Living on a Prayer - 5
FYI: Odd-numbered chapters are set in the present, even-numbered are set in the past.
Eventually it will all be caught up, though!
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
March 8th, 2011
It was late and Joe had made Nick wait for him to finish up his shift before they left. Nick was meeting his supplier downtown and Joe never let Nick go alone, especially since it was already getting dark outside. He tossed his apron into the bin to be washed and took Nick’s hand, “Alright…let’s go.”
“Joe, we’re going to be late…” Nick whined, but Joe shrugged and kissed him on the cheek.
“He can wait. He’s getting our money, trust me he’ll wait,” Joe smiled reassuringly but Nick didn’t look pleased. “Thank you for waiting for me,” Joe added sweetly and Nick shook his head, already melting. It was a Subway ride away and they could have gotten out less than a block from the shady bar they were meeting ‘John’ in, but instead they usually walked a round-about way just in case. Nick kept checking his watch but Joe ignored that, instead taking their time to get to the place. The music blared loudly and the door was open, Joe stopped at the front of the line of people waiting to get in and said, “We’re here to see John.”
The place didn’t look inviting, the sign above the door was missing some letters and although they had the potential to light up, none of them were lit. Despite that, though, there was always a large crowd. The bouncer gave them a scrutinizing look and Joe had never seen him there before which meant he was new and this could take a while. “Chitty chitty bang bang,” Joe muttered and the bouncer’s eyebrows rose almost comically at the password.
“Alright,” the big, beefy man that looked like he could bench press Joe’s old SUV said before moving aside and allowing them to pass. The interior wasn’t much more inviting than the exterior, but at least there was decent music and, well, that was really its only redeeming quality. They both headed for the back as one, slipping through the door that said ‘Staff Only’ and making sure it closed completely behind them.
They were in a corridor that twisted out of sight but they didn’t need to go far - they never did. Instead, they knocked on the second door to the left and heard a familiar, gruff voice say, “Come in.”
The door pushed open easily, it was never locked, and as they entered Nick said, “Sorry we’re late, had to work over-time.” John had on a black leather jacket, dark sunglasses and a fedora, the clothing under the jacket was just as dark and simple. He merely shrugged, face hidden by a beard that could rival Santa’s.
“Got the cash?” he asked simply and Nick nodded, hand sweaty in Joe’s as he handed over a bundle of bills. John made a show of counting like he usually did before pulling out a jar of clear liquid and put it on the desk he was sitting behind. Joe picked up the insulin, pocketed it and John said, “What?” as if they were bothering him. “Run out of syringes?” he asked casually.
“No,” Joe said firmly and Nick flinched at the tone. It was something they’d talked about, discussed at length, and while Nick had never gotten a bad needle from John (that they knew of) Joe would rather get them from the pharmacy now that it was legal to do so. John shrugged again and Joe tugged on Nick’s hand. Business was complete; they definitely needed to get out of there.
Eventually it will all be caught up, though!
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
March 8th, 2011
It was late and Joe had made Nick wait for him to finish up his shift before they left. Nick was meeting his supplier downtown and Joe never let Nick go alone, especially since it was already getting dark outside. He tossed his apron into the bin to be washed and took Nick’s hand, “Alright…let’s go.”
“Joe, we’re going to be late…” Nick whined, but Joe shrugged and kissed him on the cheek.
“He can wait. He’s getting our money, trust me he’ll wait,” Joe smiled reassuringly but Nick didn’t look pleased. “Thank you for waiting for me,” Joe added sweetly and Nick shook his head, already melting. It was a Subway ride away and they could have gotten out less than a block from the shady bar they were meeting ‘John’ in, but instead they usually walked a round-about way just in case. Nick kept checking his watch but Joe ignored that, instead taking their time to get to the place. The music blared loudly and the door was open, Joe stopped at the front of the line of people waiting to get in and said, “We’re here to see John.”
The place didn’t look inviting, the sign above the door was missing some letters and although they had the potential to light up, none of them were lit. Despite that, though, there was always a large crowd. The bouncer gave them a scrutinizing look and Joe had never seen him there before which meant he was new and this could take a while. “Chitty chitty bang bang,” Joe muttered and the bouncer’s eyebrows rose almost comically at the password.
“Alright,” the big, beefy man that looked like he could bench press Joe’s old SUV said before moving aside and allowing them to pass. The interior wasn’t much more inviting than the exterior, but at least there was decent music and, well, that was really its only redeeming quality. They both headed for the back as one, slipping through the door that said ‘Staff Only’ and making sure it closed completely behind them.
They were in a corridor that twisted out of sight but they didn’t need to go far - they never did. Instead, they knocked on the second door to the left and heard a familiar, gruff voice say, “Come in.”
The door pushed open easily, it was never locked, and as they entered Nick said, “Sorry we’re late, had to work over-time.” John had on a black leather jacket, dark sunglasses and a fedora, the clothing under the jacket was just as dark and simple. He merely shrugged, face hidden by a beard that could rival Santa’s.
“Got the cash?” he asked simply and Nick nodded, hand sweaty in Joe’s as he handed over a bundle of bills. John made a show of counting like he usually did before pulling out a jar of clear liquid and put it on the desk he was sitting behind. Joe picked up the insulin, pocketed it and John said, “What?” as if they were bothering him. “Run out of syringes?” he asked casually.
“No,” Joe said firmly and Nick flinched at the tone. It was something they’d talked about, discussed at length, and while Nick had never gotten a bad needle from John (that they knew of) Joe would rather get them from the pharmacy now that it was legal to do so. John shrugged again and Joe tugged on Nick’s hand. Business was complete; they definitely needed to get out of there.