Fine in the Morning

'She's gone,' said a low, familiar voice behind me.

I shrugged, half-turning around so that I could eye Colin over my shoulder. 'Yeah, I know she's gone. What did you expect me to do, cry or something?' Silly boy, he really has no idea.

Colin was leaning against the doorframe of the pub, hands in his pockets. He mimicked my shrug. It was a few seconds before he spoke up again.

'Thought you might've cared,' he said.

At that, I couldn't stop a cackling laugh erupting from my throat.

'You thought I cared? About her? That fluffy pink idiot who did nothing but pine over me all day?' I lifted a clawed paw and mimed writing in a diary. 'Oooh Crowley, you're so handsome,' I simpered, putting on a high-pitched girly voice that made Colin's eyebrows rise into his hairline. 'Oooh, I wish you loved me as much as I loved you! We could be the perfect couple!'

I dropped my paw, dropped the girly voice, and stared hard at him.

'Yeah, right. Like I'd ever care. She was just useful, that's all.'

'You keep saying that,' said Colin, 'but we all know you're lying. Something changed when you found out she'd left. You've been acting weird ever since.'

This was probably the longest string of words I'd ever heard come out of his mouth, and it was surprising enough that I actually stopped to consider instead of just laughing at him again. For a moment I wondered whether he was right, but immediately dismissed the thought; I knew I'd never seen Cherry as anything more than a usual tool. Useful, but annoying. I'd definitely never returned whatever disgusting sappy feelings she'd had for me.

I was so lost in thought that it took me a second to realise Colin was talking again.

'Just because you didn't like her, doesn't mean she wasn't important to you. She could've still meant something. And I think she did. Hell, even Naraka thinks she did!'

I sneered at him. 'Wow, CC, congratulations on suddenly becoming the resident expert on relationships.'

'Shut up,' he replied boredly. 'I'm just trying to make a point. If you really didn't care about Cherry, at all, then why've you been moping around here since the moment I gave you her message?'

Sure enough, I hadn't left the pub since he told me. That had been this morning, and it was now close to sundown. I was still in shock that Cherry had apparently decided to leave her message with CC of all people – weren't they supposed to hate each other? Or had they had some kind of secret friendship going on behind my back?

Eww. I don't wanna think about that.

I turned around completely and took a slow step towards Colin, my jaws falling into an automatic grin to show my teeth. But rather to my disappointment, he didn't back away in horror or even look remotely worried. Was I losing my touch or was he just getting braver? Maybe I needed to do something really nasty to him, to remind him of why he should respect me...

'I told ya,' I said carelessly. 'She was useful. Who's gonna keep my cave clean now that she's gone? I guess you'll have to do it, CC.'

'Ask Naraka. He'd probably do it if you bribed him enough.' Colin looked down, shuffling one of his worn-out shoes against the tarmac. 'So, is that all you're going to say?'

'About Cherry? Yep. Can we go and drink now?'

'Why?' His violet eyes lifted to meet mine directly. I knew that some people could be hypnotised by the swirling depths of Colin's eyes – an idea that had always fascinated me. But it seemed like his powers had no effect on me, because I didn't feel anything when I met his gaze, except admiration at how cool they looked.

I huffed out an impatient sigh. 'Because I want to get drunk, CC! Why the heck do you think?'

'Why, though? You just want to drink away your sorrows or something?'

'I don't have any sorrows, CC. I think you've got the wrong person. Naraka's inside if you wanna talk to him.'

Colin was silent for a while, just staring at me. I stared back, determined not to be outmatched.

'...You're insane,' he said at last.

A low chuckle escaped me. 'It took you this long to realise?'

'Course not. I've always known that. But...' He looked away, over his shoulder, as a loud crash rang out inside the pub. 'How can you stand there and tell me you don't feel a thing about Cherry leaving? She's been with you for years. Helping you. Getting your backside out of trouble more times than I can count...'

'Hey! I get my own backside out of trouble, thanks.'

Colin didn't answer. He stared at me for a moment longer, then pushed himself off the doorframe and stepped inside. I watched his retreating back, momentarily bewildered by his abrupt exit. I'd expected him to keep on berating me for the rest of the evening given how serious he'd looked.

But maybe he just didn't see the point. After all, I was never going to tell him anything different from what I already had.

'Fighting a losing battle,' I muttered under my breath, sauntering forwards to join him inside the pub.

The only thing I felt about Cherry's departure was shock at how sudden it had been; I'd really expected her to stay with me forever, simply because she was so hopelessly in love with me. But maybe I hadn't been paying enough attention. Maybe the signs had been there all along and I just hadn't noticed.

Shock. That was all it was. Not an emotion of any sorts; just shock.

I'd be fine in the morning.