A Step Back (Jennifer. A + David. S)

Chapter 26: The Sound Of Silence

{the sound of silence - simon and garfunkel}
DAVID'S POV
The clouds hung low in the sky as they do on Sunday mornings, chill and cool. It's been a few days since Jennifer and I last saw each other, and for me, anyone. If I were to meet up with Courteney or Lisa, what would we do? I'm only truly comfortable around Jennifer.
My window was wide open, letting in all of the sounds from the street bellow. Cars trickling down the road, footsteps on the pavement, low voices, quietly stream in. All I'm doing is sitting at my table, letting the cool air chill me to the bone.
Ring, ring, ring
I rush over to my wall phone, and grab the phone off of the wall, in hope it may be Jennifer.
"Hello?" I call out, hoping to hear her sweet voice on the other side.
J: Hi David, it's me, Jen.
D: You seem nervous, what's going on?
J: Nothing, I just need to tell you something.
I swallow, staring towards the ground. She wouldn't break up with me over the phone, would she? I guess we haven't been going out that long, so maybe it's appropriate. I don't know, I guess I'll find out.
D: Okay, w-well w-what is it?
J: Nothing too bad David, I'm just going on a trip.
D: Oh. Where are you going?
J: I'm taking a trip to New York with Courteney and Lisa, we're driving.
D: All the way to New York?! Have you ever driven that far, because I can tell you off of personal experience, it's not fun.
J: Honey, it'll be fun, I'll be with my friends!
I pause, I forgot things can be more fun if you're with friends. I guess I wouldn't know.
J: Wait, aren't you from New York City?
D: Yeah, I am. Haven't been there for a while, not since I moved here.
J: Well why don't you come with us? You can show us around Manhatten!
D: I don't think Courteney or Lisa would like me to come, and plus, it's a long way to go and--
J: I'm sick of talking to you over the phone. I haven't seen you in a while, so please come over and we'll discuss it more.
D: Alright, I'm leaving now.
She hung up, and I grab my keys and a coat, heading out the door. I climb into my car, and drive over to my girlfriend's house. That's a nice sentence. My girlfriend's house.
JENNIFER'S POV
I open the curtains, and I see David's black 1967 Mustang outside. It's an old car, but it's really nice. I smile, as I watch him walk up to my apartment building and buzz in. I rush to the door, and let him up. His knuckles rattle the door, and I open to see him looking down at me. He saunters inside, and takes me into his arms; I love the hugs he gives, they're always warm and heart-felt.
"Hey." He whispered softly into my ear, making me kiss his lips once, and proceeded to sit down on the couch.
He goes to his usual armchair by the window. He crosses his legs, and rests his arms along the side; he's obviously comfortable.
"So you, Lisa, and Courteney are driving to New York City?" He asks, perplexed.
I look up at him.
"And you. You're coming mister, it'll be fun! I already called the other two while you were driving, and they said they'd love for you to come. Plus, we'll all get to meet Mr. And Mrs. Schwimmer!" He glances out the window, which was next to him.
"I'll come, but you can't meet my parents. I don't know where they live, they don't know where I am, we don't know each other. After high school, they kicked me out." He speaks, not letting his eyes leave the window.
He rests his chin on his fist. I'd known about his rough relationship with his parents, but I didn't know that he'd completely lost connection with them.
"Why is that David?" I ask, curiosily.
He glances down at his lap, where his hands are shaking a bit.
"They never liked me, I've told you this. They always looked for an excuse to boot me, and I was pretty glad to go. My father was cruel, as you already know. When my mother found out I'd lied to her all my life, she couldn't take it. My parents kicked me out, with no intention of ever seeing me again. And I have no intention of ever seeing them again either." He choked up, slowly letting a tear fall down his cheek.
He didn't wipe his eye, he let the next tear come. He wasn't bawling his eyes out, sniffling, or anything. He just sullenly stared out the window, two tears slowly falling. Oddly, it began to rain. Not too hard, just a light drizzle that made everybody that was outside return inside. It matched the mood perfectly.
"And I had no money, either. I still don't have very much. I used every penny I had to finish university and move out here. I never wanted to run into my parents, so I got as far away as I could. Renting the apartment was my last use of money, so I had none left by the time I got the job on Friends." He admitted.
I'd never known this. He never had much food in his fridge, he's always worn cheap simple clothing. He didn't have any really expensive treasures.
"So what did you bring from New York City? And how'd you get your nice car then?" I asked, wondering.
He chuckled a deep laugh, his voice bellowing in the silence.
"You might not like this, but I stole it from my dad. I was angry when my parents kicked me out, so I packed a bag and stole the keys to my dad's car. At the time, I think it was 1980, so it wasn't worth anything anyways; it was 13 years old. I brought my clothes, my guitar, a few records, my record player, and my leather satchel. I threw it in the backseat and took off. I was going to drive until I found somewhere I liked to live, and I got all the way to the west coast, not one place appealed to me. I wanted to do something in the arts, so it was just my luck I ended up in LA." He told his story of how he came to be.
I smiled, knowing without the pain he went through, he wouldn't be sitting in front of me.
"Where do you think you'd be if you hadn't left and found Los Angeles?" I asked, knowing I'm so lucky to have him here.
He pondered for a moment, but then met eyes with me.
"Dead." He spoke quietly, "Honestly, I would've killed myself because I'd be incredibly unhappy for the rest of my life without you and this show." He cried.
He stood up and made his way to me. He sat himself next to me and brought his arms around my body, needily. I hugged him back, pulling his head to my shoulder, wrapping my own arms around his torso. He slowly fell asleep in my arms, and I soon followed. All that was left was the sound of silence...