So it turns out, Melody had a baby.
Absolutely wild.
I don't know why she had to come all this way to tell us if she could have just phoned him but she did and Dan seemed really excited about it.
Until she told him it wasn't his.
I only know because I could hear them talking through the walls, I was woken up from Dan jumping for joy at the thought that she had his kid but it was quickly silenced after she gave him that starking revelation.
He asked who the father was, she said that it was one of her best friends that he knew before he left for college.
He asked if she cheated on him while they were dating and she feverishly denied it saying that she only got pregnant after they broke up.
She told him that she wanted to let him know in person before he found out from anyone else and that she was sorry that she couldn't keep to their promise.
In total Dan fashion though, he just gave out a hearty laugh and congratulated her, telling her that he's happy that she could move on and is starting a family, even throwing a few quips about how parenting is a wondrous thing and then sending her on her merry way with a, "Keep in touch!"
I got out of my bedroom and tiptoed into the living room to see him on the couch with his head in his hands.
"You wanna go get a drink?" I offered.
"I thought you didn't drink." He responded, head still in his hands.
"Yeah, but I'll make an exception for a friend today." I said slowly.
"Yeah… I want a drink." He said.
"Let's go then."
We drove down to whatever bar was still open and he got into a good mood again introducing me to different kinds of drinks and such.
"I'll get you a Whisky Sour to start." Dan said.
"Whisky? Isn't that a bit strong?" I asked.
"Yeah but you'll get used to it pretty fast."
"I somehow doubt that." I said cautiously as the drink was presented before me.
I battened down the hatches and prepared for the worst but it was okay somewhat okay. The sourness really offsets the burn of the whiskey and it really just kind of had me puckering instead of coughing at the taste.
I could hear him laughing from my left ear, "You look like an idiot while puckering like that,"
"It's really sour, how am I supposed to not pucker?" I retorted.
He continued cackling for a bit, calming down to a low chuckle.
His laughter finally died down and he sighed, "We dated for six years y'know?"
I turned to face him.
"We met in school and hung out every day until I could ask her to go on a date with me to go skydiving together, she said yes and we were dating from then on." he swallowed, "We only broke up because I wanted to go to college, distance was a really big issue anytime I went to go travel so me having to do it for four years would have just ended us on a bitter note. So to save us from that, we decided to just end it but promise that we would get back together after I was done with college. This was also a good time to test the waters with other people to make sure that we were making the correct decision. I tried going on a few dates, and didn't really work out with those people, I always just thought about her by the end of the date and how the other people couldn't really compare, but I guess that she felt a connection." he took a swig of this drink, "So I guess we're just two heartbroken bachelors now huh?"
I used the tips of my fingers to swirl my drink, "Yeah… yeah I guess we are." I look over the corner of my eye, noticing one of the bartenders behind the counter. A pretty brunette with big eyes and a lengthy figure, who's wearing the same expression as Daniel. Then I look back at Daniel. Then I look back to the brunette. Then back at Daniel. Then back at the brunette. Then back to Daniel one last time for one good measure. Then I get dizzy. BUT! An idea was just born, a risky one, but I'm willing to go all in here, in the name… of FRIENDSHIP!
"Excuse me!" I hailed her over, "Can I get another Whisky Sour?"
Daniel looks up at me, "Dude you still haven't finished yours yet what are you doing?"
I ignore him and just keep my attention on the waitress who's walking over.
"Will that be all?" She asked monotonously, fingers waiting impatiently over a glass to get ready to speedrun a drink.
"Nope!" I replied quickly, "Actually, I want to offer you a drink."
She looked super annoyed, "Bartenders can't drink on the job sir." she crossed her arms.
"Nonono ma'am, I wasn't talking about alcohol, I'm talking about a blonde haired, blue eyed, six foot three tall glass of water right…" I do a spin to exaggerate, "HERE!" Jazz hands towards Daniel!
Both of them just stare at me for a bit.
Silence.
