Night in the Ruts

Nicky - Charlie

        "Whatever," Jess muttered.  "But don't keep these things from me!"

        "I thought you weren't gonna be home 'til tomorrow," I mutter.

        "Oh, did you want me to stay out?  It's a good thing I came home when I did," she said, clearly assuming the absolutely wrong thing.

        "Oh, God," I say, "that's not why I asked.  Mom just said–"

        "Nah, it's cool," she says with a smile.  "I got it.  Where is Mom anyway?"

      "On a date," I say quietly, sitting criss-cross applesauce on my bed again and picking up my guitar.

        "Really?!"  Her face lit up at the thought.

        "I dunno," I say, beginning to absently play a Led Zeppelin tune.  I didn't even know what I was playing; I didn't think about it–it just kind of came to me.  "I think so, but then again, it is Mom, so..."  Jess frowns, apparently confused as to why I'm not happy that my mother–who was in love with my father–is on a potential date.  Not with my dad.  "She should be home soon," I add.

        "Okay," Jess says, heading for the door.  "See you tomorrow.  G'night."

        "Yeah," I breathe, not really listening anymore.  She shuts my door and leaves me to my playing.  I let the music swirl around me, enjoying it and letting it clear my mind.

--

Riiiiing!!!  Riiiing!!!

        Aw, what the hell?  It's like three in the morning!  "Hello?" I say, regretting putting a phone in my room.  Unlike Jess, I didn't have my own private number.  It could've been anybody.

        But of course it had to be Nicky.  "Hey," he said brightly.

      I was still half asleep.  I was rather uncoherent and I pretty much didn't remember the night.  "What the hell, Nicky?" I said, "It's like three in the morning!"

        "Is it?" he asked, shocked.

        "Yeah.  Look outside."

        "Oh.  I guess it is.  What's up?" he asks cheerily.

        "Uh, I'm sleeping," I say, irritated.

        "Then how are you talking?" he asked smartly.

        "Because you woke me up," I yawn.  "What do you want?"

        "I wanted to know–do you wanna hang out again tonight?" he asked hopefully.

        "Sure.  Whatever."

        "Really?" he asked, excited.  "What do you wanna do?  We could go get cheeseburgers, if you want.  Or we could try again for a movie, or we could go record shopping, was it okay that I kissed you? Or we could go to a concert, or hit a pizza place, or where are we?  Or maybe–"

        "Wait, wait, wait," I say.  I sit up, wiping my eyes.  Oh yeah, I kissed Nicky.  And I liked it.  He hadn't paused between words at all, trying to confuse me apparently.  "Did you ask where we were?"

        "Uh... Yeah," he says quietly.

        "Well, I'm at home; you're probably at home, too.  At least I hope.  You're obviously high, so..." I say, trailing off.

        He sighs, annoyed.  "No, like, friends, more, what?"

        "You're asking me to decide this at three in the morning?" I say sarcastically.