The scarlet flash across Rod's face faded as he poured boiling water over the instant coffee. Milk and two sugars for Nicky, strong black for himself. He slugged the boiling liquid quickly in an attempt to wake up. Nicky appeared in the doorway.

"Nicky!Your hairs a bit..."

"Speak for yourself. Ooh is that coffee?" Nicky scratched the back of his head lazily.

Rod looked his messy flatmate up and down, with a curious look on his face.

"What?"

"Ever heard of an iron?"

"Yeah." he laughed, gagging on his drink.

"Ever used one?"

"No. Lets go."

"Don't you want breakfast?" Rod fussed.

"I'll get a burger in town." Nicky replied.

"Thats not breakfast is it."

"Meh."

Rod cupped his cold hands around his even colder face. "Nicky," he whined, "You've got to eat!" No. He mustn't fight today. Friends today. Like we were before.

"Subway awaits!" The friends shrugged on their jackets (Rod checking his hair in the hall mirror) and left the building.

The air was crisp and raw with an autumn scent of expectation. The cool breeze whipped at stray articles of clothing and attempted to part the trees and their few remaining leaves that they had so desperately clutched onto.

A small orange leaf fluttered down and Nicky reached out and captured it delicately in his large hands. "Look it matches!" he held it up to Rod's ginger hair, matching the colours perfectly.

Rod snatched it out of his hands angrily. "Look! It matches!" he held it to Nicky's bright nose.

"Erm y'know I don't think we can go a day without an argument can we bud?" Nicky scratched the back of his head, as often happened when he was nervous.

"I guess not," Rod rubbed his arm sheepishly.

The walk to the station must have taken at least 20 minutes, but it seemed like seconds as soon they were talking like the carefree college roomies they once were. They arrived at the gray, dirty old station at 9:20, according to the large white clock which hung centrally in the lobby.

The platform was even older and more decrepit than the room above. The once-white tiles barely clung to the muddy ceiling in various shades of gray. The metallic ticket barriers stood out in stark contrast, being new, clinical and shiny.

It was busier than would be thought of for a Sunday morning, where work should have been closed for the majority of people, but still there were men and women clad in suits of muted colours, clutching briefcases and mobile phones to their ears, all hurrying to get to work before the 10 am deadline.

So this is why Rod leaves so early, Nicky thought to himself looking around at the early morning commuters with their office jobs.

I am so glad I leave early, Rod thought. A few hours in bed was a small price to pay not to get caught in this muddle of bags and shirts and suit jackets.

Nicky elbowed Rod hard in the stomach. "Look at that dude's nose!" He nodded in the direction of a stout man, with long, confident strides and a slight rounded face. His mousy-coloured hair fluffed out in strange patterns, creating the illusion of long and short layers. His eyes were small and careful; darting about the place: looking at everything but seeing nothing, and his mouth curved upwards in a small smile. The most prominent feature though (the one Nicky had picked up on) was his nose. It was undoubtedly large, and possibly once broken. It curved outwards, like a beak, Nicky thought to himself, collapsing into fits of giggles. "Oh my God, elephant!"

"NICKY!" Rod shushed.

"You wanted to do this y'know. Its fun, come on."

"I didn't know you'd be this loud!" Rod whined, "he might hear you!"

"Lighten up man," he laughed again and grabbed Rod's shaking arm, "this way!"

Rod groaned, why does he feel the need to drag me around? I'm not going to get lost down here!. Although Rod did graciously allow himself to be pulled through the crowd.

"Rod?" a deep voice called through the crowd. "Nicky?" It asked surprised. The crowd moved apart revealing a muscular green figure. Rod and Nicky hastily looked down at their arms, Nicky's still holding Rod.

"Ricky?" Rod fainted.