Under the Influence

XVI.

October 16th 2000.
New York, New York.
Detroit, Michigan.

"So what do I even get him for his birthday? It's tomorrow but he kinda has everything that I'd think he'd want" I asked Amy and Jordan. We sat in a cafe directly on Fifth Avenue chatting over coffee and a light lunch. I was back in New York to talk to my boss right before I went on tour and I'd promised to see the two of them every time I came back, so there I was.

"Clothes?" Jordan suggested.

"Nah he basically wears the same thing everyday".

"What does he like?" Amy asked.

"Music, obviously, comics and sport. Typical stuff".

Amy's eyes widened like she had an idea "What teams does he follow?"

"Any Detroit one basically".

"So the Pistons then?" I nodded in reply, vaguely remembering him telling me about them and him watching one of their games with the guys at home. Sport was always on the television and it did my absolute head in when he sat in front of it mindlessly for hours on end. If he had a spare minute to even take a breath, it would be automatically dedicated to watching whatever game was on at that moment. "I have the best idea!" she enthusiastically beamed.

"Go on" I sipped on my latte as I patiently waited, controlling the urge to roll my eyes. I never knew why Amy had to be theatrical about nearly everything she said.

"You know how I had a thing with one of the Pistons assistant coaches a couple years back?"

"Oh yeah, Wayne" Jordan gagged, sticking her finger down her throat, making me splutter some of my coffee.

"God, he was so creepy" I added to which Jordan nodded whilst Amy looked pissed off.

Amy crossed her arms across her chest, shutting herself off. "Wayne was not creepy!" she defended.

Jordan placed a caring hand on her arm as she tried to break it to her easy. "Girl, he acted like your dad. And not in the hot way".

Amy's face burst into flames and she stammered, obviously embarrassed by Jordan's frankness. "He did not. He was just protective!" I scoffed into my hand but immediately held them up as Amy practically willed me to drop dead with her eyes. "Do you want my help or not?"

Composing myself as best as I could I apologized. "Okay okay, I'm sorry hun. Continue".

"As I was saying, we still keep in contact so I could easily ask him to give you court-side seats and maybe even get Em to meet some of the players".

"Amy that would be perfect" I gushed. Marshall would absolutely love this present and to meet some of his favorite players would make it that much better.

"Okay I'll ask him tonight then. I told you I had good ideas, bitches" she muttered sending Jordan and I into a laughing fit, with me stomping my feet and Jordan clutching her stomach. I even saw a smile slip past Amy's lips. It felt so good to talk each others ears off again about complete nonsense. They were the best friends I could ever ask for. We supported each other through everything and stood up for each other as if our lives depended on it. I couldn't count the amount of literal fist-fights I'd nearly gotten myself in when I overheard someone bad mouthing one of them. They were my rocks through the aftermath of me and my ex's breakup when I found myself on a year long bender. They could have left me during that time, I was a complete mess, but their support never wavered. Regardless of the fact that I was constantly drinking and partying. They had no idea that I was in an abusive relationship until it ended and I still remember there faces when I told them. They were distraught to say the least, and right there and then we promised to always tell each other, no matter what, when we were in trouble.