Speechless: REWRITTEN

3. Genista

Gianna

Honestly, seeing Mordecai after the huge blowup at Cheyenne's house last year is...surprising. In fact, ever since I met Cheyenne, life has been surprising me in little ways. But most of all, finding a nice acquaintance within Mordecai and a roommate in Roscoe.

I couldn't comfort him during Cheyenne and his breakup because I had to be on her side. Not that I agreed with what he did, he was a fucking dumbass, but he was just as broken as she was. I hate being in the same room as tragedies because it gives me an obligation to be sad as well, and I hate being sad.

Seeing him now, as someone completely different, it's a weird feeling. He's not as broken and even a little bit livelier. We all agreed to meet at a café for lunch to catch up and he's more engaged in the conversation than me or Roscoe.

We've learned that when he moved out of Roscoe's apartment, he went to live with his parents and get his Associate's degree. This involved making up with them, because they were a little bit peeved when he went to prison (something I'm still trying to wrap my mind around) and naturally, were owed an apology for being disappointed. Mordecai offered it and he moved back in with them. He realized that coming back to Roselake was a bad idea for him at the time, so he just didn't. Instead, he got a work-from-home job selling insurance, and that paid for his degree. The school he went to offered him the chance to take a few classes in London, and he saved money to go in January of this year.

He came back in August and immediately began apartment shopping. Much to Roscoe's pleasure, he actually purchased his own car just before he left for London. An incredibly beat up Nissan that he won at an auction. He recently got offered a position as an insurance specialist at a small company and will be signing the lease to his new apartment next week.

All in all, he's doing really well. But it's a little weird how his breakup with Cheyenne kickstarted all of this. According to her, they were only together for just shy of a month, but they were talking since February. So, either he's had feelings for her since the beginning or he's a lot more...passionate than I thought. The latter might not be the case since he dated his London ex, Sophia, for four months and didn't even consider the idea of loving her, saying that the whole relationship was casual to him.

I keep observing him, because something doesn't seem right.

"So, what are you guys doing for Thanksgiving?" Mordecai asks us now, sipping on his latte.

Probably the same thing we did last Thanksgiving: he goes and visits his family and I stay at home with two different dishes from Noodles and Co. and watch Stranger Things. It's a viable option.

But instead of me saying this, Roscoe answers, "Probably see the family. You know they invite me every year."

"And you keep going? I thought you hated them."

"I do, but if I don't say anything, the drama will ensue and I can just sit back and videotape it. You remember I showed you the tape of my cousin Callie throwing a drumstick at her mom?"

He snorts, snuffing it quickly. "That really wasn't funny."

"It's prime Worldstar material, man."

I silently sigh and sip on my own coffee, glancing out the window. I'm honestly wondering why Roscoe even brought me to his catch-up with Mordecai. I only really knew him for such a short amount of time, let alone had a conversation with him. All I knew was that he was the school secretary who was the apple of Cheyenne's eye. She always acted like being with him wasn't a big deal, but whenever the topic landed on him, she instantly became elated and excited. And when their relationship came to an end, she rarely ever left her room. It was a miracle she came to my birthday party, and even then, she looked sleep deprived and zombified.