Chapter Text October 1st Two weeks later and I still haven't said anything to stella. We did indeed go to the mall and more, like first off, I couldn't say no to that, right? That would have been rude and I… I … … I'm playing with fire, I realize. Look, it's not like we're dating. Neither of us have agreed to the whole "exclusive" thing. For all I know, Stella is talking to endless suitors behind my back and that's more than fine. We are young, both probably depressed out of our minds and looking for escape elsewhere. There are plenty of excuses I can come up with to justify my sketchy actions. … But hey, I did take her to the movies. I even dressed up for her. I think this is general friendship behavior, so like, it's cool. I don't wanna be anyone but me right now. "Uh, Anon?" I was snapped out of my daydream by my new coworker. Stella caught me slumped over the checkout counter on a particularly slow day at the card shop. "Everything's okay?" She asked. She stood there leaning over the same counter that I was, smiling at me. October, I thought to myself. It's October and I feel fine. Maybe it was cope. Maybe it's the breeze outside freezing my brain box and making me stupid, but I felt fine. "Yeah, I just spaced out." I said, regaining my awareness and adjusting my stance to face her. "Well now is the perfect time to space out. I don't know why Joey keeps this place open on Mondays." Her eyes glazed over the empty floor filled with tables lacking bodies. Yep, it's sorta weird, but I won't complain. I appreciate the money. On days like this we repeat the sentiment and shoot the shit. Stella spends quite a lot of time here teaching kids who wander in here after school how to play Spells: The Conjuring , trying to get the little bastards hooked on trading card games early. She's trying to get me to play, despite the fact that my only real experience with card games is Un , because it came with my Xroc, you see. "But you're picking it up so well!" She protested my early protest of not wanting to play with her right now. "Sure, but that's sorta ALL we've been doing. Don't you ever get sick of playing?" She pouted and crossed her arms. "No…" I snickered. The fact she was into a popular "nerd" card game was cute. Literally, she is just a stereotype, but in real life. Tangible to me, and that's why it's so endearing. I'm not exactly sure why I was so… averted to that at first. It probably helps that she's mellowed out. Filled into a more subdued type of geek. Maybe helped by the music she's gotten into, I don't know. I've noticed all of her outfits nowadays are band shirts, along with the occasional irony-anime graphic popping up. Today she was a I Freeze my Friends for Fun groupie. She blasted that shit whenever patrons weren't around, and while it wasn't my cup of tea, I was just glad she didn't have to suffer under the thumb of a food service gig like I had to. Music blasting, banter between us two, and not much actual working made this the best job ever. Life is good right now. I even brought back the green jacket. Never thought I'd ever do that again… fuck. Today, Stella brought her sketchbook. I haven't dared to take a peek at what was in it, but I'm glad she's diversified her hobbies. She was just scribbling away while I watched right in front of her from behind the counter. Maybe she was a bit miffed I rejected her earlier request, but to be fair, I do get tired of getting my ass kicked in children's card games. "Letmesee." I sly-ishly slid up next to her while she scribbled. She just stuck her tongue out at me and yanked the book away. "Mine." She said, trying to cover with her arms whatever she was doing. "Is it embarrassing or are you still mad at me?" I asked. "Anonnn…" She looked at me with those puppy dog eyes of hers, trying to make me feel bad. I backed off of course, but I was still interested as to what she was drawing. I didn't even know she did that. "What? I'm interested," I admitted. Stella seemed a bit less standoffish after that, but still wouldn't show me. I'll just let it be. I don't wanna ruin this picture-perfect day. … I felt the butterflies again. Not good butterflies, mind you. I felt bad, embarrassed even. “I’m caught between two worlds,” I thought to myself as my mind wandered out the window. I’m doing better than ever in life, but It still does not feel as good as it should. Lucy was still on my mind. That… isn't the best. I couldn’t let go of anything. My heart started to hurt again, just like the night at the beach. But my suffering was interrupted by the door of the establishment opening. Annnnnnd it was Lucy, with this heartbreaking chipper look on her face, adorned in similar streetwear from before, a nice blue sweater. Fuck. Stella, of course, did