Title: "Revelations: Part 6 of 14"
As they walked out of Lucky's Bar, Erica's tears had completely dried up. In fact, she was even smiling and laughing as Matt walked her home. He had insisted on walking her home, for it was past midnight and the drunks who wondered the streets would most definitely be out by now. A single girl, walking alone on the street curbs, might not even make it home. Matt had known this, and Erica knew it, too. She had been relieved when he had mentioned it.
As they had sat in the bar earlier, Matt had been a little reluctant in his talking to begin with. But, after ten minutes, he and Erica had began to really strike up a conversation. So much so, in fact, that she never even noticed when she stopped crying, and began to laugh at the things Matt was saying about the various people who walked in and out of Lucky's.
It hadn't been what he said that had her laughing. It was the way he was doing it. He was doing in an attempt to get her mind off of what had just happened to her --after she had told him of her story-- and just help her relax. It worked.
Through their talking, Erica had noticed something about Matt. He wasn't coming to her table to try to "pick her up," as she had first thought. It seemed as if he actually cared, and wanted to see what was wrong with her. She couldn't be exactly sure, for Patrick had started off the same way. But, Matt was nothing like Patrick ever was. Sure, Matt had some piercings along his face that Patrick would always make fun of people for having. Sure, Matt had a few apparent tattoos. That was something her dad would always make fun of people for having. But, despite that, she saw something in Matt. Something that told her that, despite the initial idea she had instantly formed of him, he was different.
It was becoming more apparent as she and Matt made their way down Tanks Street, coming up to the bend into Gilman Street. As they walked, Matt recalled on things he and his friends had done during the "legendary" Berkeley High football games.
"I remember once," he said, "during the Homecoming game, I think it was the Homecoming game... anyway, me and my friend, Steve, had parked upon the hill overlooking the school and football field."
He didn't mean to mention the hill. It had been where Erica had just came from, and she was trying to put it out of her mind. Matt didn't realize it until he said it. He immediately tried to apologize for mentioning it.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, it didn't hit me until I said it. I'm sorry for--"
Erica cut him off, though. Smiling up at him, she said, "Don't worry about it. Being with you, as strange as it might sound, has helped me to just forget about it. Now go on, what were you saying?" As they walked down the curb, she put her arm around his waist.
Inside, Matt felt a gush of relief pass through him. He had been longing to put his arm around her as they walked, but was unsure if he should or not, simply because of what she had just went through. With her putting her arm around his waist, though, it gave him the mental go-ahead, and so he put his arm around her as they walked.
But, despite what she said, he didn't, wouldn't, continue the story. He didn't want to do anything to make her upset. Despite what she said, he knew that she didn't want to hear about the hill. Not tonight, anyway. He'd save the story for a later time.
"Well, don't worry about. It wasn't that important of a story anyway." He felt good having his arm around her.
Erica, though, didn't want him to think he had to keep stuff from her, just because he was worried it'd do something to her. What a difference that was. Only a few hours earlier, she had been in the car with someone who didn't care at all about her, and they both knew it. And now, she was walking down the street curb with a guy she had just met, and was someone who was going out of his way to make her feel comfortable. "Hey, I'm OK. Don't let me be the reason you can't tell it. I'm looking forward to the story, actually! I've heard so much from you tonight, I hardly doubt that a story that has some stupid hill in it will cause my opinion of you to decrease."
He couldn't. He didn't want to. He didn't want to take any chances. He remembered what she had looked like when he had first walked up to her in the bar. He didn't want to see her like that again. Especially not because of something he had done to make her that way.
They continued to walk down the curb, stepping off of Tanks Street, and onto Gilman Street. She had told him that her house was at the corner of Gilman and Smith. That was still a good walk away. He'd be walking into the part of Berkeley that he and his friends would usually makes jokes about in regards to it's main inhabitants. People who were considered the jocks and supporting cast of people were the ones who lived there. And Erica lived right in the middle of it. But Matt didn't care tonight. As they walked down the curb of Gilman Street, she asked him, "So, where do you live at?"
He looked down the street, the Gilman apartments looming in the shadows just up ahead. He'd have to pass them, and he'd need to tell her.
"Well, I live right up here, actually. I rent an apartment, Apartment #7, at the Gilman apartments. It's not much, but..."
She cut him off. She could tell he was kind of reluctant to want to tell her. She knew where she lived, and she knew of it's social standing amongst the other communities of Berkeley. But it wasn't the big deal to her like she knew Matt thought it was. "At least you're not still living with your parents," she said. "I'm still stuck at home with my dad. I'd like to move out sooner or later, too, but I don't think it will happen anytime soon. So, probably later."
Matt smiled. He had never thought of it that way. She would probably think differently about the situation, though, if she knew that he would still be living with his parents if they hadn't of kicked him out a year earlier.
