In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

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I held out my hand to him and he took it and stood. "No, can't say that I have. Is this your boyfriend? He's quite handsome. It's nice to meet you young man," she said. "Nice to meet you too ma'am," he said, nodding at her. A few others came over and we repeated the process time and time again, until I needed a break. "Come outside with me, please. It's getting too stuffy in here," I said. So many people were showing up, that the already tiny house was getting even smaller. Colby and I walked out the back door, where only a few people were standing. Some were smoking, some were drinking, all was just hanging out. This always happened with things like this. People, family, just treated it like a family get together in a way. "You okay?" he asked me, pulling me close to him and resting his hands on my hips. I nodded and lay my head on his chest. "I'm okay. Just too many people. I keep waiting for my parents to walk through that door, and the pressure is killing me. I don't know how to act around them now, after my temper tantrum yesterday. That's what my mother will call it. My temper tantrum." "It'll be fine. I promise," he whispered, smoothing his hand down over my hair. We stayed outside, listening to the older men having discussions about the vintage cars they owned, and offering each other tips on how to take care of them. "Terra?" I heard my name, and leaned away from Colby so I could say hello for the millionth time. I sucked in a breath when I saw who it was. "JJ," I breathed out, stunned. "No hug for an old friend?" he asked, smiling at me sadly. I took the few steps to him and wrapped my arms around him. "It's good to see you T," he said, rubbing my back. I pulled back from him, and stood next to Colby, taking his hand. "You too J. You look good," I answered. Honestly, he did. He wasn't the same skinny, pale addict that I was used to seeing. He looked down at himself, then back to me. "Yeah, I guess that's what the sober life does for you. Or prison. Probably both." I noticed that he had a tan, and multiple new tattoos on his skin, as well as a thickness to his muscles that hadn't been there before. "This the new boyfriend?" he asked, nodding his head towards Colby. "Oh yeah, sorry. JJ, this is Colby, my boyfriend. Colby, this is JJ, my old...friend," I said, not sure if we were ever friends, or if he was just convenient for me at the time. "Nice to meet you man," JJ said, throwing his hand out to shake Colby's. I noticed that Colby took a minute before he took the offered hand. His jaw was clenching again, and there was a hardness in his eyes. Shit. He knew JJ was my old dealer. I squeezed his free hand, in an effort to silently convey to him not to open his damn mouth about that. He glanced at me, then looked back at JJ. "Nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you," he said, his voice a little hard. JJ looked at me, and grinned, then back to Colby. "All good things I hope," he replied. Colby shook his head. "Not so much." Damn it Colby. I sighed, and closed my eyes for a second. "Aw come on T, I thought we were friends," he said, pretending to pout. I gave him a small smile, and nodded. "We were JJ. Just life and a lot of other factors got in the way of us really being friends, ya know?" "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry about what happened to Amber. You know, I really did love her," he said, sadness standing out in his eyes. "Sometimes you had a funny way of showing her that," I said softly. He nodded. "I know. I have so many regrets. The drugs took all of us over, and I became someone that I didn't want to be. Then I thought, if this is who I am, then I might as well just embrace it. So I did." "How'd  you get out of prison? I thought you had a good few years left to do," I asked. "Good behavior. They let me come to Amber's funeral. Told them she was my adopted sister. I guess they didn't check any paper work. I have to go back in the day after the service," he said, running his hand over his closely shaved head. "Have you went to see her?" I asked, motioning towards the house. He shook his head. "No. Not sure that I can yet. I know that I have too, but I don't know if I can do it twice, and I will have to say goodbye tomorrow. I just wanted to come support Mrs. Gail today. That woman is a saint for putting up with all of my bullshit, and not killing me," he replied. "Oh hey, there's Levi!" I froze, and glanced in the direction that he was waving. It was definitely Levi. Slightly stockier, hair a little longer, but otherwise the same Levi. He looked better though. Not strung out on God knows what. Maybe we were all growing up a little and learning to control ourselves. Colby tensed beside me, when Levi walked up to us. "Hey brother, what's up?" Levi said loudly, grasping JJ's outstretched hand, then hugging him. "I'm good man. It's good to see you," JJ replied. This just felt weird to me. Standing here with Colby, my new life, face to face with JJ and Levi, my old life. "Look who else is here," JJ said, stepping back, and motioning towards me." Levi looked at me, and I sort of threw my hand up in a half wave. "T?! Terra? Oh my God!" Before I knew what was happening, he had picked me up, and was swinging me around in his arms, his hands locked around my waist. When he set me down, I cleared my throat, and went back to Colby, taking his hand again. "How've you been? I've missed you so much gorgeous, you don't even know," he said breathlessly.