Catching Up

Who: Thom and Isaac
When: mid morning
Where: Thom's place

Isaac felt like he hadn't really talked to Thom in a while. And he wasn't terribly cool with that. So he woke up Sunday morning determined to do something about it. He took a shower, threw on some clothes, grabbed his bass, and headed out the back door to tromp through the snow and go next door. He knew his friend would probably be up -- likely for hours already -- so he didn't bother to call first. Even if he wasn't, he was getting up. They had chilling to do, that was more important than sleep. He walked into the back and started for the kitchen and the basement first.

Thom had, in fact, been up for hours already - and he was downstairs in the basement, twiddling more than anything else. He'd bought new strings for his acoustic yesterday and he was fitting them at the moment, making sure they were in and tuned to his liking, taking his time over it - and good lazy Sunday job as far as he was concerned. He looked up as he heard someone coming down the stairs and smiled as he saw Isaac. "Hey man, how's it going?" he asked.

"It's going, you hermity bastard," he said and threw Thom a grin. He came all the way down the stairs and moved to hand off one of the soda cans he'd snagged from the kitchen fridge before he'd headed down. Then perched on one of the amps and ducked out from underneath his bass strap. "Same old shit, different day, what's up with you?" he asked.

"Being a hermity bastard, course," Thom grinned, adjusting what he hoped was for the last time and giving the strings a strum, trying an E minor chord. "Needed new strings," he added, propping the guitar against his chest and reaching for the can. "Thanks."

"Sounds absolutely titillating, my friend," Isaac said with a breathy chuckle. "Missed you at the bonfire thing. It was actually fucked-up-crazy-free, you would've dug it." Outside of the whole Leija being there thing. Which probably wouldn't have gone over too well, considering she was all cozied up to some dude, but whatever. He sipped on his soda and pulled the bass into his lap, checking his own tuning.

Thom shrugged. "Yeah, well, less I have to go out with Chrissy in public, the better, far as I'm concerned," he admitted to his friend. "Anyway, I'd just be waiting for fucking demon cats to attack or some bullshit like that, so, yeah. But glad to hear it was good - there's not been enough of that around recently." Though, in Thom's opinion, he was doubtful whether there'd ever ben enough to tip the scales back that way.

"Can't blame you there," he said honestly. He knew that if he was pretending to be Chrissy's boyfriend (gag) that he would want to do the least amount of hanging out with her as possible. He glanced up from his guitar and then back down again. "How's that going, anyway?" he asked casually. "People keep asking me when I'm gonna have you committed."

Thom chuckled a little. "It's going.... I dunno. Apparently she likes me. And apparently she's unhappy with 'who she is' and 'wants to change'. So, I offered to help her in that, if she was honestly wanting to stop being the bitch. Seriously, if she is? It kind of solves the reason I was doing this in the first place, y'know? So, yeah, if she wants that, I'm gonna support her all the way in it. Which, I know - could be a game, a line, I'm aware of that and I'm looking out for it, but - can't let the opportunity slip by, y'know?"

Well that was rather unexpected. Isaac looked up with somewhat of an incredulous expression. Chrissy didn't like who she was and wanted to change? She was a righteous bitch and a whore, but ... she did it on purpose. He was silent for a second, and then shook his head. He didn't buy it. "As long as you're aware it could be total bullshit," he said, not really wanting to get into an argument or something over it. Not over her. He smirked a little at his strings as he fiddled. "You charmer, you."

"Fuck you," Thom said, goodnaturedly flipping him off as he took a sip of his soda. "And yeah, I know it could be bullshit, I'm kinda assuming that it is, y'know, but I'm not gonna turn down the opportunity that it might not be. And, well, she's actually been making an effort, or so it seems. Least, she's not being as actively bitch queen as she used to be," he shrugged.

"Yeah I noticed that things had been kinda ... quiet, I guess," he said with a chuckle. "Good luck with that, though, I just hope she's not setting you up for something. Maybe you should be like a therapist or something. To the stars, most of them are assholes too. Thom Harkin, Asshole Specialist." Isaac grinned at him.

