Chapter 39, enjoy!
*Make sure to read chapter 38!*
Landry had finally awoke drunken Matt and convinced him to take a shower. After Matt took a shower and changed clothes, they got in Landry's truck.
"You want some lunch?" Landry asked his passenger.
"Yeah, sure," Matt answered. Landry then made a couple turns off the main road and pulled up to somewhere Matt really didn't want to be. "How about the Alamo Freeze, just like old times," Landry suggested.
Matt stared out the window and at the storefront. The same store front he asked Julie to marry him in front of. He remembered that day very well. It was Christmas break and he had come home to surprise Julie, and visit his Grandma. He had asked Coach Taylor for Julie's hand in marriage the day before, but his ask for approval didn't go all that well.
Looking back, Coach Taylor had a great point: they were too young and they needed more time to mature and become the people they wanted to be, and to make sure that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. He warned that it was a huge commitment for a 21 year-old and 19 year-old.
And it was a huge commitment. One that wasn't right for them.
Matt still had a tiny bit of hope that they could work things out if she would just talk to him, but she refused to answer his calls.
"Matt, are burgers from the Alamo Freeze ok?" Landry asked again, breaking Matt from his memory.
"Yeah," He eventually replied.
"You know, it will be faster if we go through the drive through. I've got to meet the band at Buddy's in 15 minutes," Landry said as he backed out of the parking spot and opted to go through the drive through.
"So your band is playing? That's why you're in town?" Matt asked.
"Yes, Crucifictorious is playing at Buddy's Bar and Grill this week. All week, so you better come at least one night."
"I will," Matt laughed. He was enjoying the bantering with his best friend, he truly missed him. "I can't believe Crucifictorious is still a thing 11 years later."
"And we are going strong. I made some friends in college who are musicians and really helped out the band. We've been traveling around doing some shows at small clubs and bars, Buddy invited me to play this week after my mom told him about our little 'tour' we've been on," Landry told him after placing their order.
"That's great Landry," Matt commended his friend as they got their food from the drive thru window.
"How about you? What are you doing back in town?" Landry questioned, remembering everything Lydia had told him this morning.
"I came back to see Grandma. Her memory is really slipping, thought it'd be good for me to visit," Matt lied.
"Matt Saracen, I know your grandma taught you better than to lie," Landry scolded him, he saw right through his friend's lie, not to mention he somewhat knew the reason for his return. "Why are you really here?"
"I lost my job."
"I thought you really enjoyed it and thought everyone liked you?"
"I didn't show up to work one day."
"Matt Saracen not showing up for work? What's the deal with that. Back in high school you were never late to practice or the Alamo Freeze, not even by a minute."
"I was kinda hung over," Matt admitted.
"Just like this morning?" Landry asked.
"Yeah," He confessed.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Landry inquired. "Did something happen and you turned to alcohol to deal with it?" Landry asked, already knowing the reason for Matt's constant drinking.
"Not really, it's no big deal."
"Not a big deal? You're going to drink yourself to death!" Landry exclaimed. "I want to help you."
"And I appreciate you for that, but I don't wanna talk about it."
"So..." Landry contemplated if he should bring this up or not, but decided to go ahead and ask. "Where's Julie? Did she not come?" Matt sighed deeply.
"We broke up, or more, she dumped me," Matt confessed.
"Wow. Uh... I'm really sorry Matt," Landry consoled his friend, sensing that it was still a tender wound.
"I came home from a trip and found her engagement ring and apartment key on the night stand. And she won't answer my calls."
"I'm sorry Matt," Landry apologized again.
"It's old news now, it was about two months ago," Matt tried to brush off the emotion.
"Clearly its not. It must still be hard for you. You know you could have called me any time, you didn't have to lean on alcohol."
"I know, but I didn't want to burden anyone. I was shocked, but looking back, our relationship had really been a mess ever since we got engaged. I lost count of how many fights we had and how many times we broke our engagement off," Matt admitted.
Landry made a mental note to do something about his friend's suspected depression and apparent heart break. Maybe he could see a therapist?
The Matt and Landry duo are back!
Just curious, what has been your favorite of the story and/or most surpising part of the story for you? Let me know in a review, I'd love to hear it! In a little bit of a writing slump for this story, so I'd like to hear from you all.