A Day in the Line - Chapter Fourteen
I'M ALIIIIIIIIVE!
I realize I have not picked up this fic in a long, long time. It stopped just around Christmas, and every time I tried to pick it up again, it seemed too awkward. I fell off the face of the earth for a while. The fic stopped for a few reasons. My best friend died a few days before Christmas, I've been distracted with my job, and my writer's block officially settled in for a long stay. Now I think I'm ready to come back, because I miss you guys. I hope some of you remember me.
I am skipping forward, to summer, and we are approaching the wedding of Ryan and Colin. There will probably be a few continuity errors from previous chapters, so please bear with me. Here we go...
A Day in the Line
By bookishlady242 AKA Taylor
Rated PG-13, rating subject to change
Pairings: Drew/Greg, Ryan/Colin, Brad/Chip, Wayne/Jeff
Plot: The gang shares a large house on Anderson Street, going through days of life, love, and mindless retail jobs.
Disclaimer: I do not own Whose Line is it Anyway? nor do I own any of the persons portrayed. I do not mean to harm or slander any of the persons portrayed in this story.
Chapter Fourteen
Typing with your Left Hand
“True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” - David Tyson Gentry
It was a hot August noon, and it was definitely making itself known on Anderson Street. The members of the house thanked the fates that they had a working air conditioner, but one couldn’t walk outside without wishing they could instantly go back in and hide. Nobody wanted to go outside, but alas, one could not take a leave of absence from work just because it was summer.
However, there was a pleasant air inside the home, as Ryan and Colin were making preparations for their wedding. The date was set for September 1st, and they would be flying up to Vancouver to be married legally, and they would register for domestic partnership in the states. Almost everything was set, now they just had to wait.
It was Saturday, a day of rest for some, but this was the day picked to be a major cleaning day, seeing as everyone was home from work. The entire house would be cleaned from top to bottom, and hopefully the effects would last a while. The bathrooms were scrubbed to a dull sheen, the carpets vacuumed, the beds made, the floors swept, the shelves straightened, and air freshener was sprayed indulgently.
Of course, there were mishaps. The hall closet took a long while to tackle, and the landfill called to beg for mercy after all the garbage bags were carried out to the curb. (The men drew straws to see who would be going outside.) But none of the rest of the house compared to the tackling of the kitchen.
They scrubbed the floors, cleaned the cabinets, threw all the old food out of the pantry and fridge, and then they decided to do the biggest job: clean out behind the refrigerator.
“Let me handle it, Ryan, you’ll hurt your back.” Chip said when Ryan placed hands on the fridge. “I’ll help you.” Wayne said, scooting the heavy mass back. “Damn, there’s a lot of stuff down there.”
“When’s the last time we cleaned behind the fridge?” Drew asked. Colin shrugged. “I don’t think since we bought the house.”
“Hey, Greg!” Wayne called. “You’re squirrely, come help us reach behind this.” Greg smirked. “Fuck you, fuck you very much.” He reached behind and frowned. “I got something.” He pulled it out and they all stared for a good few moments at the box he withdrew.
"There are eight gay men living in this house, why the hell do we have tampons?!”
--
Brad was busy as usual at Anderson’s Bar and Grill, doubly so since he was now a supervisor. He didn’t have all the perks of management, but he had the power to run the bar should the manager say so, calm irate customers, give the corporate number, have rude or threatening customers thrown out, among other things.
It wasn’t so bad, a couple extra hours a week, a nice rise in pay, but it was getting to be very, very tiring. He still had his usual duties, and that day he was tending bar. There were quite a few incidents for a Wednesday.
A man approached the bar and drummed his fingers on the counter, looking at the taps. “How can I help you, sir?”
“Yeah, how much is Bud Light?”
“$3.75.”
“How much is Miller Light?”
“$3.75.”
“Damn! What’s the cheapest thing you got in here?”
“You!” Brad said, laughing a bit. Brain to mouth filter has made an error and needs to close. Luckily, the man laughed a bit too, and ordered Miller.
--
A woman in her twenties walked up to the bar. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Sorry, bathrooms are for paying customers only.”
