The thick ice clung to the streets as the snow poured over the small town of Salem. It was nearly Christmas time and lights decorated every home. The shops were filled with mothers buying enough food for a feast as well as presents for their children. The bars were filled with college students and town folk, small children played games in the busy streets. Everything was simply bustling with the spirit of the season, even old Stefano had been released from the hospital and in turn had decorated his home with lights and tall snowmen clad in red scarves.
John sighed contentedly and sipped his jack, taking a moment to dip the Hershey bar held in his opposite hand, biting the alcohol-covered piece of chocolate and letting it sit on his tongue. As a snow flake landed on his nose a familiar screech of tires rang through his ears. A very distraught looking young woman stepped out of her car, black hair bouncing around her brightly colored scarf and coat as she skipped to john.
"Hello," she smiled, red nose crinkling with joy at the man.
"Hi Chelsea," He replied, taking another sip of his drink.
"I was just driving," she laughed, "I almost hit one of the children playing in the road, but i saw you and I had to stop! How are you these days?"
John shrugged and dipped the chocolate once more.
"Oh.." she seemed determined to have a conversation. "Have you heard about Bo?"
Bo? He thought, What's wrong with Bo? "What about Bo?" he replied, his interest peeking.
"He and Hope broke up," John paled, "Yeah," she continued, "Hope moved out and now she's bangin' some hot young thing,"
John didn't know how to react, how could Bo not have told him, weren't they BFFs? Without another word he set off in the direction of Bo's house, His boots crunching in the snow as he went.
"O-okay! I'll.. I'll see you later!" Chelsea yelled after him, but he was already gone.
***
Bo sighed as the stared at the Christmas tree, it was barren of any decoration, he hadn't the will to do it without Hope. He picked up the package of smokes, unopened and hidden in Fancy Face for a special occasion. Hope leaving was a special occasion.
He picked up the lighter, inhaling as it burned the tip of his death stick. There were three distinct knocks at his door, all three of which were ignored just as easily. He inhaled again, bringing the cigarette to his lips a second time. Five more knocks, louder and more frantic this time, were heard. He looked towards the door and sighed Just Hope.. back for her lighter He thought.
As he opened the door a large pair of arms circled around him, hugging him tightly.
"I'm so sorry Bo," Bo looked down, his face leaning onto the shoulder in front of it. "You don't need her, you never did. You're going to be alright."
Bo felt tears well up in his eyes, a few tears slipped out stinging him as they escaped. He hugged John back, a part of him feeling whole once more as he let his friend comfort him.
***
Liquid sloshed onto the floor, the coffee table gone and taken to Hope's new place of residence. More of the clear fluid splattered as two drinks were poured, one for John and one for Bo. They sat in silence for a while, quietly sipping their drinks and thinking.
"What a whore," Bo started the conversation bluntly.
"Yeah.. Women," John chuckled a bit at his own remark.
"What about you and Mrs. Martha Stuart? You guys still together?"
"Oh no, no she dumped me for Roman a couple years back."
"I'm sorry to hear about that, man," Bo tried to comfort his friend as best he could.
"Y'know," John started his retort, thinking if he should really finish it.
"Yeah?"
"If i were Hope, I'd be eternally thankful that someone even thought i was attractive, let alone you."
"Wanna bang?" Bo asked.
"Hell yeah I wanna bang."
And they banged.
Their alcohol and smokes on the floor next to them.