andromeda // matty healy au

Solo

I was online shopping after dinner, when a light tap came at my door.  My flat was completely still, it was nearly half past nine.  I closed my computer and placed it next to my spot on the couch, right when I heard a slightly more urgent knock.  Realizing that my visitor wanted me to hurry, I jogged to my door and opened it to find George, hair and jacket slightly damp from the light rain outside.

"Hey," he started, "can I come in?"

I opened my door for him and he wiped his wet shoes on my mat before giving up and pulling them off of his feet. I sat on my kitchen countertop, waiting for him to find a place on my sofa.  It was clear he didn't quite know how to bring up why he had come to my place.

"So, Matty-"   I cut him off.

"Please, George, I haven't even asked how you are doing, and you're already berating me with him!"  I let out a long breath while we stared at each other.  He, with a dumb expression on his face, and I, wearing a stern look, exchanged silent words across the room.

"Now,"  I said, pushing myself back to the floor, "cuppa?"  He gulped a yes.

"How is work?  I feel like we haven't kept in touch after you and Matty stopped working at the Golden Pig."  I said while I had my back turned to George.  As I looked for the teabags and the kettle, he told me that his uncle offered him a position at a theatre.

"It's not too far away from you, actually.  Maybe just one bus ride away?  It's really nice, though."  I placed a warm mug on the coffee table in front of him.  "It's real vintage-looking.  Red velvet curtains and gold railings, you would like it."

"It sounds like a dream."  I smiled as I perched on my knees on the other side of the table.

"Yeah, but right now it's a bit boring,"  he continued after he took a sip of tea, "We're doing a lot of university graduation ceremonies, and the preparation, convocation and aftermath take forever to get over with."

"Oh wow, that sounds like a shitty tradeoff...  must take a while because you've also got to clean up after them, hey?"  I asked.  His job intrigued me.

"Yeah, but it is a really good gig.  How about you?  What's up?"

"Well, I'm not sure if you've heard, but the Temple of Venus is closed until further notice, but I'm still doing full time at the café.  I also just dropped off my number as a babysitter."  I said, holding onto my mug.

"That's pretty neat," said George as he tucked his legs underneath of his body.   He blew on the edge of his cup and stared at his reflection in the tea for a while.

"You want to talk about him, don't you?"  I inquired.  George nodded a 'yes' as he told me about Matty's current state.

"He's really broken up, Celeste.  He didn't really tell us the whole story, but he said that you were lying to him the whole time."  He put his mug down and pushed his fair out of his face.  "I really don't want to tell him that I knew, and didn't say anything."  His eyes begged to keep the fact he had already found out about Andy a secret from the guys.

"I'll keep it under my hat, George.  Not like Matty wants to hear anything from me at the moment anyway."  I took a sip of my tea.

"Thank you."  A moment of relief poured over his face.  "I'll do my best to talk to him, maybe he will change his tune if he hears something from his friend."

"I doubt that will do much to help, but I thank you for trying."  We shared a smile.

I like George.  We understand each other.

-

The next morning, I was leaving my apartment - early as usual- but as I got to the bottom floor, I saw him.  We both froze at opposite ends of the hallway.

Leon.

He stood in the building's doorway.  I looked at him, blinking in disbelief that he had actually left his apartment.  He look at me, presumably startled that someone had seen him leave his apartment.

"Um, hello..."  I said

He wore a long trench coat, even though it wasn't raining outside.  It covered up his long frame, but I saw a pair of black Doc Martens peeking out from under his coat as he made his way past me and shoved his key into the lock.

"Wait!"  I yelled.

Leon didn't look at me, but he froze, hand still frozen in a key turning motion.  I gulped; now was my chance.

"I'm Celeste.  I haven't introduced myself to you yet."  I blurted.

"I know,"  He didn't look at me, shuffling his jacket on his shoulders.  "and I know that you know about me."

"Oh..."  I whispered.  Why was that so forced and awkward?  Was he doing it on purpose? Why was he wearing that stupid fucking coat?  It's sunny outsi-

A whimper broke the silence.

Then a bark.

"Um, excuse you."  I said.  My eyebrows raised as he nervously chuckled.  He looked at me know, but his body was still turned away.  His long hair covered his eyes but I could tell that he was hiding something.

"It wasn't me," he sighed.  "Well Bruce, looks like we've been found out."  Slowly, he spun around to reveal a small grey and white puppy under his arm, hidden under his coat.  A gasp fell from my lips as the little dog smiled at me.  I put my hand near his scrunchy nose and he pressed his small face into my fingers.

"Bruce is a stray,"  Leon explained.  "I found him a couple weeks ago, maybe more.  I really like him and he really likes me, but the landlord of the building has a 'no pet' policy."  The whole time he explained himself, Leon kept his eyes glued to the dog - clearly infatuated.  

"I don't have that many friends, but Bruce and I make a good pair.  He makes me feel calm, and he's trusted me ever since I saved him from the thunderstorm the night I found him."  Leon looked to be much older than me, he appeared to be in his early 30s.  And he was as thin as a rake, but it was hidden under his large coat.

"He's so sweet," I whispered.  Bruce loved the attention I gave him, especially when I scratched his ears.

"He likes you,"  Leon smiled.  But his expression faded when his concerns rose. "You won't tell anyone about him will you?  Because I can't look for another place right now, and it'll be hard to find one nearby, at a good price that allows dogs.  Especially a big dog like him."

"I won't tell anyone, don't worry."  I reassured him.  With my hand still petting Bruce, I asked why he hadn't asked the landlord to change his policy.

"Well, I have in the past,"  he began, "but I had to get rid of my cat because he's a stubborn guy.  Lucky for me, the cat went to a friend that takes really good care of him."

"Can Bruce stay with that friend?"

"She lives with a roommate who is terrified of dogs.  She likes Bruce a lot, she even took the cat over to visit him."  He cracked a smile at the memory, blue eyes looking glassy.  "I would just hate to have anything happen to Bruce.  I want to be there for him like he is for me."

I was shocked at how easy it was for Leon to open up to me, given that I had only ever seen him when he had knocked me over in our first encounter.  It was like he was chatting with a on old friend, and I appreciated it immensely. 

"Maybe you and your friend should find a place to move into together, it would be easier to pay for rent, and then you would only have to worry about the pet policy and the location."  I suggested, but I sensed that that wasn't an option by the way that Leon's eyes shot open and his face flushed a crimson colour.

"No! No, I can't do that."  He said a little too loudly.  "I can't move in with her, are you nuts?"  His eyes darted around like he was looking for a way to escape, and he was, because his hand gripped his key tighter.

He and Bruce turned away from me and started to make their exit once more.  Leon hesitated for a moment before finally turning the key and leaving me to stand in the hallway alone.  My mouth scrunched to the side as I walked out of the building.