"Oh, Shane, it's beautiful!" Shane looks nervously at the ring he plans to give my baby sister.
"Do you think she'll like it?"
"Are you kidding? She's going to love it." He still looks unsure. "Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. She'll just be happy you're finally proposing that she won't even notice the ring." This gets a laugh out of him. Shane and Grace have been together for close to 12 years, each choosing to focus on their careers before getting married. Shane snaps the case shut and shoves it back in his pocket.
"You're probably right."
"Of course I am." I smile and sip my coffee. It's 9 and probably a bad idea to be drinking coffee at this hour, but bedtime be damned. "So how do you plan to do this?"
"That's a good question because I have no idea. I was hoping you would know." I chuckle.
"Should I write your vows for you, too?" I glance up at the door as Lee finally gets home. "Hey stranger, you're home late." The look he gives me makes me laugh. I get up and take his coat and brief case for him. "Tough case?" He nods while slumping into a kitchen chair.
"Like you wouldn't believe. Hi Shane." Shane gets up from the couch and collects his own coat from the hall closet.
"Hey Lee. Gwen, we need to get together soon to work this nonsense out, all right?"
"It's a date. Have a good night, future brother." He gives Lee and I a wave before shutting the door behind him.
"What was that about?" I sit on Lee's lap and give him a small kiss.
"The man finally bought a ring. He just came over to show me and ask for proposal ideas." Lee gives me another kiss, which turns into a few more. "So, do you want to talk about work while I make you something to eat?"
"You don't cook." I shrug and go for the phone book.
"Okay, so not cook so much as order. What'll it be?"
"Thai?"
"We got sick last time, remember? What about some good ol' pizza?"
"Sounds good. I'm just going to change. You know what I want." I order while Lee changes from his work clothing. He's usually blabbing about his day the second he walks in the door so this avoidance is a little peculiar. I grab two beers from the fridge and walk them to the living room, turning the movie back on that I was watching before Shane showed up. I'm half done my beer before Lee joins me, wearing nothing but pajama pants.
"Aren't you cold?" He shrugs and slides under the blanket beside me, putting his arm around my head. We fall into silence while we watch the movie until the pizza arrives. I pay and bring it to the living room. More silence as we eat. I would like to inquire as to Lee's quiet but I know he'll tell me when he's ready. A yawn suddenly reminds me that it's after 10:30 and I need to be at work early tomorrow.
"Tired, babe?" I yawn again.
"Apparently." I move to gather the rest of the pizza but Lee stops me.
"Let me do that. You go to bed, I'll clean up." I raise my eyebrow. Lee's a pretty good boyfriend. He picks up after himself and doesn't clog the sink when he shaves. But rarely does he offer to clean up dinner after a late day at work. He sees the look on my face and just chuckles. "You look like you're going to fall asleep on your feet. I'll just rinse out the dishes and be along in a minute." I shake my head and head into the bathroom, take care of my nightly routine then slide into bed and let out a content sigh. The bed is so comfortable. I had planned to stay awake until Lee joined me in bed but after 20 minutes I decide to call it a night and give in to sleep.
**
I listen as she finally falls asleep, then get myself ready for the night. It never takes long before It takes her over and it's the middle of winter so I need to make sure I'm dressed for the weather. Just as I'm putting my hat on I hear the first stirrings from the bedroom. It doesn't take long before she's leaving the apartment. Here we go, I think as I lock the door behind me.
20 May 2015
Love Beyond Life, Chapter 1
"Dead? How can I be dead?" He rolls his eyes and sighs in annoyance.
"You died, that's how you're dead."
"But how?" The sneer leaves his face and it's replaced with concern.
"You don't remember?" I shake my head. "Hm.. well, that's unfortunate. Usually you guys at least have some idea of what you were sent back to do. Snap shots of your Mission."
"Mission?"
"Yeah, your mission. Every Mission Angel is sent back with some sort of something they never did in their former life."
"This is too much. I don't even remember how I died, let alone what I'm supposed to do. Hang on, did you say Mission Angel? I'm an Angel?" He shrugs.
"Well yeah, what else did you think you were?"
"I had no idea." He groans and his shoulders drop.
"Now I guess I'm gonna have to be your Mentor. Great." He looks up. "Thanks a lot!" He looks back down and me and smiles. "May as well get started then. My name's Justin, but you can call me Justin. I make sure all you new Angels get on their way. What's your name?"