“I just started my period. If I don’t get to use the bathroom, I’m going to bleed all over your floor.”
“First door on the left.”
--
A man sat down at the bar and started looking at the menu. “See anything you like?” Brad asked.
“What’s the difference between the three-finger and the five-finger chicken baskets
Seriously? “Well, the three-finger comes with three, and the five-finger comes with five.”
“So, which one has more chicken?”
“The five.”
“Are they bigger?"
“No, you just get two more than the three.”
“This is too confusing! I’ll just have a cheeseburger.”
--
It was one hour until quitting time, and a woman was calling in to make a reservation.
“Does your restaurant have any vegetarian options?”
“I can check with the kitchen.”
“And I don’t wanna hear tofu, pasta, or vegetables!"
“Well, ma’am, what did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know, but everywhere I call offers me that, and I don’t like any of it!”
Love the life change, hate the lifestyle. Brad’s head was beginning to throb.
--
Finally, the moment came, and he was on his last customer. He saw Jeff walk in and sit down at a table. They met eyes and Brad turned his focus to the customer, who he saw was writing a check.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we no longer accept checks. We get too many returned for insufficient funds.”
“But I was going to write a check!”
“We can accept credit cards, or you can use the debit card for the checking account.”
“I can’t use my debit card! I don’t have enough money in the account!”
“And THAT is why we no longer take checks!”
Thankfully, she had a credit card on her, but she grumbled plenty while handing it over. Brad clocked out and joined his friend at the table. “Hey, sailor, buy you a beer?” Jeff said, putting an arm around his shoulder.
“Please. How was work?” Jeff shrugged. “Not too bad. I can see you’ve run into plenty of idiots today.”
Brad put his head in his hands. “Oh, my god, you have NO idea. It’s like this new supervisor promotion is making me an idiot magnet.”
Jeff ordered some beers and food and they relaxed for a while. As they paid and walked out, they wondered how the other members of the house fared that day.
--
Earlier that day, Chip was back at his post at Power-Up and things were pretty smooth. The bell on the door dinged and an older, overweight, balding man walked up to the counter.
“Do you have the singing game that lets YOU be the star?”
Sir, that is the single greatest question I’ve ever been asked. “Right this way!”
--
“Thank you for calling Ring Routers, this is Greg, how can I help you?”
“Why are you answering the phone?”
“I really wish I knew.” Greg thought with a sigh.
--
Ryan was back behind the counter at Cloud 9. His boss had agreed to give him as much time as he needed after the robbery, but Ryan was stubborn about going back to his post. He had to work if he expected to pay the bills that month, and not even Colin’s pleading could change his mind. He wearied a bit as he remembered the conversation.
“But Ryan, it’s only been a week, are you sure?” Colin asked him, his brown eyes wide with worry.
“I have to do it, Colin. I can’t let it rule my life.” He said, not meeting his fiancé’s eyes. “Besides, how are we going to make bills, let alone pay for our wedding if I don’t go back to work?”
“Ryan, I’d much rather be late on the bills than have you get hurt again.” Colin said, placing a hand on Ryan’s bandaged arm. “I know you’re headstrong about this, and you’re going to do it, but I wish you’d reconsider.”
Ryan finally looked back at him and saw Colin’s lowered head, tears starting in his eyes. Ryan quailed a bit as he saw how his lover was reacting, but he put his arms around him and whispered again, “Listen, I know you’re scared. And I’m a little scared too. But I’ll be alright.”
Colin accepted the embrace but whispered again, “I want to make you my husband, Ryan. Why bother raising money for a wedding if I lose the one I love the most?”
Ryan sighed deeply but said nothing.
He was startled out of his reverie when the bell on the door rang. “Hey!” He said, as he saw his favorite Canadian walk in the door. “Checking up on me?”
“Yeah.” Colin said, handing him a paper bag. “Brought you some lunch.”
“Thanks.” He said, putting it behind the counter. “How was your day?”
Colin shrugged. Ryan reached out and rubbed his hand. “Relax, I’m doing fine.”
“I know…” Colin said, trying his best to smile. “Only a few more weeks now.”
