"Goddamn, it is you! It's me Steve, Steve Blade! Remember?" Steve rejoiced. Steve Blade, how could he possible forget? His first real best friend, the only boy who didn't laugh at him for taking tap dance classes, and the first and only love of his life. The more Connor looked at Steve, the more similar and friendly his face seemed. He recognized Steve's brown eyes and nose bridge now that he was looking closely. He noticed that his face changed greatly from the last time he saw him in grammar school. He had a soul patch and piercings now, but they didn't look stupid. They complimented his maturity. Steve's jaw and cheek bones were covered with light facial hair and seemed stronger looking, more masculine, more handsome. Turn it off, Connor McKinley. You are here on strictly business. Noticing that his silence made the situation awkward, Connor spoke.
"Of course. How could I forget you?" Connor was pulled into a bear hug mid-sentence. He hugged Steve back, unsure of how to hold him without feeling uncomfortable.
"Fuck, it's hot as balls out here. You wanna come in?"
"That'd be great! I could take a well-deserved break." Connor obliged. Once he walked into the room, he was slightly cooled down by the tiny fan rotating in the corner. The ground was covered with thick brown carpeting. There was an old 3 seated couch; the left end had the footrest sticking out. There were several dishes piled on a coffee table in front of the couch and Chinese food boxes scattered on the floor. Connor noticed some empty alcohol bottles and a full ash tray, but he rather not bring that up.
"Uh, so this is it." Steve announced as he gestured to his living room.
"It's pretty good, considering that you live on your own?" he asked, unaware if his parents lived with him or not.
"Yeah. I mean it's not much but it's…not much." Steve said. "Make yourself comfy. Here." Steve told him as he pulled out the right end's footrest. Connor sat cautiously. He didn't feel comfortable laying in the seat, but didn't want to seem rude and close the footrest. "I'll be right back."
"Take your time." Once Steve left for his small kitchen, Connor took the opportunity to cross his legs and sit on his feet, also to inspect his friend's home even more. There was no doubt a decomposing animal or something was upstairs, he was starting to smell formaldehyde. It was an absolute mess, who could live like this? Well Steve had always been messy, even as a child. Connor smiled to himself at the thought of when they were kids. His roomed looked just like how it is now; dirty laundry shoved in a corner, a broken window, and a huge mess that he'll 'Clean Up Later". He saw a picture on the coffee table. Steve was in it, dressed in a black suite with a gray button down shirt and a dark striped tie. Luckily he wasn't wearing that stupid hat in the picture. He looked upset, serious, and broken. Next to him was a shorter woman, also dressed in black. She had long blonde hair that looked like mangled hay. Her mascara was running, probably from crying. She was too skinny to be considered healthy and her skin was so pale compared to Steve's. She too also looked heartbroken.
"Shit!" was heard suddenly. The unexpected voice made Connor jump a little. He heard some pans hit the floor, then more foul words from Steve. "Uh, you want somethin' to drink. I got beer, tap water, uh…more beer."
"I'll take water please." Connor answered. Steve returned with a measuring cup full of exactly 1 ¾ of water and an uncapped Heineken.
"Sorry. It was the only clean one I could find." Steve apologized when handing him the glass.
"That's fine. Water is water. I'll take it." Connor reassured him. It was his mistake to glance back at the picture. Steve turned to see what he was looking at, then noticed and cleared his throat.
"That was taken a month ago." Steve told him. Then Connor got it, it was a funeral.
"Oh, Steve. I'm so sorry for your lose."
"It's fine, really, don't feel bad. My dad had it coming. That son of a bitch OD'ed in a brothel while my mom was slaving over a hot stove for him."
"Steve. I may not have known your father personally, and the way you're describing him makes me feel that he wasn't the best guy. But no matter what, you should never call him a son of a…you know. He loved you, even if he didn't show it. Don't ever doubt that." Connor told him. He sensed that Steve still disagreed with him on the subject, but he rather not fight over a man he never knew that well. "So, is that your mother?" Connor asked as he scooted to the middle section, closer to Steve's side.
"Yeah. Um, she died too. Not too long ago. Last week." Steve muttered, rubbing his bare neck.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry how did she pass? If you don't mind me asking."
"It's no problem. I had worse questions asked to me during that week. She was found with a gun in her hand. Killed herself and left a note. Something about how she couldn't stand life with my dad." Steve answered has he took a huge swing of his drink. Connor couldn't believe it. Both of his parents passed away, in the same year too. Heck, even in the same month. Connor would be devastated if his parents passed away. But Steve was strong and responsible, even if he didn't look it. Well he looked strong and Connor couldn't help but gawk at that. Turn. It. Off. It was this very man who caused you to think this way in the first place. If you could do it once, you can do it again. "Let's not talk about this mood-killer. How about you? What has thee Connor McKinley been up to?" Steve asked as he took another gulp.