"Michael."
"Oh good, you remember. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to assign you a new name, too. I'm no good with that. One guy came by and didn't remember his. I named him Gregory and his named ended up being Larry. Can you imagine.. Larry?"
"Have you been doing this long?"
"Oh, sure! I'm the best the big guy's got down here. Okay, what do you say we visit your grave?"
"My grave?"
"Yeah, you died remember? Your funeral was last week. Kinda odd seeing as most people get their Mission as soon as they're dead. Anyway, let's go." I don't do anything and he raises an eyebrow.
"What do I do?"
"You don't even know how to Shift? I'm gonna have to teach you everything, aren't I? Okay, so to Shift you think real hard about the place you wanna go. In this case it's your grave. And then boom, you're there. It's pretty cool. Oh, but since you don't know where yours is I guess you're gonna have to ride with me. Grab my hand." I look at him like he's crazy but do as he says. The next thing I know we're standing next to a grave site. The stone says Michael Gabrielle Baker.
"So I really am dead." Justin takes his hand back.
"Sure, you think I was lying to you?" I shrug. "So you getting any of those snap shots?" I shake my head. Both to answer his question and in disbelief. "Well you should get some sooner or later. It usually has to do with people in your former life. Though sometimes not. Sometimes it could have to do with a decision you never made, or a wrong one that lead you down the wrong path. That makes it harder since you don't know any of the people you were sent back to help. This making any sense?"
I nod absently, not really listening. July 2012 - April 2032. I'm going to be 20 forever. I'm never going to age. "Hey so do you wanna walk around, go to what you're familiar with, see if anything pops up?"
"Sure, I guess." I follow Justin down a slight hill and through a big iron gate.
"Do you know where you lived?" I nod again. "Okay, well that's good at least. Oh, damn I'm such an idiot. I forgot to tell you, everyone can see you, but no one will recognize you, cause you don't look like yourself."
"What?"
"You're you, but not you, you know? Look, here's a window." I look at my reflection. "No one else can see me, so try not to talk out loud too much cause you'll look crazy. But it works cause I can kinda read your head."
"You can read my mind?"
"Sorta. Let me think. I can't read every thought, but if it's directed to me then I can hear it wherever I am. And I can talk back to you, too. Try it."
"What do I say?"
"Anything."
Okay... what day is it?
April 16th. Justin grins. "That's pretty cool. I've never got to do that before. Say something else."
Uh... how did I die?
You were driving your car in the middle of the night in a rain storm and ran off the road. Pretty dumb, if you ask me. What were you doing driving in a rain storm? I shake my head.
"I have no idea. Oh, oops." Justin grins.
"So what do you say we head to your house, see if anything there draws you?" I nod and follow him down the street, wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into now.
"You died, that's how you're dead."
"But how?" The sneer leaves his face and it's replaced with concern.
"You don't remember?" I shake my head. "Hm.. well, that's unfortunate. Usually you guys at least have some idea of what you were sent back to do. Snap shots of your Mission."
"Mission?"
"Yeah, your mission. Every Mission Angel is sent back with some sort of something they never did in their former life."
"This is too much. I don't even remember how I died, let alone what I'm supposed to do. Hang on, did you say Mission Angel? I'm an Angel?" He shrugs.
"Well yeah, what else did you think you were?"
"I had no idea." He groans and his shoulders drop.
"Now I guess I'm gonna have to be your Mentor. Great." He looks up. "Thanks a lot!" He looks back down and me and smiles. "May as well get started then. My name's Justin, but you can call me Justin. I make sure all you new Angels get on their way. What's your name?"
"Michael."
"Oh good, you remember. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to assign you a new name, too. I'm no good with that. One guy came by and didn't remember his. I named him Gregory and his named ended up being Larry. Can you imagine.. Larry?"
"Have you been doing this long?"
"Oh, sure! I'm the best the big guy's got down here. Okay, what do you say we visit your grave?"
"My grave?"
"Yeah, you died remember? Your funeral was last week. Kinda odd seeing as most people get their Mission as soon as they're dead. Anyway, let's go." I don't do anything and he raises an eyebrow.
"What do I do?"
