Strip

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

A few hours, 2 more pints of ice cream, and almost a whole season later, I realized I should go home.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Almost midnight," Drew said.

"Shit," I mumbled. "I need to get home."

"I'll drive you," Drew said, starting to stand up.

"Nope," Toby said. "You've had 4 beers. I'll take you."

"Um... haven't you been drinking too?"

"I had half a beer."

I considered my options. I didn't think I could get to a bus that would actually bring me anywhere near my house. I didn't want to risk walking home alone at midnight past quite a few dark allies. Plus, Toby really hadn't drank that much...

"Ok," I said, picking up my bag.

"Drive safe," Drew said, getting up and kissing Toby on the cheek. 

"Don't worry. Bye Janice."

Janice mumbled something as she downed half a pint of melted ice cream mixed with beer.

Toby rolled his eyes. "Come on Molly."

The car ride was much more enjoyable without the two other people. As Toby drove, I flipped through the radio stations. Mostly static, with a snippet of some religious program here and there. I settled on a slightly buzzing station of 80's hits.

"So you work with Jan?"

"Yeah," I said. Like a Virgin started to play. "It's ok."

I made it through the wilderness.

"She's been working there for years," Toby said.

Somehow I made it through.

"She told me."

Didn't know how lost I was-

"How long have you been working there?"

Until I found-

"Almost a year."

You.

He didn't reply. The spotty music kept playing.

"It's not a bad place," He said as the chorus started.

Like a virgin.

"Huh?"

Touched for the very first time.

"I mean, there are much worse places."

Like a vir-ir-ir-ir-gin.

"Yeah, I guess."

When your heart beats-

"So how long have you and Drew been together?"

Next to mine.

Toby chuckled. "Well, depends on how you define 'together'."

The song suddenly turned to static. When it returned, the song had changed to Tainted Love.

"Well, when did you first start dating?"

Sometimes I feel I've got to-

"Once again, how would you define dating?"

Run away I've got to-

"Ok, just tell me something."

Get away-

"Well, we met half way through freshmen year of high school."

From the pain you drive-

"It was basically love at first sight."

Into the heart of me.

"But we both didn't admit to ourselves that we were gay yet."

The love we share seems to go nowhere.

"So we basically became best friends."

And I've lost my light for I toss and turn-

"And then in junior year, we met Janice."

I can't sleep at night.

"She could see what was so very clear, that we were meant to be."

Once I ran to you.

"And she told us both that we were clearly in love."

Now I run from you.

"And we were both kinda freaked out to realize this."

This tainted love you given-

"So we stopped talking for that summer."

I give you all a boy can give you.

"And that was the worst summer of both of our lives."

Take my tears and that not nearly all-

"And we realized we needed each other and all that shit."

Oh, tainted love.

"And then we actually started 'dating' on the first day of our senior year."

Tainted love.

"That's so sweet!" I said, the lovey-dovey side of me peaking out.

Tainted-

Toby shut off the radio.

"This is me," I said, pointing to my building.

He pulled over in front of it.

"Thanks for the ride," I said, opening the door.

"No problem. You should come over again sometime."

I smiled. "I might actually take you up on that offer."

"I hope you do. Jan seems to really like you."

"Now you're acting like we're dating."

"Who? You and Janice?" He laughed. "She already tried the whole lesbian thing. She ran back to Liam."

"Well, I guess that's good to know."

Toby chuckled. "Seriously though. I hope we see you again soon." 

"Me too," I said. 

"Bye."

"Bye."

I watched him drive away. I felt sort of giddy, and happy. Was this what it felt like to have friends?

God, why didn't I get some sooner?

I went up to my apartment, and checked on James.

He was in his bed. He lay still, his eyes closed, his breath steady. I came up to his bed, and sat down next to him. I gently ran my fingers through his hair.

I leaned down and kissed his forehead. 

"Good night James," I whispered.

---

HEY HEY HEY

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry if it didn't really contribute to the plot, but I wanted to write this chapter so... I did. I do hope you liked it though. If so, please vote, comment, follow be, all that jazz.

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