Meeting the Jokers

Part 28

Coming down to my block felt like coming home from somewhere dangerous. Safe and sound at home. Where the unpredictable wasn't there and everything was routined and easy. Just the same old.

The small apartments stood cowardly around the road. The van ahead pulled up to my building. Then so did we.

"Home sweet Home, I guess," I say.

I still felt ashamed of living in a whole different class to these guys. They had loads of cash whilst I barely managed to afford a little apartment.

But that was me. And I was proud of how far I had come.

Me, Sal, Q and Joe exited the car. Sal and Joe looked up questioningly at the small buildings.

"This doors mine," I say, leading them through the busy path to the buildings front door.

Q staggered like a drunken man leaving a party. Joe, having never touched alcohol before, stood at his side. His personal aid.

"I've never been to this side of the state before," Sal said, taking one last squint at the buildings around. Not as tall as the skyscrapers in New York, but they were still pretty tall. At least 10 floors high.

With the special combination, I opened the metal door and welcomed the guys inside. We were led up to a huge flight of stairs, with two rooms on each side. It was quite small on the inside.

Getting Q up the stairs was gonna be a tricky task- so Joe took him up the elevator.

"I bet," Sal said, "that me and Olivia can get up to her floor..."

"5th floor," I added.

"I bet me and Olivia can get up to the 5th floor before you guys." Sal betted. We'd run, they'd take the shortcut.

Joe showed Sal a $5 bill, then hid it. "It's on."

On the count of 3, we ran. Sal was pretty fast, he kept to the outside, I stayed on the inner wall. The stops and corners definitely halted us, but in 30 seconds flat- with deep jagged breaths and exhaustion- we got to the top. We were at my floor simultaneously to when Joe and Q stepped out.

"It's a draw," I announced. The guys shot annoyed glances and carried on to face the 4 doors ahead.

I got the keys out from my pocket and unlocked the door. Number 22.

The crew had stayed in their van outside, keeping track of the social side of the guys' job- and the business side.

Joe and Q went straight to the sofa. Sal followed me to the kitchen.

"Drink?" I asked him, gesturing to the empty glass in my hand.

"Just water, thanks."

From the front door- you come into the living room, a door leads you to the kitchen, another to my bedroom and a spare room.

"Joe? Q? Do you guys want a drink?" I asked.

"Just a water for Q, please," Joe said.

I handed the glass to Sal, "order for Mr Joe?" Sal pretended he was at a cafe, using the doorway as his cash register.

"Actually it's for Mr Q," Joe corrected.

Me and Sal joined the sofa, and we sat in silence for a few moments. After the whirlwind ride we had faced together- it was nice to catch a small breather.

"I'm really glad you're ok, bud," Sal said to Q, who, in response, nodded slowly.

"Are you sure he's ok to have left?" I asked uncertainly.

"Yeah, he's just been given lots of drugs to ease pain and they've all got knock on effects," explained Joe in a very professional voice.

"Hey," Sal said, pointing his glass at Joe, "weren't you going to do a live stream?"

"Yeah!" Joe said.

He got out his phone and opened Periscope, "gotta let them know about Q."

He started it. My living room in the background.

"Hey guys," he started. 300 people already. 400. 500.

"So, I just want to let you guys know that everything is ok."

Sal waved in the background, then his whole face was in view. That meaning so was mine. I have a shy wave.

"Sals looking pretty happy. Olivia, how are you?"

"Very pleased," I announced, swiping the phone away in the air.

"Sal?" Joe asked.

"I feel phenomenal," he said, smiling. An award winning smile.

Joe filmed his face again, "ok, so the news did get out, and Q is fine now, the tour will begin again next month."

"Next month, the 18th. Going to Texas!" Sal yelled.

"Texas!" Joe yelled, "we are very sorry to everyone that is missing out. You will get to see us in another show. Uhh..." he paused.

"Don't show Q," Sal whispered, Joe nodded secretly.

"Questions?" Joe asked, watching the comments flood in. 2000 people watching.

"Q, they all hope you get better." Joe said, "can we see Q's face? No. What happened? That's... classified."

"Joe..." Q murmured.

"Right," Joe said, "I got to go."

The livestream ended and Q was looking more awake.

"You ok, buddy?" Joe asked.

Q nodded his head. "I wanna go film an episode."

"You can film in episode!" Joe said, "you're not well enough yet."

Q looked angrily at Joe, so he gave in. "Olivia? Is there any shops around here?"

"Yeah a few..." I trailed off, "are you sure he's ok?"

"Just give us... their address."

"Sal, get the producers on the phone," Joe ordered.

That was it. We were filming an episode.