Call Back

~Buttermilk~

"A quarrel is like buttermilk, the more you stir it, the more sour it grows."

"Hey Bee."

"Hey Nate."

"Are you sitting down?"

"Yes, why?"

"I think I'm ready to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Everything."

"Oh wow, okay. Like, I know you promised me but, wow um, okay. Y'know what? Just go ahead."

"Okay, here goes. When I was growing up, life was good. I lived in a suburban neighborhood like, twenty minutes from Philadelphia? Anyway, my parents were wonderful, always getting along, my older brother played and hung out with me all the time. I remember he used to give me tips whenever we were watching a baseball game, explaining to me what everything meant. I met Danny in first grade-"

"Second grade."

"First."

"Second."

"First."

"Sec-"

"Will you two shut up?"

"Oh right, sorry Bee."

"Just get on with it Gnat."

"Right, so I guess everything really changed when I turned thirteen. My dad was cheating on my mom, and of course my mom found out. He left her within the next year, which led to my brother, Cody, becoming the father figure of the house. Which, he took on really well. It was fine, but we were all struggling without my dad, as much as I hate to admit that. Danny's parents aren't exactly ideal either, so he was over at our house a lot. So, at the age of sixteen, Cody started working three jobs, and I picked up two jobs as well. Then Danny felt bad and picked up a couple jobs to help us. We all worked so hard between school and actual work, that we didn't have time for normal teenager stuff. So, my mom and boss' insisted that Cody, Danny, and I go out for a party, so we did, reluctantly. To be honest though, I had fun, but looking back I wish I never went to that party.

"The party was being held at this girl, Lea's, house. Now don't get me wrong, Lea's a nice girl, she just hung out with the wrong people. Another girl in this slightly messed up group was Keira. At this party, I definitely ended up the most sober out of the three of us. I was helping Cody and Danny to the car, when Keira came running out of the house. She came up to me, asking if I had seen her younger sister. I asked her who her sister was and she told me her name was Katie, and she was thirteen. At the time, Keira was sixteen and I was seventeen, so I was questioning as to why she brought her thirteen year old sister to a high school party. But, Keira was panicking and I felt bad, so I helped her find Katie. We found her, doing god knows what with a group of Seniors. Keira was so thankful for my help though, so she asked me out for dinner as a thank you, to which I accepted.

"Keira and I were great together, we loved each other and spent a lot of time together. Then her eighteenth birthday rolled around and we went to a party at a friend's. As soon as we entered the house, she pretty much disappeared. I assumed she went to hang out with some of her friends, but when I went off to find her, I saw some guy and her making out. I just turned left, but according to Danny, he found them and sucker punched the dude, and Keira wanted to explain but Danny ran off to find me. Then Keira tried blaming the whole thing on me but I wasn't taking any of her shit. Eventually she got together with that guy and we went our separate ways. I think she landed herself at Penn or something, while I went to a community college for two years and then came down here. Cody still lives in Pennsylvania with his girlfriend, and he lives by our mom. I came down here because Danny got excepted to UVA, and I didn't really want to stay in PA, so this was where I ended up.

"I moved into the apartment with Danny, rescued Calico, got a job at the cafe, and life has been smooth so far. Then of course there was that one time when an aspiring actress called the cafe and I happened to pick up, which led to an amazing friendship."

"I'm sending you a virtual hug right now."

"I'm returning it."

"It's good to hear you laugh after all that Nate."

"It's good to laugh Bee."

"Man, I don't even know what to say Nate. Your dad is an idiot for missing out on watching an incredible guy grow up."

"Are we talking about me or Cody?"

"Oh my god shut up."

"Nah I'm good."

"Keira is a total bitch, you deserve better."

"Danny says the same thing."

"That's because you do Nate."

"Thank you Bee."

"Anytime Nate."

"I'm gonna go."

"Don't you wanna here my story?"

"Bee, it is ten o' clock at night. We'll talk in the morning."

"Oh, huh. Welp, g'night Nate."

"Goodnight Bee."