"What? Cindy has somebody new? She's with this middle management looking wank now? Why would she want anything to do with this guy? Has she really changed that much since entering the good life? And why does that even bother me? None of my business what she's up to these days or who she's with. But still. Really?" Ian thought to himself while standing there with his ear bleeding into his hood.
"Are you sure you're in the right address?" The clean looking man at the door asked Ian.
"I'm positive. You mentioned Cindy." Ian answered.
"And I thought she was a decent young lady. Didn't know she associates with people like this." The man mumbled under his breath and then continued:
"What do you need from Cindy?"
"I need to take a nap on her sofa before my next fight." Ian answered honestly, figuring that the man's reaction might be amusing.
"Your next...fight?"
"Mhm."
"And you have no place to go?"
"Not really?"
"And you think Cindy's house will do fine?"
"She seemed to think so."
"You have her permission?" The man asked with doubt in his voice.
"Just let him in, Steven! He has my permission!" A familiar feminine voice came inside the house.
The clean looking man at the door turned his face to the direction of the voice and then looked at Ian again who just shrugged at him. The man called Steven gave way for Ian to enter and looked like he couldn't understand what connection this hoodlum looking dreg could have with Cindy. The inside of the interesting house looked like the lair of a villain. In the hallway there was an illogically shaped analog clock and a case of black stairs that were just long stone slabs attached to the wall. Left from the lobby was a living room and right from the lobby was a kitchen, but from the lobby those rooms couldn't be seen too well. All the walls were made of polished gray stone and the floor was painted all white.
"Looks like Cindy has really upgraded from her previous home." Ian commented in a tone that sounded bored but pretended to be jokey.
"Being on the board of directors in an international tech company usually makes a person want to do that. Combine that with the irrationality of being fairly young and the chances double." Steven said trying to sound intelligent, which he probably was.
"I guess. I always sort of took Cindy as being fairly modest." Ian replied.
"What are you two saying about me back there?" A shout came from upstairs.
"What is she doing up there anyway?" Ian asked.
"Board meeting. They're done remotely now."
"So that's what she does?" Ian asked Steven.
"Why are you so snoopy about her anyway? Who are you to her?" Steven answered with a question.
"It's a complicated story." Ian said replied and got thinking.
"Just use the sofa, baby! But don't leave before I can say Hi!" Cindy's voice shouted from upstairs.
"Did she just call you Baby?" Steven asked Ian and looked weirded out.
"Once upon a time she called me that. She should probably stop that." Ian replied and felt embarrassed.
The two men in the lobby gave each other a suspicious look until Ian decided to just back away into the living room. Steven took the dangerous looking steps upstairs and Ian looked around in the living room. There was a glass table next to the sofa and all four walls were decorated with wall cloths that looked like they were from different continents, yet all of them looked inauthentic. On the glass table was two odd looking copper statues that looked like abstract imitations of humans.
"She seriously likes coming off like a villain in a movie with the way she decorates her place. Also she still calls me Baby, but not that guy. Is she still clinging on to something that's long gone? That's what I was fearing. And she asked me to not leave before we can say Hi. I'm not going to go against her wish. Though I really want to." Ian said and then jumped on the expensive white cloth sofa with his back first and shoes still on his feet.
"This is nice. Worth everything." Ian said quietly and closed his eyes.
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The next time Ian opened his eyes, it was a lot dimmer outside the window and noise was coming from upstairs. He listened and was able to make out that they are words. Angry words. He listened more closely.
"Well maybe if you were a little more professional, they would have listened to you!" Steven's voice shouted upstairs.
"It was one innocent clean joke and you think that was the reason why they're so disrespectful to me? They were ignoring me even before that joke! Every time I said something, they just hummed and nodded like they pretended to agree and as soon I stopped talking, they continued their own circlejerk." Cindy's voice complained upstairs.
"They're like that because they only hired you to sit there and look pretty. It sucks to hear but it's a good gig. So hold on to it."
