Closer Than Your Shadow

Motion Sickness

December 1st 1:32 p.m.
Gotham
Pane

"Claire! Your phones ringing." My eyes snapped open, and Lindsay was standing next to me with a stack of papers in her hands.

"Sorry."

"Have you not been sleeping?"

"No not really."

"I hope it's not because of Dez." She plopped the papers down and I cringed at all the orders. I flipped my phone over, and the missed call was from Sasha. I typed out a response and clicked it back off.

"Don't be stupid. Me and him are over."

She nodded but kept quiet as she stalked off towards the front.

My hands rubbed at the bags under my eyes while I tried to keep myself up right. God, I wish I listened to Robin last night. He woke me up at half past 4 and I trudged the 15 blocks home alone in agony.

I was counting down the minutes until it turned 1 because Lindsay asked if I wanted to go get lunch with her and Sal. I felt like a horrible friend after the whole Dez situation at the club so when she invited me, I couldn't possibly say no.

I'd been praying they didn't want to go anywhere too expensive. I didn't get paid until Friday and it was only Wednesday. God knows they'd choose a steak house that'd cost 40 dollars for a single meal.

I filed for a few minutes before Sal popped his head into the room with his Red Sox cap on. It pushed his black hair over his eyes.

"Ready? We decided on Thai."

"Thank god."

"You've heard of Saii? It's a fusion restaurant. I heard it has a new sous chef."

"The one Downtown?" I chewed the inside of my cheek nervously.

"Mhm," He answered with a nod and a little part of me inside died. How in the hell was I supposed to be able to afford something like that?

"Linds is already outside."

"Yeah, just let me use the bathroom." I closed the door behind me, and my nails clicked against the screen of my phone as I checked my balances. Barely 50 dollars. Christ. I didn't have time to go back home and get into my stashed cash.

I pushed my phone down into my pocket and leaned against the sink. I glared at my reflection in the mirror. My bangs barely cut down to my chin and the rest of my hair fell below my shoulder blades. I was wearing a loose band t-shirt with a pair of blue jeans. I hadn't tried to look so thrifty; it was honestly just in the haze of being half asleep and pulling random shit out of my closet.

I fixed my collar. My eyes lifted to my throat. The bruises Robin had given me were completely faded. I trailed my finger against my skin and closed my eyes.

"Claire. Hey, wake up." Something pushed against my arm and my eyes fluttered open. I was laying behind him.

"What time is it?" I asked. His fingers left my side and I looked down at my legs. His cape was on top of me like a blanket and I almost asked why he cared but he stood up. His cape pulled off me and the cold attacked.

"4:30. They just left."

I propped myself up on my elbows and stared out the window.

"Did they do anything?"

"Nope, they just drank and smoked a few joints."

"Well, that was a waste of a stakeout."