Desolation Row [MxM]

Chapter 02

“Victor. Victor. Vic, come on buddy.”

I groaned quietly, reaching a hand up from my lap to rub at my eyes. “There you go. We're in Arbor Heights now. Just a little longer.” Charlie said, his voice quiet and tired. I lifted my head from where it sat against the window of his car, glancing out the window.

Arbor Heights. The next town over from Lakeview, and a couple hours away. Arbor Heights was a city, with towering skyscrapers and billboards, and a constant thickness to the air. I'd only visited it once before Charlie started coming up to Lakeview instead. Mom complained that the city wasn't a good place for me to be.

We left Lakeview after their funeral. Sophie, Alex, and Jake had all been there, as promised. It wasn't very big, but at least it was sunny. I managed to get one final hug from both Alex and Sophie before Charlie and I left. It wasn't until we were in the car and leaving Lakeview that I turned my phone back on.

When I'd been taken to the police station, my phone was left in the living room, on the couch with my school stuff. I'd turned it off after that though.

Sophie wasn't kidding about all of them texting me. Granted, I only had two from Jake, but it still counted.

To: me

From: Soph

>>Vic where are you

To: me

From: Soph

>>Ummmm vic???

To: me

From: Soph

>>Are you sick???

Sophie's were all concerned, and it made me smile slightly as I moved on to Alex's.

To: me

From: Alex :)

>>Vic? We still on 2nite?

To: me

From: Alex :)

>>Its 1 hour til dinner r u coming?

To: me

From: Alex :)

>>Guess not. Feel better.

I sighed quietly, turning the screen off and leaning my head back against the seat. I'd forgotten all about the date with Alex. It was too late now, I supposed.

Charlie drove in silence, going past all the tall buildings and onto narrow streets before he turned into an apartment complex. The buildings were brick, with green doors that had letters on them. There was sidewalk going between the buildings that sort of gave it an enclosed feeling, but not much.

“I'll have a friend of mine help me to get the rest of the stuff from your room, and your car.” Charlie said, pulling into a parking space and turning the car off before he got out and headed for the trunk. It took two trips for both of us to get everything out of the trunk and into the spare room of the apartment, which was on the second floor and required stairs.

Once we were finished, I leaned back against the wall in what would now be my room, glancing around. There was already a desk, and a set of drawers, so I supposed that was good. Charlie stood awkwardly in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest as I looked at him. “Why'd you get two bedrooms if no one lives with you?” I asked. He shrugged.

“Used it as an office, mostly.”

It went quiet for a second, both of us glancing around the small room before Charlie cleared his throat. “Hungry? I'm gonna start on dinner,” he decided, moving from the doorway back out into the hall, no doubt to the kitchen.