I rolled over when I heard the doorbell ringing. I thought I was dreaming, so I ended up ignoring it until it got presistent and then the knocking started. I groaned and reached over, grabbing my phone so I could see the time.
"Who the fuck is coming over at 3:42 in the morning?" I said to myself as I got out of bed and shuffled out of the room.
I was still half asleep and ended up running into a corner table, which nearly missed my ballsack, actually. I stopped and rubbed my eyes and blinked a few times, finally adjusting to the darkness.
Seriously...whoever this is better be fucking important. I thought to myself as I hurried down the stairs and over to the door.
I unlocked the door and opened it and then felt arms around me, someone was hugging me.
"I'm so sorry I woke you but I had too." TJ said.
I flipped the light on and closed the door. "Dude, you look like shit." I said.
"Yeah." TJ mumbled.
I followed him as he walked around, looking around. "So...it's really fucking true?" he asked.
I nodded. "I told you it was."
TJ sighed and sat down. I went into the kitchen and got two bottles of water and handed one to him and then sat down beside him. "Thanks." he said and opened it, taking a drink.
"I just can't believe he's gone." he said.
"Same here." I said.
"Why are you back here?"
"I don't know..I just feel like I should continue living in the apartment instead of someone else." I said.
TJ nodded. "Good point. I'm glad you're back." he said.
"Me too."
"Whatever happened to you and that one girl?"
"Bree?"
"I guess."
"She's a whore." I said.
"Just like Kenzie."
"Yep."
"Girls."
"Yep."
TJ ended up sleeping on the couch. We finally went to bed at 5 AM. I woke up at 9 AM, TJ was still passed out. I walked into the kitchen and started making some pancakes, mostly for him, and turned the coffee machine on.
"I smell food." TJ said.
"I knew that would wake you up." I said.
"I'm moving in."
"Good. I need company and I'm worried about you." I said.
"Why?"
TJ was still laying on the couch. I walked in and leaned down. "Because, I know you're probably going to be dumb enough to try something and I can't afford to lose another friend."
"We're friends?"
"Duh."
"You said you hated me."
"Because you told us all to get fucked and then left."
"I know. I'm an idiot. An idiot who loves pancakes." TJ said, smirking.
"Well, come get'em. I made them for you." I said.
"Not having any?"
"Nah. I think I'm going to go to the bookstore for a while." I said, grabbing my cup of coffee.
"Need me to do anything around the house?" TJ asked, putting the stack of pancakes on his plate.
"Nah..well, if you want to clean up the living room, go ahead. Just leave Angelo's stuff over there." I said.
TJ nodded. "Can you pick me up a Fastbreak on the way home?"
"How many?"
"Five?"
"Three."
"Four?"
"Two."
"Fine, three." he said.
"I'll be back later." I said and then left.
--
I walked into the bookstore and instantly went to the back. The place wasn't as packed, which I liked. I found a few books that perked my interest and sat down at one of the tables, looking over them.
"Are you Ricky Horror?" someone asked me, breaking my concentration on the book.
I looked up and was staring at the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, besides Bree of course.
"Yes, I am."
"Mind if I sit here?"
"Go ahead."
She sat down, didn't have any books, but kept looking at me. I figured she must be a fan. "I heard about Angelo...I'm sorry." she said.
"You did? How?"
"Chris tweeted about it..so many fans are upset." she said.
I nodded. "It's terrible."
"It is. He was such an amazing drummer."
"He was."
"I'm Cora, by the way." she said.
I smiled. "Ricky."
"I know."
The two of us ended up talking for hours and I when we left, I didn't even buy any books. Cora and I were just walking back towards the apartment and I stopped.
"Do you live this way?" I asked her.
"I live in the same apartment building."
"Seriously?"
She nodded. "Like, right across from you, actually."
I smiled. "Well, shall we continue?" I said, offering her my arm.
She slipped her arm around mine and the two of us walked back to the apartment building. So, maybe things were going to get better.
