Another evening. Another fight.
She yells at me. Why, I have no idea, not do I care. She expects me to lie down belly up and just take it. But, no. I am not having any of that tonight.
Realizing that the screaming wouldn't get her anywhere, she switches to playing the emotions card. And again, I am not having any of that either. I simply grab my coat, and put it on while she cries crocodile tears, and I just leave without a word, abruptly slamming the door.
I leave the apartment building, and power on my mobile. Voicemail indicator pops up, and I listen to it -- it's my old friend, and ex, Katya.
"Hey! Not surprised to hit voicemail. How have you been? It's been a while to say the least. I am at my friend Vero's place tonight. If you get that message, hit me up, let's hang out!"
I hang up the call, and for a moment, I just stand there, in stunned silence. Hearing that voice once again, after all these years... it was surreal. And it brought a tidal wave of memories crashing in. She was my first true relationship, a "youth love" that was never meant to endure... but it did. But, life had other plans.
I sit in my car, silently debating what to do about this call. One part tells me to just shrug it off, and go home, have some food, some weed, and just do my thing.
The other part... I don't know if it's the nostalgia or the misguided hope that maybe this could be a new start, but it's telling me to just go with the flow.
I call her back --
"Hey. Thought I heard a ghost, just wanted to be sure if I had heard right".
She chuckles --
"Could say the same of you. So, you wanna take me up on that offer? Would be fun to hang out. I am sure my friend Vero would love to meet you also."
Heh. Yeah, I bet.
"Sure. Text me the address. I'll go pick up some supplies and be there ASAP."
"Awesome! Just like old times. See ya soon!"
In a few seconds my phone lights up with a message with the address. I look it up on maps... it's a little while from where I am, but there's a few grocery stores along the way so I can stop and stock up on a few supplies.
I hit the road. It's a beautiful, chilly evening, just as I like them. I stop on my way at the grocery store, and pick up some energy drinks and various munchies. I'll be damned if I am not getting blazed tonight.
About 15 minutes later, I get there. Takes me a while to find the place, but I eventually do. I knock.
The door opens, and I am greeted by this stone cold stunner of a dark beauty -- black, red streaked hair, black lipstick, piercings and a healthy amount of tattoos. Katya is not too far behind and greets me --
"Finally, kept us waiting did ya! This is Vero."
Katya is dressed with a black jean skirt, a NOFX top, torn fishnets, her blond hair tied in bangers... looking at her, I feel like I just stepped in a time machine and that I am suddenly 5 years back in time. She hugs me, and the smell of her perfume hits my nostrils, further adding to this mass of perhaps misguided nostalgia.
"Well, don't be a stranger, come sit down with us!" says Vero, ushering us to the living room.
I remove my coat, and sit down on the couch. I open the ultra-secret compartiment of my coat, and produce a bag of nicely grounded grass. I put it on the table, and get ready to roll... and after searching for my rolling paper, it dawns on me I must have forgot it. Just my luck.
Looking at me, Katya guesses what I am looking for.
"Rollie? I got some in my back pocket. Find it, and it's yours."
She then bends over slightly... I slide my hand in her back pocket, and she is deliberately moving her bottom to make me caress it...
"Hmm. Are you sure it's in there? I... can't seem to find it", I say.
"It is... keep looking..."
The temperature is starting to rise... not wanting to cause any unease to her friend, I eventually "find" the paper and finish rolling and then promptly consuming.
Some time goes by, and the three of us just chill and talk, having a good time. At some point, I feel the need to crack open a can of caffeine... so I excuse myself to go pick my can up from my bag in the kitchen.
Katya joins me, smiling, and gets closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I know you. You have had a bad day, I can tell. So, what happened?"