"You don't even know how to Shift? I'm gonna have to teach you everything, aren't I? Okay, so to Shift you think real hard about the place you wanna go. In this case it's your grave. And then boom, you're there. It's pretty cool. Oh, but since you don't know where yours is I guess you're gonna have to ride with me. Grab my hand." I look at him like he's crazy but do as he says. The next thing I know we're standing next to a grave site. The stone says Michael Gabrielle Baker.
"So I really am dead." Justin takes his hand back.
"Sure, you think I was lying to you?" I shrug. "So you getting any of those snap shots?" I shake my head. Both to answer his question and in disbelief. "Well you should get some sooner or later. It usually has to do with people in your former life. Though sometimes not. Sometimes it could have to do with a decision you never made, or a wrong one that lead you down the wrong path. That makes it harder since you don't know any of the people you were sent back to help. This making any sense?"
I nod absently, not really listening. July 2012 - April 2032. I'm going to be 20 forever. I'm never going to age. "Hey so do you wanna walk around, go to what you're familiar with, see if anything pops up?"
"Sure, I guess." I follow Justin down a slight hill and through a big iron gate.
"Do you know where you lived?" I nod again. "Okay, well that's good at least. Oh, damn I'm such an idiot. I forgot to tell you, everyone can see you, but no one will recognize you, cause you don't look like yourself."
"What?"
"You're you, but not you, you know? Look, here's a window." I look at my reflection. "No one else can see me, so try not to talk out loud too much cause you'll look crazy. But it works cause I can kinda read your head."
"You can read my mind?"
"Sorta. Let me think. I can't read every thought, but if it's directed to me then I can hear it wherever I am. And I can talk back to you, too. Try it."
"What do I say?"
"Anything."
Okay... what day is it?
April 16th. Justin grins. "That's pretty cool. I've never got to do that before. Say something else."
Uh... how did I die?
You were driving your car in the middle of the night in a rain storm and ran off the road. Pretty dumb, if you ask me. What were you doing driving in a rain storm? I shake my head.
"I have no idea. Oh, oops." Justin grins.
"So what do you say we head to your house, see if anything there draws you?" I nod and follow him down the street, wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into now.
Heads Or Tails; Chapter 1
I stretch and smile as Puck, my 5 year old calico, jumps onto my bed and rubs her head against my hand. "Hungry, mama?" She meows as if in response. "Okay, breakfast time it is." I sit up, stretch again, then stuff my feet into my favourite slippers. They're holey and a mysterious grey colour, but I love them anyway. "Here we go, sweet thing." I dump Puck's breakfast in her bowl and turn on the coffee maker, looking around for the newspaper. Felix usually brings it in before he leaves for work. I frown when I realize I don't see it.
I walk to the front door and peer onto the porch. There it is, sitting in the morning sunshine. After retrieving it from outside and pouring myself some coffee, I dial Felix at work. No answer. I frown again and put the phone on the table. Puck meows up at me and rubs against my ankles, purring. I pick her up and cradle her against my chest while taking a sip of coffee. I contemplate going to Felix's work but decide against it. He probably just forgot the paper and is too busy to answer his phone. Having decided that, I put Puck down and get ready for my day.
An hour later, as I'm picking up my keys from the front hall table, I'm suddenly seized with an overwhelming urge to hide in the hall closet. Just as I close the closet door, the front door opens. "Is she here?" I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle my surprise.
"Who cares? We were told to get the file and get out. His office is upstairs. Come on." The two men walk past my closet and down the hall to the stairs. I sit on the floor and breathe deeply, listening to their footsteps walk around the second floor. After a few minutes I crack open the closet door to see if I can hear what the men are saying upstairs. I catch a word here or there, not enough to clue me in as to what they're looking for. Felix deals with pet foods. He's the senior manager for a company that distributes food for every type of pet imaginable. What could they possibly be looking for.
I quickly close the door as I hear the men coming back down the stairs. "Shouldn't we at least make sure she's not here? Her car is here. Where else would she be?" I hear an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. Start in the back and I'll start here." I shove myself as far into the closet as I can manage. There's no way I won't be spotted. I hold my breath as the closet door slowly opens. Please don't see me.. Please don't see me.. To my utter amazement, the guy takes a quick look and shuts the door again. I listen as both of them walk around the house for another couple minutes, then meet back in the front hall. "Nothing."
"Maybe she went for a walk."