Ryan smiled. “I know. We should’ve done this long ago.” Colin was amused at this, truly smiling now.
“Oh? And how long did you know you wanted to marry me?”
“Shortly after meeting you.”
Colin resisted the urge to lean over the counter and kiss him, and patted his arm. “I should be going back. I’ll see you at home, love.”
Ryan waved at him as he walked out of the parking lot. The rest of the day went on without incident, and the lunch proved to be delicious. He was thankful that the store was slow that day, because his mind was somewhere far away, on a starry night in Vancouver, dressed in a tuxedo, walking down the aisle with the man of his dreams on his arm.
--
Greg was on the back deck smoking when Drew walked out. “Hey.” He greeted, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Hey yourself. How was your day?”
“Meh. Same shit, different day.” Greg said, taking another drag and stubbing it out on the wood railing.
They walked into the living room and saw Jeff sitting on the couch watching TV. “What’s on?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? You’re just sitting here staring at the TV without making any sort of thought as to what you’re watching?”
“Yep.”
“That sounds great. Scoot over.”
After about a half hour, Drew rose from the couch. “Bedtime?” Jeff asked. “Yeah. I’d better get to bed now if I want to be up for work tomorrow.” Greg gave him a kiss and said he’d meet him in there later.
Soon, all the lights were out in the house on Anderson Street, four couples slept snugly in their beds, the faint noises of crickets and other sounds of nature providing ambiance to the night. To them, the world had ceased to turn, but the gears of time were still ticking along, bringing them ever closer to the day of Ryan and Colin’s wedding.
--
The next day, Colin was busying himself behind the counter at Salutations and Sandwiches when Drew walked in the door. “Hey, Drew. Lunchtime already?”
“Got off work early. Can I get my usual?”
“Sure. There’s a great soup on special.”
“Great, add it on.”
Drew plunked his change into the jar and sat down at a nearby booth, looking out the window. Colin brought out the food, and since it was a slow day, sat down across from him. “What are you looking at?” Colin asked. Drew sighed. “I have no idea.”
Colin’s forehead wrinkled in worry. “What’s wrong?” Drew stirred his soup absentmindedly. “Well…the nursing home called from Cleveland, my Mom’s not doing so well.”
Colin reached out and put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry…” Drew didn’t look up. Drew’s mother had been in a nursing home for the last two years, and her health was very frail. With Drew’s father dying when he was young, they had a very special bond, so Colin could imagine how heavy this was weighing on his friend.
“They said the same thing the year before, too. And the year before that.” Drew said. “But every year, she’s still there. I’m….I’m just afraid that when she finally does…I won’t be ready for it.”
Colin looked at him sympathetically. “Nobody’s ever ready for the death of someone special.”
Drew shook his head and took a bite of his sandwich. “How’s your day going?”
Colin could tell he was trying to distract himself, and went along. “Oh, me? Fine. Slow today."
Drew gave him a look. Colin stared for a minute then dropped his gaze. “Am I that easy to read?”
This time it was Drew’s turn to offer comfort. “I know you’re worried about him, man. But it’s like lightning, it won’t happen twice.”
“It shouldn’t have happened at all!” Colin snapped. Drew visibly recoiled, unaccustomed to his friend raising his voice. Colin sighed. “I’m sorry…I just don’t know how to feel right now. They haven’t even caught the guy yet, and he’s so insistent on working again.”
“I know. Ryan’s stubborn, if he says he’ll do something, then he’s gonna do it. But remember, in a month’s time, you won’t have to let him go. Try to focus on that instead of dwelling on what happened.”
Colin sighed. “You’re right….you’re right. I need to focus on the future. Our future. Thanks, Drew.”
“Anytime.” Drew said, dipping his sandwich in the soup. Colin went back behind the counter and Drew finished his meal in silence. He waved at Colin as he left and Colin looked at the ring on his finger. Drew was right. He couldn’t just let this consume him. He’d just have to take this as a lesson, not to take Ryan for granted. It’s like something horrible made the event of their wedding that much more precious to him. The world was funny like that.
