Get up

Soon like ice cream on a summer day, the dream melted away.

Erika’s advice was something you took to heart.

Every day you got up and at least tried.

There were bad days but eventually they were outnumbered by the good ones.

The pain like she said was still there. But in the time since that day most of it had faded away.

Erika helped pull you from the darkness and for that you were forever grateful.

Waking up you found Brie still hovering above you contently watching you slumber.

“Good dreams?”

“Yeah, they were.”

Yawning you turned to see Lilly and Janae missing from the couch.

“Where’s mom and Janae?”

“Upstairs, Lilly’s grabbing her coat but I wanted to talk to you before we leave.”

It was at this point you noticed the dropped octave and somber tone in Brie’s voice.

…Trouble.

“Sure.”

You replied looking up at her warm chocolate eyes still cradled in her lap.

“About the other day…”

Your heart sank. Seriously that was all?!

With the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice you thought it was something serious like Santa not being real or Mr. Whiskers dying out on the farm your moms sent him to.

“Mom after yesterday that’s water under the bridge. I haven’t even thought about it since then…”

You continued to ramble explaining how much of a non-issue it was until you were interrupted by a tear hitting your cheek.

It was Brie.

She was crying.

Fuck.

Sitting up you instinctively pulled her into your arms. Combing her hair and rubbing her back you listened as the soft sobs switched into full-on ugly cries.

“Bee.”

You whispered softly.

Wiping her smudged mascara on your shirt and blowing her nose into your sleeve she looked up at you.

Snotty.

“I was worried I lost you Joseph. I was worried I’d never get to apologize.”

You traveled back to banquet. Seeing Brie while Eva tortured you and thinking the same thoughts.

It was your turn to cry.

Resting your head on Brie’s shoulder to hide the tears. You whispered to her.

“I’m not going anywhere Brie. Also apologize accepted.”

After an awkward conversation about why you and Brie were both red-eyed and puffy-faced.

Marijuana

You guys said it was marijuana.

No way either of you were crying

Nah.

No way either of you would healthily express your emotions by crying.

That’s for emotionally stable and mentally healthy people only.

You said your goodbyes to your moms for the evening and goodnight to Janae.

Returning to your lair

…it’s a basement.

I said returning to your lair!

You sat back down onto the sofa and reached into your pocket.

Removing the slightly bent black business card you stared at the gold lettering.

“Premier Consultations

Eva Black President”

The few childhood memories you could recall of Eva played through your head spliced together with flashes of yesterday. That look in her eyes. You couldn’t escape it.

Purely Predatory.

It didn’t matter who she was before.

You knew who she was now.

Feeling Brie’s tears on your cheek.

Your will steeled.

“I’m going to get **** for that.”

You muttered flinging the card onto the coffee table.

But first sleep. Because every good action hero needs his eight hours.

Seriously just ask Keanu Reeves.

“Welcome to the show Mr. Reeves. It’s a pleasure to have you here this evening.”

“Thank you, you’re breathtaking by the way.”

“Aw Mr. Reeves. You are too kind. So tell me is it true action heroes just like regular people also need eight of sleep?”

“Ah, well”

No! No! You keep those lawyers away! This interview is in the contract! It’s completely legit! No!

No!

Not the baseball bats!

Ow!

Not bike chains!

Ow!

Ow!

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