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Julian chose not to take the bus back home. Sure, it would have been much quicker and warmer, as the night was cold but he decided against it. It was only by walking alone that he was able to think properly. He had much to think about now. His thoughts kept him warm, as his body shivered in the night air. The streets weren't heavily populated, the only sounds to accompany his chattering teeth and footsteps being the occasional mumbling of people waiting outside of storefronts. They paid him no mind. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep himself warm enough until he reached his apartment. "It's fine, whatever. I'll call you later. Or something." No you won't. You never call. You pay over a hundred dollars for that cellphone and you never use it. "It's fine...tell Al I'll be home late tonight but...I'll be home." I doubt that. You know she's mad at you for being such an idiot. You know she'd probably nag your ear off. You'll probably end up in that...thing's bed. Better than his back seat, I suppose. I wouldn't want you to get a back ache from the lack of comfort.

His mind continue to find ways to rip apart the words spoken earlier. For each excuse Gabriel gave, Julian could think of several things to prove it false. A cold splash woke him from his monologue. "Rain?" He cooed. It hadn't rain in quite some time. So adding speed to his movements, he jogged along the sidewalk now focused entirely on getting home. He spotted the silver fountains and knew he was home, jogging up the stairs and entering the building. He was mildly wet, the rain only beginning to truly pour once he was safe inside the lobby. He huffed in the warm air, approaching one of the elevators. A nice hot cup of cocoa would cheer him up. He hoped.

The cocoa took some time to make. His stove was awfully old, so it took a long time for the kettle to warm up. He decided to kill some time by catching up on the shows he'd miss while working. He got TiVo, why let it go to waste? His body melted into the cream sofa and he picked up the remote off the table. Finding a particularly interesting program about the chupacabra, Julian began to relax. But not even the tale of a goat-killing Mexican beast could keep his thoughts in check. Without even realizing it, the boy began to weep. Finally giving in, he hunched over. "Why does he have to be like that? He's so stupid...." "I could have told you that."

Looking up, his eyes and cheeks red, Julian noticed he wasn't alone anymore. Somehow, Faye and Aleera had broken into his house. Again. "Al...Faye....what are you two doing here? Or better yet...how'd you get into my house?" The boy asked, wiping his sleeve across his eyes. Aleera shook her head while Faye simply smiled.

"Ah! That is a secret!" She said in her bubbly voice. Placing her hands on her hips, she tilted her head as if confused. "Jules, why are crying?"

"What did that loser do now?" Aleera asked. Julian couldn't help but smile a bit at the way she referred to her brother.

"It's nothing...I just interrupted their date." The two girls looked at each other, their expressions both neutral. Then smiles creeped upon them.

"Don't worry so much about it, Jules."

"Yeah! You don't need to be so sad!"

"Gabe just doesn't know how much you love him. He'll come around!"

"That's right. And if he doesn't, we'll kick his ass! Right, Al?"

"Right."

"So...cheer up, okay?" Both girls leaned in closer to the man, performing their best puppy dog eyes. He tried hard not to laugh. But their looks! It was so funny!

Finally, he couldn't contain himself. Cupping his hand over his mouth, Julian began to laugh. "Alright, alright...since you both seem so determined..." The girl both smiled, watching him laugh. Finally free of the pent up urge, he took a deep sigh. "Thanks," He said finally, "You two really do know how to cheer me up."

"No problem. I'm just sorry my brother is such a douchefunnel," Aleera said with clear disdain in her voice. "He's a sweetheart, you know that but...he's young. He likes the bad boys and sadly, he found the number one bad boy. Trust me, when I see him or Suicide, I'll give them both a smack for ya."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know. I just want to."

"Anyway, we just wanted to come by to see what happened. I guess we better let you sleep. You got work tomorrow, right?" Faye asked, already shoving Aleera towards the door. Julian rose, walking with them.

"Yes. I should go to sleep soon...thanks again for coming by. You two are dolls. Send Kariudo and Shin my regards, yes?"

"Will do! See you, frere. Call if you need anything."

"Remember what I said...He'll come around."

"I know...thanks." The girls waved and soon disappeared as Julian closed the door.

Julian stayed up for an hour more, drinking his cocoa and enjoying his television. After his cocoa ran empty, he decided it was time for bed. Letting his hair down, changing his clothes and removing his glasses, he climbed into his bed. But then, as the night before, his book called out for him. "Well, I only have a few more chapters to go..." He positioned his pillow up against the headboard and rested his back against it, opening the book to the page he had left off at. He wished he had kept his glasses on. The text was so small. But he was far too lazy to get up and get them again. He didn't know how long he had been reading for but time had surely passed. The first thing he heard, outside of his quiet mumbling, was the phone. It startled him, causing him to drop the book. "Who could that be?" He wondered. It was late. Normal people were asleep by now. Still, he didn't wish to be rude. It could be Faye or Antoine or his mother with emergency news. Picking his book back up and putting it back on the bookshelf, he slipped on his house slippers and walked into the kitchen.

Picking up the phone, he immediately heard a loud and flamboyant, "HEEEEEY JUUUUULES!"

"...Gabe?"