Why? ((open))

[Mush Meyers]

Whether you were looking for him or not, Mush Meyers could be found in the Stray Cat Bar. He was slumped over with his head on his arms, drunk. He wasn't even sure how he'd gotten to Harlem. ALl he knew was that he needed a drink. The stress of all that had happened to him and he finally just cracked. Ophelia cheating on him then trying to get him back. Saying she was pregnant, then she gets Eli killed. It all seemed like a dream to him, or at least he wanted it to be a dream.
He sat up every once in a while and took a drink from his mug. There wasn't anything more in it, but he didn't care. The bartender had all but forgotten him. He was drunk but he wouldn't leave. The bartender had told him multiple times to leave but he couldn't. He didn't even sit up when he vaugly heard his name, or when someone sat beside him.

[Street]

Street and had been told that Mush would be here. After her trip with Levi up to New Hampshire to try and find his father, she welcomed the idea of talking to Mush first. He was always the best, her friend before all the others. "Hey Mush. I think ya pickled yer liver there." Was all she said. She painfully remembered that night, where poor Eli got killed 'cause Ophelia was a coward. And pregnant to boot. Ophelia had been kicked out of her boarding house and though Street had offered, refused to share her little bed under the bridge with her. She was staying with Mercury and Scarlett. That reminded her... "Ya know Scarlett had her baby right... Here it was twins! Guess what she named them... Eli and Rome. Don't ask where she got the 'Rome' from. But ya should see 'em Mush, and the odd thing is, Goldie won't let little Eli outta her sight! But ya probably don't wanna see no babies right now..." Street bit her lip. "Ya... Ya do know it ain't yers right? 'Cause Levi and Asher told me that ya two never did nothin'. 'Cause ya respect her... as you shouldn't but it ain't my place. Please talk ta me, Mush!" Street cried suddenly. Just like her, to always keep talking.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush finaly lifted his head to see who had sat next to him when they screamed his name. It was Street. He smiled at her and set his head back down. THe last thing he needed was to throw up on her. His words were slightly mumbled and slightly slurred but he hoped that Street understood, after all she'd been around Levi long enough.
"Heya Street haven' seen you around in a while. Nice day outside i'n'it?" He had no idea what he was saying or where this conversation was going. Mush actually thought he was dreaming, what with Street back and everything. "I don' wanna talk about her. That lying, cheating little slut. I can't do it Street. I just can'. I was gonna give 'er this, but now..." His voice trailed off as he fished around in his pocket for the diamond ring he'd gotten for Ophelia. He found it and held it up for Street to see, letting her take it. "I jus' can't." Was all Mush kept saying over and over. He let his head slump back down on the bar again and felt himself slipping in and out of consiceness. He heard the bartender walk over to where he was again and talk to Street. "Hey any chance ya can get him outta here? He's been here long enough. I think he mighta slept here last night."
Mush wanted to protest and say that he did not sleep here last night he found this place early in the morning and been here ever since. But all he could do was raise his head slightly and mumble.

[Street]

Street listened to mumbling with concern. She bit her lip. "I know Mush, I know. She's well, I hate ta say it, but she's always been attention seeking. I can't remember much, but I always remember her cryin' about somethin'. Come on, cheer up. Yer worth ten of her." Street rubbed his back slowly. When he showed her the ring however, her hand became shaky and she gasped quietly. "Oh... Mush!" Was all she said, but she placed it back in his hand, closing his fingers around it. "Don't go showin' that around... Someone might try and take it, eh?"

She looked up at the bartender. "I'll do my best." She tugged on his arm, but he was larger then her. She slung his arm around her neck, grabbed him around the waist and started to pull him to the door. "I'm gonna sober ya up, Mush. I think a quick dip in the river will do ya good."

[Mush Meyers]

Mush shrugged his shoulders as Street led him outside. "It don't matta anymore. THey can have it. I ain't got no use fer it." He pocketed the ring anyway. Just then, what Street had said registered.
"I think a quick dip in the river will do ya good."
Mush shook his head. "Nah I don't wanna go in the river. I don't wanna go." He kept repeating over and over. He had no idea that while he was complaining, they were getting closer to the river.

(srry its short)

[Street]

Street clicked her tongue. "Come now, Mush. My sister ain't worth this fussin'. Ya know how ya should get her back? Show up somewhere she's at with a pretty little girl who's better then her. She'll get mad at that... Plus, there's a lot to chose from. What about Brooke? Or Abby? Why... I think Lucky's single. Maybe even Ace..."

She shook her head. "Nah, we ain't goin' ta the river. I'm takin' ya ta the boardin' house... Hopefully." She sighed and adjusted her grip on him. "Can't ya help, a bit. I understand the depression and all that... But please, Mush?"

[Mush Meyers]

Mush shook his head. "Nah Brooke's got Sean ain't she? And Abby's got Spade. An' an' i don' wanta take Ace from Chase." He looked up at the sky. "Why meh, Street? Huh? I didn't do nothin'." He sighed. He lifted himself up somewhat. He couldn't really walk with all the alcohol in his system, but with Street as a support he could at least hold himself up. He soon saw the Lodging House. He knew people in the street were staring at him and whispering things, but he didn't see them. He focused on Street when she began talking to him again.