not share the same sentiment, and was much more excited to see her. It’s weird to think just how different she had become since we reconnected. I could not help but read into it. “Stella! Anon!” Lucy swelled. I smiled, trying my best to re-mask my feelings as Stella went in for the bear hug. “I had no idea you were coming! What’s up?” Stella asked. “The pharmtech got arrested, so we had to close early.” We both went silent at the notion. “Well uh… That must have been… Something, huh?” Stella said as I chuckled under my breath at the awkwardness. “Eh. If it was the first time, I would be more shook.” I truly didn't know what to expect at this point, and I think Stella was right by me. We continued to exchange pleasantries as we took to the nearest table. Stella made sure to keep by my side as Lucy occupied the other end. "How's Joey been treating you two?" The inquisitive pterodactyl asked. "I'm just glad he agreed to take me full time." I responded plainly. "God me too. I kinda hated the fact I was in here alone all the time," the steggo popped in. "Just between us, I'm not exactly sure how he's still in business. Like, we have a steady stream of customers, but I never would have thought it'd be enough, ya know?" "Yeah I noticed that too. Dude must be loaded." I added. Stella leaned back in her chair a bit deeper. "This job is perfect aside from the weirdos who come in." I nodded. The idea of going back to fast food scared me to my core. "Well I'm hoping for the best for both of you." Redhead added. “But whatever. I wanted to let you both know the good news!” Stella and I had snapped out of the funk and became enraptured. “So… Reed got back in touch, along with Trish.” Annnnnnd it was gone. Between the both of us, It was gone, and we must have shown it in our faces. “Uh… And they asked me to play guitar in their band… Ya know, I was expecting a much different reaction.” Fang stated plainly. “Lucy, It’s just-” I felt the need to cut Stella off with “When did Reed contact you?” “About a week ago, why?” Lucy said, looking confused and a bit frustrated. “Well… Well you know! Lucy!” Stella interjected. “The band thing was beyond a disaster the first time.” I continued. “Sure but… Anon, you said that I should keep playing!” “With anyone but Trish!” Stella said. “Ugh, god. Thanks for the support guys!” Lucy said in a sarcastic and pissy tone. To be fair, we were jumping a bit down her throat but fuck, can you blame us? "You do get that people change, right?" "Sure, but DID she change?" I asked. "Of course she did! I wouldn't even consider it if she didn't." Lucy was insistent. "Besides, I'd much rather give my childhood best friend another shot than lose em’.'" "Lucy, it's just how you talked about her with me…" Stella said timidly. “What, over a year ago? People change.” “Have you two even talked?” I ask. “Yeah, over text. Got caught up on each other's lives and everything.” “And did she-” “-what, apologize? Yeah, that was the first thing she did…” Lucy was quick to defend her honor. It was obvious she wasn't going to be dissuaded by either of us. Really, the only thing on my mind was how pissed I was at Reed. How desperate for money is the guy? Why couldn't he just start his own thing without Trish or Lucy? The budget questions Bounced around my head as the two girls continued to fill back and forth on the merits of crawling back to your abuser. “Look, I get it. I only agreed to do one show anyway. It's not even like it's permanent.” Lucy's distraught voice cracked a tiny bit. “One show, then I’m done. Why can’t you be supportive?” Stella looked frustrated as she leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed. “I want nothing more than to be supportive, but I would hate to see you hurting again.” Lucy put her palm up to the side of her head in defeat. “It’s not like we’re kids anymore. I like to imagine I know what I’m doing at this point.” A stint of silence washed over us three. Deadlocked and with no real answer in sight, I stepped up. “... I think, as long as Trish is behaving, and not being weird about stuff, It should be fine.” Lucy shot me a smile but Stella was still worried, and it showed on that adorable face of hers. At that moment, I knew we were not going to talk her down, so I didn’t feel the need to push any further. I’m sure Stella had her own opinions on the subject, but I’ll deal with that later. “Thank you, Anon.” Lucy untensed herself, all while Stella’s stink-eye turned my way. “I actually came over to ask… both of you… if you could help me with this.” “How so?” I asked genuinely. “Well uh… We need someone to handle equipment again, and seeing how well it went last time-” “Do you want me to be a roadie? Sure, I’m all in. But uh… What’s the