Misery

[Japanator]

Oh, he'd get permission first... I laughed and rolled my eyes as he gave my arm a playful shove. "Whatever," I laughed. I went to the fridge and pulled out a Dr Pepper, and then asked Carver what he'd like. He asked about tea. British tea. I smiled, "No luck." He settled for a coke, so I handed the can to him and cracked open my own soda. I brought the can to my lips and felt the ice cold beverage slide down my throat and soothe away my thirst. It was utterly refreshing. I moved around an island counter and sat on a suede bar stool, crossing my legs.

I leaned on the counter and sipped some more of my soda, studying my new friend. I wondered what his life was like in England, and whether we would have been friends if we'd met during different circumstances, such as meeting before the world was attacked by aliens. Or maybe in a world where that wasn't reality; if it hadn't happened at all. I set my can down, and droplets of condensation dripped off, pooling around the edge where the can met the marble of the counter. "So aside from making movies, what did you do for fun in New York, and in Birmingham?" I tried to imagine my British friend clubbing in Manhattan or something, but the thought made me want to laugh. I had a feeling Carver lived a simpler life.

Me, on the other hand, I loved the nightlife in Miami. Not that I went crazy and woke up with strangers next to me or found myself nursing a hangover on Mondays, but I did love to dance. And the rhythms and pulsing beats at the local clubs frequently called my name on Friday nights. However, sometimes I stayed at home, editing pictures until one in the morning or catching a rerun of The Nanny. Other times, I walked the beach after sunset. I could see Carver participating in the latter activities, but I had a hard time imagining I would have ever run into him at a nightclub, tearing up the dance floor.

[nouveauchevall]

Carver `

I sighed as she handed me the Coke. It wasn't what I really wanted right now, but it was cold, and that was good enough for me right now. I took a sip and leaned against the counter as Izzy came over to sit on one of the stools. She leaned her elbows on the island and set down her drink, asking me about what activities I liked to do when I was in New York, and England. That one wasn't hard to think about.

"Well, in Birmingham, it isn't hard to find something to do. There's tons of little shops and things that you can just walk around the city and find. When I was younger, and it snowed, all the kids on my street would get together and go out in the park and have a massive snow-ball fight," I said, smiling serenely at the memory. "When I was older, I kind of 'graduated' you might say, to the clubs, but I never really fit in there... I tried that, didn't like it, and just went to the library. I loved that library. It was so big, with so many old dusty books that smelled wonderful." I stared unseeingly at the wall opposite me as I took a mental tour through the building. Three story ceilings covered with murals, levels of books, big open seating areas to read, and computers that no one used because they were too into their books.

I snapped out of my reverie and looked back at Izzy with an impish smile. "New York was a different story. Yeah, there's loads to do there, too, but I was always busy with school, or over at my friends' houses shooting mini films. We did everything together..." My voice faltered. I couldn't begin to think of what might have happened to them. It was just too painful. Last time I saw them, we were being separated into groups to do different tasks, when the attacks happened. I ran, hid, and when it was over, I was alone. Then the people came and led me back here. People, whose faces I couldn't seem to be able to picture. I couldn't remember. I guess they just weren't important enough for my brain to recall...

"Anyways," I said, with an attempt at normal. "What about you? What did you do for fun?" I took a tentative sip of my Coke.

[Japanator]

The way he described Birmingham, with the shops and the park, made me wish it wasn't gone so I could go shoot there. My camera, not a gun. Somehow I got the impression that England wasn't fond of guns. Or, maybe that was just Piers Morgan. Anyway, I loved visiting little shops like that. Then he mentioned the clubs, and his experience with them. I laughed. "I feel like I would have been more inclined to go to the clubs than the library, but that's me." I grinned, sipping my soda. I swallowed. "I guess I understand the appeal, though. Libraries are peaceful and quiet." I set my can down and rested my chin on my hands again as he continued.

New York; one place I'd always wanted to go. But I understood why he never truly got to see it. I figured he must have had some rather interesting films though. I wondered if he had any with him, and what he'd been working on while in Mexico. I made a mental note to ask him about seeing them sometime. He seemed upset when he talked about his friends in New York. I knew that feeling of missing someone as well. I longed to see my mother, to know if she and Brian were all right. But I had no idea where to start if I were to look for her. Maybe she'd find me...

Anyways, Carver spoke up. I looked at him. He asked what I did for fun. I gave a half smile. "Well, I did like the nightclubs. But I love to dance. That's my main reason for liking it. And then of course, photography; I had a business going in Miami...and I love to cook. And when I had free time, I liked to visit my mom and her husband." I shrugged, "And of course, being in Miami, I visited the beach on the weekends. It was fun to go swim with friends, or just take pictures if I was alone."

