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17 Hours Before..

River Kennedi enters the relative calm of his small, shared Apartment Complex. A rundown space, with second hand Furniture and displays of amateur art. A place kept spotless, except for the litter of completed, half finished and discarded paintings and drawings. The only case of disarray, against the washed out, but immaculate decor.

River whisked his Raven black hair, away from his face. Squinting his emerald green eyes, against the burning haze of oil paint and acetone. He kicked off his old converse Sneakers, shaking off his knapsack--discarding it on the floor beside his shoes. He yawned marginally, feeling his body grow fatigued as his clothes rustled. His baggy Denims and Pullover Hoodie, a size to big for his petite frame.

His face was contrite with weariness, and his legs ached from working a twelve hour shift. Something he was accustomed to, yet still found the side effects to be entirely bothersome.

A loud clang in the Kitchen echoed throughout the Apartment. Capturing River's attention as he shimmied out of his grey Pullover, dropping it on the old, cloth Couch.

"Shit!" The voice of his Roommate followed shortly after, making River chuckle lightly as he walked towards the Kitchen.

James Bordeaux, the Roommate, was standing over a spilled bucket of Canvas paint. A gruff frown on his subtly handsome features. His dirty blond hair caught up in a messy ponytail, and his blue eyes scowling at the predicament he faced.

The paint had splattered all over the low, wooden cupboards--forming a puddle on the tiled floors. It's bright tint leaving speckles of red across the small, old doors.

"That's gonna be a little hard to remove," River said, jolting James out of his terrified trance.

"River! Goddammit, you scared the crap out of me!" James exclaimed frowning--his British accent as deep and attractive, as his magazine worthy face.

"You'll get over it, once you get that mess cleaned up. We can barely afford to pay for this place as it is and I'm pretty sure Ms. Corrigan won't appreciate your splatter art all over her Kitchen Cupboards." River mused and James mocked his smile.

"Ha ha, you're a bloody comedian." James deadpanned, entirely annoyed.

"And you're a bloody mess." River faked a British accent, causing James's bushy eyebrows to scrunch up in confusion.

"Are you going to help me or not?" James asked, his ocean blue eyes pleading.

River scoffed lightly, knowing well that he needed rest for the next day to come. Another five hours at the Burger Joint, and the next few hours of daylight searching for a new Job.

"Nope." River said, walking towards the Refrigerator. The only decent piece of electrical appliance in the small, stuffy Apartment.

"I hate you," James griped out and River grinned.

"I'll live with myself." River said, removing a bottle of spring water. "Besides, I need to rest. I have a long day ahead tomorrow. You know I'd have helped, if I wasn't so sleepy."

"This is why you should have chosen Art as a Major, yah bloody wanker." James implored, watching River down the bottle of Water in just one go.

"I don't think your Professors would appreciate my stick figures, and smearing of paint with my tiny and not so manly fingers. Enigmatic my ass." River scowled with a thoughtful glance at James who rolled his eyes.

"Fine I'll do it my damned self, meanie." James sassed and River smiled, nudging James as he passed him. Careful not to step into the paint, that would have surely stuck to his feet for days.

"Where's Cassie?" River asked, noticing that James' character of a Girlfriend wasn't around. "She's usually strolling around half dressed, speaking crazy and screaming at you." River grinned at James.

"Watch it, Mr. I can't get a Boyfriend because I'm too busy with my Business Degree." James mocked in a freakishly squeaky voice, and River frowned at the inaccuracy of it.

"Hey, I don't sound like that! And I sure as hell don't have time to be coddled and fondled by a man." River challenged, but James simply scoffed.

"And I presume fondling yourself while you think I'm sleeping is better?" James grimaced at River, who's cheeks tinted in abysmal embarrassment.

"Dammit those old, squeaky ass beds," River cursed under his breath. James only smirked at River's rant, but he instantly realized he was allowing the paint to dry.

"At least you're man enough to admit it," James gibed, roaming through drawers for something to clean the mess with.

