Destroyer of Time: Pyrokinesis

Chapter Seven: As I thought

I wasn't sure what got into me, but I just kept running and running. I was like a madman sprinting through the street. I saw my mathematics professor, Mrs. Johnson, who looked incredulously as I tore in front of her as she was walking her dog. I knew it wasn't good for my reputation to be seen running around like a marathon athlete when there was no racing event, but I was just having a bad feeling about it. I wished I was wrong.

I reached the front door of my target, and I vigorously pounded. I was surprised it didn't break. After a few minutes, it opened. “What the hell, man? Don’t you understand the meaning of "sleeping in on a Sunday"? It means that I should still be in bed. Snoring. Not opening some door for a sweaty bastard who looks like he just went to hell and got a close up of Satan," Nick remarked, rubbing his eyes. "What’s up, dude? What’s going on that you are, whoa---?" Nick sleepily said until I pushed passed him. I could see that he just got out of bed. Maybe I’m wrong.

     “Did you see the news today?” I urgently asked once I was inside his house. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I kept looking around the living room and checking every corner. I probably looked like a  psychopath to him.   

     “You came barraging to my door, on an early Sunday morning nonetheless, just to ask if I tuned into the news? Are you on drugs? Because you sure look and sound high to me,” he said, laughing at my face while he continued to rub his eyes.

     “I'm not on drugs, but I don't care how I look like to you. I'm asking you if you've seen the news today?” I asked, getting irritated.

     “Chill, man! I just woke up, you know. Besides, I don’t read or watch the news, remember? What’s up with this sudden news urgency anyways?” he replied. I didn’t answer him. Instead, I went to the living room and grabbed the remote. He yawned and rubbed his stomach, following slowly behind me. I thought that the news might still be on. Luckily, when the TV turned on, the news anchors were still talking about it.

     “This is what’s bothering me," I pointed at the screen. "Tell me you don’t have any connection to this incident? Because if you do, I got no choice but to turn you into the police,” I said to his face. He just looked at the screen for a few minutes where the crime scene was flashing, and photos of the incident were on view, then something flickered on his eyes. It vanished quickly, though. Alarms went off in my head.

Nick shook his head and frowned. “Now you hurt my feelings, dude. I thought you knew me better than that. I will never burn down a club." He snapped his fingers and nodded. "Oh, I see. You thought I have something to do about it. After all, I have a motive since I got rejected for that damn job." Then anger appeared in his face. "Damn you, man! I wish I never told you that last night. At least then, you wouldn’t suspect me. I’m not a killer, Hunter! I will never murder people because of a stupid job. Guess you don’t trust me after all the years that we’ve gone through together!” he said. I know that there was some hurt, anger, and loneliness in his voice.

I looked at him and felt mortified. I sat down on the couch and put my face on my hands. “I'm sorry, man. I don't know what's going on with me. I feel like I'm slowly losing it. This thing with my father is screwing with me." I glanced at his still turned back. "I didn’t mean for this to happen, Nick. I’m just worried that maybe you got something to do with this. I'm sorry for doubting you. I shouldn't have because you're my best friend, and I should've trusted you."

My eyes drifted to my hands again, and felt a bit dizzy. I just couldn't believe the words that I threw at him. Hell, I didn't blame him for being mad at me. "You’re right. I should know better after the years we’ve been friends, and I'm sorry for making this mistake. I hope you forgive me for saying so many stupid things,” I said. It was ironic how just this morning, my dad was the one who was asking for forgiveness. I guessed my family was full of sorry asses lately. 

Nick regarded me with an angry gaze before he let out a puff of breath. Then he shook his head and sat down beside me. “You know what? Forget about it, bro. It's okay. I kinda understand where you were coming from. Hopefully, though, you won't do this again. Next time, talk to me like a regular person, man. You're my best friend, so you know you can talk to me anytime you want." He put his arm around my shoulders and shook it. "Cheer up now! Let’s just go to the church and pray for their lonely souls instead,” he said. My gaze snapped quickly to him, and saw the gleam in his eyes.

