Well, this is different.
There was no house music blaring from crappy speakers but instead what sounded like some indie rock mix playing from a Bose. In stereo. Of course no one seemed to be here for the music, it looked like they were all here for the company and good conversation.
Good Lord.
Still annoyed, I pulled the black mask around my face and walked into the apartment. The loft had to be at least 1600 square feet with recess lighting, hardwood floor and a freaking balcony. It was actually pretty nice, I imagine it would go for double it’s asking price in the city. The crowd was actually pretty classy there are only 3 slutty nurses walking around and this may be the only party in the world with an even guy to girl ratio.
I wasn’t sure what my plan of attack was, I mean getting into the apartment was as far as I had gotten. This seemed to be a bring a friend and then another friend kind of party because no one seemed to be looking up trying to figure out who the new guy was or play the ‘hey what are you supposed to be’ game.
I scanned the room and like some sign I was looking straight at Emily. Any unsavory plans I had going through my head seemed to fly away. It was weird to see her and not call out her name and then watch her annoyance turn to laughter as she comes towards me, I wanted to talk to her.
Emily has amazing eyes and the best smile in the universe but, those didn’t make me fall in love with her. I fell in love with her when I talked to her, I fell in love with her words.
I don’t think I ever told her that.
Much to my annoyance she was sitting on one of the couches talking to some guy who was dressed like a robot. Her legs were crossed; her feet were dangling inches from his knee. On her feet were a pair of bright pink high heels (higher than I thought Emily would ever dare) , and a matching pink dress ; She was completely covered in makeup, her entire face seemed to be painted on. I had no idea what she was supposed to be until I saw the stylized cursive B on the purse sitting in her lap.
Barbie.
How original, Em. Although it did kind of intrigue me.
I started wishing she would look up from that prick and see me standing here and thinking I was someone else try and talk to me. Maybe I could make her love me again ? Hell, at this point I’ll settle for her liking me or even acknowledging my existence. How did I mess things up so perfectly ?
I looked at the rose in my hands and considered leaving it somewhere with her name on it. Then She’d find it and either think it’s sweets or call the cops on me.
But, I knew I wasn’t going to do any of that so, I just decided to circulate the party, that way if I do get the balls to talk to her I could.
I listened from a distance as Emily talked to almost every person in that party, the women wanted to talk about her shoes, the guys wanted to talk about everything else. I was almost ready to just forget about everything and leave the party-- maybe find Darcy and the Puppets --when I heard her say good-bye to the hostess of the party.
Keeping a distance I followed her as she left the loft apartment. While she waited for the elevator I snuck into the staircase and bolted down 7 flights of steps. Her apartment was on the corner so, I hid around the corner from it, against the wall. Just as I caught my breath I heard the elevator arrive and I listened as her heels thudded against the carpet down the hallway.
I kind of hoped someone would have followed her out, some creep who tried something with her. Then, I would come out of nowhere and save her or something and then she’d be thankful to me forever. Kind of like the real Tuxedo Mask.
Of course that only happens in fiction.
She was the only one in the hallway and I listened as she uneventfully opened her door and closed it behind her.
* * *
6.49
Why in the world is generic aspirin so expensive? Although,I guess I had spent more on drugs in the past.
I put the bottle of aspirin back on the shelf and looked for a cheaper alternative of pain medication.
“Slate ?,” I jumped at the sound of my name and then I suddenly remembered why I never came to this pharmacy, despite it’s perfect location to the apartment.
I turned to the pharmacy desk where the young, fresh out of school smiling pharmacist was waving to me. I quickly turned my back to her and acted super engrossed in pain medication.
“I’m Maria . . how is Darcy ?” she asked, even though I had yet to actually acknowledge her.
Damn Darcy and his ability to make friends with everybody.
“Good,” I said picking up whatever my hand was closest to and heading for the register. I heard footsteps behind me.
Was she actually leaving her counter ?
“You know we offer great prices on generics look at this,” she said handing me some glossy flyer.
“Thanks,”
She eyed the aspirin in my hand
“Occupational hazard,” I explained walking to the check out.
When I finally got outside and out of the pharmacists stare I threw the flyer in the trash as I hoisted my bike onto my shoulder and carried it upstairs to the apartment.
Between Aunt Nina’s family long family history in New York, Darcy and I probably had the best deal on any 2 bedroom in the Upper West Side, even though I knew I was barely keeping my side of the rent.
It’s a good thing we never pay for food.
Of course it seemed like I had one other expense looming over my head these days, not that I was ready to deal with it.
I opened the door to the sounds of Green Day blasting and Darcy wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants and a t-shirt, laying on the couch with one of his three Mac Books in his lap.
“I hate you, you know that, right ?” I said hanging up my bike on the wall and sitting in the recliner opposite of him.
“Whatever, Slate,” he said “You crawled out of bed at noon,”
“Yeah but, I have literally been working my ass off,” I responded picking up the tiny remote to Darcy’s iHome and turning it off.
