Coffee and Cigarettes

I ran up to my house, swung open the door and bolted up to Blairs room. I swung open the door and Blair was sitting on her bed, reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower. She gave me an odd look as I tried to catch my breath.

"What are you doing?" she asked bluntly. I held a finger up, telling her to give me a second while my breathing regulated.

"Blair, I have a question to ask you," I said, still panting. Her face turned to one of immediate worry. "Are you pregnant?"

The look on her face slipped away and was replaced by one of sheer amusement. "Is that what you thought?" she chuckled. "No, I'm not pregnant. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." I looked into my sisters eyes as she said this. They were brimmed with tears.

"Blair..."

"Really, I'm fine," she tried to assure me. "Trust me. Please?"

Hesitantly, I nodded. "Okay."

She walked over to me and gathered me up in a hug. I hugged her back, and it felt as if she was only skin and bones. That's when I knew for sure she wasn't lying about not being pregnant. "Don't worry about me. Honestly, trust me. I'll be fine, you'll see."

I just nodded again.

Suddenly, her body started shaking and small sobs started wracking her body. I could feel tears spilling from her eyes onto my shirt. I didn't know what to do. I just froze up in her arms as she continued to cry.

"Blair, what's wrong?" I finally asked.

Pulling away from me, she wiped her eyes and smiled softly. "Nothing, nothing. Just...I want you to know that I love you, Morgan. I always have."

"I...I love you too, Blair," I said, slightly confused.

She smiled at me and shooed me out of her room. "Go on, I want to finish reading my book."

I exited her chambers and shuffled down the carpeted hallway. As I did so, I bumped into Bob. He looked down at me apologetically and I glared at him as I slammed the door to my own room.

As I laid on my bed staring at the images in my Stucco ceiling, I started to think. I knew for a fact that Blair was lying to me when she said that everything was fine, but I really didn't want to pry. She told me to trust her, but something was still bothering me.

I sat up, leaning against the headboard. She wasn't pregnant, that was for sure. But something was still very wrong. I glanced at my clock and noticed that it was already ten o'clock. Time flies by when you're staring at the ceiling, apparently. Maybe I fell asleep...I don't remember. I really don't. I was too busy thinking about Blair and how I needed to find out what was wrong with her and how to help her.
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"We need a new drummer," was the first thing that Gerard said as soon as we all piled into the Way's garage the next day.

Mikey nodded. "We can't have band practice when we don't have a time-keeper."

"Time-keeper?" Frank snorted. "Just call it a drummer. No need to complicate simple terms, nerd boy."

Ray sighed. "So, does anyone know a decent drummer?"

I watched as everyone shook their head. "Kicking Matt out could've been a big mistake," Gerard sighed.

I glanced over at Libby who looked back at me. "Tell them," she whispered.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine," I whispered back.

The boys stared at us curiously. "What are you whispering about back there?" Ray asked.

"Nothing," I said innocently. "Just about how my brother Bob is a fantastic drummer. But you guys aren't interested in that."

Their eyes all went wide. "Your brother is a drummer? What the hell! Invite him! Why didn't you mention him before? Are you insane? Call him! Call him now!" Frank exclaimed excitedly.

"Fine," I sighed. I guess it was time to stop ignoring his existence, anyway.

I whipped out my cell phone and dialed my home number. Knowing Bob, he was at home, watching TV or reading a comic book.

]"...Hello?" Yep, Bob.

"Hi, Bob."

"Morgan?" he asked, sounding puzzled.

"Yeah, it's me. I need you to come to my friends' garage, they need a drummer for their band. The other one got kicked out."

"Okay. One second, give me the address."

I recited the address to him as I heard him scribbling down the directions on a piece of paper.

"Hey, that's not too far at all," he exclaimed.

"Nope," I agreed.

"So, are you still mad at me?" he asked hesitantly.

After a moment's silence, I said, "I guess not. It was high time I forgave you for being an idiot, anyway."

I heard him chuckle. "Bye, Morg. See you in a few."

I said goodbye and hung up my phone. I then told the boys that Bob was on his way, and they were more excited than ever.

"What does he look like?" Frank asked in a chipper tone.

"Like me," I stated bluntly, "except he's a nineteen year old boy."

"Ooh, Miss Snippy," Gerard teased. I threw my shoe at him and he proceeded to steal it from me and threw it outside in a snowdrift.

"Prick!" I grumbled as I went to go get it. As I hopped into the freezing cold, I snatched my shoe and saw Bob's car pulling up in the driveway. "Guys," I called. "Your new drummer is here."

Bob came out of the car and waved to the rest of the guys. They chatted for a while, asking what kind of experience he had, almost like a job interview but with a lot more joking around and swear words.

"Let's see what you've got," Gerard said, pointing to the drum kit.

Bob picked up the drumsticks that had been left untouched on the floor since Matt's departure and immediately started playing Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden. The boys looked overjoyed.

"You're in!" they all exclaimed in unison.

"Sweet," Bob grinned triumphantly. Suddenly, his phone went off. "Hello?" he said, sounding confused. "What? Okay. Yeah, I'll come back. Yeah, she's here, I'll bring her with me. Okay, bye."

He glanced at me and I gave him a questioning look. "Who was that?"

"It was Dad," he answered. "We have to go home. Something's wrong with Blair."