"Like I have the patience," Thom laughed. "No, man - I have my hands full already, I don't need to take on any more." Between Chrissy and Kaysen - yeah, he didn't need any more problem cases. "And I don't see what she can be setting me up for - unless she's idiot enough to think that I'll see her as a 'changed person' and fall for her or some shit. Which - not gonna happen. Even if she goes through this, that might make me respect her more, but she's always gonna be Chrissy Chapman to me, y'know?"

"If you ask me? Which I know you didn't, but in the strange event that you did ... I would think that's exactly what she's doing," he told him, and shrugged a shoulder. "Or hoping for, or whatever. She still wants some of that hermity rock star dick, man, it's like flies to honey." He raised his hands in a 'what can you do?' gesture and shook his head. "But ... fuck, anything's possible, right? Maybe she'll be serving at soup kitchens and giving kidneys to orphans any day now."

Thom grinned. "Well, she could give two of them and that'd solve the Chrissy problem, right?" he joked.

"She'd be stupid enough to," Isaac said, grinning along with him. At least he had a sense of humor about it, that was like ... necessary. "We can only hope, right?" He plucked a couple of strings and was satisfied, and cracked his knuckles.

"Sooner or later, something's gotta give," Thom agreed. "So - did you come to bitch about me and Chrissy, or did you come to play. Cos, seriously, not played enough lately man, really not..."

"Little from column A, little from column B," he laughed a bit. Then paused, expression sobering up a tiny bit. "One more thing, though, just ... so you know, before you hear it tomorrow. Your ex was there, and snuggled up to some dude I didn't recognize. Heard the name Nate somewhere, but. Just, y'know ... prior-warning, everybody's gotta buzz about everybody else." He shrugged a shoulder, watching Thom's expression. His friend had the best poker face ever, but rumors sucked, and Isaac didn't want him caught off-guard.

That poker face was firmly in place, except for a flicker behind his eyes and a bob of his adams apple as he swallowed. He nodded, dropping his gaze to his guitar as he began fingering through one of their songs. "Right, sure - thanks," he said, not knowing what to think about that. Had to wonder what had happened to Lockwood - and for a moment he felt a bitter question rise to his mind, wondering if that guy had suffered the same fate he had, but he pushed it down, refusing to acknowledge it. That was unfair and he wouldn't even think it.

Isaac knew him well enough to read that like a book, and felt bad that he'd had to tell him. But it was better than hearing it from some stupid bitch at school, he guessed. He didn't say anything else about it, however. Maybe knowing she was apparently jumping around guys would help Thom get over her or ... something. One could always hope. He shifted his position to a better playing one, plugged his instrument in, and went for what tended to heal wounds for both of them, music. He started playing the bass intro to one of their heavier songs.

Thom shifting his fingering and joined in smoothly, grateful more than he could say that Isaac wasn't pushing it. His friend knew him, he knew he didn't have to say so much aloud, and this - this was better than words anyhow. Sometimes, discussing it didn't help anyway, and what was he going to say. Yeah, this was better - this was always better. He could forget about his life when he got lost in music.

Soon enough Isaac was completely into it too. Not that he was trying to hide from much of anything, but it always made an already okay mood even better. They just rocked together like that. He played through a few songs with Thom, blissfully unaware of the time, or the outside world in general.

Thom looked and felt happier, more relaxed as they came to a natural end to their session and he rested against the body of his guitar. "So, anyway - how's things with you? Peyton okay? Haven't heard any bitching from Tyler about you, so I'm assuming it must be going well..." he teased.

Isaac laughed a little at that, also in a pretty good mood after playing for a while. Hearing Thom give him some shit just made that even better. "Things are okay, yeah, pretty good," he said with an easy grin. Was now a good time? Maybe? Maybe not. It was kinda tricky, but his conversation with Kavin the day before had kind of highlighted just how much he didn't talk to Thom about her. He could feel the doofy smile on his face, and some cheek-splotching, and he ran a hand through his hair. "Things are good."

Thom eyed him, a grin spreading across his face. "Ohhhhhh shit, yeah - that's bad," he joked, watching that smile, that look, the gesture, all of it.

"What? No, no it's good, idiot, I said good, not bad," he joked back, unable to keep from grinning back wider. God, what was he, twelve? Isaac tried to get his face to quit doing that thing it so obviously did, and failed pretty miserably. "She's just ... yeah. Great."