[Street]

Street lurched to a stop. "Chase and Ace? Since when? Oh God... I hope Asher doesn't find out. It'll break his heart..." She sighed and set Mush down on a bench. She sat next to him. "Honestly Mush, I don't know why Ophelia was such a jerk ta ya... I'm sorry. I wish I could do somethin' for ya, honestly I do, Mush." She hugged him tight. "Don't worry Mush, I'm here for ya, no matter what. Remember when we were little and ya helped me find a place ta sleep, remember? I was only eight and ya were what... eleven? Seems so weird..." She murmured. "We've been friends foreva. And we always will be." She promised.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush half smiled at Street. "Yeah weh have." Mush squinted as he looked up at the sky. "Ya know what? Yer right. Oph- yer sista wasn't the one fer meh. I guess i just gotta find her now." He slouched down on the bench and put an arm around Street in a one armed hug. "Thanks Street. Yer a good friend." Mush began to slip out of consiecness then. The last thing he remembered was Street telling him not to go to sleep, to wait until they got to the house. And him agreeing with her telling her he wasn't tired.

[Street]

Street shook Mush lightly. "Come on, Mush! Wake up, please, wake up!" She cried, she tugged on the front of his shirt. Then, with a sigh, she let him go, he slumped back down on the bench. She sat heavily next to him. "Oh, what am I gonna do now? I could barely carry ya here when ya were concious... Let alone now..." She continued to talk to him, trying to wake him back up. "How could anybody do this ta ya Mush? I've never known ya ta be one for the drink, but now yer worse then Levi and Sean have ever been..." She buried her face in her hands, caught at an impass. She wanted to blame Ophelia, wanted to wring her neck... But Ophelia was her sister, someone she should look up to and admire. But Mush was also her closest friend. She wiped the tear away and sat up straighter. She grabbed a bucket from a doorstep and drenched Mush in the water. "Wake up, right now, Mush Meyers!" She ordered.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush opened his eyes as soon as the water hit his face. He blinked the water out of his eyes and spit it out of his mouth. His hands reached up to clear off the rest of his face. "What the h- what was that for?" He began to yell then he saw Street. He stood up, but sat down, his hands on his head. "Ow, damn." Mush had a pounding headache and his stomach hurt. He looked up at Street. "Thanks, i guess." With the strong stomach he had, he managed not to throw up. He sat there holding his head with one hand, and his stomach with the other. "Why did ya throw water on meh? Ya shoulda hit meh, it mighta taken away the pain some." He groaned as his head pounded.

[Street]

Street looked horrified. "I could never hit ya! I mean, ya say some stupid things sometimes, but I couldn't hit ya, ever! I mean, I hit Asher and Sean and sometimes even Levi, but I could never hit ya!" She said, exasperated. "Come on Mush, why don't we go for a walk. How about Central Park? Ya love Central Park!" Street smiled gently. She soothed his hair down. She handed him her coat. "Here, so ya ain't so wet." She patted his shirt absently, her hands trembling, not sure how to do it properly. Not for him.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush smiled at Street but it turned into a grimace as his head throbbed from the alcohol in his system. He grabbed her hand gently. "I'm fine Street. Honest." He stood up slowly and took a sharp intake of breath. He smiled slightly at Street. "A walk would be nice. Maybe it'll help clear meh head." He smiled wider and winked at her. They set off for Central Park. "Where's Levi? I ani't seen him fer a while."

[Street]

"O-okay. If yer sure..." She said, sounding unconvinced. She kept glancing at him every once in a while, checking to make sure he was alright. "Levi took the thing with his father really hard. I tried to comfort him, but I wasn't sure how ta, other then well, ya know, but I wasn't goin' ta do that... Not yet." She cleared her throat. "So, as soon as we got ta New York, he... um... offered ta take me up ta that apartment of his, but I said no, 'cause I knew what was on his mind, but he told me I was bein' foolish, and I told him that I wasn't ready, and he said that I'm never ready for anythin', and then he stormed off, and I haven't seen him since." Street sighed. "Asher tried ta talk ta him, tell him that he wasn't thinkin' straight, but he punched Asher in the eye, so... Then Sean went ta talk ta him and Levi threw him down a flight of stairs... Then I went ta talk ta him, but he said that he had nothin' ta say ta me, so I told him he should've just slept with Feely when she offered instead of kissin' me and sayin' he loved me, and he said that he should've 'cause at least he'd be gettin' some, and then I punched him and he looked at me like I was insane and then I bolted. I mean, I ran like I was eight again and had just picked my first pocket, remember how fast I ran? Ya said I was like... Like I had wings on my shoes or somethin'. I didn't understand of course, 'cause I don't wear shoes..."

She turned to him quite suddenly. "Do ya think I'm wrong in hittin' Levi? I mean, I didn't mean ta, I just did 'cause his words cut me where it hurt. Right here." She tapped the middle of her chest, where she believed her heart to be. "I hope he don't hate me..." She pondered.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush stopped dead in his tracks, stumbling slightly, listening to Street's story. He chukled a bit when he remembered little Street. "Yeah, ya were runnin' pretty fast." He smiled into space, reliving the memory. Then, her words about Levi hit Mush like stone. His jaw clenched as he tried not to picture it. "Nah i don't think yer wrong. He's lucky it was ya an' not meh. Nobody should force ya inta doin' somethin' ya don't want ta Street. Don't eva let them. If Levi 'needs some' tell him Ophelia's still around. Pregnant or not she's still a slut." He mumbled the last bit. He put an arm around her shoulders and started walking again. Levi was Mush's friend, his best next to Street, but he couldn't believe Levi would do such a thing excpesially to Street.