"What? And how would you know that? I was hired because of my expertise, and I want to put it to use, dang it!"
"I'm a bit higher than you and I hear rumours that you don't. So I know. But like I said, it's a good gig."
"And I'll just be replaced once I no longer serve that purpose? None of you fuckers care about anything that I have up here in my head?"
"Well, I care about your ideas but I also appreciate the main reason you were hired. I even lobbied for you to be hired."
"So it was you who proposed to them to bring me in? And what did you emphasise in your sales pitch?" Cindy asked in an interrogating tone.
"Well, knowing what they're looking for..."
"So that's the only value you see in me? You know what? Fuck you. Last time I let you use my office! Get out of here!" Cindy shouted angrily.
"Sounds like everything is not sunshine with them." Ian stated on the sofa.
"But the water leakage at home..." Steven was explaining.
"Deal with it yourself! Not my fucking problem. If you can't work from there, then that's nothing out of my bag. Good luck." Cindy said and reveled in her lack of empathy.
"Fine. Useless eye candy." Steven said and a door slammed upstairs.
Loud steps came down and Ian pretended to sleep. The front door of the house was opened and then slammed shut. Ian sat up and looked out of the window and saw Steven walking away angrily. A minute later a door was opened quietly upstairs and light steps came down. The sound of the steps went into the kitchen and then returned to the stairs where they ended. A wine bottle was opened and chugging could be heard from the steps.
"Maybe I should just quietly sneak out of here. This is awkward now." Ian thought to himself while lying on his side to prevent his ear from bleeding.
He didn't hear Cindy going away from the steps and kept hearing occasional sipping from the stairs, so he knew that Cindy was still there. He tried to get more sleep so he could time travel to a time when Cindy is no longer there. However he was already energised and could no longer fall asleep even after an hour of trying.
"She wanted to say Hi before I leave. Fuck that. The fight should be in three hours but I guess I can go to the factory early. Better be early than late." Ian thought to himself and got up from the sofa.
He took a deep threat and stepped out of the living room into the lobby. His hood gave him a tunnel vision and he turned his head to look at his way out, which was the front door. He took a step towards it to see if he could avoid an awkward conversation with his presumably drunk and clingy ex.
"Hi, Baby." Cindy said from the steps.
Ian stopped himself and sighed.
"She really should stop calling me that." Ian thought and turned to look at Cindy who was up at the steps, sitting with an almost empty wine bottle in her hand.
"What's with the hood?" Cindy asked.
Ian took the hood off and showed his bloody ear.
"What happened?" Cindy asked with a bit of worry in her voice.
"A fight." Ian answered honestly.
"Aww, who would do that to you? Is everything okay?" Cindy asked with concern and the alcohol could be heard in her voice.
"It was over money." Ian answered, being technically honest.
"Oh no, Baby. Are you having trouble with money?" Cindy asked.
"Nothing that you need to worry about."
"But I do feel like I still should worry about you!"
"Well, you don't! So thank you."
"I care about you. No matter what happens you'll always be my..."
"Don't even give me that. You have somebody new anyway. Worry about him." Ian said defiantly and impatiently.
"Pfft! Hahahahahaha!" Was Cindy's response to that.
"Huh? Did I say something funny?"
"That scentless fuck is not anything more than a colleague to me. He was only here because of circumstances and me being kind." Cindy explained.
"So you've got nobody?"
"No..." Cindy said and her mood went down.
Nobody said anything and there was just silence and a distance between them. Ian kept glancing at the door and wondering if he should take the opportunity to leave.
"She clearly has woes that she shouldn't be left alone with. She needs a friend. I have a moment anyway. Sod it." Ian thought and climbed up the dangerous steps.
He sat down next to Cindy and took the bottle from her hand. Cindy didn't hold on to it. Ian took a swig from the bottle and put it between the two of them.
"So you like your job?" Ian asked to break the silence.
