A Day in the Line - Chapter Thirteen
I know, I'm super late with this, but here we are!
A Day in the Line
By LadyBookish242 AKA Taylor
Rated PG-13, rating subject to change
Pairings: Drew/Greg, Ryan/Colin, Brad/Chip, Wayne/Jeff
Plot: The gang share a large house on Anderson street, going through days of life, love, and mindless retail jobs.
NOTE: Some of the retail scenes in this fic are inspired by true experiences by myself and acquaintances. Yes, really.
Disclaimer: I do not own the show ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ nor do I own any of the persons portrayed. I do not mean to slander any of the persons portrayed in the story.
Chapter Thirteen
Screw Coke! I Snort Pepsi
“True friends stab you in the front.” - Oscar Wilde
Brad found Drew sitting on the couch with a mug of cocoa late at night. The TV was on, but the sound was too low to be heard by the other ears of the house. He sat next to him. “How are you doing?” Drew took a sip. “Fine, I guess.”
Brad put an arm around his friend sympathetically. He and Drew had been friends for a long time, second only to Ryan. It hurt to see him like this. “That nutbread really was good, Drew.”
“Yeah, but what does that matter.” Drew said bitterly. “The one person whose approval I wanted the most didn’t care.” He sighed. “I wanted to make Mom proud.” Brad nodded.
“I know he hurt you, but he’s probably really craving the cigarettes right now. The cravings are what yelled at you. It’s not easy.” Drew looked at him. “I know he’s having a rough time with it. But it still doesn’t stop it from hurting.”
Brad sighed. “When did he come back?” Drew stared at him. “What do you mean, come back?”
Realization dawned on him and Brad’s mouth popped open. “He hasn’t come home yet?” Drew shook his head quietly. “No.” Brad looked to the clock. “It’s almost one in the morning.”
Drew sighed. “My radar’s going off, I really hope he hasn’t fallen off the wagon.” Brad patted his shoulder. “You need to get some rest. He’ll be home soon.” He helped Drew off the couch and they went up the stairs together, leaving Drew to an empty bed, wondering where his lover could’ve gone.
Drew never really fell asleep that night. His eyes were closed and his breathing was calm, but he was still quite conscious. He had the light on its dimmest setting, facing away from it on his side. He felt the door open and he kept his eyes closed. He heard some keys being dropped on the dresser, and felt a body sit down on the bed. He heard the clatter of silverware and he opened his eyes. There was Greg, eating a large slice of nutbread. He looked at him and smiled weakly. “You did a really good job with this. It tastes great.”
Drew smiled back. Greg sighed and kept eating. “I’m really sorry about earlier. You haven’t been up waiting for me have you?” Drew glared. “You know me. Of course I was.” Greg put the empty plate down on the nightstand and put a hand on Drew’s arm. “Can I get in bed with you?”
Drew’s eyes softened. “Why couldn’t you?” Greg shrugged. “Didn’t know if you wanted me on the couch tonight or not.” Drew smiled. “Get in here, I’m cold.”
Greg undressed and he paused. “Maybe I should get in the shower first-“
“You can shower in the morning. Come to bed.”
“But I really think I should-“
“Greg, I’m sure you smell fine. C’mere.” Drew held out his arms with a smile. Greg finished undressing and turned out the light before getting into bed. He didn’t immediately move into Drew’s arms and Drew was confused. “Greg, it’s okay, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. “I already forgave you for earlier-“
Then he noticed. He smelled that unmistakable scent that clung to his skin, hung on his breath. There was no mistaking it. “Greg…” Greg sighed shakily. “I’m so sorry.” Drew pulled him into his arms and rubbed his back gently. He felt tears fall onto his skin and he held him. “Shh, it’s okay.” His radar had been right, but he wasn’t upset. He just braced himself for the road ahead and whispered words of comfort to the man who lay quietly sobbing on his shoulder.
