Dancing Through Bullets

Blackout

"Honey, I'm home!" AJ called to no one as he unlocked the studio door and stepped into the darkness. Jericho chuckled as he followed him in.

The spacious room was illuminated only by the silvery moonlight -- and of course, every other light in New York -- streaming in through the glass doors. 

"Well, Jericho," AJ began with a huge smile on his face, but Jericho didn't get to find out what AJ was going to say because suddenly the world got even darker. The street outside had been swathed in blackness, and an unusual -- if not complete -- silence came over the area. 

"Shit," AJ muttered. After fruitlessly messing with the light switch for several seconds, AJ's fears were confirmed. "Power's out. Everywhere." 

Jericho didn't see the problem. It was late, anyway, and he was ready to go to sleep. The darkness and quiet were perfect for that. Clearing his throat, he asked, "So?"

"So," AJ said, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice, "My mom will be stuck at the store because the subway won't be working, and I can walk home but it'll take a while, so my little brothers will be home alone wondering where the heck we are. Plus Johnny's afraid of the dark." After a deep sigh AJ continued with a half-hearted grin, "But I bet Dodge is happy with all the attention he'll be getting from the boys. I bet they've got him cuddled up in Blake's bed with them." 

Jericho tried to laugh, but it didn't come out quite right, so he just said, "Oh."

"'Oh' is right," AJ muttered, fiddling nervously with the dog tags around his neck. "Well, it was fun hanging out and all that, but I better get going." 

And just like that, Jericho was left alone in the darkness and eerie silence of the dead city. The city that never sleeps was finally asleep, if just for a little while. But, rather than ponder on how he always somehow ended up alone in the end, the only thought on Jericho's mind was, What was AJ about to tell me before the power went out?