Leaders of the Mislead
Chapter Two: Coffee and Cigarettes
Coffee and Cigarettes Are Best When Shared With You
Fuck. No, I didn't sit up straight, quick as a bolt like they do in the movies, instead I lay in the dark, quietly composing myself and trying to figure out if I had woken up the other occupant in the house. Seeing as there was nothing but silence, it seemed safe to assume that he was still in his drunken stupor, and wouldn't be conscious for a few hours.
Doubting that I'd get much more sleep, I made my way down the hallway to our crappy little kitchen to make some coffee and toast. That's all we ever have in this house, bread, coffee and beer. Whatever happened to bacon, god I could really use some bacon right now. As I sat waiting for the water to boil and the toaster to be done, I began to imagine myself making bacon, I could practically hear the oil popping, and smell the pork being fried.
"Yo, Darlina, you done daydreaming over there?"
"Fuck you."
"What's wrong, didn't get all of yer beauty sleep?"
Glaring at him, because no, I hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep between chasing him down and that damned nightmare, I made my coffee and peanutbuttered, that's not even a word is it, my toast. "Maybe if you weren't out chasing girls with boyfriends, I would have slept."
"Hey, no one made you come get me, I was handling myself perfectly fine before you came along, and don't you forget that little brother." Although Merle has many qualities, subtlety is not one of them, and I had the feeling he was talking about much more than that fight I had break up.
"Have you looked in a mirror lately? Cause I think yer black eye would disagree with you," I say smirking slightly.
"You should see the other guy."
"I did, I also saw the girl he was with. Dude, you need to stop picking all these stupid fights." But as always, my words of advice went in one ear and out the other. Rather than waste my breath I continued eating my breakfast and scanned the headlines of the morning paper without any interest.
After noticing how much deeper the bags under my eyes had gotten, Merle asked, with as much concern as he could muster, which admittedly is not much, "Those dreams go away yet?"
"Nope." Wasn't he supposed to be hungover? Why couldn't he just leave me alone with this pathetic excuse for coffee and go bug someone else?
"What happens in them, anything good?"
Sighing deeply, I reply "The dead come back to life and try eating everyone," hoping that he'll take the hint and drop it. After a beat or so of silence, Merle starts laughing.
"You're kidding right? Please tell me yer joking, little brother you've been watching too many bad movies. "
"Whatever," I mutter, pushing past him roughly. "I'm going out."
"Okay, make sure the dead don't try an eat ya," he cautions, barely containing his laughter. Just before the door slams behind me I whisper "Asshole" just loud enough for Merle to hear me.
Song: Coffee and Cigarettes - Never Shout Never!