"Who cares, let's go." After the door closes I peek out of the closet and then scramble out. I go to Felix's office and look around. Nothing is obviously disturbed, but I can tell that things have been moved, which means Felix will know. And I have the distinct feeling that Felix should not know anyone was here. I straighten up and go back downstairs for my phone. I call Felix again and again there's no answer. I look down as I hear a meow at my feet.
"Hi baby." I scoop up Puck and make my way to the living room couch. Puck settles in for a nap on my legs. I think about what happened in the closet while I listen to Puck's purring. That man should have seen me. I wasn't hidden well enough for him not to. All I remember is pleading that he wouldn't see me, and he didn't. It's baffling, but things like it have happened before.
I was at the grocery store last week with only a few things in my basket. The woman in front of me had a full cart and a folder full of coupons. She was arguing with the cashier about one particular coupon. I remember wishing that she would just shut up and pay for her stuff. And she did. I chalked it up to her realizing she wasn't going to win that battle, but now I wonder if there was more to it. What though, I don't know.
I walk to the front door and peer onto the porch. There it is, sitting in the morning sunshine. After retrieving it from outside and pouring myself some coffee, I dial Felix at work. No answer. I frown again and put the phone on the table. Puck meows up at me and rubs against my ankles, purring. I pick her up and cradle her against my chest while taking a sip of coffee. I contemplate going to Felix's work but decide against it. He probably just forgot the paper and is too busy to answer his phone. Having decided that, I put Puck down and get ready for my day.
An hour later, as I'm picking up my keys from the front hall table, I'm suddenly seized with an overwhelming urge to hide in the hall closet. Just as I close the closet door, the front door opens. "Is she here?" I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle my surprise.
"Who cares? We were told to get the file and get out. His office is upstairs. Come on." The two men walk past my closet and down the hall to the stairs. I sit on the floor and breathe deeply, listening to their footsteps walk around the second floor. After a few minutes I crack open the closet door to see if I can hear what the men are saying upstairs. I catch a word here or there, not enough to clue me in as to what they're looking for. Felix deals with pet foods. He's the senior manager for a company that distributes food for every type of pet imaginable. What could they possibly be looking for.
I quickly close the door as I hear the men coming back down the stairs. "Shouldn't we at least make sure she's not here? Her car is here. Where else would she be?" I hear an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. Start in the back and I'll start here." I shove myself as far into the closet as I can manage. There's no way I won't be spotted. I hold my breath as the closet door slowly opens. Please don't see me.. Please don't see me.. To my utter amazement, the guy takes a quick look and shuts the door again. I listen as both of them walk around the house for another couple minutes, then meet back in the front hall. "Nothing."
"Maybe she went for a walk."
"Who cares, let's go." After the door closes I peek out of the closet and then scramble out. I go to Felix's office and look around. Nothing is obviously disturbed, but I can tell that things have been moved, which means Felix will know. And I have the distinct feeling that Felix should not know anyone was here. I straighten up and go back downstairs for my phone. I call Felix again and again there's no answer. I look down as I hear a meow at my feet.
"Hi baby." I scoop up Puck and make my way to the living room couch. Puck settles in for a nap on my legs. I think about what happened in the closet while I listen to Puck's purring. That man should have seen me. I wasn't hidden well enough for him not to. All I remember is pleading that he wouldn't see me, and he didn't. It's baffling, but things like it have happened before.
I was at the grocery store last week with only a few things in my basket. The woman in front of me had a full cart and a folder full of coupons. She was arguing with the cashier about one particular coupon. I remember wishing that she would just shut up and pay for her stuff. And she did. I chalked it up to her realizing she wasn't going to win that battle, but now I wonder if there was more to it. What though, I don't know.
24 December 2013
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 16
After breakfast I decide to go home for a bit. Jackie's at some summer camp type thing, dad and Brenda are at work today, so I have the entire house to myself. I shower in the down stairs bathroom and walk around in a towel, turning on the tv to listen to while I boot up the computer. I'm not really paying attention to the tv until I hear something that makes me turn it up to max volume.
"Police are looking for this man. He is 6'3", approximately 180 lbs, brown hair, goes by the name of Zeke, last seen wearing blue shorts and a brown shirt. Statements have been made of physical assault and rape. If anyone has any information, please contact your local police station."
There's a picture on the screen with the information. Just then my cell rings from where I left it on the counter when I got home. I run over to it, somehow knowing it would be Lyssa. "Did you see the news?" I run back to the living room but it's gone on to something else.
