The Middle

*Brian POV*
I eyed my friend Zacky a bit critical when he was still on the phone with Mr. Mellark. He walked in the hospital room up and down, biting his fingernails and made us really nervous. Of course I hoped that now everything would be fine. I had realized that it was quite stupid to ignore my problems with all these drugs. I just felt pretty lonely. I didn’t like to burden Zacky with all my problem. Now Jimmy was still there, and everything could hopefully go back to the good.

“Can you finally tell me what he said?” I pushed Zacky when he finally hung up and sat back down next to me in bed.

“There is a good news and bad news” he lowered his head.

Oh great. That had been missing. I sighed and put my hands on my face and went back to the lying position.

“The bad news is, Brian I’m sorry, you have to stay one or two more days here.”

I looked at him a little odd. I’ve had no idea how this was connected with the phone call with Mr. Mellark.

“And the good one?” Jimmy asked then and I looked between the two just back and forth.

“The good is” imitating a drum roll on the little table “Sarah is finally arrested.”

“YES” I screamed and covered my mouth immediately then.

The volume was a little louder than originally planned. But it was a big load off my shoulders when I finally got the message that this woman was in jail. Immediately a nurse came in the room and just pointed that I should probably be a little quieter. I just nodded and looked at her with my brown eyes until she finally left the room smiling again.

“Well, that sounds like a party dudes” Jimmy raised his right arm and looked at us two excited.

“You wouldn’t be our Jimmy, if you don’t plan a party in secret already” Zacky laughed and shook his head.

“I’m definitely on. Once I’m out of here we do it. Do you already have an idea where?” I sat up again and noticed how my eyelids were increasingly getting heavier.

“I’m not sure yet, but I have quite a few places where we can celebrate. But before you sleep, I have a little surprise for you.”

Jimmy got up and went back outside. I looked at Zacky, but he was just as clueless as I am. When there is Jimmy you really could never be sure exactly what was going to happen next. You better don’t expect anything.
A few minutes later Jimmy came back and I heard a barking, that sounded very suspiciously like my dog Pinkly. When he came around the corner I saw her then in his arms. I could not help but grinning from ear to ear. I’ve missed my dog really bad and finally we were reunited.

“As I waited outside, I called a friend. Well let’s say she has managed to bring Pinkly to me and I’ve been waiting for a good opportunity. And so at least you’re not alone.”

“But do you know that animals are not allowed here” I smiled.

“Yes, I definitely know that, but I think no one could resist Pinkly.”

I looked down at the white Maltese that tried everything possible to get my full attention. It seemed to me like I’m not the only one who had been missing the company.

~ * ~

A few days later it was finally over. I was finally out of the hospital and had a talk with one of the doctors that recommend a therapy to finally get rid of all my problems. The warning that I was really narrowly escaping death scared me a little bit. I did not want to leave this world yet, it was still damn too early. There were still a few tasks for me before I go to the afterlife.
In the meantime, I finally moved to Zacky’s place. We have had another chat and had agreed that it would be a better option to live with him the next few weeks or even months. So he always had an eye on me, plus we were able to spend the most time together and play video games all day, if we wanted to.

“Did Jimmy say when he wants to come over?” I called to Zacky in the kitchen while I made myself comfortable on the couch.

“Actually, in the next few minutes. But you know him. It is neither too early, nor too late. “

“He arrives precisely when he means to” we both said to the same time until we burst out in laughter.

It was spooky sometimes that we could finish each other’s sentences. We knew exactly what the other one was thinking or feeling. I think this kind of bound was so rare in this world. And I was glad that I’ve had Zacky in my life.

“You just have to go back upstairs and take a shower and put on some new clothes” Zacky called back and pointed to my black jeans and a white sleeveless shirt.

“Why? I do not smell and the clothes are ok as well” I pouted and crossed my arms.

“I beg you. There were days when you have changed yourself about three times or more” he rolled his eyes, but could not suppress a smile.