"I did like it. Then I started noticing that my input is never even taken into consideration in the end. Then I heard the reasons why. Not going to get into that."
"You make lots of money, though."
"I do. Guess the money makes it worth wasting my potential and just collecting an easy paycheck. I know this job is not going to last me my whole career though. It can't." Cindy said and picked up the bottle.
She took a swig from it and commented:
"Beauty is fleeting."
"To be honest, my dreams aren't exactly anything I could get a long career out of either." Ian replied to Cindy and took the bottle from her.
"Guess we're still just two peas in a pod then." Cindy said and giggled.
Ian didn't find anything funny about the comment but gave a polite chuckle anyway. Cindy didn't stop giggling but just kept going.
"Guess we are." Ian said back with a neutral tone.
Cindy just kept giggling harder and harder.
"Like remember that time when we... When we... When we..." Cindy tried saying but couldn't finish because she started laughing out loud.
"I remember." Ian replied.
"I di-di-didn't even say anything. Silly." Cindy said while laughing and wobbling.
"Don't stumble down." Ian said neutrally.
"Mmm, you won't let me fall. You'll support me like you always did. And how I always supported you mmm..." Cindy said and leaned on Ian surprisingly.
The suddenness of her decision to lean didn't give Ian a chance to prepare and he was pushed over the edge of the steps that were simply nailed to the wall on Cindy's side. Ian fell down on from six feet high and crashed on the wooden floor on his side, crushing his arm between the floor and his body. He let out a pained roar and Cindy peeked over the edge to look down at him.
"Oh no, Baby! Were you hurt?" Cindy asked and was no longer laughing.
"No... I was just frightened. I'm actually not really hurt." Ian said, surprised that he wasn't hurting much.
Cindy carefully but tipsily walked down the steps in her socks and came to check on Ian and sat down by him. She sat cross legged next to Ian who also sat up and shook his arm.
"You sure it's okay?" Cindy said and grazed the arm that Ian landed on.
"Yeah. It's fine." Ian said and looked down on his lap, not wanting to see the way Cindy was looking at him.
"That's good..." Cindy said.
An awkward silence fell as they both just sat on the floor together.
"What about you?" Ian asked to break the silence.
"What about me?" Cindy asked.
"Are you good?" Ian clarified.
"No..." Cindy answered and went quiet.
"Oh. That was straight." Ian said back.
Cindy suddenly burst into laughter again and Ian just looked at hear with uncertainty.
"You sure you're not good? You seem happy." Ian asked her.
"I'm so fucked, Baby." Cindy said and kept laughing.
"You still have fun." Ian pointed out straightly.
"Baby, I haven't had fun without alcohol in years." Cindy said and kept giggling.
"Her life really has gone downhill, despite what it seems from the outside. She's not happy. It's so obvious." Ian thought and got ideas.
"Want to go do something fun?" Ian asked after making a decision in his head.
"Something fun?" Cindy asked and stopped laughing.
"Yeah. If you want."
"Like we used to?"
"Well... I guess. But it wouldn't be like that."
"What fun even is there in this town in this time of the year?" Cindy wondered.
"No clue."
"Screw it. Let's go anyway. I just want company. Anyone's company who isn't a... bore." Cindy said and giggled.
"So I'm not a bore. That's a relief." Ian stated and Cindy giggled some more.
"Not always. Come on, Baby. Let's go. You're fit to drive." Cindy said and stood up after a few tries.
"I don't even know how..." Ian was about to say before Cindy grabbed his wrist and pulled him with her.
She dragged him out of the front door and at the last second Ian noticed the car keys hanging from a hook. He grabbed them and instantly thought that he shouldn't have. Cindy started yanking the door of the passenger side open but it was locked.
"Open iiiiiiiit!" Cindy begged Ian while yanking the handle.
"I don't know how to drive that well. I didn't finish driving training. Also you forgot your shoes inside."
