Chapter 3

It was still dark when he woke up in what felt not like his own bed. He stretched a little, noticing a body next to him. Slowly, he pulled away. It was much too early to wake her up. As he pushed himself away, he was happy to see it was Lori again, his mind a little fuzzy on what happened the night before. Trying to move as little as possible, he sat up quietly, trying to find clothes before he got up, his head didn't feel like doing so just yet.

Spotting a pile of clothes in the dark, he slowly stood up and checked it out. Relieved to find it were the ones he was looking for. Quickly, he pulled his shirt over his shoulders, not bothering with the buttons, he pulled his jeans on next.

"Richie?"
He looked over to the bed, Lori was watching him in the dark. Not the quick getaway he was going for. "Go back to sleep darling." He whispered back.
"Where are you going?" She sounded confused at why he wasn't next to her anymore.
"I'm going home sweetheart, I've got stuff to do later." He explained quickly in his soft whisper.
"Oh, okay."

She sounded disappointed as she pulled the sheets higher up over her shoulder. Right now, he didn't feel too bad about that. He wanted to go home and have his peace and quiet. Not deal with someone else once he woke up again. His head hurt enough as it was, he wanted to be alone.

When he looked back, Lori had turned away from him. Deciding to leave it for what it was, he walked out of the room. It wasn't his fault how she felt.

Once he pulled the door closed, he turned on a light to find his way through this unfamiliar house. The sudden bright light instantly made him close his eyes, he could feel the brightness in his head.

Squinting, he slowly opened them again. When his eyes had adjusted to the light and the pain in his head subdued, he made his way downstairs.

The front room was a mess. Cans and bottles stood everywhere, along with plates, half of which still had food on them. Glad he wasn't cleaning this up, he walked out of the house.

The February cold made him shiver as he walked down the lawn to the sidewalk. He was only a few houses away but it was chilly nonetheless, especially so early in the morning.

Not much later he was comfortable and warm in his own large bed. The whole space to himself, just how he liked it.

When he woke up again, he could see the sunlight creep through the curtains, unable to keep all the light out. Afternoon was usually when he woke up these days but he was certain it wasn't that late yet. He turned over slowly to read his alarm clock, feeling a little excited and accomplished to see it was only a little after 11am.

The pain in his head had receded some, he felt slightly groggy but decided to get up anyway. It was early enough to make something of his day.

After pulling on some boxer shorts, he headed downstairs to the kitchen. He loved this, this privacy in being alone. Walking around in his underwear in his own house. Solitude. Nobody he had to listen to, nobody that needed more attention, nobody to whine to him about anyone else. Just him.

Again, he ate breakfast, although it was noon by now, in front of the TV, it was his time off. He got to do what he wanted to do. Fuck anyone else.

He spent his day lazily, without any interruptions. He watched TV, laying stretched out on the couch in his underwear, until the guitar he kept on a stand in the living room wouldn't stop calling out for him. The only person he wanted to talk to.

He let it talk to him, in return, taking what he needed from it.

Before he realized it, half the afternoon had gone and he was starting to feel hungry again. Putting the guitar back on it's stand, Richie headed upstairs to get dressed. Mom's dinner sounded perfect right around now. He still had to thank her for putting eggs in his fridge. May as well do that in person.

Just like the night before, he grabbed his keys and locked the door after pulling it shut. His car started smoothly and he felt appreciative of being able to drive himself. Driving himself was so much nicer than sitting in the back of a van or a rowdy tour bus or a noisy plane. As he left the driveway, he noticed someone on Lori's front lawn. She looked familiar but last night was too foggy to remember who she was. He was certain he had seen her before. She looked up as he got closer, she smiled and waved as he returned the gesture on his way by. Feeling oddly happy to be neighborly.