One punch to the jaw. It was kind of ironic. A few days ago Alex had punched his brother. Bailing on his marriage, his brother, and his job - all on the same day? That had deserved a punch. A hell of a punch. He couldn't help but think he could have been a little less harsh as his own body hit the side of his couch.

Crawling away, he got to his feet and turned around, thoroughly pissed off. The television beyond repair and one of the walls had a hole in it. A once nice loft had become a war zone and he still didn't know what he had done.

"Why me," he asked, tilting his head - the man before him's fist transforming into a flame. "What the hell did I do?" He dove to the side, rolling behind the couch as the floor next to him caught fire.

"My sources tell me you've gotten close --" the other man said, taking a step forward. "Call it a present for him."

"For who," Alex asked, not moving.

"Allerdyce," the other man hissed as the couch flipped up over him. Alex rolled out of the way behind the bar and sat up against it, sending glasses flying at the other guy.

"What did he do to you that you're taking it out on me?" Evander had told Alex that he hadn't done things he was proud of -- but now wasn't the time. He wasn't pissed at Evander, no really. He was worried. After not hearing a sound, Alex high-tailed it away from the bar but found himself intercepted and flung into the stairs. His body slumped down a few steps, his forehead now bleeding.

He figured it was only fitting. Evander was late -- and he was getting his ass kicked. So much for a real first date.

I'll just go with partner. It's the easiest. From here, right now.

01. He's impossible to read. No, really. His sister taught him how to block his mind.
02. He doesn't share what he's thinking.
03. He doubts us.
04. He needs me to reassure him and I just don't have any more energy.
05. He doesn't trust me.
06. He holds my brother accountable for his father.
07. He doesn't get that I could care less.
08. He can't see how hard this is.
09. He can't -- see what's right in front of him.
10. He doesn't love me -- or at least he hasn't told me he does.

01. Ford, for always seeing me as this afterthought that shouldn't exist.
02. Jadyn, for forgetting the hell I exist.
03. Isabel, for being so damn self centered.
04. Amp, for taking all of Ford's free time away.
05. & 06. My parents, they're dead - and that sucks.
07. Evander, for tugging my heart back and forth.
08. Evander, for doubting us - and not realizing how easy this isn't.
09. Evander, for even contemplating breaking up - if we're even together.
10. Myself -- I lost him. If he was ever there.

01. Evander.
02. Coffee.
03. Romantic comedies.
04. Fast food.
05. The internet.
06. Livejournal - can that be a vice??
07. Sex. Not lately, though.
08. Hot men.
09. Insecurity.
10. Evander.

Whatever, I'm 20 years old as well. Happy Birthday to me.

Did they live happily ever after? They did not. No one ever does, in spite of what the stories may say. They had their good days, as you do, and they had their bad days, and you know about those. They had their victories, as you do, and they had their defeats, and you know about those, too. There were times when they felt ashamed of themselves, knowing they had not done their best, and there were times when they knew they had stood where their God had meant them to stand. All I'm trying to say is that they lived as well as they could. >> Stephen King (The Eye of the Dragon)

Two weeks and three days. Two weeks and four days. The morning of the fifth day Alex realized he had been counting. Opening his eyes, the first thing that came to his mind was two weeks and five days. Rolling over, five days stuck in his mind. The two weeks were important but the fact that he had started counting the days?

Rolling over he checked his iPhone. Three messages didn't mean a message from his -- from Evander. There was a message from Ford about him coming over for dinner in a few days. There was another message, one saved from before that he hadn't erased, Ford had called him from the hospital. It was almost laughable but a vigilante had come to Ford and Amp's apartment. The third message was from Jadyn wondering where Alex had been lately. She sent her love and told him to call her or she would kick his ass.

Sighing, he exited to the menu screen and set his phone back down on the night table. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and getting comfortable against his head board. The bandages were gone - he was in tip top shape, really. But he and Ford hadn't returned to work in over a week. Life just got...busy. Except it hadn't. Alex's life had become waiting by the phone, waiting by the computer, waiting by - just waiting.

Alex hated to wait.

He hated the waiting game and over the last two weeks and five days he had gotten irrationally angry. Maybe not irrationally. Maybe not even angry. He wasn't happy, that was for sure. The last time Evander had talked to him -- he told Alex he was going to talk to his father. Since then? Not a word. Not a message. Not a phone call. Not an IM. Not even a comment. And definitely not a visit.

Where had he been? Waiting. His happily ever after which hadn't been so happy in the first place was quickly dissolving into never happily ever after. But he had done what he was asked. He had kept a low profile. He had talked to hardly anybody and he hadn't mentioned being attached.

Hell, who knew if he was still fucking attached. Yeah, angry. It was anger. Snatching up his phone again he found himself dialing Evander's number. The clock flashed 4:00 as he heard Evander's ringback. Before even a second went by he canceled the call, sinking down. The iPhone went flying, stopped in mid-air before it hit the wall. He just needed to throw something. Needed to do something.

If it was over he could take it. He was a big boy. But if it was over he needed to be told. This whole cold war affair was getting old and now his electronics were taking a toll -- and when that happened it was bad. Rolling onto his side he waved his hand, setting the phone on a shelf nearby before burying his head in the pillow.

