Late November was very busy. Thanksgiving was an absolute mess; the friends watched TV all day after trying to cook a turkey they'd gotten at a giveaway. It had burned thanks to the extreme lack of cooking skill held by the hostesses (Alex and Charlie), but they'd still eaten what they could. It was okay, they decided, because Thanksgiving was about being thankful for what you had, not cooking the perfect meal or having a not-burnt turkey. (That's pure crap! was Alex's thought on that matter.)

Coming just under a week after that disastrous holiday was a very special birthday. For the few days in between, much of everyone's energy went into planning a celebration, despite the birthday boy himself trying to tell everyone that he didn't need a party (that's pure crap! was the thought of literally every one of his friends).

Matt Cameron was the drummer of Soundgarden. He was one of the best drummers around and everyone knew that. People were always calling him in to do drumming on demo tracks and stuff like that and he was always more than happy to do it when he could. Because he wasn't just a great drummer; he was also a really nice guy, cool to the bone and a good person overall. His friends all loved him a lot. Which is why his birthday was the cause of so much celebration the AIC house was nearly brought down and the friends almost went broke (well, not Alex and Charlie--they were already broke) trying to buy enough food and drinks to feed everyone that came to his party.

And a hell of a party it was. The apartment was once again full to capacity, which made it a great thing that it was a nice night; people were willing to hang out in the courtyard rather than try to cram into the apartment.

Alex and Charlie brought two things to the party: a new cymbal for Matt's kit, and Jo. Matt laughed when the gift was given to him, because they'd wrapped it in thin toilet paper and hadn't even tried to make it a surprise. He also really appreciated them bringing Josephine, who was obviously charmed and very happy to see him again.

That day was a Wednesday and nearly everyone had work the next morning, but no one cared. They all stayed up partying for a very long time. Morning came and most of the guests went straight from the AIC house to their jobs--including Alex, Charlie, and Jo.

Alex and Jo hurried off together, fearing they'd be late for work. They were both tired but each tried to keep the other's spirit up by making jokes and discussing the party. Alex was about to mention that moment of panic when a cop car had cruised by the apartment, but stopped when she realized something was wrong. They'd arrived, but the warehouse doors were closed and there was a piece of paper taped to one of them. "Hey, what's...what's going on?"

"I don't know." Jo moved closer to read the piece of paper while Alex went to see if the side door was open. "Dear loyal employees..." she quickly skimmed the page. "Alex, the warehouse closed."

"What?" Alex yelled, jogging back over. "It's closed? Forever?"

"I guess so," Jo said, stepping back so Alex could read it. "Alex...does this mean we're out of jobs?"

Alex read it slowly, as if she was scared to read each next word. "Yeah, Jo, I think it does." She looked around. "This is so fucking low. I can't even believe it. What the hell are we gonna do now?"

"I-I don't know. I'm gonna have to leave my place, there's no way I can afford it now...and it took me forever to find this job..."

"Aw, well--I mean you can stay with me n' Charlie but I don't even know if we'll be able to keep our place since it takes the two of us to pay for it." Alex's mind was already racing, going through every business in the city that might be hiring.

"I can't--you don't have to do that..."

"Come on, where else are you gonna stay?"

"The...street."

"Josephine!"

"I don't wanna be a bother! And Charlie hasn't agreed to this!"

"She will, she likes you a lot and she's not evil. Look, just come by when you can. I assume you gotta go see if there's anything that can be done with your current home."

"Yeah, I really should go see if there's any way I can skip a month's rent. It's probably a lost cause since my landlord is a strict old jackass, but I might as well try."

"Shit, good luck. Come by tomorrow morning, will you? You know where the apartment is."

"Okay," Jo said in a soft voice. It was clear she was a little shaken, and Alex didn't blame her. They parted ways, each thinking about how fast the day had taken a turn for the worst.

Alex went right back to the Alice In Chains house, wondering if the festivities remained ongoing. She guessed upon her arrival that the party was over; Layne and Jerry were wandering around the courtyard picking up empty cups and bottles. She waved a quick hello to the pair, who were both still too cross-faded to even wonder why she'd come back, and trudged up the stairs to their open apartment. She found Chris and Eddie playing cards in the living room. It appeared they were supposed to be cleaning as well but had gotten distracted.

"Alex? You're back early," Chris said, not looking up from his hand of cards.

"Yeah, it's 'cause, um, I'm out of a job," Alex said in a monotone voice as she stared down at the floor.

"Wait, what?" Eddie tossed his cards down onto the table in front of him and held out a hand. (Chris took that opportunity to peep at Eddie's cards before carefully placing his own face-down on the table.)

Alex stepped forward and put her hand in his, sitting on the couch between him and Chris. "Yeah, they closed the warehouse I worked at. This...this sucks."

"How are you feeling?" Eddie asked.

Alex looked at the cards on the table and took a deep breath. "Outshined."

Chris blinked. "Outshone."

"What?"

"Outshined--that's not a word."

"Thanks for the feedback," Alex said in a sarcastic voice. "What are you, an English teacher?"

Chris laughed and Alex grinned in spite of herself, turning back to Eddie. "Not great, but it doesn't matter. I just gotta get out there and find another job."

"I might...I think I might know some places that are hiring. I'll ask around," Eddie said.

"Aw, thanks a lot, Eddie. I really appreciate it." Alex turned to Chris. "I don't appreciate your damn English lessons."

"Hey, I'm just trying to help. Anyway, if I happen to hear of any job openings, I'll let you know."

