To The Sky

CHAPTER 2 - Three Weeks After

CHAPTER 2 - Three Weeks After

For the past three weeks, Trip has been cooped up inside his penthouse. Eating nothing and doing nothing but drinking. Trevor comes over to check on him sometimes, Chase, Bradley and Jeff check on him most of the time while his parents and Tiffany call him everyday. Though he seems suffocated, he doesn't mind it because it keeps him sane.

So while Trip mopes around his house his phone suddenly rings, "Yes this is Trip." He said. "Trip, it's Martin. We gotta know when you'll be back, copilot-ting this new hot shot pilot is hassle as fuck. He's such a douchebag. I want you back, man!" Martin said. Trip smiles faintly, "I'll be back by next week, Martin don't worry." He said calmly. "You better!" Martin said. "Alright! See you soon." Trip said and then dropped the call.

Martin Bertrand Walsh is Trip's childhood best friend, confidant and co-pilot. They've been flying since they both graduated from Princeton with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

So Trip continues to drink and mourn in his own way doing nothing but think about the "what could've beens" in his life. He tries to do something productive but ends up drinking instead.

The doorbell rings and Trip goes and gets it. When he opens it he sees Tiffany, she shows him a plastic bag full of Chinese food, "Don't hurt me, I come in peace." She said and he invites her inside. "Have you been drinking?" Tiffany asked and looked at the bottles and cans of beer on Trip's dining table and coffee table. "Is it that obvious?" Trip retorted and they both sit on his couch.

"So I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd bring you some Chinese food!" Tiffany said and put the plastic of Chinese food on the coffee table while she stands up and starts to clean the beer bottles and cans on the dining table. "Tiff, you don't have to do that." Trip said and stands up to go help Tiffany. "It's fine, I like cleaning things up." She said. "Let me help you." He said and they both clean up the table and throw the trash. "I'm sorry I had three shitty weeks." He said and Tiffany gives him a concerned look.

So after they cleaned up they ate the Chinese food Tiffany brought and talked. "So let me get this straight, Carlie is dating your friend?" Trip asked. "No. My friend has a thing for Carlie." Tiffany clarified. "Wait your friend's a lesbian?" Trip asked. "No! My friend is a guy. His name is Kevin." She said. Trip nods, "So why is that a problem?" He asked. "Because Carlie already has a boyfriend." She said. Trip smiles, "Who? And why are you telling me this?" He asked with a laugh. "Garrett Hawthorne. I'm telling you this because I was hoping you'd give me some advice." Tiffany replied. "Advice regarding what? And oh my god, do you like this Kevin guy?" Trip teased.

Tiffany threw a noodle at Trip, "Oh my god you do like this guy!" Trip teased and three a noodle back at Tiffany. "What the hell! I do not!" She defended. "Riiiiight. So why are you talking to me about it?" He asked while laughing. "Plus according to Chase, Carlie's the Blair Waldorf of your generation. I don't even know who Blair Waldorf is. I guess I spent too much time in the air that I haven't even caught up with this century's hit shows." He whined. Tiffany rolled her eyes, "Mmm yeah you kinda got that part right. She's gorgeous, she's popular, and she's wealthy. Who wouldn't wanna be friends with her?" She said. "Okay... So what?" He asked. "Kevin's a nerd." She whispered. "Who cares?! If he likes Carlie then so what? The dude has a crush on her, it's not like they're gonna get married or something." Trip said. "True." She said and then looked away.

"Okay, Tiff what is going on? Do you like this guy?!" He said. "No! I might've promised him a meet and greet sort of thing with Carlie." She said stuttering. "So he's using you to get to Carlie?" He asked. "No! Trip you're not listening! I told Kevin I'd introduce him to Carlie." She said. "Okay... So what's the problem?" He asked. "The problem is... He thinks it's a date." She said. "I still don't see the problem!" He retorted. "Carlie doesn't know that and Carlie has a boyfriend!" She said. "Now do you get the picture?" She asked. "Okay, let me get this straight. Carlie is your best friend, and this Kevin guy is your friend too, who has a crush on Carlie who is in a relationship. Where the heck is the problem?" He asked again.

"You're giving these people false hope, Tiff. It's not good." He said. "Yeah but the poor guy really wants to meet her." Tiffany said. "But you have the choice to tell Kevin the truth. Why won't you tell him?" Trip asked. "Because I owe him." She blurted out. "Owe him what?" He asked. "He does all my homework or papers for some reason plus he really helped me out with my Nick situation." She gave up. "Aha! Gotcha! Wait, what Nick situation?!" Trip asked while laughing.

Tiffany rolled her eyes, "It's not important." She said. "C'mon tell me! Tell your old big brother." He said with a laugh. Tiffany smiled and just looked at Trip, "It's so good to see you smile and laugh again, Trip." She said. Trip slows laughing and smiles faintly at Tiffany's comment, "Thank you for making me smile, Tiff. I love you." He said and they hug for a while. "Now stop changing the subject and tell me." He said.

Tiffany explains the situation to Trip while they cleaned up and talked in the living room where they settled into Trip's couch. "When do you go back to work?" Tiffany asked. "Next week." Trip replied. "Are you ready?" Tiffany asked. "Yeah. I need to leave this place for a while." He said softly as he looks around with all the pictures hung up of him and Megan, Tiffany does the same and they were silent for a while.

"Have you been here since the..." She trailed off. Trip caught on and nodded, "It's been depressing to look at all these pictures, right?" He asked while he grabbed one photo that was on the end table. Tiffany just stayed quiet as he looked at the photo, "She was seven months pregnant here." He said and showed Tiffany the photo. "We attended an event." He added. "We don't have to talk about it." Tiffany said. "It's fine." Trip said.

Then he looked around again, "I might have to clean out these pictures one day." He said. "I'll be here to help you." She replied and Trip smiled at her. "Again, thank you for tonight, Tiff. I really missed having a good time." He said and they stand up and hug again. "I'll always be here for you, Trip." She said.

"Anyways, mom told me you've been enjoying NYU how is that going for you?" Trip asked as they walk to the door. "Yes, it's been really fun." She replied. "Are you ready for the real world, sis?" He asked. "I don't know yet. I'm still a Freshman at NYU." She said with a laugh. They reach the door, "Oh you know what look at the time! I gotta go. I love you, see you soon!" She said and they hug and then goes out the door.

After that Trip found himself alone again and so he decided to browse through the photo albums that Megan had put together before. All their high school pictures, college memories, trips together outside of the country, the cruises they went, and the moments they had in New York, they were all in the albums Megan made.

There was a time, Trip recalled, that they had an argument about this once. Trip insisted that everything should be digitalized as to save space in the penthouse, but Megan was so old fashioned and thought that it would be nice to have a sense of authenticity to these pictures. Trip gave in and she eventually won the argument.

After that night, he decided not to drink anymore and actually went to bed sober. It was time he mourned his ex-fiancé the right way, it was time he should figure out what his next step would be and it was time he accepts what has happened and move forward with his life.