"There's never any traffic in the town anyway. We'll get struck by lightning before we get pulled over or get into an accident. Come on, I just want to have one good day this year!" Cindy said in a drunken voice and sounded frustrated and down.
"I guess you're right. But if I get arrested, you'll buy my freedom." Ian said back.
"Of course, Baby." Cindy said back and lit up.
Ian unlocked the door remotely and Cindy dove into the front seat. She untied her ponytail and let her brown hair free, rested her head on the neck rest and giggled again. Ian got on the driver's seat and glanced over to Cindy.
"I know a banger burger place! Let's go there!" Cindy said eagerly from her seat.
"Where is it? I don't come this deep into town almost ever."
"Ugh. Just follow my directions. Get the piece of junk started already!" Cindy demanded.
And so Ian started the piece of junk that was more expensive than any car on his street.
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"Ooh! Ooh! There it is! Park there! Park there!" Cindy yelled from the passenger's seat.
"There?" Ian asked and directed the car in the general direction where Cindy pointed.
"No, in Nebraska. Of course I mean there!"
"Okay. Just had to be sure." Ian said and parked the car where Cindy pointed on an open spot by the sidewalk.
"Didn't even crash into anything. Look at you!" Cindy said playfully.
"Well, you refused to wear a seat belt so I had to be careful." Ian answered.
"Mmm, so you do care about me." Cindy said with satisfaction in her voice and Ian wasn't sure if she meant to say it out loud.
Both got up from the car and as soon as Cindy stepped on the pavement, she sounded uncomfortable.
"Why didn't you tell me to take shoes with me? This sucks!" Cindy complained with a drunken voice.
"I did." Ian calmly said and joined Cindy on the sidewalk.
"You did? Mmm, you do care about me." Cindy once again said and leaned on Ian.
"Right. So is this the place?" Ian asked and looked at the sign on the building next to the parked car.
"Mmm, yes. The Artery Blockery. Sounds inviting doesn't it? Come on. I'll pay." Cindy said and opened the door.
They stepped in the little restaurant and got a few glares from the few customers there. The walls were decorated with framed newspaper clips and film posters and a smell of beer and grease was constantly filling the room. The counter was on the right side of the room and there were six tall and round one legged tables. By two of the tables were a pair of old fat men.
"Well, 'allo again, Cindy." The worryingly skeletal man working the counter exclaimed when he saw Cindy come in.
"See? The owner likes me because I tip well." Cindy whispered into Ian's ear.
"Lovely." Ian simply said back.
"Why did you put that hood on again? Take that hood off, Baby. I wanna see and feel your hair." Cindy said and pulled Ian's hood down, revealing an ear with dried blood all over it.
Cindy didn't even notice it but just rested her head on Ian's shoulder as they walked to the counter.
"What shall it be?" The man at the counter asked.
"Let's get the Double Suicide. With two lagers." Cindy replied without even asking Ian's opinion.
"Yes, madam! Coming right up!" The skinny man exclaimed.
"Keep the change." Cindy said after the slapped a Five hundred pound banknote on the counter.
The owner looked at the banknote and gladly put it in the register and then disappeared behind the curtain separating the kitchen from the public space.
"Did she even look at what she slapped on the table?" Ian thought.
"Let's go wait." Ian said and led himself and Cindy to an unoccupied table.
He put his elbows on the table and touched his bloody ear. It wasn't leaking anymore but there was a disgusting dry stain there now. Cindy rested her cheek on the table and used her arms as a pillow of sorts while she looked at Ian with a drunken smile.
"I think they're looking at us." Cindy said in a tone that tried to be quiet but wasn't.
"I think your outfit might be a part of that reason." Ian pointed out.
"What? You don't think that a suit jacket that looked nice for the webcam doesn't go well with gray joggers and no shoes?" Cindy asked and laughed.
"Well, since you said it first."20Please respect copyright.PENANADeZiChd27X
"She's making a fool out of both of us. I really want to just leave but I can't leave her here. Maybe I should just call a cab for her." Ian thought.
