Disclaimer

The following is one of many installments for a story designed specifically for my blog.  While it does step out of my usual genre, there are some things still not suitable for a younger audience.  Violent/Graphic descriptions, strong language and sexual situations may be found through different sections.  Each entry will tell a small portion of the story during different times and may not directly follow the one prior to it.  

This story follows the direct interactions, as well as the deteriorating thoughts of a young man who is struggling not only with the relationships he has with those around him, but with the relationship he has with himself as well.

Finally, all work is strictly fiction and does not reflect the views of the author.  Any resemblance to actual person(s) is only a coincidence.

If this isn’t your cup of tea, then avoid these excerpts and hopefully I’ll see you around my other posts and webseries!

———

The next morning found him sitting alone at the counter, eating a bowl of cereal.  It was still early and he had classes to attend to, but his thoughts were far away from such things as World History and Discrete Mathematics.

As he lazily swirled his spoon around the bowl, chasing the melting marshmallows into the other flavorless shapes, he reflected on what had happened the night before.

“Scott?”

“Yeah?”

“I really had a good time tonight.”

He turned to look at her for the first time since they got into her car.  She was turned toward him with a smile on her face and when his eyes met hers, she all but beamed at him.  Her smile was infectious.  It didn’t matter to him that there was a small piece of popcorn tangled in her hair.  He didn’t see that her lips glistened from the butter that had coated her previous snack.  At that moment, he felt as if he was falling into her.

He looked up from his cereal as his phone chirruped, notifying him that he had received a text message, but he didn’t immediately pick it up to read it.  If it was who he thought it was from, there were eight other messages just like it waiting to be read.

Still tired, he slowly stood from his seat and carried the bowl over to the sink to rinse. He felt numb.  Try as he might, he couldn’t find the motivation to get this day started. He swam in a sea of apathy, tireless, and there was no land in sight.

As he ran a sponge through the bowl, his eyes wandered through the window and to the backyard.  Near the back, beneath the maple tree, he could just see where a patch of dirt had recently been disturbed.

“Scott?  I didn’t know you were still home,”

He jumped at the sound of her voice.  He hadn’t expected her to be here.

“Jesus Megan, what the fuck?!”

She laughed as she walked past him and to the fridge, leaning over in an all too familiar pose as she searched for something to drink.  He looked over, and for a brief moment he had thought about turning and drop-kicking her in the ass.

“What?  I can’t get something to drink?”

“I…  I thought you were staying the night at your friend’s?”

“Yeah, that didn’t work out.”

She stood and took a long drawl from the carton of orange juice, pausing long enough to take a deep breath before polishing it off.

“Leave some for the rest of us, why don’t ya,” he said with an amused smile on his face.

“Sorry twerp, I need the citrus to wash out the taste of…”  She suddenly ended her thought as she realized who she was talking to.

“Gross,” he said as he put his dishes away.

“How did you ‘big’ date go,” she asked teasingly, quickly changing the subject.

“It was…okay, I guess.  She paid for everything.”

“What?  You made her pay?!”

“No, it wasn’t like that,” he objected angrily.  “She didn’t really give me a choice.  By the time I got there, she had already bought the tickets.  And, when we went inside, she insisted on paying for the snacks as well.”

“Shit, Scott, I forgot about your bike!  How DID you get there, anyways?”

“I ran,” he admitted quietly.

“You…ran?”  She looked up at him with something that was a bit too much like admiration for his comfort.

“Yeah, I ran!  How the fuck else was I supposed to get there?!”

“Okay, okay.  Calm down, bro!  It’s just that…”

“What,” he asked, irritated.

“Well, you know…”

“No, goddamn it, I don’t.  What, Megan?”

She huffed as she shoved away from the counter, quickly returning to her feet.

“You can be so stupid sometimes, you know that?  Just fucking forget it, alright?  Shit!”

She stormed from the room, but he made no move as he listened to her angry retreat. It wasn’t until after he heard her door slam that he walked over and picked up his cell phone and began reviewing the messages.

Hey Scott, it’s must me. Lucy. I wanted to let you know that last night was great. – 4:36am

Hello, thanks again for taking me to the movies!  I enjoyed spending time with you!  Call me when you get this! – 5:11am

I was just thinking about what you shared with me last night.  If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll share something with you! – 5:27am

I hope you don’t mind me texting you. I couldn’t sleep. I hope you are dreaming about me! – 5:31am

Scott? Are you awake yet?  Text or call me when you get this!  – 5:51am

He scrolled through the remaining messages, passing his eyes over them only briefly before erasing them, all, except for the last.  The last one she had signed ‘Love, Lucy’.

“Love Lucy,” he mouthed incredulously.  What else had happened last night?