The Gemini Factor. - justin_guber

The Gemini Factor.

Like I said earlier, Friends & Foes is the name of the category, and we've gone on about friends long enough. But what about those that make up both sides of the coin? Someone who was both a pal and a pain? Enter Neil.

We both had the same birthday, making us both Gemini's, and if you know anything about Gemini's you'd know that there's two sides to our personalities. Two extremes. It was his cool side that made me want to befriend him, but it was living with him that brought out the un-cool side of things.

The first inkling of stormy weather was during our road trip at the end of the first year of uni. We had managed to procure the union van for 'drama society reasons', claiming we were going to Stratford-Upon-Avon to check out Big Willie Shakespeare's place of origin. Instead we went to stonehenge to stare at hippies during the solstice, followed by somewhere down south I can't remember (maybe Exeter) where I slept in rabbit's piss, back to London to pick up the others then down to Brighton to oggle at chicks on the beach. On our way back, Neil was driving. Irish James was taking the piss out of something and in the midst of it, told Neil to fuck off, jokingly, at a red light.

Neil stared at him for almost a minute, then stepped out of the van and walked away.

The light turned green and none of us knew what to do. Thankfully, he came back and the rest of the trip was a lot quieter. This was when we were first introduced to Neil's 'moments'.

Staying with him during my second year brought it's toll on me more than ever. Not only were we living with a pothead who was a moody bastard whenever he was off the stuff, we also had to put up with his issues over the fact that he was older than us, a fact that never once enterred any of our minds as a problem. He was adamant about his beliefs on good and evil, right or wrong, and any comments of the opposite opinion were met with hostility.

Regardless, Kul (my other flatmate) and myself were very peaceful people, but also capable of outbursts when pushed over the edge. Neil pushed me over mine when he told me he didn't want my girlfriend around and yelled at her in her face before my eyes.

I don't even know what I said, I just saw red and blew up, screaming and shouting a fury before slamming te door behind me and walking out barefoot in the rain, sitting at the bus stop. My girlfriend joined me later and comforted me, and we spent the rest of the holiday in my bedroom.

After that I never wanted to go back except to sleep. I'd eat out every single day and find something to do before making my way back to Hackney where I'd run up to my room and occupy myself with whatever I could. Kul took his TV and playstation to his room and remained hidden too.

You know there's something wrong when you're not comfortable in your own living room.

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw him, but there were good times to be had with the ol' geezer. Out on the town, he was a laugh, and he'd stand up for his mates whenever need be.

I remember the one time we celebrated our birthday together, though. Laura's housewarming party. At the stroke of midnight, Saj and Kul pulled out Jay and Silent Bob toys. Almost instinctively, I grabbed Jay and he grabbed Silent Bob. Looking back, thinking we'd be heteral-life-mates like that sonambulistic duo was a tad bit on the wishful thinking side. So here's to Neil: a decent friend, but one I could never live with.

8.2.05 07:17

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