I winced at Roger's scream. "Where would he get that idea!?" His face was beginning to turn red with anger, something I don't think, I've ever seen him do.
"Well you did let him live with you." I said. "Not that he has the right to." I quickly saved myself. "But let's be real. you're not the most social person in the world. It's strange for you to invite anyone, much less a person you didn't seem to hang around with, to live in you apartment." I stated factually.
His face was still red. "Did you tell him not just no, but Hell no?!" He asked.
"I didn't get involved. I just told him he we being inappropriate." I said throwing my hands up in defeat. "Don't shoot the messenger."
Roger began rubbing his temples in frustration. "Just tell him that it's not true. I don't want him spreading that rumor around." He said as he pulled out my phone. "Ralph says not to worry and he wants to know if you're free today."
"Why can't you just tell him yourself?" I asked annoyed. "I'm not going to be caught in the middle of this behavior. You're both grown men." I said. "Tell Ralph that I am free." I said getting up from my bed. "Oh and can I have my phone back?" I held my hand out expectantly.
He scoffed. "Then text him it yourself." Roger tossed my phone to me. "And to answer your question about Maurice. It'll be awkward to go up to him and say 'Simon and I aren't sleeping together.' He'd think I was a creeper." Silence passed between us before he spoke again. "Shut up, Marridew!" I busted out laughing. "I'm sorry Roger, but you are kind of a creeper." Roger flipped me off. "Oh don't be like that. I was only kidding." I patted him on the back. "Have you ever met Maurice? Nothing is awkward for him. When I get back to my apartment I expect to hear that you both sorted this all out." I finished and texted Ralph that I would meet him at a park near his house. "And with that said, I'm out." Roger followed me out of my room and apartment after I grabbed my jacket.
"Fine, but I don't like it." Roger said walking to his car. "I'll text you later."
I waved good-bye and pulled the car keys from my jacket pocket. My beat up Explorer sat, waiting for me. My dad had helped me pick it out, saying that "an SUV will come in handing when you least expect it." As on now, I have yet to find that true. Jumping into the driver's seat, I started the car and turned on the heater. My phone buzzed and I checked it. Ralph had messaged me back saying, "K. C u soon :)". I chuckled and tossed my phone in the cup holder. Pulling out of the parking lot, I headed to the park. I could not help but feel excitement swelling up inside my gut.
When I got there, I found a parking space and made my way to the playground. To my luck Ralph was already there on one of the swings. He looked as if he were a peace. His eyes were closed and a soft smile was on his face as he swayed back and forth. Fresh bandages were wrapped around his forehead and neck, covering scratches and bruises beneath. He still had tape over his nose for the broken nose, but the area around his eyes were doing better.
I quietly walked up to the swing next to him. Ralph did not seem to notice me, because he kept on swinging. He was so serene and I did not want to disturb him. His golden locks flew weightless from his momentum. I finally decided to get his attention. "Hey. You look like you're enjoying yourself." I asked causing him to snap back to reality.
"Jack! Shit. You almost gave me a heart attack." He said slowing down his swinging by dragging his feet. "How long have you been here?" Ralph asked with a smile on his face.
"Sorry." I could not help laughing. "Long enough to see you swinging like you don't have a care in the world." Ralph came to a complete stop and shook his head. "I have an excuse. If I had any cares before, I can't remember them." He said throwing arms out. I must not have looked amuse since his smiled faltered. "It was a joke. If I can be so light-hearted about it so should you." I gave him a fake smile. "Alright, alright. So why did you ask if I was free today?" I asked changing the subject.
Ralph's eyes light up. "Right! I told Andrew that I would go on a date with him." He sounded overjoyed by this. "He wanted to take me tonight, but Brianna doesn't think I'm well enough to do anything she deems stressful. How is that stressful? I mean come on." He said rolling his eyes. I mentally thanked Brianna for being on my side. "But yeah. I wanted to tell you in person and was wondering if you could take me to get my hair cut sometime before then." He asked biting at the inside of his lip. How could he have not seen how badly he was messing with my emotions.
"Oh. Well I guess I could." I said looking down at my feet. "As long as it's not when I work." I said getting up. "I'll just be heading home then." I turned, but Ralph grabbed my arm.
"That's not the only reason I wanted you here. I'm sorry if it came off like that." He said pulling me back to the swings. "I also wanted to hang out with you. I feel like it doesn't matter that I can't remember anything when I'm around you. You don't treat me like child like Joseph and Brianna do. It's comforting." Ralph released my arm and I sat back down.
"Fine, I guess I'll stay just so you don't feel like a freak." I mocked smirking at the offended face Ralph made.
He gave me a light punch, but with all the sports he's played it felt harder than he had intended. "Watch it." He gave me a half-smile. "I bet I could kick your ass." He said jokingly, playing up the stereotypical jock. We both busted out laughing. When it died down Ralph began to rock the swing. "Do you have a lot of other friends?" I nodded my head. "I wish I didn't have some of them part of the time. Instead I deal with this one guy, he acts like he hates everyone. His name's Roger. Maybe I'll let you meet him sometime." I said joining him.
"I have the feeling you're embarrassed of me." He said in a snooty voice. "That Sir. offends me." He chuckled indicating that it was a joke.
"Of you? No. Of him? Sometimes." I stated. "In all seriousness though, he's a good guy." I licked my dry lips. "He's not the most social person, but the people he is friends with, he's loyal to." I said dragging my feet to stop. "What about you? Talk to anyone besides Andrew and me?" I asked tilting my head in his direction.
Ralph stopped as well. "I did get a texted from someone named Daniel. He said he was my best friend before I got my memory fucked up." "I don't think those were Piggy's exact words." I laughed at his paraphrasing. Ralph just looked at me confused. "That's what everyone calls Daniel." I informed him.
Ralph did not seem to like that. "That's rude to call someone who." He said frowning. It reminded me of all the times I called him Piggy around Ralph, even though he was the first person to call him that. I had always guessed it was something just between him and Piggy since he didn't seem to mind when Ralph called him that.
"Sorry." I said out of habit. "You want to go anywhere else?" I asked trying to redeem myself.
Ralph pondered this a bit, but for a smirk found its way on his face. "Lets go to the arcade, that way I can virtually kick your ass." I nodded happily and we both went back to my SUV.
The rest of the day was spent rotting our minds with video games and little kids yelling at us for being too old. Kids now a days just can not understand that age does not matter when it comes to arcades. After words I took him home and decided to get some sleep before work the next day. I opened the from door and was assaulted by the sound of something hitting the wall repeatedly. I marched over to Maurice's room. "For Heaven's sake Maurice turn down your radio before..."
A/N: This chapter is a bit longer then the others. Hope everyone enjoyed. ^.^
