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It has been a week since Billy had finally landed a job. It was retail, but he found himself liking it, for the dress code if nothing else. He was glad to finally have an income. He hadn't realized just what a weight had been on his shoulders until it was lifted.

His stomach was also glad. He had been eating most of his meals out of vending machines for...perhaps a year now? The chance to walk in to a good old fast food joint and be able to order something was absolutely fabulous.

Some would comment on how greasy and bad for you the food was, but he didn't care. In fact, Billy couldn't always stomach home cooked food well. Perhaps it was because of a lifetime of this type of fast, cheap, food that his insides weren't acclimated to the richness of 'real' food... The burger joint had a deal on cheeseburgers today - Billy planned on making good on that deal, stashing them away in the fridge for lunch through out the week. That was another thing - Billy had a squirrel-y tendency to stash away food. Another habit ingrained in him since childhood.


The time was another 'hell hour' for the resturaunt. Most people were getting off of work - Billy included - and looking to get their dinner. He didn't expect to see anyone he knew here... After all, he really didn't know that many people to begin with, but...

Billy was just receiving his food when he heard his name. Looking over in that direction he saw Chris, with no Paris in sight. Granted, if Paris had been with Chris then he doubted he would have gotten any sort of greeting.

"Alright," he replied, "Got a job, so that's some pressure off my back... How about you?"

Billy stood on the other side of the little bar that divided the line from the rest of the restaurant as the two conversed. He'd gotten his food bagged to go despite the fact that he'd probably sit down and eat it anyway, but seeing as he ordered more than he could eat, having the bag when he got ready to go would come in handy.

"Thanks. And no, Ladon's at home."

Probably. Or somewhere that couldn't be mentioned doing only he knew what....

"Things are fine - hopefully on a rise. I haven't handled being useless very well," Billy threw in a bit of a laugh, "I mean, when you start questioning your worth and what you can offer your loved ones...iiit can lead you to a dark place in the mind."

Billy was more comfortable in all that now - he wasn't so worried about Ladon and him maintaining the apartment, food, and could even now actually do things for Ladon. And Sammy. Goodness knows Billy spoiled that ferret almost as bad as he would Ladon.

"And how about you and Paris? Things going alright?"

Things had seemed off, but Billy hadn't really be interested in observing any of that at the time. He still wasn't, really, but all in polite conversation....

Billy shrugged, "Just trying to make polite conversation. I do try, anyway. But I also own up to being a total a*****e, too, so..."

Billy had the time a few months back to come to many self-realizations, and had come to accept himself for who he was, and make efforts to be better. Still, he knew he could, and often did, come off as an a**. He accepted that.

"The way you say fine though...I'd wager things aren't so 'fine,' but it is none of my business. I'm not going to pry, but, as some small measure of esprit de corps, I'll lend an ear. And yes, I had planned to eat here."

His reasoning was simple - as far as Billy could tell, Ladon enjoyed their little group things, and Billy was all for Ladon achieving some sort of social life. There was always the question of Billy's own lack of social life but....Billy wasn't so much concerned about himself. So, he figured he should do what he could to open up to friendship.

Billy sat down and listened, raising a brow at some parts. Billy wasn't all that well versed in family - is own he tried to ignore, and they seemed content to forget they even had a son. Still, that didn't mean he didn't have some idea of what would be normal.

"It's perfectly normal for one to want to do something out of the kindness of their heart and then upon later review realize that they got in over their head. So, let me get this straight - Paris loses his father, whom he was presumably living with at the time, so you offer your home. That was a kind, friendly, thing to do. Most, though, would have likely made it a temporary thing until the other party could 'get back on their feet' emotionally or whatever. But considering you two were dating, you made it, at the time, a more permanent thing. Then something makes you realize that maybe you don't feel as strongly as he does about the relationship, and you freak out. Obviously you need time to figure yourself out, so you need time to yourself, but that is hard to find when the source of the problem is right there." Brethe, wordy-mc-wordypants.

"Taking a break to figure things out seems like the logical step. However, by sending him to your mother, you are still keeping him close. I'll be honest, that probably is hurting Paris. Every day he is there is a reminder of you, and every thought of you, the thought that maybe you will decide you don't want him, is like a dagger through the heart. It kills the spirit. Sending him to your mother was a mistake. The better thing to do was to let him trouble himself with finding his own place and way to pay for it. At least then, his mind would have other things to think about. He could busy himself with that while you do what you need to do. Maybe then he could figure himself out as well, rather than dwelling on the uncertain future."

Billy sighed, and finally took a sip of his drink.

"It sounds cruel, kicking someone out like that, but it's just as cruel to have sent him to your mother. I've already stated the reasons why. And I'm sure your intentions were good and all, but..."

It was probably odd for anyone that knew him to hear him make an argument in Paris' favor, but Billy was calling it like he saw it.

"I've been the one kicked out by their lover before," Billy said, as if that made his opinion all that much more solid, "No friends, no family, no job, no money...."

It was times like that when you really find out just how resourceful you could be. It had been a learning experience - and just because he had taken the opportunity to get a little bit of college under his belt, that was not meant to be a pun.

"But then again, the whole deal really wasn't about Paris - it's about you. You're the one who needs to figure them self out, after all," He shrugged, and nommed.