Sometimes, Friends Are Mirrors

Chapter 10

The night is getting late, though Pauly seems to oddly be gaining energy. I let out a visible yawn. 

"Tired? Wanna go to bed?" She does her best to help me feel less alone. 

I'm sure to some degree, she also wants me to share what's going on. But as a creature of habit, I tend to stick to script. I find a way to gently let her down. 

"My parents will think I offed myself if I don't make it back tonight. I don't think you want 911 at your door in the morning."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about your crazy mother." She grins once more. We both chuckle.

"Alright, let me pee then I'll drive you. The alcohol has successfully left our systems. We get into the car and the music starts to blast. A neighbor is sitting on the edge of the stairs smoking a cigarette. He comes up to the car. 

"What y'all bout to get into?" Pauly doesn't take more than a second to respond.

"S**t, nothing! This one here wants to be all depressy and what not."

I roll my eyes while trying to avoid eye contact with the neighbor. He was handsome, but I was never smooth with guys. He glances at me before providing some reassurance.

"S**t man, it's rough out here. I was depressed for a minute too. Had to stop smoking and everything." 

"You doing better now?" For a cynic, Pauly sure knows how to make people feel seen when it counts. It's one of her finer qualities.

"Absolutely, all thanks to the most high." The man kisses his fingers before pointing them to the sky. I study him for a bit. I get an eerie feeling after a while. 

Pauly glances my direction and notices my focus on the neighbor.

 "Good good. Alright bro, we'll see you later then!" She cuts the Convo short as she notices my out of place intensity. 

"Peace and love y'all." The neighbor walks back upstairs as we begin to pull out of the lot.

"Yo, why do you always do that?" 

"Do what?" 

"Stare at people all intensely while saying absolutely nothing." 

I pause for a moment. It's something I hadn't noticed until now.

"What are you? A vampire or something?" I point my focus inward as I begin to reflect.

 

Pauly shakes her head before blasting her music again.