Crazy Little Thing Called Mate

\FIVE/

- Caleb -

A couple of days had passed since my massive breakdown.

After releasing everything I had been holding in for so long, I had to admit that I felt ten times better after the entire fiasco, and with a clearer headspace I found myself more focused than ever.

"So how much longer you plan on stayin in town kid?"

I turned to see Janet calmly cleaning a beer mug before she looked at me, awaiting my answer.

"Oh, well you know me..." I sounded a little caught off guard. "It's just, I never planned on sticking around here for longer than I had to, and now that Mom's affairs are all taken care it's only a matter of time until the house sells and I can get back to my old life back home."

"This is your home Caleb." She smiled in a knowing sort of way.

I protested with a shake of my head, "this place has never felt like home to me...the only time it ever felt anything like home was back when--it doesn't matter, the house is up for sale and that is that."

She simply shrugged, "no ones makin you stay Caleb, just don't try and push us away because what's happened in the past."

I chose to ignore her.

The rest of the hour went by and soon the bar was officially open for the evening.

The regulars poured in and a couple of new yet familiar faces slipped in as well.

"What'll it be?" I asked over and over as I took everyone's orders and then got their requested beverages.

"Hey man long time no see."

His voice was like a big metal rake slowly being dragged against an ancient chalkboard. My nerves coiled tightly as I turned to face him.

I looked into the face of my best friend from a time that seemed so long ago. "Paul."

"In the flesh, of course once I found out you were working here I had to come and kick it with my boy." He smiled casually

"What'll it be?"

He chose to ignore me. "So what's been up man, how's life?"

"Let's see, my mother passed away prompting me to come back to this shit hole town where nothing but backstabbing rejects dwell, I'm stuck here until my moms house sells so I'd say I'm doing pretty shitty, no need to ask how you are though Paul, by the looks of it you got just about everything you ever wanted...so once again I'll ask you What do you want to drink?"

"Cal, I just came in to see you man." He sounded a little more desperate this time.

This time I ignored him by moving on to another customer who was seated next to him at the bar.

"Look I thought all that shit would've been old history by now, Jessica's my wife now-"

"And she was my girlfriend back then." I responded angrily, my emotions beginning to get the better of me."

"Hey she came to me man."

"For a damn shoulder to cry on, not for a fucking dick inside of her...I mean it hadn't even been a fucking month since the abortion." I was beyond livid at having these old memories come rushing back but I was smart enough to to lower my voice.