"Yes, I just saw it! Are you going to call them?"
"I don't know. This scares the shit out of me, Em. It just happened like, yesterday. I don't even remember that much."
"That doesn't matter. Anything you can tell them will help."
"You'll be with me the whole time?"
"Of course. Where are you right now?"
"Home. My mom took the week off work but she just went out to the store. I was able to find my phone but I don't know when she'll be back."
"How are we going to call if she's hanging around all day?"
"I don't know. I wasn't going to call them, remember?" I sit on a chair and try to think.
"Is there any reason she'd go out for more than say, 20 minutes?"
"I have no idea. I could ask her if she'd rent us a movie or think of something I want for supper that I know she doesn't have everything for."
"Okay, that's fine. We shouldn't need that long." I look at the clock. It's just after 12. "I'll come by around like, 2?"
"Shit, I have to go. 2 is fine, I'll think of something. Bye." I hang up and close my phone, exhaling deeply. I turn the tv off and go back to my phone, suddenly wanting Adrian's company. Before I can send him a text there's a knock at the door. I get up and almost answer before I realize I'm still in my towel. I go to the door, clutching the towel.
"Who's there?"
"It's Adrian." I blink and then open the door. He looks down at my towel before looking at my face. His is full of concern. "I heard on the radio about-" I cut him off and pull him inside, shutting the door and pressing my lips against his. He hesitates at first but then wraps his arms around my back, pulling me close to him. We stand in my kitchen, kissing until the need in me subsides. I pull away as far as his arms will allow.
"I should.. put on some clothes." Adrian laughs and lets me go. I go up to my room and shut my door, leaning against it while closing my eyes. What was that about. I dress in shorts and a flowy top that's not too hot and head back downstairs. Adrian is sitting at the kitchen table looking at Bren's bathroom choices. "Want a drink?"
"Sure." I grab two bottles of water from the fridge and sit at the table with him. He's about to open his mouth but I stop him.
"If it's about the news, please don't." He shuts it and we sit in silence for a bit until I decide I'm hungry. I get up and look in the fridge but don't find anything to my liking. I decide I have enough time before going to Lyssa's. "Want to walk down to Miss Muppet's with me?" He agrees so I grab my keys, phone and wallet and lock the door behind us.
It's quiet on the way to the cafe and I feel kind of bad for cutting him off, but I just don't want to hear his sympathy. And it's not even for me, which somehow just makes it that much worse. "Lunch is on me." I get a ham and cheese wrap and he gets an egg salad sandwich. "Hey, I'm sorry for cutting you off back at the house. I didn't go through it so I don't feel like I should get any of your sympathy, you know?" Adrian nods.
"I know. I wasn't actually going to give you any. Would you like to hear what I was going to say?" I feel a blush creep its way up my neck.
"Ah, sure."
"I was going to say that if Lyssa wants anyone to talk to, let her know I don't mind listening. I won't go into detail, but I've been through a similar experience myself. No one really knows until they know." I'm kind of stunned. Now I feel even more stupid.
"Oh. Shit, I'm sorry." He shakes his head slightly.
"No, don't be. It was a long time ago, I've moved on. Lyssa should know that someday she will, too."
"I'll relay that. Thank you." He smiles and moves his hand across the table toward me, palm up. Clearly intending for me to bridge that gap and so I do.
"Police are looking for this man. He is 6'3", approximately 180 lbs, brown hair, goes by the name of Zeke, last seen wearing blue shorts and a brown shirt. Statements have been made of physical assault and rape. If anyone has any information, please contact your local police station."
There's a picture on the screen with the information. Just then my cell rings from where I left it on the counter when I got home. I run over to it, somehow knowing it would be Lyssa. "Did you see the news?" I run back to the living room but it's gone on to something else.
"Yes, I just saw it! Are you going to call them?"
"I don't know. This scares the shit out of me, Em. It just happened like, yesterday. I don't even remember that much."
"That doesn't matter. Anything you can tell them will help."
"You'll be with me the whole time?"
"Of course. Where are you right now?"
"Home. My mom took the week off work but she just went out to the store. I was able to find my phone but I don't know when she'll be back."
"How are we going to call if she's hanging around all day?"
"I don't know. I wasn't going to call them, remember?" I sit on a chair and try to think.
