To the states

Chapter 4

When you get to your new apartment in America, you have a couple of days to unpack before your first day at Statesman. Yes, it needs to be done and you know you'll be tired and busy from here on out, but you can't help but think that this is time you could've spent back home with your mom and Eggsy. You tried to sleep in— thought it would help the time pass— but you woke up at the ass crack of dawn, still on London time. So, you try to start unpacking, but all alone in this large, posh apartment, you can't stop thinking about home. You only make it to early-afternoon before you call Eggsy. He answers right away.

"Hey, I missed your voice." He greets.

"Since yesterday when you dropped me off at the airport?" You force a laugh. You missed his too.

"Yeah." He says, like it needs no further explanation. It doesn't. There's a beat of silence. "Hits different when you're so far away, too."

"It does." You find that you don't have much to say considering you've been texting non-stop since you parted. He already knows about the screaming baby behind you, and the man who couldn't have been near a shower within the past week.

"Did you just call to hear my lovely voice?" He asks when it becomes clear you're not going to continue.

You feel a lump forming in your throat and you regret calling him. You didn't realize you were already missing home this bad. You try to steady your voice. "Yeah." It's high-pitched and shaky. You hope the phone covers it up.

"Aww, babes, you cryin?"

You take a couple of seconds to get your breathing under control— or you try to. "I— I'm sorry. I knew I was missing you— it's why I called— but I didn't know it was this bad already. I didn't— I don't want to worry you. I wouldn't have called if I thought I was going to start crying like a baby." You let out a laugh because what else can you do?

"Hey, no. I'm glad you called. I wish I could wrap my arms around you—" he hears a fresh set of sobs start at that. "But since I can't, I'd rather talk you through it than think about you tryin' to protect me from hearin' it or somethin' silly like that. I'm your best friend. It's what I'm here for."

"Boyfriend." You correct, wiping your eyes.

"Damn, didn't know I got demoted when we started dating."

You can't help but smile, hearing him put it like that. "Most people would think of it as a promotion."

"Nah, I loved the times we had together as friends too much to act like it meant anythin' less than our relationship now."

"Are you this cheesy with all the girls?"

"Maybe a bit. This time it's true, though."

"Eggsy, were you lying to those poor girls you dated before?"

"Well, I had to if I was goin' to try to move on from you. I never thought I'd have a shot with you."

"Well, we were both blind idiots, then."

"I still can't believe it. Even if I'm stuck on this side of the pond."

"I know."

"So, how is it there? Turn it on video so I can see."

"Eggs, it's a mess— I'm a mess."

"Oh, come on. I've seen you almost every day since we were fifteen at all hours of the day and night. You tellin' me now that you're in America I only get to see you with a full face of makeup?"

You sigh. "Okay, fine." You turn the camera on and point it around the apartment. "So, this will be the sitting room. Right now, as you can see, it's box city. This is the kitchen." You turn the camera to your left as you get up to make your way down the hall.