The Way You Are

Space in My Heart

It had been over an hour since Curt, Manny and Ian had finished off their special beers. They had been talking about music and where they wanted to travel. Roland was curled up on one end of the couch with a pillow and his notebook. He had already written lyrics to a new song and was humming to himself. Ian was lying across the armchair legs dangling off the side. He was in the process of apologizing to everyone in the room yet again for his earlier transgressions.

To his surprise Curt no longer felt annoyed with Ian. He had been lying against the other side of the couch with his feet tucked under Roland's legs. And he wasn't self conscious about it. Surprise. He had started to realize that it was truly just a joke that had gone wrong. It wasn't like Ian had meant to hurt anyone. In fact, he though looking around at his friends, everyone seemed pretty happy. He stopped Ian halfway through, "Stop dude. It's ok. We are all ok."

"You're feeling it aren't you!" Manny said chuckling. At the moment he was a disembodied voice. Curt couldn't see him over the coffee table.

Curt thought about that a second, "Yeah, I think I am."

"Feeling what?" Roland asked looking between the three of them amused.

"Oh.... Well.... You're not the only one tripping anymore." Ian said smiling.

"What? Curt?" Roland instantly sat up from where he was curled up on the couch. He looked intently at his friend. "Why?"

"Didn't want you to be alone." Curt said so quietly only Roland could really hear him.

"We decided we would all be together on this journey." Manny said from the floor where he was attempting to count the ceiling tiles and failing miserably. They kept moving!

"You guys didn't have to do that." Roland said shocked. He was touched and actually felt a stinging in his eyes. Were they serious? Did they really do this for him? He felt closer to his friends instantly. They really were the best guys. He could trust them with anything at this moment.

Curt seeing this took up his hand and squeezed it tight. "Yes. We did." He said assuredly.

Manny and Ian both gave their own words of agreement.

"Wow." Roland said speechless by not only his friends but by the feel of Curt's hand holding his tightly. Tight enough to never let go he hoped. And this time he wasn't going to chastise himself for the thought. He smiled at it instead.

"What's that smile for?" Ian asked looking at him from his odd position in the chair.

"That's my secret." Roland said teasingly. He felt almost giddy.

"Ohh! That's a good idea!" Manny popped up from beyond the table. "Let's play truth or dare!"

Ian laughed, "Don't you think we are a bit too old for that?"

"Oh come on. We'll get to know each other a lot better. That's the point of this stuff right?"

"I can think of other points." Ian said wickedly.

Manny gave him a look.

"What?" Ian said throwing a pillow at Manny.

Curt grumbled from the couch, "Can we just play truth or truth? I don't think I have the energy for your dares."

"That could be fun!" Roland said enthusiastically. It was exciting to find out more about his friends.

"Alright then. Everyone down here on the floor with me around the table." Manny directed.