InsaneJournal

Rylee had been at Pax for a month and had met Samuel a few weeks before. The man had said if Rylee needed anything he just had to ask and Rylee, after much contemplation that lasted about a week, had gathered up the courage to accept that offering. Still, he stood outside of Samuel's door for a few minutes before he had enough courage to even consider knocking.

When he had first moved into the apartment everything had begun with a strange start. Things had been awkward when he found Charlie in the lobby of the apartment complex but they seemed to work around that strange day. Then there was the black out and Charlie's PTSD kicking in while Rylee suffered a burn that he was now not entirely sure ever existed. Then Charlie taking back her hand when Rylee tried to hold it and Charlie ultimately trying to apologize with a bottle of vodka that left Rylee with a horrible hangover the following day and only hazy memories of what had happened the night before. Things had certainly been weird and all over the place. But waking up after his night of drinking only to find Charlie sleeping on his couch... later followed by Charlie convincing him to set off fireworks on the Fourth of July... it all made him feel more positive. More confident. Maybe their relationship was heading in a better direction. They had gotten past so much in their lives and after fifteen years they were here together. Rylee hoped it was a good sign. He felt like he could try for the next step, although he wasn't entirely sure how to go about that next step without scaring Charlie off.

So, with a slight shake in his hands he knocked on Samuel's door and stood back at ease while he waited nervously to see if his neighbor was home.