(Hunter) when we get home I rush. Straight to the door. So I can take a shower so I don't smell so bad. I pull out joes spare key easily under the matt he's so predictable. I turn to see him on the phone. So I open the door. And run upstairs to the bathroom.
I turn the shower on and feel the temp till it's good I set down the bag of clothes I got from the store. And my school supplies in another bag. Joe got me enough clothes for a week or two. So we could go better shopping later. I pull off my clothes and go in the hot shower and just scrub. Then I hear a door slam and the fridge open. I finish up fast and get dressed. I go downstairs and joe is standing by the fridge crying and eating ice cream. I just stared at him. He finally looked up and put the spoon in the sink and stuck the lid on the ice cream. And stuck it back in the freezer. "The dog sitter will be here in a couple of minutes." He looked terrible. His hair messed up and his eyes puffy pink.
"Is everything okay?" He shakes his head. "No, Charlie's dead." Holy shit. "I know how you feel." 'Ring' the doorbell rings. Joe walks up to the door. He opens it and a frail old lady is carrying a small tarp that's wrapped up. Joe instantly started crying and he picked up the tarp. The old lady looked like she had been crying for a while. We followed Joe to the backyard where he put the tarp down and picked up a spade shovel next to the house. He instantly started digging and after several minuets, he dug deep enough for the dog and the tarp. He sticks the tarp in the hole and pulls the tarp away so he can see Charlie's face. He then starts barring him. After he finished he left the shovel sticking straight up so he knew where he buried him. He stood next to me and the old lady. "I'm so sorry if I would have.." Joe sticks his hand up."It's okay it was an accident." She just nods with little tears in her eyes. Joe just stands there like maybe he will just raise out of the ground. After several minutes. The old lady walked inside and left. "Hey, Hunter could you sleep in the living room with me? I normally ..... don't sleep alone." He turns toward me his eyes were filled with tears. "Ya." He smiled a bit. It started snowing. And we opened the door and went in. Joe pulled some packages of ramen out and started a pot on the stove. "What kind do you like?" He holds up three flavors beef, chicken, and shrimp. "Umm beef". "Okay" he throws the shrimp flavor back into the cupboard. He puts another pot on the stove and starts it up.
(Joe)
I stare at the pot. Wondering if I could have prevented this. Stirring the ramen slowly. I know hunters behind me probably staring at me. I just wish I could man up. I've always been so emotional about things more than most men. The ramen starts boiling over and I turn off the stove. Picking up the pot off the stove. Bringing it to the sink. Pouring some of the hot water out. Putting it in the bowl. I grave a spoon. Hand it to Hunter with a seasoning packet. I do the same to mine. I finish preparing my meal and sit down in front of the hunter. We ate silently. No conversation, just clanking of metal on glass. I finished and washed out my dish. Hunter copied me. And I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dial my girlfriend. Straight to voicemail. I called again. This time it rang. "Hello" came from the other end. I almost start crying again. "Can we talk?" Some rustling came from the other end. "Make it quick." I gulped taking some of the tears away. "Charlie's......g.." I start sobbing uncontrollably. "Shut the fuck up and quick acting like a baby. And tell me what's wrong with Charlie." My tears stop almost instantly. "Charlie ..... is ..dead." I just heard a loud sigh come from the other end. "Did you poison him?!" "NO, he choked on a ball. Why would I poison him?!" She sighed again. "Whatever." 'Beep'. She hung up on me. Why do I even try? I just laid on the couch and fell asleep.
(Hunter)
I accidentally listen in on joes phone call. And the lady on the phone is a real bitch. She accused him of killing the dog. He finishes talking to her and flops on the couch. I go to my room and lay on my bed and think. First, my parents died. Second I move to a whole new state. Third I'm living with a stranger I barely know. And fourth his dog died. Life has packed me a punch full.
I realize that I'm dreaming. I must have fallen asleep. Weird. I was in school. I was in a class and joe was there and some other people. I was sitting on the floor next to some girl. She looked scared and tired. But she was so beautiful. She had light brown hair with blonde highlights. And she had beautiful blue eyes. I couldn't stop staring at her. A man was standing in the corner of the class. He had slick black hair and piercing green eyes. He had this devilish look from as he looked at Joe. A girl was sitting next to him seeming not to be scared. His hand was almost touching hers. She was pretty. With brown hair. Icy blue eyes. The man with the slick black hair turn toward her. "My dear I've been looking for you."
I jolt awake. I look around then check my phone. 5:45. "That was a weird dream." I didn't realize I was talking out loud till joe popped his head out from behind my door. He wasn't wearing anything except a towel around his waist. "You okay in here?" I nod. He nods and leaves. Now that was weird.
(Joe)
I take a quick shower realizing I forgot my clothes. In my bedroom. I gave my clothes and as I head back to the bathroom I hear Hunter say something so I decided to check in on him. When I open the door he's sitting up and wide-eyed. "You okay in here?" He nods unsurely. So I nod back trying to pretend I don't notice something wrong. And back out of his room.
I head downstairs and turn on the tv to a random channel that looks good. After several minutes the stairs creak. I look over and Hunters staring at me from the last step. Still kinda wide-eyed. I turn back to the tv. I hear him walk up and flop on the couch. "What do you wanna watch?" I turn back toward him and he's staring at the curtain. He doesn't seem to notice I'm talking. "You okay?" I touch his shoulder. And he whips his head around looking startled. "Uh... what did you say?" "Are you okay?" He stares at the floor. "Ya fine." I shrug I don't wanna push him too far. So I turn off the tv and grave some blankets from the laundry room. When I walk back to the living room I see Hunter still staring at the window. I turn toward the window. Looking around seeing nothing but the average street and one lamp out. But nothing out of the ordinary. So I throw a blanket on his head hoping it will make this less awkward. But instead, he just pulls the blanket off his head and curls up with it on the couch. Well, I can't wait until tomorrow when school starts. I just flop onto the recliner chair and pass out.
