Regrets

Chapter 27 - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Song: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles

The door Marcus was standing in front of seemed so much bigger than it actually was, like a true obstacle, but he couldn't pinpoint why.

With a sigh, he pressed the bell next to the name 'Louis Cabera', waiting for the door to open, to let him overcome the hurdle his mind had built out of it.

"Hello!", the person that opened the door sang happily, as if Marcus was a relative visiting the family. He didn't know the girl, but logic told him that this nuisance must be Louis' girlfriend. She seemed to fit him, what with her outgoing personality.

"Hi", Marcus replied dryly as he was let in, not in the mood to even bother with a smile.

"Lulu is in living room. He waits for you!", she continued talking in broken English and an accent that Marcus couldn't attribute to any specific country. If he had to guess, he would have said it was Scandinavian.

"Yeah", short answers were his strategy of attack. He walked by her without looking at her another time, instead focusing on making his way to Louis.

"Evening, grinch!", Louis greeted casually as his girlfriend squeezed past Marcus to take a seat next to Louis on the couch, holding onto his arm as she snuggled up to him.

Marcus lifted his hand in greeting as he took a seat in the armchair opposite of the sofa. Louis' home had a very antiquated feeling; everything looked old but welcoming.

"What did she say about my work status?", the question was dry and impatient.

"You mean whether you're fired? Absolutely. Especially after you hung up on her all the time", Louis laughed in response, but it wasn't amused. He was aware of the impact this had on Marcus, and he sympathised with him. But Louis knew Marcus didn't want pity.

"I told you, it was the kid", Marcus growled, a bit irritated. He leaned forward, interlocking his fingers.

"Ah right, what's his name anyway?", Louis asked, his memory seemingly having returned to him.
"You do know, right?"

"Thomas", Marcus said. There was no intention of conversation.

"Marc, you're so stiff", Louis began complaining.
"I wanna hear more 'bout the boy!"

"He's about this tall", Marcus muttered as he lifted his hand to about Thomas' height.

"But why'd he end up with you?", Louis was by nature an unhealthily curious person, but he tried to contain himself.

"Not my business", Marcus stated and immediately brought up the next topic, the reason he actually came.
"Do you have boss' number?"

"No, but she already fired you, you won't get work with her again. Told me to kick your ass", Louis answered, no humour to be detected in his voice. He was dead serious. Marcus could only sigh.
"If you need help with a new job, I could ask a few friends. How about it, Marc?", Louis offered quickly.

"You just need to ask me, I'll help you out with the money!", James grinned, well aware how angry it would make Marcus.

"I don't need it", Marcus growled before chugging down the half-filled mug of coffee in one go.

"No, I don't need it, Lou. I'll deal with it myself", Marcus muttered bitterly as he shook his head, his mood sour now that he was once again reminded of the dreaded person. Louis nodded solemnly, unsure of what he had done wrong to make Marcus this upset.

"How about a drink?", Louis asked friendly but cautiously. He really didn't want to lit the fuse. Marcus looked at his former co-worker before he shrugged.

"Sure"

"Go Svedlana, get us the whiskey", quickly, Louis beckoned his girlfriend to get them the sought after alcoholic drink.

"Svedlana?", Marcus raised an eyebrow at the foreign name.

"Svedlana", Louis confirmed stoically.

"Where'd you buy her from?", Marcus laughed with a dry throat, coughing almost instantly afterwards. The mason glared at Marcus for a brief moment but otherwise didn't give any reaction to the provocative statement.

There was no time to do so as Svedlana re-entered the room with the promised beverage and two glasses, oblivious to the derogatory conversation that had taken place just prior to her return.

Marcus instantly grabbed for a glass and, without giving Louis a second glance, poured himself the alcohol almost up to the brim, going way past the limit of what was socially accepted as 'a glass of whiskey'.

Louis could only sigh, knowing he had expected to much of Marcus to be waiting for an apology. Slinging his arm around Svedlana once more, he as well prepared himself a fair amount of mind-numbing liquid.

It was only a few hours later that Marcus was passed out on the floor, having drunk way past his limit and expected to wake up with the urgent need to vomit. Next to him, an empty bottle off self-brewed beer. Louis was still holding up well, but still needed his girlfriend's help to find the way to the bedroom. As Svedlana returned to the living room to turn off the lights, she threw a pitying look towards Marcus' alcohol corpse.