Nards, this might have backfired. Hm.
I stopped the jazz hands and looked towards Daniel, "I was sure that would work." I said with a snap.
Then I hear giggling.
Then full on laughing from the bartender.
She was trying to get a word out between her heaving of laughter, "What- the hell- was that?!" she said while holding her stomach.
I smile, this might just work.
"Nothing- nothing at all, I'm just saying that I'm looking between you and my friend here and you two look like you could help each other out a lot." I replied.
Her laughter slowly faded down but her smile remained, "Oh yeah? And you know me so well after just a glance."
I pointed at Daniel's stunned face, "You two were wearing the same sad expression which can only mean that you two have to be going through the same thing right now, ripe heartbreak." The bartender looked stunned, "Or something else, I'm kinda grasping at straws here and hoping I'm not being too insensitive."
She looked a little impressed, "I guess you can read people pretty well… I caught my boyfriend cheating on me tonight." she said.
"Bingo!" I exclaimed. She looked offended, "Sorry. Uh- I- I didn't mean to- regardless what I mean is that you two could probably help each other a lot here by venting to each other. I would keep him company for longer but frankly speaking I can't hold my liquor as well as he can and I'd be out cold by round three."
I felt a tug on my shoulder, "Rob- What the hell are you doing?!" he sounded angry, "I don't need this right now I thought we were just going to talk about this!"
"Daniel you can't be moping around over this girl, you deserve to be a happy dude, try to let go, everything will be easier if you can connect with someone. Trust me on this." I said.
"Right, because the guy who only had one relationship in his life that fell into shambles can lecture me and give me advice on how I should live my love life." he said, looking away from me.
"Ouch. You didn't have to hit me that hard." I said.
He sighed, "Okay yeah, I shouldn't have been too harsh but you're pushing me here."
"Well for that comment, you owe me, so try to enjoy yourself a little. You deserve more than a sad night reminiscing about your old relationship, you need to try to move on and spread your wings. You only kept going back to Melody because you were thinking that you were chained to her with that promise. The promise is kaput now Daniel! Let yourself fly!"
A long spout of silence followed that.
"Uh- guys? I'm still here y'know?" The bartender said.
"Right! Sorry! I have really terrible manners when I'm monologuing." I pull out a crisp one hundred dollar bill, "Here, I'll pay for his tab and a few drinks after. Just give him a chance alright? I promise he's a really good guy, I vouch for him completely and if he's a grouch about it I'll give him an earful." I hand it to her and get up, "I believe in you Daniel!" I said walking out of the bar.
"Robbie, I'm gonna kill you when I get home!" He yelled after me.
"I believe in you!" I repeated while exiting.
I take a sharp breath as I get out of the bar.
That was my last one hundred dollar bill.
I drop to the ground on my knees thinking about all of the food I could have bought with that… so much food… so much…
I almost shed a tear just thinking about it.
I need to pull myself together dammit! It was worth it! It was for my best friend and roommate Daniel and for his happiness! It was worth it… but food- NOPE! WORTH IT!
I busy myself with other thoughts than lasagna and garlic bread.
He deserves better after all! I know better than anyone that pining over an old flame is by far the worst thing. I can only imagine what it feels like to see them again and have to face the fact that you're not together all over again. To face those thoughts of what broke you up to begin with...
...
"Caterina! It's a matter or principle! I'm just not happy right now and I was hoping you'd understand!"
"I don't understand why you want to leave me! After all I've done for you!"
"It's what you haven't done, Cat! You're hardly home anymore and when you are you just ignore me and sleep!"
"Well I'm SOR-RY that I'm tired after working!"
"I don't blame you for that! But even on nights where you aren't tired at all, you go out to drink with your crewmates! How do you think that makes me feel?!"
"I want to have fun and unwind with people! Is that such a crime?!"
"That's okay! But why can't you ever do it with me?!"
"Because the people in the crew don't like you! They think you're weird!"