The next morning, when the house awoke and saw Greg on the back deck smoking, nobody dared ask. They went to Drew who told them that they agreed not to do cold turkey, and that Greg would only smoke a few a day, until he got down to two, one, etc. They were upset that Greg fell off the wagon, but they knew it was for the best.
Drew went up to his room to get into his work uniform. He wasn’t disappointed in his boyfriend, he knew how hard it must’ve been. And he would certainly be easier to deal with now that he had his fix. But still, he knew this was going to take a long while. He reached for his nametag and found the Marlboro box on the dresser. He remembered what Greg told him last night…
‘How much did you smoke?’ Drew asked, still cradling him. Greg sighed and said just two. ‘I just needed two.’ And then they didn’t talk about it anymore.
Drew reached for the box and opened it, expecting to find eighteen, but only found twelve. He sighed. He wasn’t so much upset that he had smoked that much, but that he had lied. However, he really couldn’t blame him. He heard the door open and Greg stepped in.
Drew turned to him. His eyes were soft, but there was a smile. “Only two, huh?”
Greg felt a sinking in his stomach from guilt. He had smoked nearly half that package and lied to his lover about it. He shrugged and opened his mouth but no words came. He knew Drew wasn’t very mad about it, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. It was barely noticeable and it was gone in an instant, but it was definitely there. He changed the topic. “So, you’re on your way to work?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home by ten.” He reached out his arms and Greg hugged him, holding on for longer than usual. “It’ll be alright.” Drew murmured into his ear. “I love you.” Greg pulled back and kissed him. “I love you, too.” Drew smiled at him and then left the room. Greg still felt guilt, but it was overcome by a sense of gratefulness that he had someone so understanding. He’d have to make it up to him one of these days…
Drew went into work with a semi-light heart, at least not heavy enough to bring his mood down with customers. It was a slow day, and a woman came through his line with a smile. “Hi, there.”
“Hi. I’d like to buy some Visa gift cards, please. The hundred-dollar ones.” Drew reached for them. “Okay. How many?” She smiled. “Six, please.” Drew couldn’t help but be a little surprised. It was the holiday season, but still, he wished he had that much cash to blow on his friends.
He entered them in and the total came to $618.25. She looked at the total and whipped out her checkbook. That was red flag number one: the store cannot take checks for gift cards. If it bounced or was fraudulent, they would still have the activated gift card, and the store would be out of money. Before he could say so, she handed him the check and he stared at it.
Red flag number two. The check was obviously fake.
The Bank of America logo was gone and the font was different. Her account number was 123456. There was no address on the check, and according to the ID she handed him, her last name was misspelled. He said nothing but called for a manager. Paul came over, and Drew wordlessly handed him the check. Paul took a look at it and their eyes met. “Ma’am, I’m afraid we can’t take this check.”
“What?!” She exclaimed. “Why not?” Paul explained their check policy to her, and when she still threw a fit, he explained the misspelled name. She claimed that was the bank’s fault, but that didn’t explain all the other errors. She tried to pay with a credit card, but it came up declined, so she left in a stormy huff without her gift cards. Paul calmly voided them out and turned to Drew. “There are two certainties in the world. The universe, and human stupidity. And I’m not so sure about the universe.”
Drew couldn’t help but laugh.
Wayne was checking a man through at Pageturners when he found he was about to run into some money troubles of his own. A man handed him his credit card for him to slide.
Wayne frowned at the credit card he was handed. “Uh, sir? Unless your name is ‘Carol’, then this is not your card.”
The man looked surprised. “Really? Does that matter?”
Wayne looked equally surprised. Ever heard of identity theft, sir? “Yes, sir. Can I see your ID?” The man presented it, and the first name was different, but the last name was the same. “It’s my wife’s card.”
Wayne shrugged. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t allow you to use your wife’s card. You cannot forge her signature.” The man looked outraged. “But I forge it all the time!”
At the looks of Wayne’s face and the entire store staring at him, he took back his card and slinked out of the store. Wayne sighed and started voiding the order, wondering when people wouldn’t give him a hard time for policy.
