Courtney comes running a bit scared probably because she has no idea why I screamed "Bruce hey wats up"she asks studying Bruce's reaction "I…l… didn't know they would kill her" he stammers "kill who" I asks. At first I was pissed at Courtney for disclosing our home to Bruce without my consent but that statement made my brain do a whole 360 turn. "The girl at the bar,I saw them unalive her"Bruce says "what did she do"Courtney cohersed "she must've done something bad. I don't know her I just walked out of the bar and heard two shots she saw me. She begged me to help her. I froze. They shot her and turned. They chased me."Bruce says making what he thinks is a sentence "so you witness murder for the first time,freaked, got caught peeping ,got involved for witnessing,got chased and you brought them to my home?"I asked a bit concerned. "I had nowhere else to go,please don't push me out. They might still be around the area but I promise I out ran them. I made sure to lose them before I knocked. I promise"Bruce begged. "And you couldn't go home? I thought the best place for safety was home! Your own home." I pushed. "It's fine Ash…just relax"Courtney says. "I am as relaxed as I can be in this situation Court"I retorted "and you of all places…and I mean all places in Downtown Colorado for you to seek shelter,you choose here. How in God's Holy name did you even find me here?"I question knowing fully well that Courtney was the Gps that brought him here. "I'm sorry Ash I had no one to run to"He sobs "Why don't we all ignore the fact that he has 4 older siblings living in this city and state even but go on feel at home" even though I was smiling while saying that they could sense the sarcasm dripping from each word. "Come on Asha you know I can't go home like this,I can't endanger my family this way" he replies using the wrong set of words well to me if he felt safe enough to come here he might as well felt that level of safety to go home to his mother. "And the fact that our lives mean so little to you that you can bring angry probable mob men,murderers might I add harmed even to my doorstep speaks volume". "He probably thought we could handle them"Courtney defends "Does he know we have problems of our own?…like for example you spending our accommodation money that's even calling it lightly 23 thousand dollars on scam? Does he? Does he know where in here calling this place home after all the blood and sweat I put in making money just for it to go to scam?"i ask. Bruce opens his mouth in shock "And here I was thinking I was a disappointment"he says in mockery. "I have had it with you two,always dragging me into your shits,screwing things up for me,not doing anything right,I have ignored my own pleasures just to bail you two out of stupid shits you could avoid,I am barely 25 but I think I am growing grey hairs from taking care of kids I didn't birth and the sheer fact that I don't want to go for jail or murder rather homicide would be an option"I rant exhausted and sitting on the death trap looking couch Bruce and Courtney were sharing looking down like kids being scolded by their mother. They both move to make room for me "Are you sure the grey hairs are not from you frowning too much?"Courtney asks trying to lighten the mood "maybe she needs to get laid or something"Bruce suggests. "And that's a problem I can't afford sex right now"I sigh "Just relax….breathe okay….don't stress over these minor set backs….I'm very sure when you freshen up and wake tomorrow,you'd get some big impressive, life changing idea to get us out of this mess….as always you lead we follow….I mean we're friends right?..besties?Courtney yaps. She and Bruce do the nonsense hand cheer thing they do and look at me in anticipation "fine friends" I agree and for the first time in 5 yrs I agree we were friends and joined in their shenanigans. I could see the genuine smile they wear and for the first time I smiled for real, even laughed when the couch fell apart from carrying all our weights for so long. Sometimes life isn't all that hard....we chatted ,played and had fun till I retired for bed and then it hit me. Instead of staying here doing nothing,we could move,try another state. I'm thinking New York. It's a fine start anyway. If I could just find up to 250 grand i could get a decent apartment for us and we could all work together for the life we want right? We can start honest living…..
It seemed like the sun was finally setting after a long storm. The relief I felt when that thought came to mind is unmatched. Never felt before. The feeling of finally finding hope. I wasn't even stressing about the fact that my entire net worth was 100 grand which I hid from Courtney. It didn't matter we were finally getting somewhere.
I woke up in the morning feeling the same enthusiasm from last night and was going to tell my friends….gosh that sounds weird but it feels good to finally have people to rely on…about my plans. This morning we sat on the debris of the couch eating a breakfast of bacon and eggs…..that heaven only knows whence Courtney got them from but who cares right?…..consequences be damned…..forget that shit we're having that talk later. "Ok people, I have a plan"I announced "see I told you"Courtney whispers loudly to Bruce. "Good for you….I'm guessing it involves us in some way or you wouldn't be telling us right?"Courtney says "Of course she finally acknowledges our usefulness all these years"Bruce says all smiles though full of sarcasm. "Okay I admit I have been a little selfish in the past.."I say but get interrupted by Courtney "a little is the understatement of the century"she says "Yeah….I remember that one time she nearly booked that flight to go to Miami without us because she said we were the extra baggages she didn't plan for?"Bruce says reminiscing. "Yes we remember"Courtney says eyeing him suspiciously…well to me. "Bet you never told her the going away party we threw her was with the flight money and she thought one of the party guests stole it….how hilarious"Bruce says laughing so hard you'd think he said something so funny and I might have missed it some how. "Ah ah ah very funny Bruce"Courtney says. "I don't even know if I'm to be upset of proud. I mean I am mad but I am proud of the both of you for pulling of an heist and not getting caught like you both did something right"I say confused "really?" Courtney "Yeah now your both practically owe me your souls for the money wasted"I said looking rather unimpressed and a bit irritated.
"Anyways as I was saying….I was thinking….why don't we move to New York "I say waiting for the doubt,disbelief and problems they would bring up. "Are you joking?"Courtney asks. She never disappoints in this department "you're usually the master planner and brain but right now I gotta ask did you damage one of your plenty brain cells with all those thinking you do?"Bruce asks. "Swear on your life that you're both completely and I mean utterly totally broke"I say…they as I had predicted did not respond after I called them out on their bullshit. And I sigh "what's our budget?"Bruce finally asks. "Half a million if we're talking minimum". I say and as usual they don't disappoint with the reaction of disbelief and stare of ridicule. I mean Bruce laughed really hard I was getting annoyed ,Courtney spat more than half or whatever she was downing in her cup. "Do any of you mind sharing this very laugh worthy joke I missed?"I asked again annoyed. "Of course you wouldn't get the joke"Bruce asks. "Where do you expect even a quarter of that sum to come from."Courtney asks. "The moon..where else?"I asked. "Okay…I know I said some big impressive idea would pop up when you arose today but this is definitely not it..Go back to bed and this time sleep on the right side and properly shut your eyes, clear your mind of every irrational thought because Darling this is one of those irrational thoughts you warn us of regularly". Courtney lectures. "Wow it's not far fetched though"Bruce says "Okay everyone here is officially termed crazy….C..R..A…Z..Y…..I believe in faith and all that but unless it's a miracle,we might as well just sell our organs. We might not even make half the money!"Courtney says. "Listen i can raise up to 50grands by the end of the day. No promises though"Bruce says. "Yeah I knew saved your ass that day for a reason"I say smiling. "That wasn't what you said in the dorm room that day…..I still have a phobia of being anywhere near an angry you" he says and shivers "Tell me about it"Courtney says in thought. "Courtney??"I ask expectantly "Fine I'll see what I can add but anything we both bring you'd complete it right?"she asks "as usual it all falls back to me…fine…just get your end ready by the end of the month"I say. "Great we're going to New York"Bruce says "This stays between us three and for the record Court,I will handle the accommodation"I say clearing the air. "I made one mistake and it follows me to my grave"Courtney says "Shocker"Bruce chimes "It's going to be a wonderful new month if we all play our parts well"I say in thought...…..