Another Sunny Afternoon (The Strokes Fan Fiction)

Get Free

For the rest of my birthday, it was mostly in and out of consciousness, maybe because I was dehydrated. Who knows? 2002 was off to a great start.

The day was full of calls. Some from random aunts and uncles who hadn't talked to me since last New Years, my father, and even my friend Ezra in New Jersey before I'd moved back with my father in Brooklyn. All of them called for my birthday, and it made me happy, but I kept a gleam of hope that my mother would pick up the phone and actually wish her daughter happily a great 21st birthday.

Or at least pretended to be happy.

I didn't worry about her, the person I worried about was Ryan.

I tried calling him when I was awake, but not once did he ever pick up his phone.

And now I see how annoyed he was when I was doing that.

So I gathered up some change and called a cab, grabbing my I Love NY sweatshirt and telling a half-asleep Nick I was gone.

"Nick, I'm gonna see Ryan."

"Yeaaah... Mhmm..." he mumbled.

I threw a couch pillow at him and went downstairs, hailing a taxi and telling the driver to step on it.

We pulled up in front of the office and I chucked the money at him.

"Ay! Whadya think ya doin?!"

"Fuck off man, I gotta take care of more important things!" I yelled at him, my accent ringing. I slammed the door and stuck my middle finger at him before he sped off. I turned around and Ryan was slow clapping.

"Nice," he said sarcastically.

"Why haven't you answer my calls all day?"

"Happy birthday, by the way," he said, walking back into the office. I ran up and caught the door, knowing that it automatically locks.

"Hey, wait up, I wanna talk to you Ryan!"

"Didn't you do enough of that yesterday night? I told you not to fucking drink and you went against what I said!"

"Please," I begged him. "It's my birthday, give me a god damn chance!"

He stopped and turned around.

"You have 1 minute."

"Listen, I was drunk okay? You've been on my shit all year because of the guys. I'm sorry about yesterday. I guess my anger came out in a way I didn't want it to."

"Man," he laughed, shaking his head, "You are so lucky you are my cousin, and that I have to watch over you."

He walked over and ruffled my hair. I didn't mind, though.

Putting his arms over my shoulder, trying to line up with my tall stature he asks: "Did you do anything with Jules yesterday?"

I looked at him. "What... do you... oh my god, no! NO NO NO!"

He looked at me with sincere and fear in his eyes. "I'm sorry I just-"

I pulled away from him. He knew I hated talking about this.

"Wow, thanks for thinking fucking better of me, Ry!"

"Annabel Lee, wait!"

I turned and walked out, steaming as I pulled out my phone and dialed up Fab.