"Is there any reason she'd go out for more than say, 20 minutes?"
"I have no idea. I could ask her if she'd rent us a movie or think of something I want for supper that I know she doesn't have everything for."
"Okay, that's fine. We shouldn't need that long." I look at the clock. It's just after 12. "I'll come by around like, 2?"
"Shit, I have to go. 2 is fine, I'll think of something. Bye." I hang up and close my phone, exhaling deeply. I turn the tv off and go back to my phone, suddenly wanting Adrian's company. Before I can send him a text there's a knock at the door. I get up and almost answer before I realize I'm still in my towel. I go to the door, clutching the towel.
"Who's there?"
"It's Adrian." I blink and then open the door. He looks down at my towel before looking at my face. His is full of concern. "I heard on the radio about-" I cut him off and pull him inside, shutting the door and pressing my lips against his. He hesitates at first but then wraps his arms around my back, pulling me close to him. We stand in my kitchen, kissing until the need in me subsides. I pull away as far as his arms will allow.
"I should.. put on some clothes." Adrian laughs and lets me go. I go up to my room and shut my door, leaning against it while closing my eyes. What was that about. I dress in shorts and a flowy top that's not too hot and head back downstairs. Adrian is sitting at the kitchen table looking at Bren's bathroom choices. "Want a drink?"
"Sure." I grab two bottles of water from the fridge and sit at the table with him. He's about to open his mouth but I stop him.
"If it's about the news, please don't." He shuts it and we sit in silence for a bit until I decide I'm hungry. I get up and look in the fridge but don't find anything to my liking. I decide I have enough time before going to Lyssa's. "Want to walk down to Miss Muppet's with me?" He agrees so I grab my keys, phone and wallet and lock the door behind us.
It's quiet on the way to the cafe and I feel kind of bad for cutting him off, but I just don't want to hear his sympathy. And it's not even for me, which somehow just makes it that much worse. "Lunch is on me." I get a ham and cheese wrap and he gets an egg salad sandwich. "Hey, I'm sorry for cutting you off back at the house. I didn't go through it so I don't feel like I should get any of your sympathy, you know?" Adrian nods.
"I know. I wasn't actually going to give you any. Would you like to hear what I was going to say?" I feel a blush creep its way up my neck.
"Ah, sure."
"I was going to say that if Lyssa wants anyone to talk to, let her know I don't mind listening. I won't go into detail, but I've been through a similar experience myself. No one really knows until they know." I'm kind of stunned. Now I feel even more stupid.
"Oh. Shit, I'm sorry." He shakes his head slightly.
"No, don't be. It was a long time ago, I've moved on. Lyssa should know that someday she will, too."
"I'll relay that. Thank you." He smiles and moves his hand across the table toward me, palm up. Clearly intending for me to bridge that gap and so I do.
23 December 2013
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 15
I wake up slightly groggy and disoriented, forgetting for a second that I spent the night with Adrian. I try to sit up but am stopped by an arm draped over my stomach. I turn my head to see Adrian asleep beside me, his body quite close to mine. I shiver from the air conditioning, trying to grab the blanket at the end of the bed with my foot without waking Adrian. We were up late and it's still early. He shifts in his sleep, closer to me if possible, so I stop trying to get the blanket and instead turn my phone on.
It loads up and lets me know I have 2 missed calls and 4 new text messages. Both calls are from my dad. Two texts are from Brax, one from my dad, and the other from Lyssa. I frown. Last I knew she'd lost her phone. I open the text from my dad.
Went to say good morning and you weren't here. Please leave a note next time you don't come home for the night. Love you, dad.
I sigh. Next are the two from Brax.
Good morning baby sister. Call me when you wake up.
Scratch that, I'll call you around 10.
I hesitate before opening the text from Lyssa. Our last conversation had not gone well. Before I can decide what to do my phone vibrates with an incoming call from Brax. "It's not 10 yet."
"I did say around 10."
"It's not even 9."
"Whatever. Listen. Lyss called me late last night. She told me what happened and said that she made a mistake in telling you to bug off. She asked if I'd talk to you." I look up at the ceiling. "She's sorry, Em."
"She called me a liar. We've been friends our entire lives and she believes Brenda over me? Then tells me to fess up or we're not friends anymore."