plan?” “Well, apparently Reed has connections with people who do a house show circuit, and they were offering spots for a halloween concert. He showed footage of us at Moe’s, and now we get to open for the hometown heroes.” Lucy started to warm back up but it was obvious that Stella was not too thrilled. “The only problem is… I kinda need to re-work the lyrics to like… our entire set. I’m sure the uh, Hitler and Jonestown references kinda wouldn’t fly with the crowd anymore-” “-sadly.” I interjected like a ‘tard. Both the girls just rolled their eyes almost in perfect unison. “... So I was actually… going to ask you, Stella, for help rewriting stuff.” Stella's disgust at my edgy taste of humor turned to excitement at the prospect. Her hands curled into excited little balls of joy. IIt's a stark contrast to the worry that overtook her just seconds before. “I’ll definitely try! But… Whatever, I’ll do it!” I started to perk up just a little bit at the girls prospect but that shadow of the past still lingered. “Anon’s been my practical muse for a bunch of my poetry as of late; I can’t WAIT to show you, Lucy!” Stella's comment speared me like the Spear of Longinus and my eyes darted to the nearest wall in embarrassment, and Lucy wasn't too far behind. What she actually meant by this was anyone's guess, but what it implied was pretty damning. I squirmed in my chair as Lucy shook her head slightly. “...But uh, yeah. And honestly, I wouldn't mind you helping me dye my hair. For the show, ya know?” I could just tell Stella was about to explode. “I can definitely try!” — We said our goodbyes after a few minutes of small talk. Stella and I manned our posts again without as much as an acknowledgement of what was actually happening. I’m mixed on the subject, again, just pissed at Reed. I dig out my phone and pull up the last message he sent before our little falling out. “What an asshole,” I thought to myself. Why he couldn't just be a drug dealer, I didn’t know, but it would be definitely preferable right now. … Am I overthinking everything? Am I still mad at Trish over something stupid that happened in fucking high school? Maybe, just maybe, Trish is normal now, just like the rest of us, and everything is actually cool and good, and both Stella and I are acting overly dramatic. Maybe, just maybe… “Anon, you’re mumbling again.” Fuck… Stella was standing in her spot again. Scribbling into her book. A strange mix of emotions was bubbling up, probably between the both of us. All three of us, really. Fuck. — The rest of the day passed without too much issue. I felt it necessary to crack open a new pack of smokes in the alleyway outside the shop while I waited for Stella to lock up. She doesn't like it when I smoke in her car, so to be courteous I lit up before we headed off. She offered a ride and I did not feel like walking. I thought about my attack plan when it came to handling Reed. I wasn't too sure about what to say exactly, but I was planning on handling this as pleasantly as possible, being stern about how disappointed I was, but understanding at the same time, because at the end of the day, he is still my bro. The real trouble was breaking it to… either Stella or Lucy that… I’m not available? Is that pompous? What the hell do women do in this sort of situation? I’m sure this happens all the time for women. Maybe not… Stella… Halfway down the cig’ Stella popped out the door with her purse at her side. I stomped the rest of it out for her sake. “Hey! Funny question, but have you ever read Twilight?” Stella looked at me like I had shot a homeless person. “... Maybe… Why?” “It’s just… I was thinking that the only thing I really know about that series was that the main character was like…” The more words that fell out my mouth, the more un-fuckable I became, I released, and it showed on Stella’s face. “... Stuck in a love triangle? With a shiny vampire and a werewolf?” “... And she was technically underage too.” She added. I did not ask but thank you. “The triangle thing is what I’m interested in. What happened to that?” “Oh God. I only read the first book, cuz’ my grandma got it for me, right?” Our feet shuffled to the car with our smalltalk in toe. “From what I remember, the main character just sorta waited around until Edward, the vampire guy does… Something, and she just kinda forgets about the werewolf guy she was fucking around with. She doesn't do much, at least from what I remember from the SnootTube essay I watched… Uh, why ask again?” “No real reason.” I don’t know why Twilight came to mind. [POST-NOTES] SO I know there has been no update in a while. I'm stupid, that's why. Also busy. There was supposed to be a comic for this Chapter but it's been kind of put on the back burner. More to come.