Dots and Zeros [Completed]

25. Madeline

'You're late.'

'Good morning to you, too,' Ramona says. 'You got any coffee?'

'I do. You don't want to leave directly?'

She shakes her head.

'We've got plenty of time.'

I take a step back and she follows me into the house. I take off my coat and hang it back up. If it were up to me, we'd already be in the car. But I guess we're going in her car. She parked it right in front of mine in the driveway, so we wouldn't even be able to leave the driveway in mine. That's fine.

'Where's the kitchen?'

'There, behind the door.'

Ramona walks to the kitchen as I follow her in. It's nine thirty according to the clock on the wall.

'So,' she says. 'Any idea of where we're going today?'

'I do. It's exciting stuff.'

I sit down at the dining table. Ramona walks around the kitchen and opens drawers and cabinets to find what she needs.

'I honestly think that as soon as we enter the right neighborhood it'll come back to me in no time,' I say.

'Good for you. The car's navigation won't take that as an answer, though.'

'That's fine. Just follow the signs towards New York and we'll figure it out from there.'

'That's not how I do things.'

She looks at me with a mug in one hand.

'Get your laptop and open Google Maps. I'm gonna drink my coffee first anyway. We've got plenty of time.'

She closes the cabinet and takes the mug to the coffee machine. I'm afraid it's no use going against her. She's my ride, after all. Even though I have my own car, I don't want to go to Julian on my own.

I stand up from the table and return shortly with my laptop. Ramona has settled at the dining table. I sit down on the chair next to her.

'You have a nice kitchen,' she says. 'Empty, but nice.'

'Thanks. I don't need more than what's in here.'

'Not even a plant? A nice flower?'

'I open the window if I feel like there needs to be more oxygen in here.'

She sighs as I open the internet browser.

'Doesn't Sam feel the same way like me?' she asks. 'Like it's empty?'

'Haven't heard them complain about it.'

'Weird. Except if they're an exact copy of you. In that case it makes sense.'

I drag the little man from the corner of the screen to a blue line on the map in front of me. It opens street view. It doesn't take long for me to figure out which way I'm supposed to go.

'Did you want a cup of coffee?' Ramona asks. 'Totally forgot to ask.'

'No, I'm good. Thanks.'

'Alright.'

I keep clicking the arrows to move down the virtual street. Ramona takes out her phone and starts writing something down in a notes app. Or maybe she's texting someone. That's more likely.

After two more minutes of clicking, Julian's building stands before me on the screen. It's a street view from last year and the building's still standing. It must be here right now as well.

'Wow, that's really nice.'

Ramona bends towards me and looks at the screen.

'How big are the apartments?' she asks. 'They're not all closets, are they? That'd be such a waste of the location.'