Lily walked up to the wooden porch steps behind Seph and Blair. Lily had trailed from the gas station but she didn’t need to. Either one of them could have just said that Emmit lives in the same place he always did. But neither Seph nor Blair told Lily that Emmit lived in the same duplex for two reasons. One: Lily didn’t ask. Two: Emmit didn’t live in the same unit. Lily didn’t figure this part out until the three of them had walked onto the porch and knocked on the door.
-Emmit lived in the duplex unit next door.
-Yeah, now he lives here, confirmed Seph.
-When did he move?
-Almost two years ago.
-Why did he move?
-This side of the duplex is better.
Lily didn’t understand how this side of the duplex was better. And even if it was better, Emmit was never one to look for, or even notice, greener pastures. Or at least that was the Emmit Lily remembered. Of the four friends Lily and Emmit were the most distant. More friends-in-law than actual friends; connected through Seph or Blair. But still, Emmit was a part of Seph’s and Blair’s lives, and so was a part of Lily’s life. Lily determined to remember herself and Emmit as friends--after all, they did talk that one time for a while at J.J.’s party. Claiming this as a friendship wasn’t so much a lie as it was a default category of people for Lily. Emmit and Lily had good times with the others back then. Granted, the two of them never did anything together, but that was only because Lily left town. If Lily had stayed, they certainly would have become better friends. But since Lily was back, now they could make up on lost time, if the other friends wanted to be around too.
Blair knew this side wasn’t better. She noticed how the paint was still peeling off the wood in more places than it wasn’t. The porch was large and would be beautiful if someone who noticed, or cared about, these things lived here. Just a little paint needed. Shame. Blair began to remember all the other times she had stood on the same porch. It had been six months since she last stood here. Blair didn’t have a talent or interest in remembering dates from her past, but sometimes the math is easy and sometimes the connotations are too strong to forget. One year ago, on this porch, Blair and Emmit ended their friendship and started a romance. Six months after that--six months ago--on this porch, they ended whatever they had for whatever relationship they have now. If life is interested in creating patterns, thought Blair, my life is going to change this time too. Unless I’m a week early.
Seph knew this side was better. The setting sun was just above the trees, which Seph knew without looking behind himself. When he had helped Emmit move in to the original place, Seph noticed the living room and bedroom would get sun during the morning. Some months later Emmit complained about the sun waking him up and Seph suggested moving to the opposite side to just get the sunset light. Emmit took his friend’s observation as a suggestion and moved as soon as he could. Sunrises and sunsets mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. There was symbolism in Emmit’s actions that Seph repeatedly noted but bored Emmit. Seph didn’t feel anything but a cool breeze on Emmit’s porch; they still hung out, sometimes. Seph wondered how Blair felt. The romantic triangle transition had been weird for everybody but it seemed to have worked out. Or at least the worst days were behind them, probably. Did Blair and Emmit make out on this porch?
-Oh, said Seph interrupting his own thoughts, I think we woke up Bogart.
Bogart was a sociable dog, in that his barking was usually just meant to tell friends that he was, in fact, inside. Since most would-be intruders don’t care why a dog is barking, this meant Bogart also made for a pretty effective guard dog--so long as he never actually had to “guard” the house. Now, Bogart’s barking was more directed at Emmit as some variation of, “We have company! Company! Wake up, Emmit! Company!” At which point Emmit sluggishly lifted himself from the sofa.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just a second.
A “second” later, the door swung open.
-Hey, guys. Blair. Seph. Come in. Sorry, I was just watching nothing on TV.
-Isn’t everybody, quipped Blair to no one in particular.
Bogart greeted, and was greeted, with notably more energy. Everybody made sure to give him at least a pat on the head or back, as Bogart had yet to learn how to shake, hug or say, “Sup.” The young black dog, too old to be a puppy, was a half-Labrador, half-something else. He had a shiny nose and an otter-like tail that was notorious for knocking cups off of the low coffee table. His single-minded determinism and fascination with garden hoses was typical of Labradors but it seemed special to the people who knew him best. And even though Bogart had to eat dog-food, get neutered, and pee outside, he was often envied by many in the room.
Seph pointed to the TV. It was a poker tournament on some sports channel, leading Seph to guess Emmit was picking up tricks and tips. In actuality, Emmit had been placing bets on which television poker players will win with some other people. Emmit looked at the TV and saw one of the six sunglasses-and-visor-wearing players get eliminated. And just like that, Emmit grudgingly proclaimed he was “down ten simoleons”.
-Betting on gamblers? Kind of excessive, isn’t it, asked Lily.
Barely even noticing Lily, Emmit continued watching the television and felt his own chest to make sure his heart wasn’t physically tearing at its seams.
-Everybody is excessive.
-Well put, said Seph.
Lily, Seph and Blair looked at each other and then went back to watching the TV while standing. Lily would have preferred to sit down but wasn’t ready to be a trailblazer. At the commercial, Emmit disappeared into, and shortly emerged from, his bedroom holding a shoebox filled with contents that rattled like how shoes don’t. Blair had called Emmit earlier that day asking to come over to borrow the box of tools, but Emmit would have found the box just as quickly if she hadn’t.
-That was fast, Blair pointed out.
-Was it?
Emmit was sometimes embarrassed when complimented for his tidiness and organization, despite inadvertently fueling these compliments by lying when he inexplicably lost things. Months ago, Emmit lost a tennis shoe but ended up just taking the shoelace out of the other shoe and letting Bogart use it as a chew toy--telling friends the “chew toy” came first. Emmit didn’t want people thinking he was a ‘neat freak’ but also didn’t want to be considered lazy. He wanted people to see him as a chill guy. But also strong. Structured but adaptable.
