Saturday, July 9th, 1993

10:30 AM

The clock radio, a cheap RCA job with a crack in the upper right corner, came to life beside my head, blaring an Alice In Chains song, not the best music to wake up to when hung over.

The harsh, violent sound of the electric guitar jolted me awake. I rolled over onto my side and put my hand to my forehead. The song played until there was a knock at my door and my mother's voice telling me to turn it down. Nice of her to take an interest.

I turned the radio down, sat up and yawned. The early summer sunshine was pouring into my window and beaming right into my face.

I got up and strolled over to my window. I leaned on the windowsill and looked into the busy street below, trying to remember what had happened last night. I remembered being in the Nirvana waith Sputnik, Damien, Ray and Eric. I remembered seeing Jessica on the dance floor and asking her where Melissa was. She was my girlfriend yet she hadn't spoken to me in two weeks. Then, Jessica giving me the cold stare, telling me to fuck off without words. The rest was a complete blur.

I didn't really have time to dwell on it, because Sputnik was waiting for me. I grabbed a pair of and Levi's and a black t-shirt from my closet and put in my earring, a golden stud which was a gift from Melissa. In the bathroom I debated showering, but settled for a quick scrub down and a couple sprays from a can of Tag. I then ventured into my mom's room stole twenty bucks from her secret stash in her dresser, the one she thought I knew nothing about. I wouldn't have normally, but I was in dire need of money and Desmond was a little slow in paying me.

I put on my blue Timberlands and crept into the hallway that would take me to the front door. My mom was in the living room, watching the news and putting on make-up. I tried too quietly sneak past her, but the floor creaked under my boot.

"Nick?" My mother called out.

I stopped. "Yeah, mom?"

"Are you going out?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to be out until four AM again?"

I sighed.

"Come on, mom. That was just one time."

"Okay. Please, try to look for a job."

"Okay."

"You don't want to be a loser like these kids on the news."

"I know."

"I mean, look at your brother, off to College, playing football..." She trailed off, her eyes getting that misty look they always got when she started talking about my dear brother.

"I know, mom, I know." And with that, I opened the door and ran out of the apartment before she could say anything else.