It Ain't Like That (a Layne Staley fanfic)

Chapter 8 - Seattle

I booked a flight to Seattle for August 22nd. A random date, but it was one of the cheaper flights. It was July 30th, and I knew I needed to head back to Bakersfield since it was Saturday. Making sure I had everything packed but knowing full well that I'd forget something, I checked out of my hotel room by eleven A.M.. Walking out into the crisp morning air, I got into my truck and made my goal the 395.
Driving and driving, the haunting vocals of Love, Hate, Love played over and over again through my head. Deciding that I'd listened to Facelift a little too much, I changed the tune dramatically by putting on Disintegration by The Cure. Tears began to well up in my eyes as the end of the album neared and my neighborhood drew closer. Sighing in relief and anxiousness, I pulled into my building's parking lot and got out of my car with all my bags. Struggling up the stairs, I said hi to a neighbor who's name I had forgotten. She seemed to know mine, though.
"Oh my god! Athene! You're like, traveling and all that suuuuper cool stuff! Have you met any boys?" She drew out the 's' in the last word. Trying my hardest not to roll my eyes, I said, "Uh...nah, not yet..."
"Oh, what a shame! So, what've you been up to lately?"
"Uh...nothin' much." I didn't want to give her too much of an answer...after all, I didn't even know the woman's name.
"You see, I've been making this quilt, and—" I hated to be the asshole, but I had to be the asshole.
"Ooh, quilts! Nice. Well, I've gotta go, since I told my friend I would call him...see you around?" I awkwardly trailed off.
"Ah, yes, dear! Take care!" She called as I unlocked my door. Trying to hide my expression of relief, I smiled and returned the goodbye. Getting into my apartment, it smelled heavy and hot, since I always turned the AC off when I went out of town. Taking a breath and turning on the AC to seventy-two degrees, I sat down on the couch and exhaled. I decided to dial Layne's number to tell him that I'd be in Seattle next month.