Bad Luck or Fate?

Chapter 61

"Jimmy! Wait up!" I heard Justin holler at me as I was walking to my dressing room after high fives. I stopped in the doorway and let him in before me. He ran in and plopped down on my leather couch. I tossed my suit jacket off and onto my make up chair. I loosened my tie and sat down in my comfy chair, kicking my right leg over the arm of the chair and putting my left foot on the ground. 

"Gosh, I'm beat, Justin. That History of Rap took it out of me, man." I said as I uncuffed my button up and rolled up my sleeves. Justin leaned over and clapped my knee with his hand. "Dude, you absolutely killed it out there. I really didn't know you could move like that man. It surprised the hell out of me." I shot him a look of concern. "In a good way I mean. You kicked ass out there." I smiled at him and waved him off.  Justin shook his head. "No, seriously, Jim. I'm not kidding. Can I ask you a question though?" 

I stood up and walked over to my closet. "Well, sure. You know you can ask me anything man. I'm an open book." I opened the door and pulled out my black and gray plaid button up and a pair of gray shorts. Justin jumped up and grabbed my acoustic from the corner of the room. "What was up with all those song choices? They were kinda.." He started strumming on the guitar and tuning it. That fucker. I had it the way I wanted it. "Well-- they were nasty, Jim." He said as he started playing a song softly. 

I was unbuttoning my shirt as he said that. I let the last button go and turn towards him. He laughed. "I mean, for you. They were nasty. Not for me. It just wasn't like you. You're usually pretty reserved." I threw my shirt off and tossed it in my hamper in the corner. I threw the shirt around my shoulders and reached for my belt. I was looking down as I shimmied the suit pants off and threw on my gray shorts. I took the belt and looped them into my belt loops. I tightened the black leather and buckled. As I looked up, I saw Justin was staring at my chest with his mouth slightly hanging open. "Why do you look like that? It's a chest, you've seen it before." 

Justin stammered as he shook his head. I looked down. Damn it. I completely forgot that Justin has yet to see my scars. I immediately reached down and started buttoning. Usually I would only button the bottom three or four buttons and leave the top undone, but given present company's reaction, I felt the need to button all the way to the collar. "I'm sorry, I forgot you haven't seen that." I said timidly. "My bad, dude. Anyways, continue. Is there an actual question you are going to ask me?"

" Im sorry for staring but Jesus, Jimmy. Had I known that it was that bad.. I wouldn't have suggested History of Rap, dude. I mean, I don't know what I expected but it certainly wasn't that. Are you okay? Does your chest hurt or anything? Can you breathe, man? I mean- " I threw my hands up and cut him off. "Justin, you're rambling. I'm fine, brother. Trust me, it looks worse than it really is." 

Justin shook his head again and pointed. "Jimmy, it looks like you were nearly killed and then had your chest ripped open from breast bone to belly button." I chuckled. "Well then, it looks exactly like it was."

"Not funny, Jim. Not funny." I sighed and walked over to my mini fridge, grabbing a water and a beer. I walked over to Justin and handed him the beer. "I'm sorry, I don't know what else to say. I'm here, I'm alive, I'm fine. I just got a wicked battle scar to carry around with me now, that's all. Here ya go, man. I hope Bud Light Platinum works for you. I've got a lot left over from the sponsorship of Late Night man. That and ever since you got me pissed drunk the last time and I woke up in the same bed as Nance, I haven't touched much since." I opened my bottle and took a swig of water. "Anyways, I repeat, is there an actual question for this? Like I said, I'm an open book." 

"Yeah, I was just wondering why all the sexual songs? You normally aren't like that, ever. Are you... is everything going okay at home?" he asked me. He took a swig of beer as I sat back down in the chair. I pulled my Yankees hat backwards onto my head and scoffed. "Okay, I'm an open book besides that. I'm not discussing my sex life with you. No fucking way man." I played with the label on my water bottle and started to peel it off.