Call me, lover boy

The autumn air was ruthless, biting his cheeks and making his already cold fingers even stiffer. Calister pulled his scarf up to his nose and hummed along to the music he was listening to. October was nearly over and he looked forward to celebrate the spirits on the 31st. Most of his friends would drink at parties and have fun, dress up as the tradition for Halloween told them to.

To him those days when the month ended were a quiet time, a time of remembrance and sorrow. Still, he had to smile when he thought about this time, this special time when he felt closer to his relatives, dead or alive, than in any other time.

He was so buried in he musings that he didn't pay attention to where he was going and as he looked up he was surprised to find himself standing in front of that small coffee shop again. He hadn't entered it in weeks but from time to time he felt compelled to take a detour to his usual route and walked by it.

Reed seemed to always be in the shop, no matter the time, no matter the day. It felt strangely comforting to Calister, like a routine he never agreed to establishing with this stranger he had barely talked to. Ardy, on the other hand, contacted him nearly daily.She had introduced him to one of her friends as well, Catherine, a petite and gentle girl.

The three of them got along fairly well, though Calister thought Ardy was a bit strange and Catherine didn't talk much to either of them. Still, just that weekend they had gone to a movie together, a thriller and he hadn't had that much fun in a while.

As he stood in front of the window Reed was cleaning a few glasses in the back. He could see the spirit light out of the corner of his eyes, his gaze steadily fixed on the beautiful play of colors. Calisters spirit had been changing, he could tell. The forms in it were becoming clearer and clearer to him, animals, shapes and letters circling around themselves.

Deep in his heart he wished Calister would walk inside, open the door and greet him with a smile even though he wouldn't be able to see it. But it was late and he could see the light that was illuminating move further away again. Devastation hit him as the wonderful sights he was seeing were taken from him.

Calister couldn't even imagine the anguish he was causing the man as he walked to his car. He threw his backpack into the passenger side and scoffed. The lamp he always parked under had been broken for a few days now and still hadn't been repaired, even though he had reported it. So much for a city that was modern and ever changing.

There was never any traffic, not at nearly 10 pm and he felt incredibly lonely driving along the dark road. He had his phone set up next to him and casually texted Ardy, explaining his major to her again. He wondered if she really didn't understand or if she didn't know what else to talk about with him.

He climbed the white stairs to his one room apartment, his backpack in one hand and a few letters in the other. Calister kicked open the door after unlocking it and whistled to turn on the light. His floor was littered with dirty laundry and textbooks he never looked at. He felt suddenly sad as he put down the backpack and his letters. The lights of cars, aircrafts and advertisements were moving outside, flowing and melting into each other more and more the longer he looked at them.

He really was hopeless. The bed creaked under him as he sat down and pulled a small sheet off his nightstand. He had given up smoking years ago, disgusted by the smell. And because Rachel had told him she hated it. He wondered, if her new lover smoked or if he had any other affliction. Rachel loved him for his flaws not his strengths. And as he tried to improve she moved on.

He wondered if she'd think he was broken enough again. Sad and lonely and without a plan for his life. All the strings in his life were half tied so he could sever them as quickly as possible. She hadn't been an exception, neither were Ardy or Catherine.

His nails got caught under the sticky side of his nicotine patch as he peeled it off the sheet and stuck it on his arm. He knew he would feel better soon as he got out of his low, as soon as he hit the shower and turned the water on so hot it would burn his skin. There was still work to be done, still essays to write and homework to finish before he could indulge however. His phone buzzed on his table and he looked up, confused. His hazel eyes narrowed as he read who the text was from.

"Would ya mind calling a friend of mine? He missed his bus, maybe you could pick him up?" Ardy really had nerves. It was nearly midnight and now he was supposed to drive back into town and pick up her friend? Before he could tell her he was busy the next text already poped up on his display.

"Here's his number." And immediately after the next.

"Thanks, lover boy!" He wanted to call her but her phone was already turned off. Smooth. Angry with himself he got up and threw on a jacket, his car keys in hand. He was already half way down the stairs when he remembered that he should at least call the guy to know where to pick him up. The phone rang a few times before the person on the other side picked up.

"Hello?" The voice sounded smooth and it unsettled Calister that he had definitely heard it before.

"Hey, you probably don't know me, my name's Calister, Ardy told me to call you." He blushed as he said that and got into his car, turning the key in the ignition.

"Oh I remember you. I'm Reed, if you still know who I am."