A/N: Yay, random update in the middle of the night! I felt inspired and wrote this. However. What I said last chapter about there not being much angst? I had to entirely reimagine my storyline after realising the cliche levels of the planned one (THROUGH THE ROOF), and now my new plan is much more angsty. It also doesn't match up with the summary, so I've changed that. So sorry if you were looking forward to lighter stuff. I'll try to insert humour and stuff where I can. Anyhoo, on with the story. Enjoy :D

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not even my own left arm. hehe.

Vince's POV

I hung up on Leroy after a heated ten minute argument over the size of his flat. He reckoned it was way too small to take in me and Howard. He said I could come, but Howard couldn't. I knew he was lying; I'd been there enough times to know that more than two people could sleep comfortably in his massive apartment. But he wouldn't give up, so I let the matter drop. I threw my phone down onto the sofa, but it bounced off and hit the floor with a crack.

"Shit!" I swore, getting down on the floor to pick it up. I put the back on again as Howard poked his head around the door from the bedroom.

"Are you alright out there?" He asked.

"Yeah, fine. Dropped my phone, that's all." I replied.

"Oh. Good." He disappeared, but then came back. "I guess we aren't going to Leroy's place then?"

"No. You heard the argument, I guess?"

"Was hard not to, half of it at least. You sure you're okay?"

"I told you, I'm fine." I said, maybe a bit too impatiently. "It's just… Leroy's lyin' to me, and I don't like it."

"How is he lying?"

"He reckons we won't fit in his flat, which is bull. I've stayed there with about five other people before. It doesn't matter. I'll ring around my mates, Howard. I'll find somewhere, I promise."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Seriously, I've got enough mates, ain't I?" I smiled and winked at him, trying to stop him worrying. It seemed to work, as he smiled back and went back into our room. I could hear him clattering about as I scrolled through my contacts. I was memorising the names of people I thought might help us, like Ingray. He was a musician and he'd always been welcoming to me before, so I thought we might have a chance. Although I wasn't sure about where he lived. On the other hand, Cherry had a pretty big house in the suburbs, but I didn't know how keen she'd be to take in a glittery rock star and a jazzy freak. I sighed and decided to just go through a few numbers, hoping for an act of kindness from someone.

Twelve failed phone calls later, I called it a day. I collapsed on the sofa and buried my head in my hands. I pulled at my hair, ruining it. It was useless. Everyone I had called had been sympathetic, in a way, but no one had the time or the space to take us in. Ingray told me that he'd just downsized to a miniscule flat because his band was suffering. Cherry said she wouldn't be able to deal with us under her feet. I'd even given Fossil a call. He was all up for it until I mentioned Howard, at which point he went off on one. I heard another crash from the bedroom and frowned at the closed door. What the hell is he doing in there? I thought. I went over and opened the door cautiously. Howard was sitting on his bed with a notebook, surrounded by stuff.

"Howard? What you doing?" I asked.

"I'm having a sort out." He replied, not looking at me.

"A sort out of what?"

"Everything. We aren't gonna be able to take all this junk with us, are we?"

"Oh. No, I guess not."

"Right, now are you gonna give me a hand or just stand there watching?" He said scathingly. I shook my head and said:

"No, no, I'll help." I stepped over the piles of stuff and looked at his notebook. "So, what d'you want me to do?"

"Go through all your stuff and divide it into what you want to take with you, what you can throw away, and what can go into storage. The pile of stuff to take with you needs to be small, okay? Don't just chuck in every item of clothing you own."

"Yeah, sure, right. How are you gonna put stuff into storage though? We can't afford to pay for somewhere, can we?"

"I've already got somewhere, Vince, okay?" He snapped.

"Alright. Sorry." I silently went over to my wardrobe and started pulling out my clothes. I tried to think like everyone else for a while, but it was difficult. I didn't know where we would end up, so I decided to take my most normal clothes. Not that there were many of them. I put a heap of band t-shirts and skinny jeans into the pile of stuff to take, then started on everything else. Eventually I got down to the last few items. I sighed. The glam rock ski suit was fun, but I doubted it would ever be useful again, so I put it into the rubbish pile. Then came an old jumper with a Native-American style pattern on it. I supposed I would need a jumper when we moved, so I put with the other clothes I would take. Finally, I picked up the mirrorball suit. It was my favourite outfit in the whole world. But it wasn't, strictly speaking, 'normal'. The little devil on my shoulder said: 'Stuff other people! Wear it proudly!' But the angel said: 'No, just put it into storage. You'll get it back.' I debated in my head for a while before folding it carefully and placing it reverentially on the storage pile. I closed the empty wardrobe and began to search through the rest of my possessions for what I needed.

Two hours later, I looked around and said:

"Howard? I think I'm done." Howard looked up from his note-taking and replied:

"Oh, good. Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I've cleared everything out." He looked at what I was taking with me and raised his eyebrows.

"Wow. You know, you might just get that into two suitcases. That's an achievement." I laughed.

"Yeah." Howard was silent for a moment.

"Sorry for snapping at you earlier." He said quietly.

"S'alright Howard. I know how you feel. I want to snap as well. Like a brittle twig."

"I'm just stressed over all this. Naboo and Bollo'll be back soon, hoping for us to have found somewhere, and we'll just be sat in our well organised room with no results."

"I know. I've rang loads of people. I can't think of anyone else who'd be friendly enough."

"Did you try Ingray?"

"Yep."

"Uh… Cherry?"

"Yep."

"What about… Alena?"

"I tried every… Hang on, who?"

"Alena, you know? Alena Starr?"

"Oh, Alena! She used to be in my art class!"

"I know. Did you ring her?"

"No! I'm going to now though. Howard, you're a genius." I ran into the living room and picked up my phone from where I'd left it on the coffee table. It didn't take long for me to find Alena's number and ring her.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Alena!"

"Oh, hi, Vince! Long time, no see!"

"I know. How are you doing?"

"Oh, not so bad. Bit weird, but… Yeah. You?"

"Um… Not so great actually. That's kind of why I rang."

"Oh, really? What's wrong?"

"Me and Howard are gonna get kicked out of our flat soon. Our mate, Naboo, he's in charge of the rent, and he ain't been paying it. Could I be really cheeky?"

"And ask if I'd take you in? Well, the living situation's fairly relaxed. I'm not really in charge of who comes in, but neither is anyone else. So… sure." I couldn't believe it. Finally somewhere to go, and it had been so easy.

"Oh, Alena, you're an angel, I swear. What are we gonna have to pay?"

"Um… things are a bit complex in that respect. I'll explain when you get here." She gave me the address and I thanked her about a million times, before hanging up and running back to Howard.

"Howard!" I almost shouted in my excitement.

"What's up, little man?"

"She said yes! We can go and stay with her, she doesn't mind! We've got somewhere, Howard!" He grinned, his first proper smile since we heard the news, stood up, and hugged me.

"It's alright, Vince. It's gonna be fine." I laughed and hugged him back.

"I think so. I think everything'll be good now." But, of course, I was wrong. When wasn't I?

And so it begins... Reviews would be frickin' awesome and will make me smile :)

Oh, and the next update due is for The Garden Party, so stay tuned for that maybe tomorrow. Or later today, I guess. Soon, anyway! Bye!