Earlier that day, Emmit appreciated the phone call from Blair, even if it was to just borrow his tools. Later that night, unable to sleep, he came to the paranoid realization that it just saved Blair from being at his place for longer than she had to be.
-Hey Emmit, Lily offered.
-Oh hi there, Emmit gave back.
For the first time since Lily entered the unit, Emmit looked at her. Wait, didn’t she say something earlier? Oh no, he thought. She knows me. So does that mean I was being rude earlier or just comfortable? Emmit did a ‘search file’ check in his brain for a name but could not decide on a guess or admission. Chloe? Mia? No. What is her name? She looks so familiar. She’s not Blair’s cousin, is she? God, I know this. Shit.
-So you, he said as if treading water, like the place?
-Yeah. Last time I was here I was actually at your old place.
-Oh really? When was that again?
-Maybe two years ago.
-And what have you been doing since then?
Blair rolled her eyes; but creating an awkward situation was better than creating a sadistic one.
-Emmit, this is Lily, said Blair.
-I knew that!
-It’s okay, Emmit.
-I’m sorry, Lily. Lots of names, lots of faces. I forgot.
-Really, Emmit, it’s okay.
-It’s a good thing the awkwardness didn’t last too long, you know? Like if we went on a couple of dates and I still couldn’t remember your name. Or even if we got married after months of not knowing your name.
Emmit, realizing that nobody had laughed at anything, allowed himself to kind of trail off. He then realized he might have sent the wrong message, joking about taking Lily on dates after they just re-met, and decided to correct himself.
-Not that I’m asking you out or anything. I mean we just met.
-We met over two years ago.
-Yeah, but I didn’t ask you out then…right?
-No, you didn’t.
Lily didn’t think Emmit was a bad person by any means, but she was really hoping she wouldn’t have to reject him, if she didn’t already. She really didn’t know what just happened.
Emmit didn’t think Lily was a bad person by any means, but he grimaced at the idea that now everybody would think he liked Lily.
Blair was not feeling particularly sympathetic towards Emmit, thinking that he was trying to make her jealous in some way. Unlike moments earlier, though, Blair was not willing to end Emmit’s self-torturing humiliation.
Seph just petted Bogart on the head, letting the silence build. He looked at Emmit’s open laptop computer on the coffee table.
-Emmit, do you still play Texas Hold ‘Em with Gary?
-Yeah, but I mostly just play online. Which reminds me, I’m actually in a game right now.
Emmit shoved to Blair the shoebox full of nails, screws, screwdrivers and a hammer and sat down at his computer. He hit one key then slouched back with brick shoulders.
-Eh. They kicked me off.
-Well we should be heading out.
-Say Blair, what did you need my tools for?
Blair considered pretending she didn’t hear him but then stopped at the door. With as little enthusiasm as possible, she began regaling Emmit, Lily and Bogart with her rather rough day. After spending one night at Seph’s place, Blair had returned to find her ground-level apartment burglarized. Dressers and drawers had been pulled out but the only thing missing was a thirteen-inch TV. Apparently the intruders decided that was the only thing of any value in the place. Several of Blair’s own paintings were in the same room but she tried to not take the burglars’ disinterest too personally. Somewhat ironically, she also suspected they took a box of colored pencils.
Lily asked if Emmit’s tools were to build a home security system, but was disappointed to learn they’d just go towards resetting the doorframe. The landlord wouldn’t get to it for a few days so Blair was taking her own safety into her own hands. This why she called Seph, then Emmit, then wasted time and then found Lily. Also Blair lost her coffee punch card when she was due for a free drink so didn’t go to her favorite, but expensive, coffee shop and instead went to a gas station to spend $1.63 on a drink she would hold for an hour and hardly drink. It was this same drink that she dropped her now-worthless cell phone into.
Emmit asked Blair if she wanted help fixing her door. He made sure not to look at Seph, partially worried he was stepping on his friend’s toes. Emmit’s minimal fear was unnecessary as Seph was plenty confident in his masculinity. In fact, he had suggested to Blair that they borrow Emmit’s tools, knowing this to be the quickest, cheapest and easiest course to take.
-No, I think we can handle it, Tim Taylor.
-Okay. Well, bring the box back whenever.
Lily walked down the wooden front porch steps behind Seph and Blair. Seph got into his car but Blair and Lily stood outside theirs. Lily brought up the pizza place she noticed when they were going to Emmit’s. It was a cheap pizzeria, but satisfied the friends years ago when starving at 2 a.m. Lily suggested they eat dinner there, for old time’s sake.
-You liked that pizza, Lily?
-It just always had a special place in my heart.
-No, that was the cholesterol in your heart.
-That’s gross, Blair.
Blair laughed but didn’t second Lily’s suggestion. Lily took the beat of silence to suggest they just get together the next day--to which Blair instantly agreed and got into her car. She was glad her friend was back and just as glad that she didn’t have to choose between being with Seph or being with Lily and Seph. Only Seph could explain why sometimes more isn’t merrier, but Blair could feel it. Lily waved a temporary good bye and got into her own car.
It was then that Lily realized she had made a promise to her friend that they’d see each other tomorrow, so leaving the city seemed wasteful. Also Lily had no money to stay in another city. Also, also, she kind of missed her family. It was time to finish the trip to her parents’ house: her home.
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