What was it with  Big Joe ? James thought.

He couldn't say that there was necessarily something wrong with him. Although if he were telling somebody the story honest, that's exactly how he'd describe Big Joe. There's something wrong with him. He's messed up.

But if James thought there was truly something...

When he arrived at his apartment he was jolted. Sweat. Heartbeat.

The place had burned down.

Then he remembered. He and  Big Joe had done that. This was less than a day ago. Less than 14 hours.

God damn he was tired.  sun light soaked into his head. His eyes ached. Those pills...

For each one of Big Joe's bites, James scarfed down three spoon fulls. Big Joe would chew at least twenty times. James would basically inhale the food.

By the time James plate was empty, he was amazed that Big Joe's was empty as well. It was like those horror films, where...

There was a cafe in the middle of the  farmers market . No  CCTV on the inside. And none in the back entrance. Big Joe knew this because he knew the owner. The owner didn't know him back. If he had, then this wouldn't work as an Alibi. No. James...

"Who was he?"

Big Joe didn't turn. Kept his gaze on the open eyes on the corpse on the floor. "Nobody."

Didn't look like nobody to James. But he didn't say shit. There was a sign on the wall.

Rule #1: Butch is always right.
Rule #2: When Butch is wrong, look at Rule...

Normal people didn't know what the inside of a bar looked like in daylight.  sun pouring through. Painting the floors and walls. Revealing dust floating in the air. You never noticed dust in the  dark . It was bright. And Quiet.

Darkness hid much.

With sound it was different Noise could...

He barely chewed. Chum filled his stomach. But it didn't satisfy him. James couldn't say that he was hungry. But definitely far from nourished.

Was he supposed to go a full day like this? No sleep either. Chad's death had sealed that fate. Not that he should be the one complaining....

No order. He wanted some order. The only place he could find it in were his memories. That burning hot  asphalt . Black tar. They had paved it fresh that summer he had worked there. While his best friends were at summer camp he was pushing carts around. Breathing fumes....

James was out of it. Only realized a minute into the ride that the  Uber driver was the same as before. The one Chad had ordered on his behalf. Funny how that worked. Chad orders James a ride home. James arrives there. And there Chad is tied up.

How did Big...

Big Joe kept his hand out. Black gun in his hand. James reached his hand out as slow as he could. Maybe if he moved slow enough then the inevitable would never happen. Maybe if he moved just slow enough... then he wouldn't need to shoot his high school friend....