how to not stick crayons up their noses. Being a teacher was his calling, and he loved every minute of it. When Ryan entered the room, his energy was contagious, but the group often teased him for being too sensitive.

"Let me guess, Judah," Ryan grinned, collapsing into an armchair. "She said you're her favorite interviewer, right?"

Judah smirked. "Obviously, bro. I'm everyone's favorite interviewer."

"Yeah, and you're modest about it too," Ryan teased, but the warmth in his voice showed he meant no harm. He liked Judah; everyone did. But it was easy to joke about how effortlessly cool he was.

Jamie shuffled in next, his phone glued to his ear. He was the awkward one, socially anxious in a way that made people root for him. He worked in insurance, which meant his days were spent on the phone, fumbling his way through customer calls, apologizing profusely for things that weren't his fault. In person, he wasn't much different. He was the kind of guy who overthought every interaction but had an endearing quality about him. Everyone liked Jamie because he was awkward, sure, but he was also genuine.

"Yeah, ma'am, I understand... I'll, uh, check on that for you... Oh no, that's fine, I'm here to help," Jamie muttered into the phone, his face a mix of concentration and nervousness as he darted back into his room to finish the call. He was always trying too hard, but in a way that made people want to pat him on the back and tell him he was doing fine.

Alex burst into the room next, as always, with a loud greeting. "What's up, nerds?"

He was the wild card. Likable, funny, and always pushing boundaries in ways that sometimes made the others cringe, but they couldn't help laughing. Alex was that guy who always had to take things one step further, whether it was turning a casual night out into a 3 AM rager or finding some absurd new hobby that got everyone involved. If anyone was going to get them into trouble, it was Alex.

"Judah, you met Angelina? Bro, please tell me you got her number," Alex teased.

Judah leaned back, enjoying the attention. "Man, it doesn't work like that. But yeah, she said I'm 'fascinating.' I think I've got a shot."

"You're delusional," Jackson said, his deadpan delivery earning a round of laughs from the group.

The night carried on like it always did—Judah entertaining them with celebrity stories, Ryan recounting the antics of his students, Alex egging everyone on, and Jackson contributing his quiet sarcasm. Jamie finally emerged from his room, the tension of his workday melting away as he joined the others.

They weren't perfect, but they fit together in a way that made life bearable. Sure, they'd rib each other, especially Ryan, who was always the target of light-hearted jokes for being too soft. But when push came to shove, they had each other's backs.

It was the little moments that made their shared life memorable. Like when Alex decided to test out his new "urban survival kit" by rappelling down the fire escape with a flimsy rope, only to get stuck halfway and scream for help. Or when Jamie somehow managed to get lost in Central Park during their morning run, even though it was basically a giant circle.

At the end of the day, life was a mess — their apartment, their jobs, their relationships. But through all the shit, they found something to laugh about, something to hold onto. Because, really, that's what it was all about. Just a bunch of guys living pretty normal lives and getting into stupid situations, but always finding a way to come out the other side, together.

In New York City, where everything was always moving, these five guys found a way to make the chaos feel like home. And somehow, in the middle of all the shit, it worked.