After months ensconced with him and his friends, my own social life had dried up. My friends already had plans away for the holiday weekend, and until a few days before, I'd planned to be wiht him at his friends' parents' place in New Hampshire. Instead, I went solo to a party on the roof of the Domino sugar factory in Williamsburg, overlooking the East River, where there would be a good view of the fireworks.
The only people I recognized were a friend of a coworker who I don't really know but see everywhere; she's a single mom about ten years older than me who wears cat-eye glasses and wacky outfits, and David Cross, who I also see everywhere.
I sat against the roof-edge wall, eating a veggie burger, drinking a PBR, noticing an example of a type I see around: there's always some pretty girl inexplicably paired wiht some dirtbag who looks like he couldn't care less. The old Pamela Anderson/Kid Rock factor. I got roof-tar on my bag and capris. David Cross had it all over his body.
The only people I talked to were a drunk fat guy named Chris who was prone to shouting at people on fire escapes across the street, and his apologetic friend Phil.
Chris: "Where's your boyfriend? New Hampshire? Yeah? WHY. There's nothin' there but fuckin' trees and fuckin' lakes. It's fuckin' BORING."
And later, "My friends tell me I drink too much. I go to work, I come home, I shave, maybe I eat, I drink. What else is there to do?"
Phil (to Chris): "Are you accosting girls again?"
I excused myself. It was dusk, when it's hard to see. I would just stay for the fireworks so I wouldn't have to be alone for that, then I'd leave.
The indie band jammed throughout the fireworks, providing a live soundtrack with flourishes at the appropriate explosive times. It probably would have been pretty cool if I wasn't completely wretched. The Kid Rock guy dragged his girlfriend toward the fireworks. They seemed to be in a fight. Near the stage, my coworker's friend danced rapturously by herself. I waited for the fireworks to end, and left just before they did.
It was the beginning of a long year.