"Shut your Pie-hole, and clean that paint up, Mr. Bordeaux." River retorted, throwing the empty, water bottle at James' head.

"You bloody wanker!" James screamed as River sped-walked away.

River loved the banter between him and James. It was the one thing he looked forward to, after a long day of rude customers and a nagging Boss. He however felt the urge to tell James that he had been fired, but he also hoped that the high paying internship that he had been contacted about, would be granted before he had to.

It had been days since he submitted his resume. He thought of it almost every hour, which led to him being distracted. It also roused up a sudden confidence in him. A confidence that made River talk back at his Boss, Mr. Bash. Who then proceeded to fire him. He thought if only he had kept his mouth shut--then again. River was tired of being spat on, walked over and screamed at by a man whom was much shorter than him. A man who in James's most colorful opinion, was an Arsemonger.

•

River entered the cramped interior of his Bedroom. A rectangular space, with mismatched wooden, metal, and plastic furniture. He hurriedly stepping out of his Denims, grimacing at the sudden coldness--seeping through his pores. Caused by the stone floor, that was the same bland, cream color as the papered walls. Murky and as boring as River thought himself. A trait he hated, yet lived with because of his past.

He discarded the Blue Denims atop his bed, yawning and covering his mouth.

River huffed heavily as he fell backwards into the Bed--in his boxers and an old but favored Band Shirt. Frowning as the loud squeaking resonated throughout the entire Bedroom. He gazed up at the lightbulb in the ceiling, his facial expression neutral.

He quickly fished his phone from his left pocket. Sliding the cracked screen across, hoping to find something interesting. He then decided to check his emails, a small twinge of hope, inspiriting within him. That hope burst into nauseating nervousness, as he saw the brand new email in his inbox.

Titled; Black and Co. Application.

He swiftly flew up, in a sitting position. His heart palpitating so loud, he could hear it beating as if within his eardrums. With a fidgeting thumb, he opened the email. But his mobile data seemed to be slowed down, as it usually did when his megabytes ran dry.

So he waited ten seconds, but nothing.

Another ten seconds, then his patience ran dry--yet still there was nothing.

He opted to wait another ten, but he gave up after just three seconds, the moment he remembered his Laptop. The only thing in the Apartment, that was connected to the Neighbor's Wifi.

"Crappy phone!" River cursed under his breath, dropping the cellphone on the Bed.

He then rose to his feet, hurriedly striding towards his cluttered Computer Desk. Where his HP laptop sat, halfway opened. He hastily opened it up, narrowing his gaze as the screen lit up. Within seconds, he entered his password and smiled. For the screen was already on the email tab.

He paused for a second, even more agitated than before. His head felt swollen, and he feared if he water any longer.

His brain would explode.

River squeezed his eyes shut, clicking the mouse once. He let out a dry huff of air, slowly opening one eye.

From: Grace Keller, CFO. Black & Co.

Received 12:55 pm.

Subject: Re:Application.

After reading that first line, both of River's eyes opened. Peering at the screen, with squinty yet eager eyes.

Hello Mr. Kennedi,

This reply is in regards to the Internship Application that you have submitted. I have to say I'm quite pleased with your Resume, and I look forward to you attending a scheduled Interview.

An excited scream erupted from River's lips, but both his hands swiftly covered his mouth to stop himself. River looked around, to see if James was nearby--unable to contain his excitement. He soon squeaked almost inaudibly, continuing the email.

I have taken the liberty of setting up an interview on the nearest date possible. I hope that you will be able to attend on such short notice. I am aware that you have been recommended, by a well known Professor at Lockwood University here in New York.

However, I wasn't able to review your Application until earlier today, but it is to my understanding that it had been sent to us a week ago.

My apologies for the wait, and I sincerely do hope that the chosen date of the Interview is convenient to your daily schedule.

See below.

January 21, 2016. 3:00pm.

Looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Kennedi!