-TO BE CONTINUED-
A Day in the Line
By LadyBookish242 AKA Taylor
Rated PG-13, rating subject to change
Pairings: Drew/Greg, Ryan/Colin, Brad/Chip, Wayne/Jeff
Plot: The gang share a large house on Anderson street, going through days of life, love, and mindless retail jobs.
NOTE: Some of the retail scenes in this fic are inspired by true experiences by myself and acquaintances. Yes, really.
Disclaimer: I do not own the show ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ nor do I own any of the persons portrayed. I do not mean to slander any of the persons portrayed in the story.
Chapter Thirteen
Screw Coke! I Snort Pepsi
“True friends stab you in the front.” - Oscar Wilde
Brad found Drew sitting on the couch with a mug of cocoa late at night. The TV was on, but the sound was too low to be heard by the other ears of the house. He sat next to him. “How are you doing?” Drew took a sip. “Fine, I guess.”
Brad put an arm around his friend sympathetically. He and Drew had been friends for a long time, second only to Ryan. It hurt to see him like this. “That nutbread really was good, Drew.”
“Yeah, but what does that matter.” Drew said bitterly. “The one person whose approval I wanted the most didn’t care.” He sighed. “I wanted to make Mom proud.” Brad nodded.
“I know he hurt you, but he’s probably really craving the cigarettes right now. The cravings are what yelled at you. It’s not easy.” Drew looked at him. “I know he’s having a rough time with it. But it still doesn’t stop it from hurting.”
Brad sighed. “When did he come back?” Drew stared at him. “What do you mean, come back?”
Realization dawned on him and Brad’s mouth popped open. “He hasn’t come home yet?” Drew shook his head quietly. “No.” Brad looked to the clock. “It’s almost one in the morning.”
Drew sighed. “My radar’s going off, I really hope he hasn’t fallen off the wagon.” Brad patted his shoulder. “You need to get some rest. He’ll be home soon.” He helped Drew off the couch and they went up the stairs together, leaving Drew to an empty bed, wondering where his lover could’ve gone.
Drew never really fell asleep that night. His eyes were closed and his breathing was calm, but he was still quite conscious. He had the light on its dimmest setting, facing away from it on his side. He felt the door open and he kept his eyes closed. He heard some keys being dropped on the dresser, and felt a body sit down on the bed. He heard the clatter of silverware and he opened his eyes. There was Greg, eating a large slice of nutbread. He looked at him and smiled weakly. “You did a really good job with this. It tastes great.”
Drew smiled back. Greg sighed and kept eating. “I’m really sorry about earlier. You haven’t been up waiting for me have you?” Drew glared. “You know me. Of course I was.” Greg put the empty plate down on the nightstand and put a hand on Drew’s arm. “Can I get in bed with you?”
Drew’s eyes softened. “Why couldn’t you?” Greg shrugged. “Didn’t know if you wanted me on the couch tonight or not.” Drew smiled. “Get in here, I’m cold.”
Greg undressed and he paused. “Maybe I should get in the shower first-“
“You can shower in the morning. Come to bed.”
“But I really think I should-“
“Greg, I’m sure you smell fine. C’mere.” Drew held out his arms with a smile. Greg finished undressing and turned out the light before getting into bed. He didn’t immediately move into Drew’s arms and Drew was confused. “Greg, it’s okay, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. “I already forgave you for earlier-“
Then he noticed. He smelled that unmistakable scent that clung to his skin, hung on his breath. There was no mistaking it. “Greg…” Greg sighed shakily. “I’m so sorry.” Drew pulled him into his arms and rubbed his back gently. He felt tears fall onto his skin and he held him. “Shh, it’s okay.” His radar had been right, but he wasn’t upset. He just braced himself for the road ahead and whispered words of comfort to the man who lay quietly sobbing on his shoulder.