"Then why can't you just stay home instead of going out to drink?!"
"Because I want to hang out with my friends!"
"And never with me?!"
"Not right now!"
"I hate this relationship we have!"
"Then it's a good thing I cheated on you!"
…
...
Oof… still stings to remember…
I stuff my hands in my pocket and just focus on getting home, letting out a shaky breath as I recall everything that happened before.
Left-Right-Left-Right-Left-Right.
What a way to really dampen the mood Robbie. You're just making yourself depressed at this point.
How much of a hypocrite are you being right now, telling your friend to stop thinking about his ex but immediately thinking about your ex right after?
I round a corner and see my apartment building in the distance.
It's been years now, we're over this already remember? You can't just keep thinking about it and make yourself miserable. You need to take your own damn advice and get back out there already instead of sitting here thinking about what you lost.
I kicked a stone.
But it's less about what I lost compared to what I could have had right?
I sigh as I get to my apartment building.
"I just still really wish that things worked out… I thought we were good for each other… we just wanted different things though I guess…" I said to myself as I got into the elevator, being reminded of my fatigue as I waited to get to my floor, stifling a yawn and stretching out my legs by instinct
Geez, what time is it anyway?
I pull out my phone to read that it's around three a.m. now, putting it away and taking off my glasses to rub my eyes.
Ah man, at this point I doubt that I could make it to class if I want to get a full night's rest.
I'll just email my professor now and say that I came down with a really bad cold and I can't make it to class the next day, hopefully that's a good enough excuse.
I make it to the door of my apartment and rest my head on the couch.
I swear that if you're tired, any soft surface just becomes a mattress fit for a king… so soft… so warm and gentle and fuzzy… so comforting.
It's like a big pink cloud…
Kinda like…
Cotton… candy...
...zzz…
...zzz…
Laughing.
The two of us were laughing as we sat by the fire next to a pink Christmas tree… I know I'm Jewish but Cat likes Christmas trees so we have one still.
I had made a little charcuterie board that we were snacking on, I was taking most of the cheese, crackers and meat and Cat was nibbling at the raisins, chocolates and nuts.
"So what did you get me for Christmas?" she asked,
"You have to wait until Christmas to find out!" I responded, booping her on the nose for her to giggle.
"But it's already midnight! Why can't you just tell me now?" She asked, flashing a doe-eyed look.
"Because that ruins the magic of Christmas morning." I responded, taking a bite out of a slice of sharp cheddar, "Wouldn't you prefer a magic Christmas morning just like the movies?"I asked.
"Phooey… yeah, I would like that more…" she said, taking another raisin and popping it into her mouth.
"I can give you a surprise early though…" I said.
She turned her head to face me, "Yay! I love surprises!"
"Okay!" I adjusted myself so my body was facing hers, "Close your eyes for the surprise."
She giggled, "Kay kay!" she closed her eyes.
"Alright… you ready for the surprise?" I asked.
"Oooo- I think I might know what it is!" She said excitedly.
"Ok! You can open your eyes!"
The second she opens her eyes I slam the side of her head with a pillow.
"Ah!" She screamed, falling onto another pillow beside her.
I couldn't hold in my laughter.
"I'm gonna get you for that!" She said, picking up the pillow on the floor.
We start smacking each other with the pillows, blow for blow, back and forth and keep it up until I knock her onto the couch on top of her.
Both of us are breathing heavily as we stare into each other for a long bit, just taking each other in before softening into a smile. Pressing our heads together we start to laugh and as it dies down I whisper.
"I love you…"
...
"Then why did you leave me?"
My eyes snap open to see Cat with mascara running down her face.
"Why did you leave me?" she repeats.
"Cat?" I asked.
"Why did you leave me?!" she said louder.
"Cat you're scaring me."
She pushed me off of her and got on top of me.
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!" She screamed into my face.
I woke up with a start.
I was covered in small beads of cold sweat.
What the hell was that?
What the actual hell was that?