Fairy tales were a crock. Happily ever after happened in maybe 1% of cases. He could only be so laid back. He could only wait for so long. He could only...wait.

>> smwhereinmiddle and outnumbered_one used with permission.

01. I'm Ford McKenie's twin brother.
02. He likes to think I don't exist.
03. I kind of didn't use to exist but don't ask about that, I exist now.
04. I am also from Plymouth. Hated it there, most boring place - don't go there.
05. I live in New York now.
06. I like men, a lot, and I'm not ashamed of it.
07. I'm sort of attached - depends who you ask.
08. I'm a whiz with computers.
09. I love crossword puzzles.
10. I'm the smarter brother.
11. You either love me or hate me.
12. I'm opinionated.
13. I'm also very sarcastic.

01. Crossword puzzles. I don't stop until I finish them.
02. Got to steal Ford's answer. Coffee, though, that's because of Ford.
03. The computer in general, working with it, pulling one apart.
04. Hacking. It's a thrill, it seriously is.
05. Sex...it's fun. And it feels good.
06. Livejournal - it's become an addiction.
07. My phone, I don't go anywhere without it on my person.
08. People - in general. I get attached.
09. Sleep. I love sleep. There should be more hours in the day for sleep.
10. Sarcasm.

01. Like everyone else I hit the snooze button.
02. Unlike everyone else I tend to telekinetically fling it across the room.
03. Do the New York Times crossword.
04. Do the Washington Post crossword.
05. Watch the coffee pot.
06. Go on Livejournal.
07. Fill out those quizzes and memes.
08. Pop in a DVD.
09. Call and make plans with friends.
10. Pretend whatever I need to do doesn't exist.

How this works: Pick a band/musician and answer the questions with song titles by the band/musician you chose.

Band/Musician: Across the Universe Soundtrack

Who are you?
Revolution

Are you male or female?
Hey Jude

How do you live your life?
With A Little Help From My Friends

How do you see yourself?
Something

How do others see you?
Helter Skelter

How are you feeling?
Oh! Darling

How do you love?
Let It Be

Who do you love?
Blackbird

Where do you wish you were
Across the Universe

What is your advice?
Come Together

1) Go here to generate 10 random numbers between 1 and 100. Generate a different set of numbers for each character you pick. DO THIS FIRST.

2) Then I will answer the corresponding questions from here.

1. Who eats more?
Evander does. He likes his meat.

2. Who said "I love you" first?
We uh, haven't said that yet.

3. How long have you been together?
Two days? I don't know if he counts last week when he spent time in my bed, you know, watching over me.

4. Who sings better?
I haven't heard him sing - and I don't sing.

5. Who's older?
Evander. I'm 19, he's 22.

6. Who's smarter?
I think I am...

7. Whose temper is worse?
His probably has the potential to be.

8. Who does the laundry?
We do our own laundry.

9. Who does the dishes?
He did the dishes the other night. He's sweet like that.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Uh, I think I'm a left side, but I don't know. We slept in my bed once...I was...on the right, actually.

11. Who snores?
He doesn't.

12. Whose hair is longer?
Mine's pretty short but he's buzzed so ... mine.

13. Who's better with the computer?
Hell yeah, me. Sorry, man. But - so me.

14. Do you have pets?
My brother and his husband, wtf, have their pets.

15. Who pays the bills?
I don't have bills.

16. Who cooks dinner?
Can he cook? Can you cook?

17. Who drives when you are together?
I'll tell you when we drive somewhere.

18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
I paid the one time.

19. Who is the most stubborn?
We're both pretty stubborn!

20. Who is the first one to admit when they're wrong?
Me.
21. Whose parents do you see more?
Mine are kind of - well, either dead or nonexistant so his.

22. Who named your kids?
We really don't have kids.

23. Who kissed who first?
I kissed him first. And then he asked me to kiss him for real. That second kiss was fucking breathtaking.

24. Who asked who out?
Well, I asked him out - twice, actually.

25. Who dusts the house?
I...nobody? You're supposed to dust?

26. Who's more sensitive?
I am.

27. Who cleans the bathroom?
Probably my brother.

28. Who has more friends?
No idea.

29. Who has more siblings?
Him.

30. Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Him.

31. Who’s more sexy?
He is, the lug.

32. Who sleeps naked?
I don't, usually, actually. Does he? I mean, when we slept in the same bed we were clothed but close.

33. Who has the craziest ex?
I don't have exes so...

34. Who has more money?
By familial reasons I guess I do.

35. Who has more tattoos?
I don't have any so -- I don't think he does...haven't really had the body exploration yet. In due time.

36. Who eats more sweets?
Yeah...I do.

37. Who is closer to their family?
Him. Me and Ford are...yeah, he is.

38. Who has the older car?
I don't have a car.

39. Who has bigger dreams?
I don't know.

40. Who cries more?
I don't really cry.

Your mother is talking to me. Your mother. I'm freaking out here because I'm trying to be like the good friend who knows you and thinks you're awesome and - YOUR MOTHER!