Monochrome Chapter 7: Phone Calls
Dahlia
I sigh heavily, stretching tiredly and putting down the NES controller. Hyrule and the Princess must wait till I get something to eat. I groan as I haul myself up, stretching and hiking up my much too big sweatpants. I pad to the kitchen, passing my mom strung out on her bed, high as a kite. I rifle through what little food we have, stacking some lunchmeat and cheese on the counter. As I'm getting the bread from above the fridge the phone rings. I sigh and put everything down, passing my mom whose come out of multicolor hibernation to seek some food and whiskey.
"Don't worry, I'll get it." I say, as if she can actually hear me.
I walk to the phone and answer it.
"Hello?"
"Dahlia."
"Matt? Are you in Connecticut?"
"Yeah. I'm at the house actually, right now."
"Oh. How….how's everything?"
"Not good. He's here, but he's…"
"He's what?"
"Dying."
"I thought he was already dead?"
"He is, but now he's fading from this world."
"Isn't that a good thing? Him passing on?"
"Yes, no. I don't want to lose him."
I nodded. I knew what it was like to have someone you can't live without, be it lover or good friend. I knew my Matt couldn't live without knowing Jonah was okay.
"How is he?"
"In a lot of pain."
"Oh, that's terrible. Hey, I'm sorry…"
"It's ok. Listen, do you think you could come down here?"
"To Connecticut? What about mom?"
I shot a look to my mom, now curled up on the couch. Her hands shake from withdrawal, her coffee sloshes out of her cup.
"Ask Spooner if he can look after her."
I run a hand through my mousy brown hair, mussing it up even more. Spooner's been me and Matt's best friend since childhood. He's the only one of us that isn't too fucked up.
"Okay. Do you want me to pick up Wendy?"
"Um, yeah sure, if you don't mind."
"I don't"
"Okay. Thanks"
"Welcome."
"Hey, Double D?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
I pause, feeling the itch start to burn. I miss Matt so freaking much. He really needs help. I was there when he came back from Connecticut, back when his scars were healing and the sound of breaking bones haunted his dreams.
"I love you too, Matt."
I hung up first.
I trudged slowly to my room. My mom didn't even look up, too engrossed in the blank TV to pay attention to her daughter. I replaced my sweatpants with some cargos; put a tank top and a shirt on. I threw what little clothes I have haphazardly into a duffel, along with some toiletries and a wad of cash. I laced up my personalized chucks, fluffed my hair with my fingers. I walked into the living room, with its yellowing carpet and smoke-stained walls. I walked to the phone and dialed Spooner.
"Yellow, you've reached a Spooner bro. What is your purpose for calling me on a Saturday night?"
"Hey Spooner. Do you think you could come over and watch mom for a couple days? I'll leave food money."
"Dahlia, my favorite enforcer of crime. Sure, going somewhere?"
"Yeah, I'm going to go see Matt."
"Oh, okay! Tell him Spooner says sup."
"Kay, will do."
This time, I was hung up on.
I dial yet another number.
"Hello?"
"Um, hey Wendy, it's Dahlia."
"Oh, uh, hey!"
"Hey. Well, Matt wants me to pick you up."
"What?"
"I'm driving over to Connecticut to see Matt."
"Oh, okay! That'll be awesome! How is everyone?"
"Not very good, Matt sounded very upset the last I talked to him."
"Is he at the house yet?"
"Yes, he called me from there."
"Oh God. How's Jonah?"
"Dying."
I hear her suck in a breath.
"He's fading. When will you be here?"
"Within a day."
"I'll be waiting."
"Kay,"
"And Dahlia?"
"Yes?"
"It was great hearing you."
I smile. Wendy reminds me a lot of Matt in some ways, methodical, practical, and always calm.
"It was great talking to you to Wends. We'll catch up on the ride from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, yeah?"
"Yeah. Bye."
"Bye."
We hung up at the same time.
I exhale, loud and slow, staring at the phone. Then I grab my bag and I'm out the door.
I have a long drive ahead of me.
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I realize this chapter is terribly short, but it's a transition chapter. Next chapter starts on the next day and will be super long!
Well, you've met Dahlia, Matt's girlfriend. How is she to your liking?
The character Spooner is based off a real-life dude we call Spooner. He's a really awesome bro!