"I know, Em. We talked for almost 3 hours. Half the time I could barely understand her she was crying so much. You know her, she doesn't cry." I huff and glance at Adrian. Still asleep. "Just talk to her, all right?"
"Why did she call you?"
"Because she knows I wouldn't talk to you unless I believed her." I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers.
"She sent me a text last night. Should I read it?"
"I'd say yes. I've got to go though. Kieran just knocked, we're going to brunch." I smile.
"Oooh, brunch huh. Well call me later with the dirty details."
"Gross, Em. Love you, sister."
"You too. Bye." I hang up and open Lyssa's text message.
im sry im sry im sry. so sry. i did sum digging. can u meet me 2mrw pls??
I inhale and exhale deeply. I close my phone, deciding to respond to her later, and look over at Adrian. His eyes are open.
"How long have you been awake?" He grins.
"Not long. You seem to be having a busy morning." I turn onto my stomach and stretch.
"Seems that way."
"Want to talk about it?" I smile. The gesture is sweet.
"Not right now. Right now I'd rather talk about breakfast. What are you making me?" Adrian chuckles and snakes his other arm under me, hugging me close to him. My face now an inch from his.
"Who says I'm making breakfast?"
"I just did. I am a guest." Just then I realize something. "Didn't you say you had a job or something?"
"Yeah, they called me and said they didn't need me afterall. I work tonight at some restaurant."
"Convenient." He smiles and nods.
"Means you get to spend more time with me."
"Who says I want to do that?" There's a moment of silence in which I feel like he's going to kiss me, but instead he gets up.
"What would you like for breakfast?"
"What do you make best?"
"I know my way around a toaster pretty well." I laugh, get up and follow him down to the kitchen.
It loads up and lets me know I have 2 missed calls and 4 new text messages. Both calls are from my dad. Two texts are from Brax, one from my dad, and the other from Lyssa. I frown. Last I knew she'd lost her phone. I open the text from my dad.
Went to say good morning and you weren't here. Please leave a note next time you don't come home for the night. Love you, dad.
I sigh. Next are the two from Brax.
Good morning baby sister. Call me when you wake up.
Scratch that, I'll call you around 10.
I hesitate before opening the text from Lyssa. Our last conversation had not gone well. Before I can decide what to do my phone vibrates with an incoming call from Brax. "It's not 10 yet."
"I did say around 10."
"It's not even 9."
"Whatever. Listen. Lyss called me late last night. She told me what happened and said that she made a mistake in telling you to bug off. She asked if I'd talk to you." I look up at the ceiling. "She's sorry, Em."
"She called me a liar. We've been friends our entire lives and she believes Brenda over me? Then tells me to fess up or we're not friends anymore."
"I know, Em. We talked for almost 3 hours. Half the time I could barely understand her she was crying so much. You know her, she doesn't cry." I huff and glance at Adrian. Still asleep. "Just talk to her, all right?"
"Why did she call you?"
"Because she knows I wouldn't talk to you unless I believed her." I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers.
"She sent me a text last night. Should I read it?"
"I'd say yes. I've got to go though. Kieran just knocked, we're going to brunch." I smile.
"Oooh, brunch huh. Well call me later with the dirty details."
"Gross, Em. Love you, sister."
"You too. Bye." I hang up and open Lyssa's text message.
im sry im sry im sry. so sry. i did sum digging. can u meet me 2mrw pls??
I inhale and exhale deeply. I close my phone, deciding to respond to her later, and look over at Adrian. His eyes are open.
"How long have you been awake?" He grins.
"Not long. You seem to be having a busy morning." I turn onto my stomach and stretch.
"Seems that way."
"Want to talk about it?" I smile. The gesture is sweet.
"Not right now. Right now I'd rather talk about breakfast. What are you making me?" Adrian chuckles and snakes his other arm under me, hugging me close to him. My face now an inch from his.
"Who says I'm making breakfast?"
"I just did. I am a guest." Just then I realize something. "Didn't you say you had a job or something?"
"Yeah, they called me and said they didn't need me afterall. I work tonight at some restaurant."
"Convenient." He smiles and nods.
"Means you get to spend more time with me."
"Who says I want to do that?" There's a moment of silence in which I feel like he's going to kiss me, but instead he gets up.
"What would you like for breakfast?"
"What do you make best?"
"I know my way around a toaster pretty well." I laugh, get up and follow him down to the kitchen.
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