I'm looking up not looking down

 This wasn't exactly the birthday Elvis was expecting. Sure he wanted Rox with him, but he never thought it would happen. This was never his luck. 

He'd go to Pan's place himself and see what was going on. Weezer said he'd catch up. There were a few things he needed to do at home. So Elvis was alone.

Like a shock to the system, he came face to face with the ass that Rox was talking about.

"What are you doing here?" Elvis chuckled.

"What are you doing here?" Wade winced back.

"Oh, I might be somebody's Christmas Angel," Elvis smirked. "But what are you?"

"Shit," Wade tilted his head as if he was rather perturbed. "You can't seriously be involved with her." He shook his head, no about Rox.

"Seriously," Elvis nodded. "So what's the deal?"

"Pan..is my friend," Wade told him as they stood in the untouched living room. It was as if no one really lived here anymore. "And..and the only way I can help him..is..is to be here."

"Oh really," Elvis sighed as he found himself hugging himself while watching Wade's hands shoved in his jean's pockets. "Well, you'll be closer..for me."

"But..but you'll be with her," Wade made it sound like an insult. 

"So," Elvis said he knew her. "She needs me."

Wade sighed as if he hated the idea. 

"You can have my lumpy bed," he told him. "We're taking her new bed." Weezer arrived to help.

"Fine." Now Wade crossed his arms. "I'll bring my own goddamn bed." He was even lipped.

Elvis wasn't sure if this meant war or a truce. He looked around. Not a sign of that boyfriend of Rox's. Actually, Elvis didn't know what he looked like.

Bren surprised everyone when she showed up with a  birthday cake for Elvis. Perhaps, it was a last-minute thing, but she heard from an older customer she used to know that Elvis lived in Bren's building and it was his birthday.

"She taught me everything I know at the grocery store," Elvis was all smiles to introduce Bren to Rox. He didn't even know Bren lived in his building.

"Well, Myrtle was afraid you wouldn't have anyone to celebrate with," Bren told him. "She's worried about you."

"I would have never known," Elvis took the cake and put it in the kitchen. "She's always so happy," he said. "It makes me want to be happy too."

It was just Elvis and Rox. The others were busy with something. Before Bren could chat any more about the old woman they both knew. Elvis made an observation. "So this is why you quit the grocery store." He looked at her growing tummy. He wanted to know how she was doing.

"I just bet you were restless," he assured Rox that Bren was the busiest woman he'd ever met. 

Bren smiled with a sigh. Yes, she'd been busy. She had a few customers to make meals for during the week. She didn't charge much, but it was a little income.

Bren looked at Rox who was a bit distraught as if she'd barely survived a bomb of some kind. She asked if she was all right, but she wasn't saying much. Elvis reached for her the pale girl, but Rox looked as if she was about to sob. 

Elvis thanked Bren for the cake. "Maybe next time we see you all will be beautiful once again."

Bren nodded. She guessed it was good to be optimistic, but it didn't change Rox's mood.