Trying to make more small talk, and not realizing that she hadn't said her when she had said who she lived with, he asked, "What does your mom have to say about your wanting to move out?"
As Erica went quiet for a moment, Matt instantly knew he had said something wrong. He looked at her, and she smiled a half smile back at him. It wasn't exactly a whole lot of encouragement to ease his mind. He knew he had said something wrong.
"Well," she said, "my mom isn't here any longer."
"Divorce?"
Erica paused briefly. "No... she died when I was thirteen. My dad has been raising me ever since."
Matt had never known that. For four years of knowing of Erica Storm in school, he never knew that she had lost her mom. Then again, they had never really talked in school, either. The social barriers that were so common in school had saw to it about that.
"I'm sorry," was the only thing he could say.
"Oh, it's not your fault. It's not my fault. I don't think it's anyone's fault. There's no one to blame. I think I'm over it. It's just that... I thought everyone knew about my mom. I guess some don't." She tried to put a smile back on her face as she looked up at him.
Matt didn't want to say anything else about it. If mentioning the hill was something he didn't want to mention tonight, continuing to speak of her late mother was something that would be strictly taboo.
They walked a little further in silence, the Gilman apartments coming into view and getting closer. He would be passing by then in only a matter of minutes. His mind drifted off to Zero, and how he wondered where he was. He found it odd that he had worried about what Zero would do when Theodore came back, and, Matt had been put right in the middle of another Balmore incident.
He didn't mention this to Erica though, as they continued to walk.
They didn't pay the headlights any attention. They didn't pay them any mind, as the car behind the headlights dropped to a slower speed as they approached them. It came slower and slower, until it came to a stop beside them. It was only when the person in the car opened the door, did Matt and Erica really realize what was going on.
* * * * *
JJ had been sitting on the couch, listening to Theodore tell of the stories he had experienced while being with the Cowboys. Patrick sat beside him, not showing any real sign of what he had felt like earlier in the night. And across from JJ sat Karl, a can bottomed up as he finished off another beer.
As Theodore talked, JJ had mixed emotions. He felt honored to be able to sit in on such a momentous event such as this. Not everyone was honored enough to be invited to Karl's house to hang out with Theodore Balmore. In that sense, JJ couldn't believe the luck and good fortune that he had acquired.
But on the other side, as he sat and listened to Theodore, he couldn't help but wonder what it was that he was actually doing that was such a great moment. Sure, he was listening to Theodore, local celebrity and former pro football player for the Dallas Cowboys. But, that was all that Theodore wanted to talk about. He wanted to talk about himself.
Still, JJ was in on the conversation, so a little putting up with Theodore's gloating would be ok. After all, Theodore had accepted JJ, and that alone was enough to please JJ. He could bear it; he could tolerate it.
It was only when Theodore through up a general idea, did JJ start to have doubts.
"Hey guys, why don't we get out and go somewhere," declared Theodore.
The room fell quiet, each person awaiting another's answer. The silence was broken, though, with a belch by Karl. Laughing loudly, Karl said, "That'd be my answer, Dorey. Sounds like a plan if I ever heard one!"
With that, Patrick spoke up, agreeing with Karl. Only JJ hadn't responded now. He felt the eyes bearing down on him.
"You might need to drive, JJ. Don't let Karl talk you into letting him drive. That fool's had enough beer to kill the party star!" As he spoke, Theodore's eyes tore right into JJ.
"Man... I can drive better drunk!" Not one to be spoke down onto; Karl spoke up and defended himself.
Quickly responding, Theodore said, "Yeah, well I won't be riding with you, then. And I don't really need to drive, cause this town's changed so much, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where I was going, no doubt."
"Hasn't changed a bit. Same thing everywhere," said Patrick.
"Well, I don't really feel like getting behind the wheel anyway tonight. I have too big of a day tomorrow to be out driving tonight, anyway. Now riding is a different subject. Now JJ," Theodore turned back around to JJ. "You haven't had a drop of alcohol all night. What do you say man? Want to give me a late night tour of good 'ol Berkeley?"
JJ hadn't had anything to drink. Theodore was right. Regardless, JJ had a bad feeling about getting out at two in the morning. He would be with a handful of alcohol impaired men who didn't mind causing a scene in the late night. But, the eyes of Theodore were too much for him. They were too great for JJ to turn him down. "Oh, alright. It's a good night, anyway. A bit chilly, but a good night."
That excited Theodore. He jumped out of his chair. "Hell yes! No doubt, we're going to have a little fun!"
That was what JJ was worried about. He tried to put it in the back of his mind, though, as he, Patrick, Karl, and Theodore, all began to walk out of the front door.