"Oh, I'm just trying to help," Alex mocked in a silly voice. She laughed at the lame look Chris gave her as a result and waved it off. "I'm kidding, I appreciate you too. Really, guys, thanks."

"It's, y'know--it's nothing," Eddie said.

Chris looked at him for a moment and then shook his head and replied, "it's everything."

Alex snickered pushed him away, leaning into Eddie's side as if trying to find refuge in it. Eddie himself let out a soft laugh and put his arm around her shoulders and said to Chris, "you're a real bully."

"Yeah, I know," Chris said in the tone someone takes when accepting a fact they don't want to believe is true. He looked down at the table and picked up his cards. "Anyway, what are you gonna do about your apartment?"

"I'm gonna see if there's any way we can put down only half the rent for just this month. I hate being in debt but I really need to buy some time. I think I can definitely find a job by January."

"Well if you need money I can--" Chris began, but Alex cut him off.

"I could never. It'll be fine, I can do this. I've been at rock bottom before and this isn't it."

"If you say so," Eddie said, lightly shaking her shoulder in an encouraging way. Alex laughed
and patted his hand.

"I'm gonna go home now, I gotta go call my landlord and do some stuff. I'll see you guys later?"

"Yeah, sure," Chris said, and Eddie nodded and took his arm back as she stood up. She nodded and waved at both of them, exiting the apartment and making her way down the steps. Jerry and Layne were still in the courtyard, now trying to keep a stack of empty beer bottles balanced as they added more.

"That's never gonna stay that way," she called.

"You don't know that," Layne said in a slow, quiet voice, as if trying to avoid disturbing the bottles.

"Yeah. We're pros at this," Jerry said.

"Oh, sure," Alex said. The stack toppled a second later, and it was an absolute miracle that none of the bottles had broken. "Pros indeed. Anyway, I gotta go. See you two later."

"See you!" They both said at the same time, waving a little too enthusiastially. Alex chuckled and headed off into the town.

She looked all day. She asked around and went from shop to shop, seeing
if anyone at all was hiring. No one was.

"Fuck my entire existence," Alex said to herself as she headed home, deciding to call it quits for the day. "Now I gotta tell Charlie..."

Of course, Charlie responded with nothing but sympathy, immediately trying to make her roommate feel better instead of worrying about the rent. They did phone their
landlord and convince him to let them pay only half a month's rent just that once, giving Alex a fair chance to find a job. Alex also asked Charlie if she'd be okay with letting Jo stay there for a while, and of course Charlie was more than agreeable--she was always happy to help anyone in need.

✩✩✩

After work the next day, Charlie headed to the AIC house, knowing Alex was out looking for a job. She wanted to be in the company of friends. She hurried down the street with her hands in her pockets and her shoulders high, hoping no one would look her way. She arrived and ran up the stairs to find the door unlocked, meaning someone was home.

"Hey--oh, hi, Charlie!" Layne greeted, peeing around the kitchen wall into the living room. "How are
you? Ya hungry?"

"Oh, I'm, um...I'm fine. I mean I'm not that...I'm not hungry and I'm doing good. Better now that
I'm here. You?"

"Better now that you're here...what a coincidence, huh?"

"Yeah, it really is," she said with a small giggle. "What are you making?" She wandered into the kitchen.

"Pancakes and whatever random crap I happen to find in here."

"A meal fit for a king," she joked, sitting at the table.

"Oh, it will be. You sure you're not hungry?"

"Yaeh, I'm--" Charlie started to say, but was interrupted by her stomach rumbling. "That was on command. I'm trying to practice my special effects."

Layne laughed. "You'll hurt my feelings if you don't eat some of the gourmet meal that I'm working so hard to prepare."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt you..."

"And I don't want you to go hungry. Eat this." Layne put a pancake on a nearby piece of cardboard--the ripped up remains of the box the pancake mix came in.

"We don't actually own real plates and the last paper ones got used at the party, so this is the best I can do, I'm really sorry..."

Charlie laughed. "That's okay, Alex and I usually just eat straight out of the pan." She took a bite of the pancake. "Wow, this is great! How did you do this? Our box-mix pancakes suck."

"Well, I take cooking very serious." He turned to look at her and said with a very straight face, "I don't mess around."

Charlie laughed at how truly serious he seemed to be about that. "It pays off, I'll tell you that. This is the best pancake I've ever had."

"Then I hope you're still hungry when you finish that one because there are more to come. Anyway, how was work? And remind me again where you work," he said with a sheepish grin.

"I work at Tally's, you know, the mini-mall?"

"Yeah. Which store?" Layne asked as he flipped a pancake.

"All of 'em."

"Wait, what? How?"

"I just go back and forth. I organize the clothes and fill in paperwork at the clothing shops and wait tables at the café. It's kinda hard, but it works for me and I make my half of the rent."

"That's...I respect you." Layne put the finished pancakes on the cardboard and started looking through the cupboards and fridge, producing two apples and some ginger ale. He set one of the apples down in front of Charlie and opened the drink. "Here. Bon appetit."

"To you as well," she said, picking up another pancake. They both dug in as they continued to talk, enjoying the meal and each other's company. And when Charlie got home (a little too late, according to Alex), she had a new temporary roommate--Josephine Trenton.

✩✩✩

* ;) increases *

pleeeease remember to stay safe, drink enough water, have fun, bop to good music, be what you wanna be, and stay sober for Layne! until next time!