Aftermath

6

"You're late," Mr. Delgado said with a smirk as Cal flew in the door. He had a sticker gun in one hand and a book in the other.

"Sorry, I got caught up at the coffee shop" she explained, clocking in and grabbing another tub of books to mark with a sticker gun of her own. "I can come in early tomorrow to make up for it," she offered.

"Nonsense, you're only a few minutes late. I'm heading out once I finish this tub." Cal raised her eyebrows in response but kept at the box she was working through without saying another word.

Mr. Delgado reminded her that the shop was closed the upcoming weekend because of building maintenance before he headed out the door. Calpurnia let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and moved on to sorting the box of donations they'd received the night before. By the time 3 pm rolled around, Cal was set up at the register with a book in hand, killing time until 5 pm when she could close the shop.

She had a slow trickle of customers coming in but one caught her eye, Oliver. She hadn't seen him in years and suddenly twice in a week, it was odd. She smiled as he walked through the door. Cal set her book down preparing to answer a question.

"Got any good recs?" Oliver asked, pressing his palms into the counter. Calpurnia noted that he had an ease about him like he was always completely at peace.

"You didn't give me time to prepare," Cal said, smoothing her hands down her thighs, "I would've made a comprehensive list." At that, Oliver let out a chuckle and swatted a hand in front of him.

"No worries, I'm just here on an errand for my mom," he said, scanning the room and then looking back to her "although I could use some instruction for where to put donations". He tapped the counter before pushing away and looking at her expectantly.

"Oh, yeah. If you just want to put them around behind the counter that works fine." She said sliding off the stool she'd been sitting on and coming out from behind the counter. "I can help if you have more than one box." When they had finished carrying in the boxes of books, Oliver left and Cal went to work organizing them so she could shelve them easier.

...

She could feel the tightness in her throat, threatening to choke her. Cal coughed, trying to relieve the pressure, but nothing was helping.

Moreno's drunk, can you pick him up? She'd received the text from a number she didn't have at 1 in the morning. Immediately followed by another.

He's asking for you, won't get in the cab. Cal pulled on jeans and a sweater as quickly as she could while dialing the number that was texting her. Had to be someone from school, they all used to go by last names.

"Hey Calpurnia" it was Oliver, she could hear the rhythmic boom of music in the background. "He's just asking for you to come pick him up, we can get him in a cab if we need to-"

"No I'm coming, where are you?" Cal could feel the anxiety rising in her quicker than she could combat it. She got his location and headed out the door jogging in the direction of the bar.

When she arrived Mattie was in a state. His clothes were crumpled and he was slumped over on the bench of a booth in the corner. Oliver gave her an apologetic smile before giving them some privacy so she could talk to Matthew.

"Hey," she said, reaching out to rub his arm. He stirred and looked up at her, his dark eyes cloudy and distant, lacking the glint of mischief they usually have. "Let's get you home, okay?" he nodded in response and she stepped back, letting him slide himself out of the booth.

Oliver came into view again and handed her some car keys.

"He parked in the back lot, I took these a while ago." she gave him a smile of gratitude.