Get a Life (boyxboy)

Chapter 20: To the Ends of the Earth

Chapter 20: To the Ends of the Earth

Marco Polo traveled to the ends of the earth to find, what he thought, would be a passage to Asia. He made a mistake and slammed into the Americas. We all are willing to go to the ends of the earth for something we want, something we need. Needless to say, we make mistakes on the route there, we slam into things which feel like countries, we face bad weather, and we encounter…obstacle which must be overcome. But we still truck forward, to the ends of the earth to get what we desire.

***

"Ben you cant do this," Colby shouted, frustrated. She blocked Ben at the doorway and put her hands on objecting hips. "I won't let you do this, not to us."

The apartment grew quiet and morning light yearned to fill the room. It stretched from cracks in the blinds and spread across the carpet. Ben stood stolid, with a large cardboard box in his hand. Inside the box were a few sorted belongings.

"Why now? Why do you want to move out?" Gwen finished her letter to Gail then stood up. Her eyes concentrated on Ben and his box of belongings. Gwen was as confused as Colby and didn't want Ben to leave.

"Guys, you are making too big a deal out of this." Ben explained. "I am only going to be two tube stops away, only two." He held up two fingers with his free hand.

"It's not just about that, what about rent?" Colby pushed her back against the door. Her lip quivered and tears sparkled in her eyes. She truly felt like she was losing her friend, to what? A guy, another guy, she wouldn't have it.

"Colby, you own a scrapbook store, and Gwen is the manager at a four star hotel. You guys can manage money without me. You guys can probably rent a nicer place than this."

"Is that what this is, moving on to bigger and nicer things? Well, I'm sorry Ben, I'm sorry I don't have a dick to keep you here." Colby shouted.

"This isn't just about that." Ben wanted Colby to understand. He knew she was too stubborn and set in her mindset.

"Then what is it about Ben? You're abandoning us for your boyfriend. I understand it, why live with two girls when you can sleep with a super model like Seth, right?" Gwen pointed to the door when she said Seth.

"Kylie left, his best friend left for who knows where. He has this big house and is all alone. Plus his co-worker is a jerk. When it boils down to it I am all he has left. I mean, I want this…I want to be able to stand on my own legs for once. You two are great, but…"

"We won't be here forever," Gwen finished. She nodded, the woman understood Ben, he made a grown up decision – she admired that.

"Fine then," Colby spat out, still angry. She bit her tongue and would suppress her anger at Ben. "But your invited…to a dinner party on Tuesday night."

"Thanks," Ben nodded and left the apartment he called home for so long.

***

Seth's townhouse was huge in comparison to the apartment. Cedar raised panels lined the wall. It was a classic design which along with mundane nautical paintings gave the house a bit of class. Warm colored wooden floors, red wall paper, a white sofa and an ornate coffee table adorned the living room. Ben walked to his room, up the staircase and to the left.

His boyfriend put Kylie's leftover belongings into a small hallway closet. Ben looked at the empty room. A platform bed was adorn with white sheets and yellow curtains fluttered with the open window. Ben breathed in the room and put his box down.

"Okay, looks good right?" Seth put his hand on Ben's shoulder.

"It looks…empty." Ben needed to fill the room with his own objects. Countless reminders of a previous owner lingered: the pinch peppermint perfume, vivid yellow lamps, and the curtains to match.