“Well, I went to college so I didn’t have to do that,” Darcy retorted
“Whatever, it wasn’t even a real college,” I said as I opened the aspirin. My body was aching too much for me to get up and get water so I contemplated dry swallowing them.
“Are you crazy?” Darcy yelled suddenly becoming animate as he took the pills from me. “Do you know what aspirin can do to people who are taking AZT drugs?”
“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not taking those,”
“Well, Maria says you—“
“Who ?”
“The pharmacist who I talked to--she said you should be on them,”
“Well, I’m not. Besides I feel fine.”
Darcy gave me a look and then walked to his bedroom leaving the open laptop on the table.
I went to the fridge and looked to see it was as usual full of beer and nothing else. Going past the cans of Bud Light I settled for the lone of bottle of Corona in the back. I held the beer in one hand and the aspirin in the other. I threw the aspirin to the side.
Once controlled substance at a time.
I walked back into the living room and holding the open beer in one hand I picked up Darcy’s laptop in the other. It took me a minute to balance myself as I started to carry the laptop to the kitchen.
What kind of stalker ex-boyfriend would I be if I didn’t Facebook stalk her ?
“Hey, don’t hold it like that” Darcy said, emerging from his room fully dressed. He took the computer away from me and set it on the coffee table
“Sorry,”
I wasn’t talking about the computer . I think he knew.
I can not believe he was wearing the god-awful Yankees cap.
“Where are you going ?” I asked
“I told Nicholas I would go with him—“
“Well, look I’m going to get something to eat, there is never any food in this place” I interrupted taking my bike and heading out.
Normal people would have walked out together but, Darcy and I hadn’t been normal in a long time. Or atleast our version of normal.
I ignored my shins that were killing me and got on my bike. I soldiered through pedaling up hill on 56th street (and ignored the fact that it was a one way street) before making a sharp turn on to 7th avenue and coasting down. My balance was a little off and I wandered a little too far right, an irate cab nearly missed me and the driver honked his horn for a good 45 seconds. I did the only sensible thing for a biker to do when he is disrespected to a vehicle going 45 miles; I passed him.
I was used to getting through the worst of it in Times Square in 6 minutes flat so I could ignore the angry honks and near misses. After I had passed him, I glided down the avenue with minimal effort. I passed a tattoo shop and wondered how Emily’s name would look on my shoulder but pushed it out of my head.
I turned onto 78th and rode until I got in front of Bennet’s. I had no real intention of going inside or even coming here, I just wanted to get away from Darcy. I pedaled back and forth in front of the restaurant deciding whether to go in or not. I noticed Lila sitting at the counter by herself and decided what the hell.
I walked in quietly opening and closing the door behind me and holding my breath I came up behind her and put my arms around her, pushing my full weight onto her planting a kiss on the side of her face.
“What the—Slate !“ she yelped loudly, we both couldn’t help laughing at how loud she had screamed.
“Hey, new favorite cousin,” I said taking the seat next to her. “What the hell are you even doing here ? You should be at some trendy coffee bar in the Village being served by some broken wrist.”
“I guess I’m just used to it here. I was doing some studying before my class, English it is kicking my ass,” Lila said flipping closed the The Norton Anthology of English Literature book in her hands.
“It will be worth it, when you are a big shot doctor,” I reminded her.
“Well, this could be you too,” she said “You should apply to NYU might get in, you would be a freshman too, we can take classes together,”
“Me get into NYU ? That’s bullshit,” I scoffed ,”Hey—speaking of bullshit did you hear that Thanksgiving is in New Jersey at your mother’s brothers this year ? What do you think ?”
“I think, it will be fine. I should be on my way.,” she said putting her book bag on her shoulder, “Bye Slate,”
She waved to someone behind me and then headed for the door. I turned to see who she had waved to.
Elias
God, I hate him.
He was super self-conscious and I had this itching feeling I scared the hell out of him so, I decided to provoke him.
“Hey—didn’t see you there,” I said, picking up the menu even though I was sure there was nothing new on it.
“Hi Slate,” he responded. At least that’s what I think he said. I don’t really know half the things that kid says.
I’m not sure why , I hate Elias so much. It’s just I have no respect for him as a guy, I mean maybe if he stood up to Darcy every now and then I would give him some respect.
Or maybe it was because he was the kind of guy who Emily would actually like, who she belonged with, who she deserved. I turned around in my chair and looked around the restaurant it was pretty dead. It was a Friday afternoon after all and people had better places to be.
Except for Darcy, who was always helping someone.
I turned back to Elias who was reading a graphic novel.
Who does that ?
Death Note. It’s not even a good one.
“So, Why aren’t you with Darcy and Nicholas ?” I asked
He shrugged his shoulders not making eye contact. Just as he was turning back to his novel the glass in his hand skidded over and fell to the side.
I decided to ignore it and my eyes fell down to his keys on the table.
It’s a small world after all.