* * * * *
"Man, I'm telling you. Take a turn back there, and you'll find all of the places where I would score while growing up!" Theodore was looking out of the front passenger seat at all of the places of Berkeley that had slipped his mind while he had been away. Time had flown by, and many new things had happened in his life. So much so, in fact, that he was almost forgetting everything and everywhere of where he came from. Almost. "And over there, kind of off to the side of the headlights, that's where we would always hang out after practice." Pointing down the strip of Butler Drive, Theodore was still talking.
Sitting in the driver's seat, JJ looked on at the various places that Theodore was pointing to. In the back, Karl was starting to slow down on his alcohol consumption. He was taking moderate sips of his latest beer. And beside him, Patrick say quietly, just taking in everything that his big brother was saying of his childhood.
"Man, I had forgotten about some of this stuff. No doubt, it all brings back some great memories." Theodore spoke aloud, but he was talking to himself. Occasionally, Karl would utter out a yell of agreement. Patrick would speak up to acknowledge the history of his brother that he was learning. JJ sat quietly, just trying to focus on driving while Theodore gave everyone the tour of Berkeley.
"Hey, is that Gilman up ahead?" Theodore pointed out ahead of them at the cross in the road.
JJ looked out through the windshield, but it was Patrick who spoke first. "Yep. The far side, actually."
A sly grin passed over Theodore's face. Gilman Street. It was the home of the Gilman alley, the living ground where the childhood punching bag would always run to. "Let's take a detour down it, shall we?" The grin on Theodore's face enlarged.
Turning the curve, none of them even paid attention to the lights outside of Lucky's Bar.
JJ turned onto Gilman Street, as Theodore sat back in his seat for what seemed like the first time since they had set out that night. He just sat back, and took in the passing buildings and street signs as they cruised down Gilman. There was nothing that Theodore needed to say on this street. All of the men in the car knew of the story of Theodore and this street. The street was home to Lint Douglas. Lint Douglas, the childhood thorn of Theodore Balmore.
The four sat in the car, the lights shining on brightly. It was Karl who noticed it first. "Hey, is that people walking down the curb?"
At this time, Theodore raised up in his seat. He peered through the windshield. Sure enough, it was two people walking down the curb, straight ahead. "Oh man, looks like we can have a little fun tonight! Some people to piss off!"
JJ decided to speak up. "Theodore, I don't know man. Karl's drunk and you seem to be close to it. Why bother people this late in the night? They're probably just on their way home. Why don't you say we just pass them and let them be?"
Theodore never got a chance to respond. As the lights came in closer, and shone on the two people for the first time, it was Patrick who spoke up. "That bitch!"
Karl, who had been in his own world while finishing off one more beer, turned his head to look at Patrick. Theodore, in the front seat, turned around to look at Patrick. JJ looked at Patrick in the rear view mirror.
"That bitch dumped me, and now she's already with someone else. To dump me is already asking for trouble. But latch on with someone else in the same night? That's one unlucky guy" Patrick was starting to fume.
Theodore looked at Patrick, then at the people walking down the curb. "Hey JJ, slow down, will ya?" Turning back to Patrick, he said, "Is that her?"
"You'd know it."
JJ, though, was a little more apprehensive about slowing down. "Hey man, why doesn't Patrick just go home and work through it? I mean, there's no need to slow down and say something to them."
"To hell with just saying something to them," shot Patrick.
"JJ, slow the car down." Theodore's personality had dropped to serious. JJ wasn't sure what to do, but he sure knew he didn't want to have to face Theodore like this. "Slow it down, and pull up beside them."
JJ didn't know what to do. Should he slow down, and be uncertain what Theodore and Patrick had planned? Or should he just keep on driving, but suffer whatever it was that Theodore would do, or more importantly, say, to him? He was unsure what to do. And involuntarily, his body started slowing the car down. JJ didn't want to do it, but he was doing it none-the-less. Oh how he didn't want to.
They had just got up to the boy and girl who were walking along the curb. The two stood down the Gilman apartments, about 20 feet from the dumpsters at the entrance to the Gilman alley.
While JJ turned his lights down, Theodore stuck his head out of the window.
* * * * *
As the car came to a stall beside them, Matt was cautious to look over at it. But when the person stuck their head out of the window, he was forced to look over at them.
"Excuse me, but would you be Erica Storm?" said the person, to Erica.
Matt and Erica both looked over at the person. Matt could feel Erica arm wrap tighter around his back as she saw the face. Matt knew that she didn't want to answer. Matt knew that she wouldn't answer. And, honestly, Matt wasn't quite sure what to do now.
His reply was, "Who do you think you are? You just don't drive up and ask people what their name is."
The person, who's head was still hanging out of the window, sharply responded, "Who the fuck do you think you are? Last I heard, I was making reference to the female you have beside you. NOT to you!"
Who did this guy think he was? It was pretty dark outside, and Matt could only get a basic profile of the man. Who was he? "I think you just need to keep on driving and don't worry about her name." Minutes later, Matt would wonder if that was the best choice of words he could of used.
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