"This is already the best day in a long long time." Cindy commented and sounded happy.
"I can't ruin her good time. I guess the opinions of strangers shouldn't matter." Ian thought and then said:
"Glad to hear."
"You're cute." Cindy said and grazed her hand on Ian's messy hair.
"Glad to hear." Ian repeated.
Cindy just laughed.
"I need to use the loo." Ian said.
"Don't leave me!" Cindy begged.
"I'm not leaving you! I'll be back."
"Mmm don't take too long." Cindy said back.
Ian left the table and went through the white door that bore a blue sign. As soon as he entered, he gagged.
"And this is the only one." He thought to himself and hid the lower half of his face under his shirt, figuring that smelling himself is more pleasant than smelling the restroom.
He did what he came to do and washed his hands and then stayed there looking at the mirror and contemplating.
"Have I just unintentionally reawakened some of her old feelings that she had lost? Or have they always been there and the alcohol's just making her take the mask off? Every second I stay with her, the more delusional she gets thinking that she has some kind of a chance. But she's having a good day and it's obvious that she doesn't have a lot of them. But still, if we have a good time, she'll just call me again and again asking to hang out again and if I say No, she'll try to appeal to my emotions. I should just take her home and tell her to go to sleep before she thinks that this will go somewhere. Yep. That's what I need to do." Ian said and stepped out of the restroom.
"Ugh. Those two fat fucks are perving on Cindy. I'd say that they can have her if they were at least a tad decent looking, but there's no way she wants orcs like that gazing at her. Ugh." Ian thought as he saw in another table two gentlemen looking at Cindy from behind.
Ian looked at them with a judging look but they didn't even notice him.
"I'm not going to be Cindy's white knight. Not my bloody battle." Ian thought and returned to the table where Cindy was still resting her cheek on her own arms.
"I missed you." Cindy said to Ian as soon as he was back at the table.
"I was gone for like two minutes." Ian answered and felt impatient with Cindy.
"I wasn't talking about those two minutes." Cindy said as seriously as she could in her state.
Silence fell in the table and the sound of the heater along with bad jokes in other tables were the only sound in the small establishment. As Ian was resting his hands on the table, he saw Cindy's hand sliding across the table towards his. He still didn't want to look at Cindy's face, worrying about the way Cindy might be looking at him. Before Cindy's hand could reach its destination, Ian pulled his hands up from the table and used them as a chair for his chin with his elbows being on the table's surface.
"There's ya double suicide, madam." The owner of the place said as he put a wide plate on the table.
The plate contained a massive hamburger that took the entire plate and was four "floors" tall. Ian looked at it with fear and Cindy looked at it with excitement.
"So that's why it's called the Double Suicide." Ian stated.
"Hihi. The description says it's enough to stop the hears of two people." Cindy added and raised her head from the table.
"Have you ever actually eaten one of these?" Ian asked curiously, feeling glad that there was now something else to talk about.
"Once." Cindy answered.
"With someone? You don't look like somebody who could eat this alone."
"No I did it alone. But on two sittings. I've never taken anyone here. Haven't had anyone to take here anyway. But now we can try together!" Cindy explained.
"Heh. Let's try." Ian said and grabbed a forks and knives for both of them from the counter.
"First I need something to wet my mouth with." Cindy said and cracked open one of the cans that was brought to them.
"You can have mine too. I need to drive you home, remember?" Ian said.
"Oh, that's right. I forgot about that so I ordered two. Oh no, baby. I'm so sorry!" Cindy said and suddenly got apologetic.
"I'll manage." Ian simply said back.
"More for me then, hihi." Cindy said and cracked open the second can before even taking a sip from the first one.
"Bollocks, I shouldn't have let her open the second one. I'm not trying to get her drunk. I should have just opened mine and pretended to drink. Well, too late now." Ian thought and shoved his knife into the massive burger like it was his sworn enemy.
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