Chapter 20: Aftershock
"Dammit... God fuck it..." Adam said as he hissed from cutting his thumb with one of the colorful fly-fish hooks. He cursed under his breath as he reached for the Patch-Up kit, and bandaged up his thumb.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Came three loud bangs on the door.
"What is it??!" Adam yelled out.
"Yer behind, fishboy!" Came the voice of the Captain.
"I know, alright?!" He retorted, "Just leave me alone and let me butcher my fingers in peace!" He shouted.
"A'right, that does it," Grumbled the Captain as he opened the door, and yanked the chair back, "You'n me need ta have a talk." Adam groaned in aggravation as he got up, and followed the older man.
Captain led Adam to one of the Fish House docks, and set up a couple of poles. He offered one to Adam, to which he just glared at, "Can't you just cuss and yell at me and send me back to the hut like any other time, Captain?"
"Take the goddamn rod, fishboy. I hear gays are good at that." He growled. Adam snorted as he took the fishing pole, and launched the lure off and into the water. There was a pause of which the two men sat there, waiting for the lines to twitch "... So what the hell's your problem, fishboy?" He growled out.
"Whatever could you possibly mean, Captain?"
"You're not usually a bloody shark bite when ya show up ta work. Past couple'a weeks, you been as pleasant to be around as a bed of urchins. Yur a nice guy, what gives."
"No idea," Adam said shortly as he reeled in his line, and cast it out again, "Maybe you rubbed off on me."
"Now see, that's what I be talkin about," Captain said, "Yur usually good guy to have around."
"Nothing's wrong, Captain. Just stay out of it."
"Ya know I would, fishboy," Captain threw out his line again, "But yur bein a heel. What gives?"
"It's none of your business, Captain."
"Yur behind in yur work, fishboy. Ya never fall behind, I wanna know why you been an insufferable dogfish."
"I'm having an off-week, alright? Isn't THAT enough?" Adam said as he gritted his teeth.
"... Your line's twitchin." Captain said.
"So?"
"So reel it in. Don't want it getting away."
"Why, CAPTAIN?" Adam growled, "What would be the fucking point?"
"Because then you won't piss off the people around ya-"
"FINE!!" Adam stood up, and looked down at the fat old pirate-like man, "I lost my Best Catch, alright?! He snuffed out the light in my life and left me behind! I put in 5 years of my life into someone I love, and he rips my heart out, and threw it into the ocean! HAPPY?! Is that metaphorical enough for you?!" Adam shouted before storming off. He rubbed his uniform sleeve onto his eyes as he felt them water up. He gritted his teeth as he marched back to the hut.
Captain watched as Adam's pole wobbled, and was pulled right off of the railing, dropping down into the water.
"Damn..." He sighed as he leaned forward, "That must've been a real good catch..."
~~~
Later that night, Yuri is slipping off her white leather jacket, and frowned as he heard some muffled sad pop music coming from Adam's room. Jamal is just adjusting his belt as she came in, looking over at his door, "Is he doing ok?" She asked softly.
"I don't think so gurl," Jamal said, "Been two weeks, already. Homie look more dead than alive 'round here... Wuz thinkin of havin him over at the club fo a drink. What'chu think?"
"Are you sure a REBOUND is the best thing for him right now?" Yuri asked with a rose brow.
"It ain't a sex house, Yuri," Jamal said, "He just be mopin in his room alla time, he needs to get out lil bit."
"Well, actually he's has been out. Everyday, he goes over to Aquata Cove."
"Fo real?" Jamal asked.
"Yeah. You know that was their meeting place. He was hoping to see if he can talk things out. Sadly, Merrick never shows up."
"Ah..." The black guy sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I'mma get him to come to the club. Maybe a drink and some razzle dazzle well make'im cheer up."
"Well, good luck, J-man. Let me know how it turns out."
"Aight, gurl."
~~~
"~~I feel so LONELY and so SAAAAAD~~
~~You're the reason I'm feelin' bad~~
~~I am so LONELY and so SAAAAAD~~
~~Living in a dream I never haaad~~
*Wake me with your kiss*"
Adam lay there on his bed, his hands interlaced with each other and on his chest, his eyes closed, he lay there in his dark room, listening to 'So Alone' by Anna Blue from his mac laptop, feeling his dried up tears on either side of his head as he rolled over, sighing long as he held back another sob.
His life feels so empty and hurtful. He can barely go to the pier without feeling miserable. All the fish reminds him of that merman. Every time he sees a seashell, they remind him of that merman. Even blonde guys set off fresh images. Everywhere at the pier only reminds him of his very first date. He can't deny Merrick had a good reason for breaking it off with him, but... Why did he have to make it hurt so much?
-Knock knock knock-
Came a soft knock. Adam didn't respond, but the door opened anyway. Jamal opened it, and leaned on the frame, "How you doin, man?"
"Just spiraling in my own misery. What do you want?"
"Git a shirt on. Yur goin down to the club wit me."
"Not interested," Adam said as he turned over, "I'm not over him yet."
"Wha- WHY does er'rybody think it's a whorehouse, yo?!"
"One word: Escort."
"It's a dance bar that-" He sighed, and shook his head, "Aight, c'mon, A. I'll buy you a drink, man."
"I don't drink, Jamal." Adam grumbled.
"Well den a Pepsi, c'mon dawg."
Adam sighed as he looked up at Jamal. Well, he supposed he's not going to stop bothering him until he goes with him.
He put his hand on his laptop, and shut it closed.
~~~
The drive was quiet the whole way there. Adam put his head on the window with his eyes shut while Jamal drove.
"... Ya know," Jamal said before he sighed, "I wudn't always a playa. I had a girlfriend once..." Adam remained silent, "Her name was Cheryl. I 'member, she had bright red hair, big, gleamin green eyes. And sparkling pink flower pin right on her head. She was mah Cherry Girl."
Adam sighed as he listened.
"We was always together. She was my home away from home... My mama, she wudn't ever there, with all that..." Jamal paused, and continued, "Stuff that wuz goin on... My daddy ain't pay much attention to me... Always too tired ta say two words to me... Cheryl though... She was the light in mah life..."
"Till I found out she was pregnant." He said. Jamal snickered when Adam snorted, "Naw naw, don't be like dat. Now, I thought I was the daddy. Don't tell Yuri this but..." He smiled, "You shoulda seen me when I found out. When she had dat belly, I was lookin into all kinds of baby stuff. I got like, pampers, baby clothes, lil toys, er'rythin I could afford... I even found a small apartment to move into, but..." His smile faded and he sighed.
"I found out the daddy was the Dean to the school she was doin." He sighed as he rubbed his black coarse buzz-cut, "I wuz crushed. Even then, I still wanted to be involved, but... She chose a college Dean or'r a pet-shop clerk like me. She tol' me it was best if I just go away..."