In the Pursuit of Mr. Reeves

Chapter 2: Gone By

ONE YEAR LATER

Today felt right. Peyton didn't know if it was the energized feeling when she woke up. Or the thought of her book hitting shelves soon. The one she worked on since freshman year of high school. The one she'd been dying to publish since her move to North Bixbay. It was all looking up for her. Even in her one bedroom apartment, with her college education unused, she felt as though life was coming back up.

She sipped her chai tea and took in the warm air. She'd turned the heat up as far as it could go. Connecticut had always been cold in the fall, but the snow had yet to come. Peyton liked this time of year and especially in her new home. The girl was happy to have some sense of peace, but she needed the morning light. With a simple smile, Peyton got out of her chair and opened the curtain. The mid November light brushed on her face as she faced the world. There were houses lined two stories below her. She felt as though she was watching the whole world.

"Good morning North Bixbay," she yawned.

She looked down at the light blue two story house below. She noticed that there were two move in trucks in front of the house. She saw two people, boxes on the front lawn and discussions taking place. Although she couldn't see their faces, she could tell that they'd been men. One had a longer cut, while the other had a shorter, fluffier cut. He looked angry, and was talking about something that Peyton couldn't make out. She was thrilled to have new neighbors. Since Angela Huffer and her husband moved to San Diego, the home needed love. Miss Bradford knew she had to say hello- but not before baking of course!

Within an hour, Peyton was standing in the elevator, the cake in her hands. She was nervous about meeting her new neighbors. She'd only see two men, but there had been a lot of boxes. She saw herself as crazy to think that there were more. Besides, it was only a three bedroom home. Anymore than five people surely wouldn't fit.

She walked out of the apartment complex and looked across the road. She noticed a pick up truck and a black car parked in the driveway, with the garagae being shut. The shiny rims reflected off of her glasses. The moving truck was gone now, but the lawn was a mess. The scattered boxes became clear, though she could only read one name on them.

"Ted's albums," she read.

"He's got quite a collection, ma'am."

Peyton looked up from her snooping. A tall, broad man with long dark hair stood before her. He looked rugged, but he had a calm and beautiful face. The girl was reminded of Keanu Reeves, but believing that it was the real actor was ridiculous.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" he asked.

"I'm Peyton from the apartment complex across the street," she greeted," I live 22B and when I opened my curtains this morning, I couldn't help but notice you and another gentleman moving in. And I couldn't come empty handed so I made you a yellow cake with some chocolate ganache."

"How sweet!" the man smiled as he took the cake," we're gonna enjoy this a lot. Thank you so much. I'm John, by the way."

Peyton wanted to laugh. His name was John, with the looks of Keanu? An odd coincidence in her book. She offered to help carry the boxes in. She picked up the records and walked into the house. John allowed her to set the box to the side, stating that he didn't know which room they went in. He set the cake down as they got a few more boxes.

"So what made you decide to move to North Bixbay?" she asked.

"Oh, we just needed a quiet place to be," he said as they went into the kitchen," my roommates and I wanted to find some kind of peace, and a beach nearby."

"Well, the nearest beach is Jennings Beach. That's a half an hour drive but it is so worth it."

"Ah, that's great," John nodded," Utah's gonna love that. We call him Utah because-"

They entered the house again and heard a frustrated groan from the other room. The two turned to find the other man Peyton saw coming in. She found it odd that he, too, resembled her favorite actor. Though, he looked like he was from one of his older movies. Constantine and Mnemonic were names that came to mind. He was arguing that he couldn't find any of his belongings. John quickly introduced their guest and new neighbors. The other man's vulgar language and loud talkings stopped as he looked to the girl, who was shyly smiling.

"Hello, Peyton," he glanced to John, then back at her as they shook hands," I'm John."

"Same as John," she laughed lightly as she looked to the older man, then noticed the other man's tattoos," Interesting tattoos."

"Thanks," he nodded, then looked to long haired John," I told you letting the movers touch my stuff would end in disaster. Can't a detective get some fucking peace around here?"

"Watch the language while we have a guest," John warned.

Peyton was listening, curious about the detective part. However, her eyes had caught pictures that were waiting to be hung up. There were several different frames, and each held little pictures. But the one that stuck out was a sort of family portrait. The big maroon frame somehow caught the attention of Miss Bradford, who drew away from the bickering. Both Johns were there, but only the long haired John was smiling. He had one hand in his pocket and another on a baby faced young man. One who looked like a much younger Keanu Reeves. Every face in the picture was familiar to the girl. Each face looked like Keanu...but how?

"We'll find your stuff," long haired John said," I promise."

"Easy for you to say," other John grumbled," Everything I've seen has your fuckin name on it, Mr Wick..."

"Mr. Wick?" Peyton asked, the men looking over to her.

"That's my last name," Mr. Wick glared at the other John," his is Constantine. We have to go by last names around here. There's five Johns here and with ten in a house, things get crazy."

"Ten?" she squeaked out with a smile.

"If they were here, we'd introduce you," Constantine said," but we don't know where they went. Probably some stupid shit with Utah."

"Too bad," Peyton laughed awkwardly as she walked towards the door," You know, it was so nice to meet the two of you. But I have to go home and get ready for work."

"Oh," Mr Wick nodded," well thanks for the cake. Perhaps we'll see you some other time."

Peyton agreed happily, then bid the two farewell. On her short walk home, it was certain that she had too much to think about. If the people were claiming to be fictional characters, how could she believe them? The two she met acted and looked like the characters. The proof was all before her! If they were the characters that Peyton learned to love, she personally declared as she approached her door, she had to figure one thing out; how did they come to life?

When the door shut behind her, Mr Wick glared at Constantine. The detective knew he was in for it, with the assassin staring him down. He wished he hadn't quit smoking so he could avoid Mr Wick's glares.

"Do you have to be so cynical?" Mr. Wick asked as they walked off.

"Can we talk about this later?"
"Absolutely not," John said," Can we please be nice to the neighbors? She seems sweet and we don't want to ruin this. Especially when we've had a hard time with people in the past. Don't fu- mess this up."

"You've killed three people with a pencil and you can't say fuck?"

Mr Wick rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall. She didn't seem to notice and that was all he could ask for right now.