“All right” I sighed and had to laugh as well.

That was all a bit absurd and kind of strange. Since when I followed Zacky’s commands. It almost seemed like that I ordered a ticket to hell where he alone is the ruler. I just missed that I screamed ‘Hail’ all the time and fell to my knees when he calls my name.
Shaking my head, I went upstairs and looked for clothes for tonight. It really should not be too flashy. That’s why I only chose a black T-shirt without inscription, my dark blue jeans, combined with a studded belt and my black leather jacket. So the outfit was finished.

Freshly showered and dressed, I went back down the stairs and turned once before his eyes.

“Are you ok with that, my king” I curtsied and took the beer, which was standing already opened on the kitchen table.

“I can let you go like this” he wrinkled his nose.

“Many thanks for that my lord” I smiled.

Finally it rang. Jimmy was here and the wild night could now finally begin. I had already prepared myself for a hangover the next morning. It was no secret that you end up with a lot of alcohol when Jimmy was one of your companions. Maybe we even ended up in one of the strip clubs in the city. I was ready for anything, especially for a lot of fun.

“Jimmy” Zacky opened the door and welcomed Jimbo with a warm welcome.

I stood unchanged at the kitchen counter, watching the action from there.

“Do you really think you need a pair of sunglasses? You have missed the sunset, haven’t you?” I said when I saw him slowly approaching me.

“Who says that sunglasses are just good for that?” he put it off and winked at me until one of his famous hugs came. “I’m so glad you’re back on your feet” he said without letting me go.

“Will you hold me or do we want to go?” I smiled.

Jimmy jumped back and clapped his hands, until we were finally gone out of the house. He was a real bundle of energy, always turned up and there was no minute passing where he could sit up still somewhere.

“Where do you want to take us?” Zacky asked who had placed on the other side of Jimmy.

“I think we will start at Duke’s. Then I would suggest Beer Company until we come to our favorite place. Johnny’s Saloon “

“You have big plans” I raised my eyebrows.

“And much more to come” Jimmy laughed with one of his inimitable laugh.

It was a mix of a crazy laugh with a kind of vicious laughter. Anyway, it sounded really funny and no one I knew could resist. They laughed with him automatically. Whether it was funny or not. His good humor put on hold.

~ * ~

With a quite a buzz, I woke up the next morning. My head felt as it would explode any minute. No idea how much we had been drinking or how long it was all about. I couldn’t just remember anything, except my own name. I opened my eyes only then when I heard a loud murmur beside me and found myself suddenly in a hotel room.
Have we all been that drunk that we couldn’t make it home anymore last night? I just looked at the environment and it didn’t look like we were at one of our local hotels. Not that I knew all the city’s hotels, but it really seemed to me to be very classy. Maybe we had traveled to Los Angeles and had a room there for one night. I just wouldn’t get an answer if I would stay here in bed. I patted Zacky’s shoulder, that was still making strange noises next to me.
With the very last strength I pulled myself out of bed and looked out the window. I scared a little bit of what I saw. Big city was the right answer, but we suddenly seemed to be on the other side of America. I quickly looked for a brochure or something, which gave me more information about our stay.
There were some leaflets on the table and finally I found what I was looking for.

“Mandarin Oriental, New York.”

I sat back down on the bed and could not believe it. How the hell did we get here? And after all, the hotel was one of the most expensive hotels in whole New York. It was not so that we would be millionaires but we couldn’t afford a place like this.

“Zacky” I whispered softly, patted him until he finally opened his eyes.

“What’s going on? I want to sleep” he murmured, and was about to shut his eyes again as he seemed to realize that we were no longer in our hometown “Where are we? And where’s Jimmy? “

I shrugged my shoulders. I couldn’t answer him the first question but I definitely had an answer to his first one.

“Welcome to New York,” I said, holding up the flyer.

Notes