"Hey - not an idiot!" Thom said, pulling a cushion out from behind him and launching it at his best friend. "Didn't mean it like that, ass - just, come on - I know that look. Just, generally, don't see it on you. You, my man, have it bad...."

Laughing, Isaac batted at the pillow, which hit his bass instead and made an awful noise from the amp. "I can't help it, dude, she's just ... " he shook his head, not able to come up with a proper adjective again. He didn't want to rub it in, he really didn't, but he felt all retardedly schoolgirl-giddy at the moment. "I love her," Isaac said and shrugged, still smiling. "And I'm glad I waited." He fingered a bit on the neck of the guitar, looking a bit sheepish.

Thom gave his friend an assessing look, then nodded slightly, dropping the teasing, but keeping the smile. "Well, good for you then - I'm happy for you. Seriously. Glad one of us found something." And it was better it was him anyway.

He knew Thom meant it, but that particular phrasing still sucked to hear. It brought him back down a little bit. But he'd done well so far, so he wasn't going to fret about it. "Yeah well, you'll have your day. Whenever you stop being a hermity bastard," he said, but it was toned lightly. That was just what he thought.

"But I like being a hermity bastard," Thom joked, looking around the room. "Hell, look at this place - what more could a guy want out of life?" It was a rhetorical question, but for Thom the basement was his home, it was his favourite place, his sanctuary.

"Company that's prettier than me?" Isaac suggested with an arched eyebrow and a half-laugh. "And who's not Chrissy, by the way, she doesn't count just 'cause she's got a great ass." He paused, then pulled a bit of a face. "Dude, you've never had her down here, have you? 'Cause then we need like a cleansing ritual or something."

Thom gave him a serious look. "She's never even been in this house," he told his best friend. And he had no intention of changing that. She didn't come here, that was the end of it. he'd go to her, he'd play nice, but she didn't get to actually step into his life. She just got the illusion that he let her in.

Isaac's smile faded just a touch at the tone. "Just asking," he said, and shrugged. Though that was good, at least. She hadn't utterly invaded his life. He would've been truly worried if that was the case. And at least he'd never asked to double-date, thank god.

"Sorry," Thom apologised. "Look, I know it looks like I'm being a complete fool, but I'm not - she's not getting into my life, not matter what she or anyone else thinks. Anyway, I get enough lectures from you and your sister and, oh, everyone else who can get a word in - I don't need to add my mother to that list..." That, though, was said with a slight smile.

"We just bitch because we care, man. Or I do. Kaysen bitches because she's pissed, she does other stuff 'cause she cares," he said with a chuckle. "I'm glad, though, that you're keeping her at a good enough distance. And I know what you're doing, so that's all I'll say about it." For now, anyway. He paused as his brain changed gears in the rapid way that it did. "Oh, I think Kavin's having another party sometime soon and wants us to play. Cool?"

"Yeah cool - always cool, you know that," Thom said with a wider grin this time. There was nothing that he loved more, after all. "Any idea when, or is this just a 'some point in the future' thing?"

"So far just a 'some point in the future' thing," Isaac told him. "He's been sick as hell, so he kinda wants a 'hey I'm still alive' party. Which ... y'know, the logic there isn't the best, with the drinking and everything, but hey. It's a gig." He shrugged a shoulder and chuckled.

Thom chuckled at that. "Yeah, that's sounds like a plan - not necessarily a good one for the guy, but a plan nonetheless. Anyway, count me in - you know I'm always up for that kind of shit," he agreed.

"Figured as much," he said with a nod. Thom was pretty much a sure bet when it came to playing a show. Now he'd just have to call Tyler and Jason and make sure they were down too. "It's snowing already, the whole outdoor town-venue season's over, gotta take what we can get." Not that they did much of that anyway, but when they had, it'd be awesome.

"Yeah, saw the white stuff when I got up - why'd think I'm down here. Starting my winter hibernation," Thom joked. But with the boiler down here it was often one of the warmest places in the house in the winter.

Isaac laughed a bit. "You know, for living here your whole life, you're a fucking cold-pussy," he teased, grinning at his friend. Insults were a cornerstone of their relationship sometimes. "It's not that bad out yet, you still have no excuse for hermiting."

