Sonder

Chapter 24

Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today.

Things are completely different.

The sky is gray, low, clouds like soupy cotton balls. It's a strange spring day. It's drizzling. Snow sprinkles are floating around amidst the drizzle. Nick is moving his things into Ryan's apartment. He rushes into the cozy garden-level apartment to save his things from the moisture.

The whole complex is cottage-style with exposed rafters and stucco. With the weather, he feels like he's entering a chalet in the alps. Everything is so earthy and European. Nick feels ready to bump into Mr. Mole or Mr. Toad. The key Ryan gave him is preposterous. It is more like an iron paddle that would be used to wind up bear traps. Running outside to grab his desk, Nick flips it onto his back like a load-bearing Egyptian. It's not even cold, but everything is dusted in white and shrouded in this strange spring fog. The drizzle stopped and now there are just flakes falling as large and slow as feathers. Sometimes it seems like they aren't falling at all. It's an odd, isolated soundless dreamscape to scuttle around in. Like some furniture thief, stealing his desk into the apartment.

I feel... alone. I feel... fluffy. I feel... enchanted. I feel... lost. I feel... embraced.

I feel like it's frikin' Narnia or something.

A feather made of ice melts in between his shoulder blades and he shivers, doubling his speed.  

***

Later at Domino's, Nick is rolling his phone around in his hand. 

Should I call her? The next day? Isn't there a rule against that? From that one movie right?

Moreover, her number is a house number. *cringe* An accidental parental phone encounter is more terrifying than a candiru... you know, the little fish that gets stuck in a urethra and requires a lopadicktomie. It's hard enough to prepare for an awkward conversation with a crush. But add parents into the equation. He debates himself:

This call may just have to wait.

But she said to all today. Not some day TOday.

Nope, nope, just wishful mishearing. A polite farewell.

You frikin' idiot. I'm dialing! His thumb moves to the green button.

No! No! Oh shit! No! The phone is ringing.

You better chill the fuck out or this will be... Not pleasant... actually... Humiliating.

*ring, ring*

"Hello?" 

It's Claire! 

"You called the next day?! That's against the rules! Haven't you seen Swingers?"