Final Ticket

three

Solomon looked dreadful as he discovered the pastel orange envelope in a pile of junk on his dresser. He wanted to forget the day it came into his possession, and the contents inside. But instead, he found himself slipping a finger under the flap to pull the thick paper out and read it again.

The words hadn't changed any. They still said he had brain cancer. Even as much as he disliked his life, he never wanted to die; whether it was voluntary or not. There was a lot he wanted to do in life before he passed...and surprisingly, now one of those things was to see Maddie. That had been why he finally broke down and bought her the round trip ticket. At this point, he had nothing to lose; even though the survival rate for his age range was 55%, he still felt his death was nearing.

If Maddie was a guy, it was at least a guy he go along with, something hardly common in real life nowadays.

The phone's ring broke his concentration, and as the answering machine rattled off the number the call came from, Solomon swore under his breath. It was his family.

Since his diagnosis, his parents insisted on hanging around for every little event, and thing they did in London; and since it was the summer, that meant his annoying little brother tagged along. As much as he loved his family, he wouldn't have minded at all if his brother decided to jump from a skyscraper and cease to exist.

"Hi Sollie!" His mother cooed on the answering machine tape. "Just wanted to give you a ring and see if you wanted to do something. Let us know!"

Solomon's eyes closed as he laid down on the bed. Moxie had curled up on the other pillow hours before, purring as her green eyes focused on Solomon. A faint smile drifted across his lips has he reached to pet her, and he began to drift into sleep until someone messaged him on Skype and the buzzing of his phone against the white wood table spooked him. With an exhale, he reached over and grasped his phone. Skype was already open, and he was set as available. With him being available, he couldn't ignore the message. No matter how much he wished to.

[16:21:39] Paul!: Solliepop?

He let out a loud groan. He guessed his little brother got the phone he wanted for his birthday. The kid was spoiled since he was Mom and Dad's last (aka: an accident) and was fully convinced everyone adored his idiocy.

[16:27:19] No. 78921: what

[16:28:40] Paul!: Hi

[16:28:08] No. 78921: what do you want?

[16:28:31] Paul!: Well mom and dad are coming into town, ugh.. did you want to come with us

[16:29:30] No. 78921: you know when you say ugh it means you're disgusted by something right?

[16:30:07] Paul!: But its my thing

[16:30:27] No. 78921: well, get a new thing

[16:30:52] No. 78921: and I'm expecting company. So no.

He didn't like lying, but he was trying his best to avoid their presence. ESPECIALLY if Paul was along for the ride. With the grump he was in today, and the dislike for childishness and ignorance he always had, it would've been a lethal mix and someone's feelings would've been hurt.

[16:33:06] Paul!: Ok I told them you werent busy

It took every fiber of Solomon's being to not throw his mobile against the wall.

The little brat enjoyed making him miserable, it seemed. He had a twinge of hope that since he was basically DYING, Paul would've had a shred of respect or something for him.

[16:35:19] No. 78921: ...thanks.

He guessed he had to find find some farfetched reason why he guest didn't show up. He was a policeman and had a call? That worked...they knew he knew someone who worked for the London police, just not specifics...they didn't know he did paperwork.

He could hear Paul's sniggers in his mind, only to briefly realise it was outside his door. Swearing under his breath again, Solomon stuffed his phone in his pants pocket, but another soft buzz prompted him to take it out and read another new message, this time in his favourite group chat.

[16:39:17] madeline: everyone's statuses are so sad! you guys need happier ones.

[16:39:58] Nolan: No. 78921 doesn't even have a status though...?

[16:49:21] madeline: but he always seems so happy

Solomon frowned slightly. If the girl came to see him, she would be sorely disappointed in his personality. In fact, she hadn't spoke with him about the tickets, or anything for that matter. Did she hate him now?

He sighed, opening the door to let his family in, hoping to forget her for a while.