"Yeah, yeah, fuck you - you know I'm no great fan of winter," Thom jibed back, taking the insult as lightly as he delivered his own. "And I know it's not bad out there, but 'cuse me if I'm not one for going rolling around in the snow."

"Sucks to be you, then, 'cause winter lasts like nine months out of the twelve," he said, shaking his head and plucking a couple more bass strings. Of course, it sucked to be Thom in more than just that, but that bit didn't need saying. "Rolling around in the snow is great if you've got a cute girl to do it with. They love that snow-fight stuff. Unless it's like fifty-below, but a day like today? Prime snow-rolling weather."

"I'll leave that one to you. She might have a nice ass, but I'm not going anywhere near snow-rolling with Chrissy. Please," Thom said, rolling his eyes. Anyway, they both knew that Thom hadn't been the snow-rolling type since they were small kids - and not really even then. It just wasn't his thing - far too serious, it was always said.

"I swear to god you're like a sixty year old trapped in a seventeen year old body," Isaac laughed. He snagged up the pillow that Thom had thrown and lobbed it back. "One day I'm going to introduce you to fun, and it's going to stick. ... not with Chrissy, though, I have to agree. But we all know if like ... Jessica Alba was out there on a snowbank pouting at you to roll with her, you wouldn't do it. Ass."

Thom gave Isaac an assessing look. "Okay, so - Okay, possibly, Jessica Alba - I'd think about it," he quipped, because, really - yeah, who wouldn't? "But I think that if she came to town, you'd be too busy trying to distract that ass for me to get a look in anyway. Peyton or no Peyton...."

"A man can look, no harm in that," he informed his best friend with a bright grin. "Anyway, it's good to know that you at least still have a pulse. If you said you wouldn't even consider snow-rolling with Jessica Alba, I'd have to seriously question those gay rumors all over again." He was kidding of course, but ribbing Thom about it was just Isaac's extra special way of dealing with shit.

"Hey - just you remember. Those rumours were for you, not me. I was the object, not the subject, so back off," Thom shot back, giving as good as he got without a pause for thought.

"Takes two to tango, my man," he countered with a laugh. "Can't pitch without a catcher, if you get my drift. ... which is really gross and I propose that we change the subject back to Jessica Alba's ass."

"Yeah, let's just.... Not go there, okay? Cos, no. Yes! Jessica Alba's ass - good call," Thom agreed, quickly. "Or snow - you can go roll around with Peyton, it'll be fun. And I'll just make like one of the old guys from the Muppet Show and watch from a window. And you can bitch - see, there's no flaws in this plan," he joked with a wide grin.

"Only the Isaac's A Terrible Friend flaw, what with me making you witness my girlfriend-rolling and everything," he said, shaking his head a bit. "No, dude, now I have to find the cash to bribe Jessica Alba to come up here and shake her snowbunny ass at you." He gave a put-upon sigh. "You're a pain in the ass, Harkin, you really are. The shit I do for my friends."

"Ahh, I'm sure your dad would loan you if you asked nicely, golden boy," Thom shot back. "Since I know you'd do anything for our friendship, right?" he joked, seemingly quite content with being a pain in the ass.

Isaac laughed. "Yeah I can hear that conversation. 'Hey dad, can I borrow a few grand so I can give Thom a thrill? He's in dire need.' I'll get right on that." He grinned. He had good feelings here, this was good. Something had kind of been missing somewhere, and he was realizing that it was this.

"Hey man, I have faith in your ability to come up with some shit that'd fly. But, I think you'd need more than a few grand, so this time, I'll let you off the hook. You totally owe me though," Thom joked.

"Deal, then. I owe you one very juicy ass attached to a hot girl. She might be cheaper than Jessica, but you can deal." Isaac grinned back at him and shook his head. Then checked his watch. "But if I'm gonna drop in on Peyton, I should probably do it before she gets dragged out somewhere."

Thom laughed, picking his guitar back up again. "Sure, whatever - have fun man - tell her I said hi, okay?" he said, easily, not minding at all his best friend was heading out to see his girl. Really, he wished the guy happy.

"Will do, hermit-ass," Isaac said as he gathered his stuff up. It had been good, really. They'd played some music, talked some, joked around ... he was a bit less worried about his best friend now. "Catch you later," he called on his way up the stairs, ready to get back across the yard and borrow the van to go see his girl.