The Man At The Door

Charlie looked at the floor counter ticking up on the elevator's display, sneering in disgust at the worn buttons below the foggy old screen, he adjusted the collar of his dress shirt, feeling out of place in the run down old building as he remembered why he was here in the first place

''I think John should be home today'' he quietly said to himself ''After all, was supposed to be off work this week''. Then again, he was also supposed to call mom last week to check in and it had been impossible to get a hold of him for at least a few days now

The elevator dinged as it reached John's floor, so Charlie stepped out, mentally repeating the room number as he rounded the corner.

He paused as a man and woman seemed to be bickering in the hall. More precisely, it seemed to be a wife berating her husband as he hung his head low. Despite any intentions otherwise, it was impossible not to overhear the couple.

''Tell me Henry, where else would they learn that kind of language!'' She threw her hands up, waving them back towards the closed apartment door.

The man shrugged, offering weak a rebuttal ''You know kids these days. Probably heard it at school or on the internet''

She scoffed and rolled her eyes ''Right, sure. I don't know where you're having your next poker night, but it's not going to be here. Calling some random poor woman a slut sounds like just the kind of thing they would have learned from Dave''

''But honey, come on...''

She silenced him with a stare. ''But nothing'' she almost spat ''Now get back in there and you tell them why that sort of language is disrespectful and never to be used under our roof''

He started to answer, but was cut off as he realised she was still holding that same icy glare. Glancing to his side, he seemed to notice they had an audience of one, turning to grab the handle on the apartment door and gently nodding.

''Okay'' he said, stepping back inside, his wife following behind him.

Charlie stood there for a moment, wondering just what all that had been about. ''None of my business'' he reminded himself as he continued along, towards the room he was looking for.

He thought he could hear something inside as he stood at the door, like the sound of fabric being whipped around. Though the sound seemed to halt as he knocked

''John, you in there?'' Charlie asked, looking around as he waited for a response from the other side of the door. The feeling that he stood out like a sore thumb in this run down place made him drop both his hands back down by his sides, hovering over the openings of the pockets on his expensive tailored pants.

Footsteps quickly tapped across the tiles, the sound getting closer to the door. They sounded oddly light and harsh, almost more like high heels than the dull thud of regular shoes

The door gently opened, just a little at first, revealing a surprisingly clean shaven John

''Oh, Charlie. What are you doing here?''

''Me? Checking up on you. You don't call when you say you will and then you just drop off the face of the planet for days on end. Everything okay?''

''Fine. My phone just broke. Actually I just got it back today''

''What and you didn't check your messages when you got it back? Or your missed calls?''

''No, uh sorry''

''Well can I come in at least, or are you gonna make me stand in the hall?''

''Sure, uh come in bro''

''Ah'' He stopped John, mentally comparing his own body, which was a result of good genetics and a steady diet and exercise routine, to John's pudgy form ''Step-bro. There's clearly a decent genetic gap between us two... Though you are looking better than usual''

That statement seemed to catch John oddly off guard, appearing to stop and think for a moment

''Uh, what do you mean?''

''Well, you shaved off a few pounds at least'' he said, reaching forwards to pat John on the belly, only to have him recoil back from the door as though he didn't want to be touched.

''Heh, wuss'' Charlie laughed at John's reaction, the retreat letting the door swing open enough for him to let himself in.

''This place is still a as crummy as ever. Nice couch though! He said, spotting a leather couch and pushing aside a slightly damp towel to plop himself down on the seat. A towel that smelled a bit like... ''Nah, couldn't be'' he thought to himself, looking around.

''Earth to John! You sure you're okay?'' He said, snapping his fingers in the direction of the pudgy man who was seemingly staring off into space.

''Yeah, uh, sorry.'' He paused, his eyes again staring off for a moment ''I've just gotta go get something from my car. Do you mind waiting here for a moment?''

Charlie shrugged and rolled his eyes ''Sure, already kept everyone waiting for days, what's another few minutes''

John visibly didn't appreciate the dig that was clearly directed at him, even though he had already explained why he wasn't in contact with the anyone recently.

''Just wait here. I'll be back'' John said, already half way out the door.

Charlie leaned his head back, sighing as he shook his head slightly, silently bemoaning the fact he even had to come here at all. Losing himself in thought for a few minutes.

''This is a bad idea'' A voice mumbled, outside the apartment door

Charlie raised his head, for a moment, he didn't recognise the voice, though he knew he was about to find out who it belonged to as he watched the door start to swing open.