Chapter Three

The next morning: I wake to the sound of the shower running in the bathroom on the other side of the bedroom wall. Realizing that I'd slept through the night with no night terrors, I am a little happier. Explaining those to Daph would probably be a little uncomfortable.

I follow my normal morning routine of showering and getting dressed. I walk downstairs to find that Daphne has already left for class. She left me a note on the kitchen counter.

Go see Brian. Tell him by tonight, or I'm gonna do it for you. And please pick up OJ if you go to the store. See ya later. --D

I know that if Brian were to here this from Daphne rather than me, he'd be pissed. No, more than pissed. He'd become his comic alter-ego RAGE, only instead of protecting Gayopolis, he's probably find and kick my ass. So Daph is leaving me no choice. That bitch.

Well, now it almost eleven. No place serves breakfast this late in the morning. Well, I know that's not true. I'm really craving some pancakes so I push past my fear and walk into the Liberty Diner. Of course, as soon as I walk in the door, Deb spots me.

"Sunshine!"

"Hey, Deb. How are things?"

"Fine, just fine. What are you doing here?"

"Well I really wanted breakfast. Can I get some pancakes, please? Oh, and some coffee?"

"You damn sure can not! What? Don't give me that face! You think I'm gonna just let you waltz in here after a year and order pancakes like it's been two days? Tell me what you're doing here, in Pittsburgh, when you're supposed to be off in New York becoming a famous artist!"

I am absolutely stunned. There is no other word for it. I expect everyone else to act like that. Not Deb. Deb loves me. She loves us all. She's supposed to be like my mom who just greets me with open arms and affections, not demanding questions that I don't know the answers to.

"Well, Justin, are you gonna tell me or are you just gonna sit there and stare at me with you trap hanging open?"

I shut my mouth, but I still can't speak. I'm not even sure I remember the question.

"Oh, my god! Does he know you're here?"

That sparks me out of my catatonia. "No, no he doesn't."

"Well, why the fuck not? Aren't you here to visit him?"

"Um, well kinda yes and kinda no."

"What the fuck kinda gibberish are you talking in? You're either here to see him or you're not. Which is it?"

"I guess if I had to choose one…I'm not. I'm not here just for a friendly visit with Brian."

She scoffed before adding, "Like the two of you were ever friends. Wait, what do you mean by just?"

"I mean that I'm back. For good."

"Why? What happened to New York?"

"I left."

"Yeah, well, I can see that. Why?"

"Things just didn't pan out. I got fed up with being jerked around by my dick," another scoff from Deb, "I decided to leave, and Pittsburgh is my home. Where else would I go?"

"Nowhere. It's good to see that thousand watt smile again. I'll go get you those pancakes, now."

"Thanks."

At this exact moment, the door opens. The person who walked through the threshold walks up next to me and begins to talk to Deb. She turns around with her normal smiling face and says, "Hey Ted. You're order will be up in a minute. Why don't you have some coffee while you wait?" She returns with two mugs full of the black bean water. One she places in front of Ted. The other she hands to me exclaiming, "There you go, Sunshine!"

Ted turns his glance toward me upon her last word. I can see the confusion in his eyes.

"Hey," he says almost nervously.

I return the sentiment with no additions. I was never really close with Ted, probably because Brian wasn't.

"What are you doing here?"

I reply with the same breakfast response that I had given to Deb, and of course got an equal reaction from Ted. Together, we repeat the entire verbal tango that Deb and I had just finished. Only this time, I am forced to add on, "Don't tell him I'm back yet. I'll do it later today."

Now, Ted's order is up. He pays for the meals; he was obviously picking up lunch for the office. Then he exits the diner, looking back once more in my direction.