IDisclaimer in Part II
Part II
Roger stormed down the stairs of his building, wondering why it was that Christmas Eve in New York was never as relaxing as it always looked on TV. The power was back on, but now they were out of beer. This normally didn't concern him too much, but Mark was adamant that they have a little get-together to celebrate Collins' return to town. Consequently, Roger was on his way to the Food Emporium. Despite what Mark thought, Roger was still raw about Mimi's death. He'd seen it coming, which had helped him prepare, and he didn't have to go through withdrawal this time, but the kind of love he'd shared with Mimi had left a hole somewhere inside he found hard to fill. His band was back together again, which kept him occupied most days, but it was still a fight to keep Mimi out of his thoughts.
Roger was in such a hurry to get to the store and back that he didn't notice a petite figure on the landing the floor below his. He ran straight into her, knocking the girl and her packages to the floor.
"Whoa!" Roger stopped and stared for a moment. "Shit - I'm sorry – here - " he offered his hand to help the girl up. "You're - Amelia? Amy?"
Amy smiled shyly, blushing brightly. She took his hand and stood. "Yes. You're - Roger. Mark's roommate?"
Roger nodded and started picking up her bags from the floor. "I'm sorry - not looking where I'm going. Damn. What a way to meet someone. Here - are you ok? Not hurt or anything?"
Amy shook her head and accepted her bags from him. "No, I'm fine." She studied him for a moment, and he saw that her eyes were gray. Something inside him rejoiced that she didn't remind him in any way of Mimi. "I was - looking for my key. Always seem to lose it somehow." She turned away and started rummaging through her purse again. Looking down, Roger spotted a key on the floor. Picking it up, he held it out.
"This it?" Amy looked over and laughed.
"Yes…Yes it is. I'm such an idiot. Thank you." She looked up at him timidly. "I seem to have a knack for meeting people in odd situations. But - I'm sorry, you were on your way out."
Roger shook his head. "About that. The meeting thing. I was a jerk the other night. I uh - I'm sorry. Shouldn't have ducked out on you." The significance of three apologies in as many minutes from Roger Davis was lost on Amy, but from the way he was fidgeting and looking at anything but her she guessed something was odd.
"Don't worry about it. This is New York. People are allowed to have quirks." She blushed as if she'd said something wrong and hastily unlocked her door. "I'd better go. Merry Christmas." She stepped inside and Roger turned to go, but at the last moment put a hand on her door.
"Wait. Uh - Mark and I are having a little party – thing - upstairs tonight. An old friend is back in town so uh - we thought - well. Come up, if you want. It sucks to be alone on Christmas Eve."
Before Amy could respond in any way, Roger dashed down the stairs and out into the snow, trying to figure out what on earth had possessed him to have that conversation. Since when did Roger Davis apologize and stutter? He shook his head and hurried down the street. He felt like such an idiot; he hadn't even considered the possibility that she wouldn't be alone. Yet another reason I hate Christmas Eve. Still, he couldn't help hoping the girl stopped by. She was probably lonely; goodness knows Roger, Mark, and Collins had been lonely for what seemed like forever, they might as well be lonely together.