I started laughing. “You? Going to the church? Not gonna happen ever. As far as I can remember, you never went to church except for the day of your communion. I think they had to drag you to the church because you didn’t want to go,” I said, still laughing. Well, at least the tension vanished between us. Note to self: Never doubt Nick again!

“You’re right about that. Hmm... Maybe we should go to your house or something. What happened to your talk anyway? I'd bet my kidneys that you just had it before coming here. Your eyes are still a bit red. Were you guys crying?” he said thoughtfully. Damn, this guy sure knew how to hit a sore spot. Maybe he's doing this on purpose because he knows that I'm not comfortable talking about it. He thinks this is payback time.

     “Well, we can surely do that, and for your information, my eyes aren't still red. I saw it when we passed by your huge mirror in the foyer."

     "Aha! But you did cry."

     "Dude, shut up." I sounded like a petulant child, but he was starting to annoy me. "We just talked this morning about stuff, and then I went here. Like you suggested, I gave him a chance, and we kinda have an understanding now. So that’s that,” I said, feeling uncomfortable.

     “Well, look at you. Mr. My-father-loves-me," he scoffed. 

I stared at him for a second, realization dawning on me. "Dude, I know that I'm telling you that my dad and I made up. I hope you don't take it like I'm rubbing it in your face."

He scowled and didn't say anything for a minute. Then he snorted and burst out laughing. "Bro, why would I take it that way? Cause my parents are useless sacks of s**t? No way, man. I'm happy for you. We've both wanted our parents to act like they are our parents since forever ago. Now, you're getting that, and I'm not gonna be pissed because of it. You're my brother, and your happiness is my happiness, dude." He started sniffling before putting his face in the crook of his right arm. 

I patted his back and was about to console him when he looked at me with a huge grin. "Is that how you sounded like when you cried?"

I pushed him off me and shook my head. "Screw you, man."

He laughed even harder. "I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Geez." He eased up and sat back correctly with a genuine smile. "I'm serious when I said it, Hunter. You're my brother. As long as you're happy, then I'm also happy. I'm thrilled that you and your dad are fixing your relationship."

I scratched my head in embarrassment. "Thanks, dude. You gotta know that I also think of you as your brother, and you're welcome in our home anytime."

Nick nodded, and I saw real tears welled up in his eyes this time. "Come here," he mumbled before pulling me in for a tight hug. I hugged him back and sent a silent thank you to the universe for bringing such a wonderful friend in my life. I wasn't sure what I would've done without him in my life.

We hugged it out for a minute before we broke apart, wiping our faces embarrassingly. We didn't tend to have a lot of emotional moments. Now that I thought back to it, it was like we lived our whole lives in this bland world devoid of emotions. We were best friends, but as I sat on that couch, looking at his red-rimmed eyes, I felt a lot closer to him than ever. Like I was seeing a new side of him that I wasn't privy to before.   

     "Look at us being a bunch of saps," he muttered. He cleared his throat and clapped my shoulder. "Well, now that the waterworks are done, why don't we go to your house and play some video games, huh? I bet it'd cheer me up, wiping you on the floor over and over,” he bragged. 

     "Yeah, right." I scoffed. As we walked back to their front door, I stopped on my tracks and looked around with a frown. "Dude, wait a minute. Why does it seem like you're alone today? Where are all your maids?” I asked.

     “Them? It’s their day off today, so no one’s at home,” he explained.

     “Then who’s gonna stay in here?”

     “Did you forget that we have two canines, three Labradors, and four Rottweilers in the house?” Nick retorted with a laugh. "They're probably somewhere, making a mess."

     “Oh yeah. It's been quite so I forgot that your house is full of monsters,” I shook my head at my silly questions.   

     “More than you’ve ever known,” he whispered softly that I could barely hear him before he closed the door without a smile.