In Memory of Ashley Hodge
1988-2009
To Be Continued
I realize I have not picked up this fic in a long, long time. It stopped just around Christmas, and every time I tried to pick it up again, it seemed too awkward. I fell off the face of the earth for a while. The fic stopped for a few reasons. My best friend died a few days before Christmas, I've been distracted with my job, and my writer's block officially settled in for a long stay. Now I think I'm ready to come back, because I miss you guys. I hope some of you remember me.
I am skipping forward, to summer, and we are approaching the wedding of Ryan and Colin. There will probably be a few continuity errors from previous chapters, so please bear with me. Here we go...
A Day in the Line
By bookishlady242 AKA Taylor
Rated PG-13, rating subject to change
Pairings: Drew/Greg, Ryan/Colin, Brad/Chip, Wayne/Jeff
Plot: The gang shares a large house on Anderson Street, going through days of life, love, and mindless retail jobs.
Disclaimer: I do not own Whose Line is it Anyway? nor do I own any of the persons portrayed. I do not mean to harm or slander any of the persons portrayed in this story.
Chapter Fourteen
Typing with your Left Hand
“True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” - David Tyson Gentry
It was a hot August noon, and it was definitely making itself known on Anderson Street. The members of the house thanked the fates that they had a working air conditioner, but one couldn’t walk outside without wishing they could instantly go back in and hide. Nobody wanted to go outside, but alas, one could not take a leave of absence from work just because it was summer.
However, there was a pleasant air inside the home, as Ryan and Colin were making preparations for their wedding. The date was set for September 1st, and they would be flying up to Vancouver to be married legally, and they would register for domestic partnership in the states. Almost everything was set, now they just had to wait.
It was Saturday, a day of rest for some, but this was the day picked to be a major cleaning day, seeing as everyone was home from work. The entire house would be cleaned from top to bottom, and hopefully the effects would last a while. The bathrooms were scrubbed to a dull sheen, the carpets vacuumed, the beds made, the floors swept, the shelves straightened, and air freshener was sprayed indulgently.
Of course, there were mishaps. The hall closet took a long while to tackle, and the landfill called to beg for mercy after all the garbage bags were carried out to the curb. (The men drew straws to see who would be going outside.) But none of the rest of the house compared to the tackling of the kitchen.
They scrubbed the floors, cleaned the cabinets, threw all the old food out of the pantry and fridge, and then they decided to do the biggest job: clean out behind the refrigerator.
“Let me handle it, Ryan, you’ll hurt your back.” Chip said when Ryan placed hands on the fridge. “I’ll help you.” Wayne said, scooting the heavy mass back. “Damn, there’s a lot of stuff down there.”
“When’s the last time we cleaned behind the fridge?” Drew asked. Colin shrugged. “I don’t think since we bought the house.”
“Hey, Greg!” Wayne called. “You’re squirrely, come help us reach behind this.” Greg smirked. “Fuck you, fuck you very much.” He reached behind and frowned. “I got something.” He pulled it out and they all stared for a good few moments at the box he withdrew.
"There are eight gay men living in this house, why the hell do we have tampons?!”
--
Brad was busy as usual at Anderson’s Bar and Grill, doubly so since he was now a supervisor. He didn’t have all the perks of management, but he had the power to run the bar should the manager say so, calm irate customers, give the corporate number, have rude or threatening customers thrown out, among other things.
It wasn’t so bad, a couple extra hours a week, a nice rise in pay, but it was getting to be very, very tiring. He still had his usual duties, and that day he was tending bar. There were quite a few incidents for a Wednesday.
A man approached the bar and drummed his fingers on the counter, looking at the taps. “How can I help you, sir?”
“Yeah, how much is Bud Light?”
“$3.75.”
“How much is Miller Light?”
“$3.75.”
“Damn! What’s the cheapest thing you got in here?”
“You!” Brad said, laughing a bit. Brain to mouth filter has made an error and needs to close. Luckily, the man laughed a bit too, and ordered Miller.
--
A woman in her twenties walked up to the bar. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Sorry, bathrooms are for paying customers only.”
