Silent Cacophony

Craig

I watch her for a long moment, taking in her shaking form, and honestly I feel bad for her. "I can be if you want me too," I say.

"I'd... /really/ appreciate it," I reply, laughing in light hysteria. "If you want, I mean. I can't expect you to spend your last night with some strange, rich brat." I got control of my limbs, the shaking a mininmin.

Craig

I give a slight smile and nod. "I'll be there then. Like I said, got nothin' better to do." I gestured for her to go give the kid his milk. "Don't make it to obvious you're sayin' goodbye. Don't want him scared."

I nod, turning to leave then hesitate and shoot him a smile before heading to sammy's room. It's ten or more minutes before I pull myself away, barely holding back tears as he groggily said goodnight. I turned off his light and slowly shuffled out to the kitchen, dreading to see it empty and the guy gone. Not that I could blame him.

Craig

I was standing by the counter, right where she had left me stunned by the smile, when I saw her come shuffling back into the kitchen. I had just been debating on pouring us some wine, but figured it was probably better to keep it all put away. "You alright?" I ask, taking a step forward, but not going any farther than that, wondering if I should.

I nod, wiping my face clear with my sleeve. "Yeah. He'll be out in a moment." A breath in to steady myself and I look at the clock. 10:30. I bite my lip and look back to him. "Ever hear of a burn list?"

Craig

I blinked and tilted my head slightly. "Not unless it's anything like a bucket list. Why?" I asked curiously, taking a few steps closer and leaning against the counter.

"Er, yeah, that's what I meant. Sorry." I slipped on a kitchen stool, watching him. "Well... anything you've wanted to do that you haven't yet?"

Craig

I watched her for a moment then gave a small shrug. "Sure there is," I said with a deep breath. "Fall in love, as cheesy as that sounds, make an actual life for me. Get out of the Projects, become somethin' more than a pizza boy. Finish school." I gave another shrug and leaned on the counter with my elbows this time, rather than just my torso. "What about you?"

I raised a brow, surprised at the maturity of his answers. "Nothing grand. Just... to be published. Nothing I could do tonight." I gave a small shrug, eyes flicking to the fridge. "Want a drink? I mean... I real drink."

Craig

I followed her gaze before looking back at her. "I don't know, you think that's safe?" It wasn't that I was afraid of the drink, it wouldn't be the first time I had one. But I didn't know this girl, and who knew what would happen once we got a few drinks in us. "Hangovers suck, by the way."

I flushed, embarrassed as his line of thinking dawned on me. "I-... right. Sorry. I just thought-.... right." I rubbed my arm, glancing around. "Anything else you wanted to do then? That can be done in...an hour."

Craig

I shrugged and smirked slightly, my eyes never leaving her face. She was to funny to watch, to innocent. "Not that I'd mind having one, just want to make sure you had thought it all through." Sure I wasn't exactly the most innocent guy around, probably didn't have that clean of a slate either, if you know what I mean, but I wasn't a total douche bag...or at least I tried to not be. Especially when people were...how did the social worker put it? Emotionally compromised? She definitely was emotionally compromised at the moment. "I'm down with whatever, though."

I glanced back at the fridge, looking forlornly to where the forbidden stash would be located. "... Just one," I conclude. I had a bucket list too, after all. Sadly enough, this small act of defiance was one of them. I stood and opened the fridge, staring blindly at the selection.

Craig

I watched her for a moment before I came up beside her, chuckling a bit. "This one," I said as I pulled out a bottle that I new to be the good stuff. I'd gotten myself in some rough patches, and I didn't live in the Ritz, but I wasn't stupid when it came to drinks. I guess you could say I was well educated in my tastes.

I tilted my head and read the label outloud. "You know how to open it?" I closed the fridge and pulled two wine glasses from the shelves.

Craig

I gave a small nod and pulled the wrapping from the top, then raided the drawers for a cork screw. I then twisted it into the top and held it over the sink as I popped the cork out. As always, the bottle foamed and over flowed some and into the sink. "Ready?" I asked as I wiped the bottle and my hand off to keep it from getting sticky.

I nodded in anticipation in placed down the wine glasses, watching him curiously. "You a bartender too?"

Craig

I smirked and shook my head before pouring a good amount in each glass and set down the bottle. "Nope....just had a colorful life," I said, picking up my glass and holding it out to her. "To spontaneous acquaintances."

A smile touched my lips. "ANd to hangovers. May we have many." I wrinked and sipped, taking in the flavor of this forbidden drink. Honestly, with all the hype on it, I expected something like cake. But it will do. I take another sip.

Craig

I smirked and took a sip of my own drink and let out a deep breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. It was strong and stung my throat as it went down, but it was good. Potent. You'd be lucky to get through the whole glass without getting tipsy.

I stayed silent, enjoying the moment, the calm, the heat washing through me. " ... Wanna go sit in the livingroom? The couches are better." My tongue got use to the potent taste and I could drink a full draft now, instead of minute sips. So I did.

Craig

I watched her a little carefully, keeping and ear out for the slur. If she started to slur, I knew she had to much. "Sure," I said with another small shrug as I had been doing all night, and followed her to the living room to sit on the couch.

I sat down on the couch, licking some wine off my fingers that sloushes and tucking up my feet. I fought hard to keep my eyes from the clock, but I couldn't. I took another sip. "You really don't think anything will happen?"

Craig

I thought about her question for a long moment, taking a large drink as I did so, my mind starting to buzz. "I think. .. I think something's gonna happen, but I don't think it's gonna be the end of the world. There's no indication that there is a large meteor, or any natural disasters, or anything. I think it's a turning point maybe. . .but that's it. Know what else I think it is?" I paused, taking another drink. "A rouse. To get us to a weak point so our enemies attack. I mean think about it. Everyone thinks they're going to die, so they all spend all their money, not caring about the debt or anything else. Then where does that put us? It's a terrorist thing."