[nouveauchevall]

Carver `

As I told her about Birmingham, she got a sort of far-away look in her eyes and I just knew she was thinking photography opportunities. Then again, the way I talked of Birmingham was a lot better than what most people talked of it. Nevertheless, it was home, and I missed it. She laughed when I told her about my hang out spots, and then put in her opinion. More inclined to go to the club? I laughed quietly, my eyes finding the floor tiles. "I don't understand why..." I said quietly, with a failed attempt to keep a stupid grin off my face. Izzy answered with her own grin, but hers was less stupid, and more charming. I guess I understand the appeal, though. Libraries are peaceful and quiet, she said as she set her soda can down. "Yes," I said, clapping my hands together briefly in front of me. I rocked back on my heels and let my hands fall to my sides. "Exactly. Peaceful, quiet, no one bothers you, or... tries to dance on you..." I said, recalling a particularly unpleasant experience with a less than acquainted female.

Nightclubs, photography, her mum, and the beach. That was her life before this. It was so different from mine, I couldn't help but give a small smile. We were from totally different worlds, yet we found each other and became friends in all this. It was remarkable.

Feeling that this conversation was at a dead end, and I really didn't know what to say to that, I asked the first question that popped into my mind. You didn't, erm, have a boyfriend before... this?" I asked, feeling daft as soon as I said it. Horror struck me as I thought of the repercussions of such a question. Would she think I was interested in her? Was she interested in me? Of course not, you idiot, my brain shouted. I nodded mentally to my brain. Stupid of me to even think it.

[Japanator]

I smiled in response to his statement regarding my inclination to the club. "I like to dance." I did a little spanish number as I spoke, swinging my hips to a rhythm in my head. I laughed and leaned back against the counter. My I mentioned how peaceful libraries were, Carver got excited and clapped his hands together. He reiterated what I had said about being quiet, then I had a feeling he was remembering one particularly unpleasant time at the club as he said something about someone dancing on him. I laughed out loud, then covered my mouth with my hand. "Sorry," I said letting my hand drop. "I was just picturing that." I chuckled softer then and leaned back onto my elbows.

I sighed and there was a pause. Carver spoke up and asked me if I had had a boyfriend before '...this'. I smiled then shook my head. "No, I was single...guess I was too busy to date. I went out a few times but not in about a year." I shrugged. I was never upset about being single, but I guess my mother had raised me to be so independent that I thought serious dating would slow me down. And I didn't need a husband. A part of me did want kids one day, though. Of course, I could always adopt. And that had been my plan before...this.

I motioned toward Carver. "What about you? I bet you had a cute girlfriend, someone really smart, right?" I teased with a smile. I could see Carver with a quiet but pretty girlfriend, someone with glasses maybe and a book in her hand. Or a soft-spoke animal lover. I tried to imagine Carver out on a date, trying to be romantic, and it made me smile. He was so adorably awkward.

[nouveauchevall]

Carver`

Izzy laughed about the club, and I looked up hopefully at her. At least she wasn't offended. I like to dance, she said, swaying to an unheard song. I watched, somewhat entranced, until she stopped. I felt a stupid grin spread on my face, and I cleared my throat, and my head. "I think it would be an absolute disaster if I were to dance," I said, throwing emphasis on the word 'disaster'.

Izzy laughed suddenly as I recalled my story about the club, and then threw her hand over her mouth in embarrassment. Sorry, she said, grinning. I smiled at her, and sipped my Coke. "Quite alright," I said, setting it gingerly on the counter. She said something about picturing it, and then chuckled and leaned back against the counter again. I stared at the drink on the counter. She was adorable. She was beautiful. She was utterly out of my league.

I fervently awaited her answer to my question about her relationships. No, I was single...guess I was too busy to date. I went out a few times but not in about a year. I sighed quietly with relief, and smiled. "I see." She shrugged it off. She turned the question on me. What about you? I bet you had a cute girlfriend, someone really smart, right? I froze like a deer in the headlights. "Er... well..." Should I tell her? Yes. "I actually did. We were... quite serious," I said, with quite difficulty. "Really quite serious." I felt like I was going to be sick.

"We broke up right before the incident, and the last I heard from her, she was telling me she was pregnant."

[Japanator]

I wondered if down the road, when things were calm and people were starting to settle, I could throw some sort of party. I had a feeling any mention of partying or celebrating right this minute would cause an uproar. But I did think we eventually needed to celebrate our survival and relax a little with some dancing and mingling. Carver guessed he would be terrible. I shrugged. "You never know until you try," I told him.

Carver smiled when I told him I had been single, and I started to wonder if he had a little crush. Nah, probably not. We have nothing in common... The idea was cute, though, and made me smile. Then my next question seemed to shake him up a little. I leaned hard against the counter as he tried to get out whatever he was about to tell me. First he said he did have a girlfriend. I nodded, wondering where she was now. He went on to tell me they had been 'really quite serious'. I nodded slower. I didn't have to guess what that meant.

Finally, Carver explained that they had broken up and that the girl was pregnant. I heard a gasp escape my mouth. "Oh, wow..." I said softly. "And it's.." Of course it was his... "So you don't know where...where they are?" I asked him. I wondered if the girl had even had the baby yet, or if she even kept it. How much did Carver know?