I stared Elias down as the waitress handed him back his bank card and he got off the barstool.
“Are you going home, now ?”I asked.
He jumped at the sound of my voice
“Yeah,” he responded, putting the book in his shoulder bag
“Wait—I want to go with you,” I said following him, “I need you to do me a favor.”
* * *
I could deal with silence, but sitting on the train with Elias was like a new brand of silence. He never even acknowledged me. I mean not that I acknowledged him
“So, uh, why are you coming back with me—um, again ?” Elias finally asked. I wondered how long it took him to get the balls to ask me that.
I had never actually told him why I wanted to tag along with him.
“I just want to see where you lived . . . and besides I’m sure you have a sweet comic book collection, I bet you have the Special Edition Death Note 13, and I hear there is an interview in there by Tsugumi Ohba which is pretty rare.”
“You read Manga ?” he asked
“Are you surprised ? Besides they have lots of pictures,”
I would like to say we talked the whole way there about our mutual love of comics and fiction but, stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life.
It was more silence until we got to New Jersey, I pretended to follow him to his apartment complex even though I knew exactly where it was.
“Hey, listen I have an idea,” I said as we reached the apartment complex doors, ”My friend, Emily lives in this building—
“I’m not sure I want to talk to your ex-“
“Come on, listen, just say you are one of Darcy’s friends or something. Tell her you are lost and then I want you to tell her that Darcy told you she might be infected.”
“I’m not sure—“
“Come on, listen tell her you have AIDS or something and then get her to tell you whether she has it or not. I just need to know, I’ll even give you 10 dollars.”
“10 dollars ?”
“I’m not exactly a salaried employee. Listen, just do it.”
He nodded his head in agreement (or defeat, same difference) and I gave him Emily’s door number while I hid around the corner.
I heard her open the door slowly, her deadbolt on.
I prayed she didn’t recognize him.
I heard him start to introduce himself but it was interrupted by a crunching thud on the ground and Emily screaming. I looked around the corner to see Elias on the floor.
Really ?
“Elias ?” I called coming out of where I was hiding and kneeling down next to him
“Slate ?” Emily said surprised,”What are you doing here ?”
“Are you okay ?” I asked Elias, ignoring her.
His eyes were open and he was blinking.
I held onto his back as he sat up, trying to brush it off.
“I can’t believe you brought another drug dealer to my--,”
“Relax. He’s not a drug dealer. He’s one of Darcy’s puppets he has—something serious,”
“Maybe you should call an ambulance ?” she suggested
“No, I’m okay.” Elias said, standing up and leaning against the wall for balance
“No you aren’t,” I said not believing the words coming out of my own mouth, “Em, can you bring your car around ?”
She gave me her usual over my dead body look but, I shifted my eyes to Elias.
Thank God Elias is so pathetic looking it triggers that maternal thing women have.
***
“I hope you didn’t have plans,” I said, trying not to laugh at the unbelievably of the situation as I balanced the empty Sprite bottle on my foot.
“No,” Emily responded “I mean, I wasn’t expecting this but, you know.”
I hadn’t expected to spend my Friday night sitting in the germ-infested, moldy chairs of some ER in Jersey either.
We fell back into silence.
“So, What is the deal , Slate ?,” she asked “ You know If you wanted to talk to me you could have just come talk to me,”
“Give me a break, Emily. Everytime I came by, you never opened the door for me or you sent one of your bitchy friends after me. I just want to know if you’re okay or not. I want to know if you have . . . it.”
“I don’t know yet,” she said
“ Yeah right, I told you a month ago, they get the test results in a couple of days—“
“I may have put it off for a while,” she said biting the edge of her coffee cup.
How could I have screwed up ?
I couldn’t believe how much I missed her.
“Can you be my friend for 10 seconds ?,” I asked
“No,”
“Look, I need to tell you something but it’s kind of personal,”
“Fine.”
“ Remember how I told you Darcy was sick ? Well, Darcy has cancer or something. They said in the off chance he needs bone marrow, I could give it to him and—“
“Wait--that’s how they found out you had HIV ?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, what about Noah or—“
“No, I was the only match out of everyone. The doctors said I couldn’t give him mine because my marrow could kill him.”
“Are the rest of the Bennets even still talking to you ?”
“No one knows the real reason except Darcy. He never says anything about it and I can’t talk to him about it. It’s just sucks how this is screwing with everyone I care about.”
“ Did Slate Bennet just use the word care ?”
“I just want you to know . . . I feel really guilty. So, can you atleast tell me when you get the results ?”
Before she could answer I saw Elias walking up to us, he looked petrified, a slip of paper in his hands.
The usual ER doc bullshit referral
God, I hate this guy.
He walked up to us and didn’t say a word.
“You okay ?” I asked
He was silent.
“Elias ?” I said
“ A doctor came to talk me,” he started, the expression on his face was something between shock and loss, ”She says I don’t have MS.”
I hate Elias.
