It had been four years. Four long, filled years. Filled of fun, excitement, heartbreak, craziness.
I like to think I changed in those four years. Changed for the better. Changed for myself.
I dont know when it hit me how things had changed. How he had changed. How we had changed. How there wasnt a we anymore.
We had been best friends, lovers, for years. And here I was watching him on the shitty little television in a small seedy diner. Looking like a different person. Smiling and laughing. Unlike the last time I had seen him. Our parting was stressed then.
"Isabelle!" Trarent thosethosvis whispered across the table and followed my gaze to the television, "Aren't those...those Chemical Romance guys?"
I nodded absentmindedly, not looking away.
"Aren't they from Jersey, too?"
"What? Oh yeah, yeah they are." I finally tore my gaze away. I couldn't watch this. Not with everything else going on.
"It's getting late. We should probably start driving." He stood up and drank the last of my coffee. My tenth cup of coffee that hour. I slowly looked down and sighed.
"Come on! Come on, Belle. You're acting like a slow person!"
"Thanks." I laughed lightly. Something I hadn't done in a while, due to recent news.I put my scarf on and stepped out into the cold New York City air.
Oh, how I loved this city. Filled with shitty bars and clubs and shady people and things. I had moved here as quickly as I could get out. But now I was going back. Back to a place I had experienced so much, with so many people, in so many places.
"What's wrong with you? I usually can't get you to shut upand you usually would bite that lady for looking at you like that." He pulled his black hoodie around him tighter as he entered my car.
"I don't know. I guess, It's not like I mind going back, but, It's just, it would be nicer under different circumstances." Like not a funeral. A funeral of a very close friend. A funeral of a very close friend, where I would most likely see other very close friends I could do without seeing.
I must have been driving for a while. It was dark and I was already on the New Jersey Turnpike. Travis was asleep with his face pressed against the window, his mop of black hair ruffled up.
I pulled into an all too familiar little diner.
"Are we there yet?" His voice was groggy and startling.
"Come on, I have to pee." I slowly pulled my cigarettes out of my bag and light one up. I was nervous and Travis was slow. "Come on, I just want to get out of here."
"Alright, alright...No need to be rude, Miss Ramone."
The little room hadn't changed a bit. Same blue table clothes, same worn out welcome carpet, same cheap wall paper. Oh, how I've missed this place.
"I'm going to the bathroom. Try not to go anywhere."
"I'll try, but no promises." Travis sat down at the counter and swirled in his chair.
I looked into the mirror and wiped off the black eyeliner that was misplaced. I wonder if people will remember me. I've changed, right? I mean, of course I have. Tattooed, pierced and, what I like to call, improved. I rearranged my scarf, fixed my dyed black hair and walked out, ready to get out of this place unnoticed.
"OH MY GOODNESS! Isabelle, is that you?!" Too late
"Mrs. Reed." I tried to smile, I really did, but for some reason I was acting out of character today. My usual happy, intellectual, quiet air was replaced with a distant, indifferent one.
She grabbed me into a hug. A tight, bone crushing one.
"Wow, you havent changed much..well, except for these of course!" She chuckled pointing to my face, slightly tugging on the metal. I missed that chuckle.
"It's good to see you again, Mrs. Reed." I noticed her glance toward Travis. "This is my best friend, Travis. I met him in New York."
She hugged him, too. He looked uncomfortable. I tried not to laugh as she pulled away and motioned for me to sit down.
"Aw, yes, New York City...Finally decide you could grace us with your presence back here in little Belleville?" She set coffee down in front of me which I quickly started to drink. I didnt know how to answer her. I didnt want the reason I was here to be true.
Rest-->
"She's visiting family." Travis answered for me. Now I remember why he was my best friend and roommate. Besides the fact that he was the first cool person, at least in my eyes, that I had met. "And we should probably be going. It was nice meeting you Mrs. Reed."
"You too, Travis dear. Come back anytime!"
We quickly walked back outside and I sighed with relief.
"Thanks. For everything. For coming with me. For getting me out of there. Everything." I was smoking again. Nervous. Of what, though? Maybe seeing Him again? He would probably be busy with the band or something. No time for old friends, right?
"Awe! Isabelle Ramone! You're my favorite, too!" Travis turned the music back on loud. Dirty punk Oi's sounded through my car as I drove on. Toward my old home. My old life. And maybe some old friends.
But the question was, would Frank Iero remember me? Would he still want me, laugh with me; sit with me like he did all those years ago? Those four long years ago.
Thank you for reading. Please tell me what you think and go listen to evergreen terrace because I like them a lot.
