Ahhhh finally. I ….
*BANG, BANG, BANG*
"Phoenix!"
"Ugh What?" i moan, full of frustration
"Get off the toilet. You've been in there for ages. Did you fall in?"
"Shut up Nick. I had to pee! REALLY BADLY."
"Well Hurry Up. You know I like to get there for the pre-game stuff"
"Yes, yes! Couldn't forget if I tried!"
Still sitting on the toilet, I bend down to pull up my panties and pyjama shorts and exit the toilet to the hand basin where I find Nick impatiently sitting on the bench swinging his legs backwards and forwards hitting the cupboards with the edge of his heels.
"Okay Nick, do you wanna go to the game?"
"YES! That's what I have been saying for the last 10 minutes. Lets gooooo"
"Okay. THEN MOVE. I need to wash my hands"
"Oh…. Sorry"
"Your shout?"
I laugh to myself quietly
"Isn't it always my shout."
"Well that's why I keep you around"
"Haha sure. That's the only reason…. Face it! I'm the best wing man you've got." I smile proudly up at him as I dig through my purse for cash.
"OH! That's how it is. Well, if you keep saying it Phoenix it might come true. Because I'm the best wing man I've got!"
We walk towards the gates to the stadium as he protectively puts his arm around my shoulder and talks quietly into my ear.
"We're gonna have fun tonight Arizona. What's her name won't even be a blip on your radar. Just your awesome best friend and beer and baseball!"
"Huh. Yeah. Well you know whats on my mind right now."
"And what may that be?"
"How the hell I always get stuck paying for the tickets, every time we go to a game"
"Oh maybe because you love me. And you want to spoil me every time I come and visit you. And do I or do I not always provide the beer."
He pushes off me and places his hands in front of himself as he holds the whole world and offers to me.
"I provide! Do I not?"
I smile softly at him as I know he would offer me the world if he could and I would do the same. He knows I don't care about paying for the tickets. He and I both know that the money isn't what matters. I shake my head I gesture him to move forward through the gate to purchase our tickets.
"You do. Now let's go watch some ball"
"NICK! Calm down!"
"No Arizona I will not calm down. 1 out. That's all we needed and they blew it!" Whacking his hand into his old, run down mitt. He battles with his rage and anger towards his losing team.
"They screwed themselves over."
"Yep.
"The Soxs lost the game. The Orioles didn't win it!"
"Interesting"
"No! Not interesting"
Arizona Jumps at his abrupt outburst as she collects beers from the fridge. Clearly they need it!
Eyebrow raised "Okayyyy" she mumbles to herself as she searches for the bottle opener
"It's stupid. And pathetic. They could have won the game. I'm telling you! Out of all the in fielders they put Millar at short stop. He is too old. Where Hernandez is a lot younger and quicker and can get to the ground faster." With every word he bangs his fist into his mitt.
"Every second counts Phoenix! Every second! God I'm so pissed! And he is shorter! Hernandez is wayyyy shorter then Millar! He can hit the ground faster and harder! We had chance this year! We had a really good chance to get into the play offs and we blew it!"
"Sucks"
Nick, hands on hips, out of breath and frustrated stares blank eyed at his best friend sitting on the couch unfazed but the whole situation.
"I cant believe it"
So I've heard. For the last hour"
"Not the game. You! How do you not care? Baseball is our religion! Where is your pride? Your passion? Lost it in the toilet this morning!"
Staring deep into his eyes, stern face. Her face suddenly falls and drops into her shadow of darkness. Nick's body shifts to face her fully and gives her his undivided attention in whatever trouble is tampering with her mind.
"Everything, is falling apart"
Silence fills the room. Nick looks to his hand holding his bottle of beer which suddenly got very interesting as that was all he could look at. Then something clicked in his head. Something bizarre and crazy, yet fun. But it would have to wait to morning.
"Phoinex!"
"Hm?" Arizona responds and lifts her head full of effort to look up at him.
"Everything sucks at the moment. The red soxs lost" he nods towards her and continues talking, "You aren't getting laid."
"Ha."
"Yeah I thought that would cheer you up. Look, she lost you. You didn't lose her. Soo, that means she is an idiot. But please don't dwell on her and what if."
He places his hand on her knee cap and squeezes it firmly. "Get to bed. Cause I have a plan tomorrow. And for once it's a pretty good plan"
"Nick. I'm really not in the mood to do anything after tonight. I'm just so tired. Plus I have the night shift tomorrow. I need to have a quiet day."
"Oh. Sorry, you're right. I just got get your walking frame so you can walk to bed. And don't forget to take out your dentures before you go to sleep".
He Jumps of the lounge and begins to walk to the guest bedroom in Arizona's Baltimore apartment. "Cut the crap grandma. Be up and showed by 9. I don't want you to stink for the whole day! Night!"
Arizona stays seated on the lounge and signs longingly with her eyes shut. She can't believe how much that kid pushes her button. But she loves him to death.