Rock Bottom

Epilouge

Five Years Later.

Alec got out of class with fifteen minutes to spare. It was always great when class got out in time for him to catch the earlier bus. Though he found it quite ironic how often he took the bus these days, but he knew he'd done the right thing in getting his license as early as he did. Even if he didn't drive a lot these days it wasn't like having it did any harm. In fact, with every year of safe driving his insurance rates went down, even if technically he wasn't driving at all.

Alec got to the stop and checked the time. He had two whole minutes to spare. Today was a good day. The days when he arrived just in time to watch the bus drive away were all together much more frustrating.

While he waited, Alec checked his phone. He had one new message from his sister, and a couple from his mother. With a sigh Alec quickly read Maryse's texts first knowing full well they'd be something overly motherly and unnecessary, and sure enough.

'Just wanted to text and make sure you didn't need anything at the store since I'm heading there anyway,' Maryse text read. 'Can't have my starving student actually starve. Love mom.'

It was so funny how she always signed her name at the end of all her texts, like Alec's phone didn't have her contact information. Alec quickly replied that he was stocked and all was well, before checking his sister's text.

'OMG Alec!' Izzy's text read. 'They have pool here! And ping pong.'

Alec just chuckled. His now twenty year old sister - and no he couldn't believe it either - was currently attending her first year of college, having spent her first few years out of high school working and living at home for free to save up for school.

Alec was in his second year now, though still working for Charlotte on the weekends. Like his sister, Alec had worked for a couple years to save before attending school. It had actually been a nice break between school and more school, and had given Alec time in the workforce to really appreciate how important an education was.

Just then the bus drove up and Alec got on. This time though he put his headphones in, and listened to music on the slow bus ride home.

About twelve minutes later, Alec got off the bus and began the short walk home. He really didn't mind walking, especially in such beautiful weather as this. The sun was shining, the sky as blue as could be with just a slight breeze.

Alec walked up to the place he called home and fumbled for his key. It wasn't a huge house by any means, but it was more than enough for them. Abby's house had siding only on the front side, with stucco on the other three. The front door was actually a side door located under the covered parking. The front garden was nothing too fancy, though it was well maintained with both Abby and Alec being well versed in landscaping. The week Abby had bought the house her mother, Charlotte, had come over to plant, what had seemed at the time, to be everything under the sun as a housewarming gift.

The door opened and Alec was instantly greeted by Abby's cat. She was a large, slightly cranky cat with black and grey colouring who favoured Abby and Abby only.

"And how was your day?" Alec asked the cat.

"Meow," she replied.

"I see," Alec chuckled as he moved into the house and took off his school bag. Walking into a narrow hallway that led out quickly on the right into a wider living space, Alec looked around. There was a large window that came just inches from the floor, and the television was on playing some comedy show Alec didn't recognize, but there was no sign of his Abby.

"Abby," Alec called to see if his roommate was home. Her car was in the driveway, which meant there was a good chance she'd be here.

"Silly girl might be wearing those noise cancelling headphones again," Alec said as he scratched the needy cat behind the ears. "Or maybe a friend picked her up." Alec knew from experience Abby had a bad habit of leaving the tv on for the cat. She claimed her precious little fur ball didn't like when things were too quiet, and needed the company.