The Ruins of Our Lives Chapter 10

A/N: This chapter takes place about a week and half after the last one did.

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor

Randy's POV

'Hi Lauren' I greet her. (Over the phone, that is. I wish it was in person, but alas, it is not).

'Hey Randy! How are you?' she asks.

'Oh, I'm okay. I got moved into my apartment. You know, I honestly never thought I'd want to live in an apartment, but this place isn't too bad. How about you?' I respond.

'Well, I miss you. I wish I was there with you. Now, what about a job? Have you been able to find anything?' asks Lauren.

'Actually, yes, I have found something. I don't have the job yet, but I've applied for the position. I mean, I think I'm really suited for the job, I'm qualified, and I have a bit of connection with the person who interviewed me. Believe it or not, she knows Wilson! So, what do you think about it?' I answer.

'Randy, what is the position?' Lauren asks in a somewhat annoyed tone that I know is fake.

'Oh, I guess I might want to tell you, huh? It's a job working for a daycare' I reply.

'That's great Randy! You're great with kids!' Lauren screeches, almost sounding like a harpy in the process.

'I just hope I don't wind up being turned into a human toy, like Richard Pryor in "The Toy"' I say. Lauren just laughs.

'I think they were a little nervous about hiring a male for the job, but once the woman found out I knew Wilson, she seemed to be a bit more at peace with the idea' I say.

'Is there anyone that Wilson doesn't know?' asks Lauren.

'You know, I don't really think so. I think everyone has a connection with that man' I laugh.

'I'm honestly beginning to wonder' she replies.

'So what have you been up to?' I ask Lauren.

'Just the same old same old. I've been busy with school. They made me the editor of the school paper since you're not here anymore' she says.

'What about Brad and my mom? How are they doing? Are they still walking around in a drunken stupor?' I question.

'Actually, I don't think you're my mom has had a drink since the day you and Mark left. She seems to be taking your leaving really hard, but she also seems to be back to her old self, at least somewhat' says Lauren.

'What about Brad?' I ask, not missing a beat.

'Brad is still having some issues. He doesn't drink as much as he used to, but I think he's started doing drugs now. His personality has really changed, even more so than what it had ' Lauren replies with a huge sigh at the end.

'How has his personality changed?' I ask, just being my nosy self.

'Well…like…the other day at school, I was standing in the hall and one of my friends said something funny, and we all started laughing just as he was walking by, and so he came over to me, and started yelling at me and calling me names. For a second there, I though he was going to hit me' she says hesitantly.

'He didn't do any of this to any of your friends?' I ask, starting to get hot under the collar.

'No, just me' replies Lauren.

'That bastard! If I ever see him again, I will hit him. You can bet on that' I say, borderline shout.

'Don't Randy, he's not worth it' Lauren says, trying to calm me down. Amazingly enough, it works.

'Yeah, you're right' I say, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm my self.

'Listen Randy, I have to go. I have to get to swimming practice, but I'll talk to you when you call here again, okay?' Lauren says, sounding sorry she can't talk to me for the next decade.

'Yeah, that's fine. I'm going to this comedy club tonight. I'm actually going to try to do a bit of standup, since no one knows me here in LA' I explain.

'Don't worry about it Randy, you're very funny. Just try not to offend anyone with your Republican jokes' warns Lauren.

'I'll try not to' I say, laughing.

A/N: Sorry, I know it's a short chapter, but I didn't want to try to fit anything else into this one.

I want to thank Baxxie for helping me out with pretty much the entire chapter, even though she only gave me two different ideas.

Oh, and don't worry, you'll get to see some of Randy's comedy bits in later chapters. (And true to Lauren's words, I'll try not to offend anyone with the material. In fact, I'll put a disclaimer at the beginning of that chapter that there may be offensive material in there, that way no one can justifiably flame me if they read the material and don't like it).

Please read and review. I absolutely love reading fan feedback.

As always, thanks for reading.

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor