Page 40 of All That Remains
"Mate, c'mon. When haven't I? Up to three times a day now," he laughed, his pale eyes squinting. He flicked his fringe away from his forehead and took a sip of tea.
"How's she doing anyway?"
"Good. Really good. Me sister had her a bit worried though. She's supposedly seein’ some bloke now—"
"Since when?"
"A few days ago, I heard. Some little chad she met on the train. Proper douche."
"But she's thirteen?!"
"They start young, Ralph," he proclaimed, clapping me on the shoulder. "She's a little lass in love."
"I give it two weeks."
"More like two days! Drives me nuts not being able to meet him."
"Yeah... check him out. See if he's a good fit."
"Problem is, no one's a good fit. She's too damn young, know what I mean? But of course she's always tellin’ me to mind me own damn business these days."
"Getting a bit feisty, eh?" I chuckled.
"Just like me mum."
"Andyou."
“Alright, Lord Farquaad, put a sock in it.”
“Sass-master!”
"True," he rolled his eyes, toasting the air with his mug.
Rome had left us. He emerged outside, walking through the drizzle and poking around in the garden. Alex left me to stretch out on the free couch, but I stood there and watched Rome a while, marveling at how small he was in the distance. His sweatpants and jumper were oversized. His hands were shoved into his pockets. He was wearing red converse with no socks and the shoelaces had come undone. They slung about as he walked. I got dressed and caught up to him outside.
"Rafe!" He perked up. "Look, man!"
A tiny perennial peeked through the autumn foliage. He’d been looking to see if any flowers had survived the change in season. Everything around his discovery had decayed, making its petals appear all the more vivid. I reached and picked it for him.
"Here you go, if you want it so bad," I muttered.
"Fanks,bro," he laughed, putting it behind his ear.
"What're you even doing out here? It's freezing!"
"I know, Iloveit. Feels good, doesn't it?"
"Uh, no, mate...not particularly."
"Take a breath, bro," he said, stroking my chin until I did so.
He was right. It was refreshingly chill, but the drizzle grew heavier and drenched our hair.
"Me dad always used to, like...walk in the rain, but only when it was light. This is pretty heavy, not gonna lie."
"Yeah it is!" We laughed.
"But it's purifyin’, innit? Clears the mental, because all you can think about is how bloodycoldit is!"