“I just started my period. If I don’t get to use the bathroom, I’m going to bleed all over your floor.”
“First door on the left.”
--
A man sat down at the bar and started looking at the menu. “See anything you like?” Brad asked.
“What’s the difference between the three-finger and the five-finger chicken baskets
Seriously? “Well, the three-finger comes with three, and the five-finger comes with five.”
“So, which one has more chicken?”
“The five.”
“Are they bigger?"
“No, you just get two more than the three.”
“This is too confusing! I’ll just have a cheeseburger.”
--
It was one hour until quitting time, and a woman was calling in to make a reservation.
“Does your restaurant have any vegetarian options?”
“I can check with the kitchen.”
“And I don’t wanna hear tofu, pasta, or vegetables!"
“Well, ma’am, what did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know, but everywhere I call offers me that, and I don’t like any of it!”
Love the life change, hate the lifestyle. Brad’s head was beginning to throb.
--
Finally, the moment came, and he was on his last customer. He saw Jeff walk in and sit down at a table. They met eyes and Brad turned his focus to the customer, who he saw was writing a check.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we no longer accept checks. We get too many returned for insufficient funds.”
“But I was going to write a check!”
“We can accept credit cards, or you can use the debit card for the checking account.”
“I can’t use my debit card! I don’t have enough money in the account!”
“And THAT is why we no longer take checks!”
Thankfully, she had a credit card on her, but she grumbled plenty while handing it over. Brad clocked out and joined his friend at the table. “Hey, sailor, buy you a beer?” Jeff said, putting an arm around his shoulder.
“Please. How was work?” Jeff shrugged. “Not too bad. I can see you’ve run into plenty of idiots today.”
Brad put his head in his hands. “Oh, my god, you have NO idea. It’s like this new supervisor promotion is making me an idiot magnet.”
Jeff ordered some beers and food and they relaxed for a while. As they paid and walked out, they wondered how the other members of the house fared that day.
--
Earlier that day, Chip was back at his post at Power-Up and things were pretty smooth. The bell on the door dinged and an older, overweight, balding man walked up to the counter.
“Do you have the singing game that lets YOU be the star?”
Sir, that is the single greatest question I’ve ever been asked. “Right this way!”
--
“Thank you for calling Ring Routers, this is Greg, how can I help you?”
“Why are you answering the phone?”
“I really wish I knew.” Greg thought with a sigh.
--
Ryan was back behind the counter at Cloud 9. His boss had agreed to give him as much time as he needed after the robbery, but Ryan was stubborn about going back to his post. He had to work if he expected to pay the bills that month, and not even Colin’s pleading could change his mind. He wearied a bit as he remembered the conversation.
“But Ryan, it’s only been a week, are you sure?” Colin asked him, his brown eyes wide with worry.
“I have to do it, Colin. I can’t let it rule my life.” He said, not meeting his fiancé’s eyes. “Besides, how are we going to make bills, let alone pay for our wedding if I don’t go back to work?”
“Ryan, I’d much rather be late on the bills than have you get hurt again.” Colin said, placing a hand on Ryan’s bandaged arm. “I know you’re headstrong about this, and you’re going to do it, but I wish you’d reconsider.”
Ryan finally looked back at him and saw Colin’s lowered head, tears starting in his eyes. Ryan quailed a bit as he saw how his lover was reacting, but he put his arms around him and whispered again, “Listen, I know you’re scared. And I’m a little scared too. But I’ll be alright.”
Colin accepted the embrace but whispered again, “I want to make you my husband, Ryan. Why bother raising money for a wedding if I lose the one I love the most?”
Ryan sighed deeply but said nothing.
He was startled out of his reverie when the bell on the door rang. “Hey!” He said, as he saw his favorite Canadian walk in the door. “Checking up on me?”
“Yeah.” Colin said, handing him a paper bag. “Brought you some lunch.”
“Thanks.” He said, putting it behind the counter. “How was your day?”
Colin shrugged. Ryan reached out and rubbed his hand. “Relax, I’m doing fine.”
“I know…” Colin said, trying his best to smile. “Only a few more weeks now.”
