So I Bury It (ocean's 8 shorts)

So I Bury It (1)

Debbie Ocean wasn't one for feelings. She was taught to be stoic, even as a young child. Emotions were for the weak. That is what her father taught her, and what her brother recited throughout his life. She was so used to not feeling anything, that she was afraid of what would happen if she ever did feel.

Lou Miller on the other hand wasn't taught to be emotionless. She learned to be. After countless heartbreaks, she learned it best not to wear her heart on her sleeve. Keeping it tucked away with all her other feelings was where it belonged. The last straw being Debbie Ocean.

When Debbie was released from prison, Lou knew she would be the first one to be called upon. Even after their rocky past, they still had an understanding. They would still be there for each other. So when Lou's phone pinged one cool NYC night, she wasn't surprised.

JAILBRD: Wheres the fking cemetery? 12 am tmr.

Lou sighed, and tucked her phone away before responding. She would deal with this later. There was no 'hello, how are you?'. What could she expect really. It was Debbie Ocean after all. She decided to call Tammy about the matter.

Tammy's frantic voice picked up the call "Hello? Lou? It's past midnight. Why are you calling me? Is something wrong?"

"You tell me..." Lou sighed "No, nothings wrong."

"Then what is it Louise?"

Lou rolled her eyes at the sound of her full name before replying "Did you know Debbie's out of the clink?"

There was silence on both ends. That answered Lou's question right away. No. No, Tammy didn't know.

"No." Tammy breathed out. "When did you find out?"

"She just texted me." Lou sounded exhausted. Debbie and Lou didn't really leave things on good terms before Debbie got locked up.

"What about? Did you reply to her?"

Lou's tone went low "No. I didn't reply. It was just some text about the cemetery Danny's buried at."

"Oh." Tammy replied. She knew how things were left between them. Tammy was there to pick the pieces up for Lou. She was Lou's biggest support system during the five years, eight months, and twelve days of Debbie being gone.

The call ended with Tammy telling Lou to reply to Deb, and then a quick 'goodnight'. Lou slid her phone back in her pocket, and stepped back into the club and its booming music. She waved goodbye to her staff, and left the club. She couldn't stay at work with knowing Debbie Ocean was out of prison. She walked through the parking lot and climbed into her old Toyota. The silence was deafening. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone from her pocket again, and stared at the message from Debbie Ocean again.

LOU: Ok

That was the best she could come up with. 'Ok'. She knew Debbie would be disappointed that there wasn't more to it. But that was all she could muster.

The drive home Lou blasted music to drown out the thoughts in her head from racing. She felt everything bubbling up inside of her again, and she might just break. Her heart that was finally mended was at risk once again. She finally made it back to her loft. It wasn't anything super special, but it was her home.

After stepping into the loft, the coldness of it made her feel even more alone. She rid herself of her keys in the bowl by the door, and hung her jacket up. Her boots were kicked off in the threshold. Lou meandered up the metal staircase and into her room. Lou's room was always messy, but it was cozy. The smell of cigarettes, leather, and mint permeated the air. Lou stripped down and changed into her pajamas, which were boxers and a wife beater. She then went into the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, and pull her hair into a low ponytail. She threw herself onto her bed, and almost instantly fell asleep with the thoughts of Debbie running in her head.