〰

River's eyes widened as he read the date out loud. He was finally rudely interrupted by James--bounding into the Room. A bottle of Jergens Lotion, clutched in his hands--almost defensively.

"Umm," River grunted and James's frightened expression, changed to one of relief.

"Thank heavens! I thought someone attacked you!" James said, clutching his chest with genuine concern written in his eyes.

River however, glanced from James, to the bottle of Lotion in his hands. "So you came to my rescue with a bottle of Lotion." It was more of a statement than a question, and James frowned at the revelation.

"Uhh, yes?"

"What were you going to do?" River asked and James's left eyebrow rose in limpid puzzlement. "Moisturize them to death?" River queried, and James's gaze flattened.

"Has this bloody thing ever been in your eyes?" James asked, walking into the Room.

"No, it hasn't." River said, sounding a little bit concerned.

"Oh, well." James dropped the bottle of Lotion on River's bed as he plopped down lazily. "The least you could do is say, 'thank you James, for coming to save me. What a true knight in shining armor you are." James recited, almost too dramatically and River groaned in angst.

"Thank you James, for coming to my rescue with a bottle of Lotion, obviously almost empty due to your rigorous amounts of masturbation." River mused and James cocked an eyebrow in his direction. "Your beds are squeaky too." River smirked at James's horrified look. "But as you can see, I'm fine. Just excited."

"That's what that girly scream was?" James asked, befuddled and River face-palmed himself roughly.

"No, you moron, well, kind of!" River seemed confused, and James seemed even more baffled. "I'm excited because I got the Internship." River deadpanned finally and James scowled.

"The Black & Co." He asked and River glared at him incredulously.

"No, for Men.com." River muttered, "Yes! For Black & Co., twit!" River snapped and James glared at him, but it soon turned into a broad smile.

"Now way!" James exclaimed excitedly and River grinned proudly.

"Yes, way!"

"I knew you would get it, babe!" James said confidently and River blushed, a big grin on his lips that hurt from smiling a bit too much.

"The interview's tomorrow!" River said, rising from his seat and sitting down beside James.

"Uhh, tomorrow, tomorrow?"James's smile faded, worrying River immensely.

"Yes tomorrow," River answered, his smile fading a little as he saw the look on James's face. "Aren't you excited?" River asked with a pout and James sighed heavily.

"I am, I am but-," he paused and River frowned marginally. "You have to go see your Mum tomorrow. You know that visits to that God- forsaken place is complicated enough as it is."

River scowled as he pondered the outcome of not going to see his Mother.

He considered not going, but the Hospital only allowed visits twice per week in that Ward. So River had a decision to make, and it was enough to down his spirits.

"Ugh, you're right." River said, falling back on the Bed.

James followed suit, and they both gazed up at the ceiling. River was lost in thought, and James opted to remain quiet. To give River time to think about his options, and come up with a solution to his problem.

"Do you think she'll wake up?" River asked and James shrugged. "What if she does and I'm not there?" He queried, but James didn't have the answers he sought after.

"I don't know, babe." James sighed, his worry for his Best Friend, obvious and genuine. "This Internship is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If your Mother does wake up from her Coma, I'm sure she'll understand why you weren't there." James advised and River gritted his teeth, considering James' words deeply.

"The Interview is at 3:00, and visiting hours starts at 2:30pm." River acknowledged, and James nodded.

"Go see your Mother, if even for ten minutes then go to your interview. Your Mother lived her life, despite how terribly it turned out. Don't let anything stop you from living yours," James said as he rose from the Bed, nudging River's cheeks in the process.

"Ok," River pursed his lips, rising up to a sitting position.

"I'm going to make us some Pasta, and you can tell me all about this new internship." James grinned and River blushed lightly, smiling up at James.

"Ok," River nodded and James rose an eyebrow at him. "Babe," River let out exasperated, and James pointed a finger at him--clearly pleased.

River watched in angst as James exited the room--his feet pattering against the floor lightly. He then turned to his Laptop--a slight grimace masking his features.

〰