Ryan smiled. “I know. We should’ve done this long ago.” Colin was amused at this, truly smiling now.
“Oh? And how long did you know you wanted to marry me?”
“Shortly after meeting you.”
Colin resisted the urge to lean over the counter and kiss him, and patted his arm. “I should be going back. I’ll see you at home, love.”
Ryan waved at him as he walked out of the parking lot. The rest of the day went on without incident, and the lunch proved to be delicious. He was thankful that the store was slow that day, because his mind was somewhere far away, on a starry night in Vancouver, dressed in a tuxedo, walking down the aisle with the man of his dreams on his arm.
--
Greg was on the back deck smoking when Drew walked out. “Hey.” He greeted, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Hey yourself. How was your day?”
“Meh. Same shit, different day.” Greg said, taking another drag and stubbing it out on the wood railing.
They walked into the living room and saw Jeff sitting on the couch watching TV. “What’s on?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? You’re just sitting here staring at the TV without making any sort of thought as to what you’re watching?”
“Yep.”
“That sounds great. Scoot over.”
After about a half hour, Drew rose from the couch. “Bedtime?” Jeff asked. “Yeah. I’d better get to bed now if I want to be up for work tomorrow.” Greg gave him a kiss and said he’d meet him in there later.
Soon, all the lights were out in the house on Anderson Street, four couples slept snugly in their beds, the faint noises of crickets and other sounds of nature providing ambiance to the night. To them, the world had ceased to turn, but the gears of time were still ticking along, bringing them ever closer to the day of Ryan and Colin’s wedding.
--
The next day, Colin was busying himself behind the counter at Salutations and Sandwiches when Drew walked in the door. “Hey, Drew. Lunchtime already?”
“Got off work early. Can I get my usual?”
“Sure. There’s a great soup on special.”
“Great, add it on.”
Drew plunked his change into the jar and sat down at a nearby booth, looking out the window. Colin brought out the food, and since it was a slow day, sat down across from him. “What are you looking at?” Colin asked. Drew sighed. “I have no idea.”
Colin’s forehead wrinkled in worry. “What’s wrong?” Drew stirred his soup absentmindedly. “Well…the nursing home called from Cleveland, my Mom’s not doing so well.”
Colin reached out and put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry…” Drew didn’t look up. Drew’s mother had been in a nursing home for the last two years, and her health was very frail. With Drew’s father dying when he was young, they had a very special bond, so Colin could imagine how heavy this was weighing on his friend.
“They said the same thing the year before, too. And the year before that.” Drew said. “But every year, she’s still there. I’m….I’m just afraid that when she finally does…I won’t be ready for it.”
Colin looked at him sympathetically. “Nobody’s ever ready for the death of someone special.”
Drew shook his head and took a bite of his sandwich. “How’s your day going?”
Colin could tell he was trying to distract himself, and went along. “Oh, me? Fine. Slow today."
Drew gave him a look. Colin stared for a minute then dropped his gaze. “Am I that easy to read?”
This time it was Drew’s turn to offer comfort. “I know you’re worried about him, man. But it’s like lightning, it won’t happen twice.”
“It shouldn’t have happened at all!” Colin snapped. Drew visibly recoiled, unaccustomed to his friend raising his voice. Colin sighed. “I’m sorry…I just don’t know how to feel right now. They haven’t even caught the guy yet, and he’s so insistent on working again.”
“I know. Ryan’s stubborn, if he says he’ll do something, then he’s gonna do it. But remember, in a month’s time, you won’t have to let him go. Try to focus on that instead of dwelling on what happened.”
Colin sighed. “You’re right….you’re right. I need to focus on the future. Our future. Thanks, Drew.”
“Anytime.” Drew said, dipping his sandwich in the soup. Colin went back behind the counter and Drew finished his meal in silence. He waved at Colin as he left and Colin looked at the ring on his finger. Drew was right. He couldn’t just let this consume him. He’d just have to take this as a lesson, not to take Ryan for granted. It’s like something horrible made the event of their wedding that much more precious to him. The world was funny like that.
In Memory of Ashley Hodge
1988-2009
To Be Continued