phone post

[orangetoughguy]

"Motherfucker, I'm trying to watch The Lost Boys."

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☏ VOICEMAIL
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TEXT

[whitetwoguns]

maybe see you around sometime

take care

CALLING YOOOOUUUUU

[orangetoughguy]

[Ring ring ring :(]

RINGING 1/2

[whitetwoguns]

[oh shit oh shit oh shit.]

2/2

[whitetwoguns]

[Let it go to voicemail. If he wanted to talk he would have text he would just--]

Hello.

[orangetoughguy]

....Hi.

[Okay what now, Newendyke, what now.]

[whitetwoguns]

[He'll clear his throat.]

I hope your night wasn't ruined.

[orangetoughguy]

Naw. It was okay.

[Soft spoken and slower than the average Freddy.] I had cheesey fries.

[whitetwoguns]

Yeah? Good.

[Makes him feel a little better. A tiny little small bit.]

Those are good with onions on top.

[Defaulting to food talk. Well.]

[orangetoughguy]

Yeah, I had'em with onions.

[His breath is something awful right now. Aren't you glad you can't smell it, Larry?]

You eat yet?

[whitetwoguns]

[Empty empty empty feeling on the inside right now. Oh man.]

No, not yet.

[orangetoughguy]

You wanna...wanna grab a bite?

[It takes more balls than you'd know to pony up that invitation.]

[whitetwoguns]

[For a moment he nearly asks whether or not it's okay. Look who is calling who.]

Okay.

[Man up, Dimick. Be an adult about it. You're hurt. You're angry. Join the goddamn club.]

[orangetoughguy]

[It's okay Dimick, Freddy here needs time to prepare too. Almost he feels like he sounds stupid for having suggested it at all, like he's copping out of his own invite.]

Tomorrow? Maybe a lunch?

[whitetwoguns]

Tomorrow?

[A day shouldn't make a lick of difference. The old man in those few seconds already set his teeth on wanting to see this man again. Tomorrow then.]

Sure. Tomorrow's just fine.

[He wanted today, right now. Right back where they used to be. Nothing works like that.]

[orangetoughguy]

[Oh thank christ he's not refusing. Freddy doesn't even detect a sense of resentment for pushing it back by twenty four hours and to this kid that's already a lot to handle. But they need that time, right? Rushing into things is part of what got them into this in the first place, no matter how good it feels to be right in his thick bear arms.]

Okay.

[He might sound a little hopeful, tail wagging.]

[whitetwoguns]

Any place you wanna meet?

[He doesn't have a tail but there's hope. Less of a growl. Shit don't fuck this up Dimick.]

I could go for a burger.

[Those fries sounded so nice. Anything out of that mouth that's not shouting is starting to take on a sort of a siren effect.]

[orangetoughguy]

The cheesey fries place has burgers.

[Duh. It's more like an invitation to come share a batch of eating your feelings with the kid, old man. Better than shouting.]

[whitetwoguns]

That place sounds good.

[Pause.]

If you don't mind going twice in a few days.

[Careful now, man.]

[orangetoughguy]

[He's shaking his head despite Larry being unable to see him over the phone.]

I don't mind...

[whitetwoguns]

[He clears his throat.]

Cool.

[Another pause that has him licking his lips. Maybe he should have just assumed because the kid did offer it up. Shit. Stupid.]

Thanks. I'll meet you there.

[Casual and as though it's nothing because it's just burgers. Nothing like just drinks when they talked over the Brewer's win.]

Maybe we could talk.

[I want to talk.]

[orangetoughguy]

Yeah. That'd be cool.

[To talk, not just to meet.]

[whitetwoguns]

[Or now. Can we do now? Larry's so damn pleased with how this conversation has gone he wants to just live in it if he can't live with the kid. Oh fuck but if it goes sour then what?]

I want us to somehow come to an understanding.

[Because that sounds so much better than I want to work this out... he wasn't the one who moved out, except he's not the one that made living under the same roof unlivable...]

Eventually.

[orangetoughguy]

Me too, I meant what I said.

[About not hating the old man, does Freddy need to clarify or is the context of wanting to come to an understanding enough?]

[whitetwoguns]

[Oh but Freddy you've said so many things. They all are ringing in the old man's head when you're not around. He wants it to be the good words, really. The timing and the way he's speaking, Larry lets himself believe that it's positive.]

...about what?

[orangetoughguy]

[Oh fuck does he have to get specific? Freddy goes silent for a pause that lasts longer than he means.]

About...not hatin' you. [Say more, Newendyke.] I don't hate you.