The next morning, when the house awoke and saw Greg on the back deck smoking, nobody dared ask. They went to Drew who told them that they agreed not to do cold turkey, and that Greg would only smoke a few a day, until he got down to two, one, etc. They were upset that Greg fell off the wagon, but they knew it was for the best.
Drew went up to his room to get into his work uniform. He wasn’t disappointed in his boyfriend, he knew how hard it must’ve been. And he would certainly be easier to deal with now that he had his fix. But still, he knew this was going to take a long while. He reached for his nametag and found the Marlboro box on the dresser. He remembered what Greg told him last night…
‘How much did you smoke?’ Drew asked, still cradling him. Greg sighed and said just two. ‘I just needed two.’ And then they didn’t talk about it anymore.
Drew reached for the box and opened it, expecting to find eighteen, but only found twelve. He sighed. He wasn’t so much upset that he had smoked that much, but that he had lied. However, he really couldn’t blame him. He heard the door open and Greg stepped in.
Drew turned to him. His eyes were soft, but there was a smile. “Only two, huh?”
Greg felt a sinking in his stomach from guilt. He had smoked nearly half that package and lied to his lover about it. He shrugged and opened his mouth but no words came. He knew Drew wasn’t very mad about it, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. It was barely noticeable and it was gone in an instant, but it was definitely there. He changed the topic. “So, you’re on your way to work?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home by ten.” He reached out his arms and Greg hugged him, holding on for longer than usual. “It’ll be alright.” Drew murmured into his ear. “I love you.” Greg pulled back and kissed him. “I love you, too.” Drew smiled at him and then left the room. Greg still felt guilt, but it was overcome by a sense of gratefulness that he had someone so understanding. He’d have to make it up to him one of these days…
Drew went into work with a semi-light heart, at least not heavy enough to bring his mood down with customers. It was a slow day, and a woman came through his line with a smile. “Hi, there.”
“Hi. I’d like to buy some Visa gift cards, please. The hundred-dollar ones.” Drew reached for them. “Okay. How many?” She smiled. “Six, please.” Drew couldn’t help but be a little surprised. It was the holiday season, but still, he wished he had that much cash to blow on his friends.
He entered them in and the total came to $618.25. She looked at the total and whipped out her checkbook. That was red flag number one: the store cannot take checks for gift cards. If it bounced or was fraudulent, they would still have the activated gift card, and the store would be out of money. Before he could say so, she handed him the check and he stared at it.
Red flag number two. The check was obviously fake.
The Bank of America logo was gone and the font was different. Her account number was 123456. There was no address on the check, and according to the ID she handed him, her last name was misspelled. He said nothing but called for a manager. Paul came over, and Drew wordlessly handed him the check. Paul took a look at it and their eyes met. “Ma’am, I’m afraid we can’t take this check.”
“What?!” She exclaimed. “Why not?” Paul explained their check policy to her, and when she still threw a fit, he explained the misspelled name. She claimed that was the bank’s fault, but that didn’t explain all the other errors. She tried to pay with a credit card, but it came up declined, so she left in a stormy huff without her gift cards. Paul calmly voided them out and turned to Drew. “There are two certainties in the world. The universe, and human stupidity. And I’m not so sure about the universe.”
Drew couldn’t help but laugh.
Wayne was checking a man through at Pageturners when he found he was about to run into some money troubles of his own. A man handed him his credit card for him to slide.
Wayne frowned at the credit card he was handed. “Uh, sir? Unless your name is ‘Carol’, then this is not your card.”
The man looked surprised. “Really? Does that matter?”
Wayne looked equally surprised. Ever heard of identity theft, sir? “Yes, sir. Can I see your ID?” The man presented it, and the first name was different, but the last name was the same. “It’s my wife’s card.”
Wayne shrugged. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t allow you to use your wife’s card. You cannot forge her signature.” The man looked outraged. “But I forge it all the time!”
At the looks of Wayne’s face and the entire store staring at him, he took back his card and slinked out of the store. Wayne sighed and started voiding the order, wondering when people wouldn’t give him a hard time for policy.
-TO BE CONTINUED-