21

Chinese food and artistry

Richie and Eddie had stopped at one of the best Chinese take out restaurants in NYC. They picked up way more food than they needed, but they figured they cold share with Stan and Bill. Eddie insisted on paying for it since Richie was letting him stay with him. Richie tried to pull out his wallet in protest, but Eddie already had his debit card out.

He lost this round, but he'd buy him dinner another time. Hopefully there would be another time.

When Richie and Eddie got home, they walked in the door to find Bill and Stan rolling around on there bed which resided on the floor of the living room.

"I was only gone for an hour! And I brought company, so you two need to throw some clothes on."

Eddie's face was bright red having intruded on them. Richie was used to this, but for Eddie it was a little uncomfortable.

Eddie set the food down on the counter and excused himself to the bathroom, wanting to get out of the room so Stan and Bill could get dressed.

"What is he doing here?" Bill asked pulling a sweatshirt over his head. 

"Someone broke into his apartment, there's glass everywhere, I said he could stay here for the night. Sorry guys, I just didn't want him sleeping there, but we brought dinner!"

"Someone broke in? Wow that sucks." Stan commented.

"Yeah and he thinks it was Myra." Richie whispered.

"No shit! Really?" Bill cried.

"I'll tell you guys about it tomorrow after he leaves."

Eddie came out of the bathroom slowly.

"Are they dressed?"

Richie nodded and gestured for him to help with the take out.

~~~

The four sat at the small dining table in the small dining area. They laughed and talked and shared Chinese food. And for a second everything felt like it was going to be okay. Eddie felt a little safer being here with three others instead of home by himself.

He didn't know what else Myra was capable of. She had broken in to his apartment, and he had no idea what she had done once she got in. She could've just taken something and left, or she could've rearranged a few things. He didn't really get a good look at the rest of the apartment. Eddie had just called the police right away and waited outside his door until they got there. He didn't want to chance being inside alone, just in case she was still there.

"So. . . how long are you going to stay here?" Bill asked Eddie.

"Just tonight. I left a note on the door of the front office, so they'll probably call a repair man for the window for tomorrow. So hopefully I'll be able to sleep there tomorrow night." He didn't want to go back to his apartment, he wanted to stay here longer than just tonight, but he didn't want to abrupt there lives.

"Oh, well just in case they can't get a repair man, or something else happens, you are more than welcome to stay here for a couple of nights." Stanley was trying to help him feel welcome.

"Thanks, I appreciate it. Hopefully things will go back to normal soon enough."

Normal?

What was Eddie's normal? He wasn't even sure himself. He would have to discover his new normal.

"Well now that I am full of take out, I think I'm going to head to bed." Stan said.

"Yeah me too. I have an 8 am creative writing class so I should probably head in too."