Hushed Tones

Rough Start

"Benji~"

'No...'

"Beeeeeenjiiiiii~"

'Absolutely not.'

A deep breath, and I know what's next.

"BENJIIIIII"

I rolled off the mattress while clutching my skull onto the hardwood floor below me with a loud pained groan. There's a girlish giggle that's muffled by my arms "Come on, we're going out for brunch." the voice belonged to my best friend Sarah. I lowered my arms and glared, tapping the side of my fingers against my chin to sign 'Bitch' she grins widely at me "Yeah I know." she brushed back her natural brown curls and beamed "Come on, just shower, I laid out some clothes, we made a deal remember?" she asked.

I sighed and stood up, moving my hands and arms "I remember I remember, give me twenty" I signed. She nodded "We're going to Pita's" I sighed and rolled my head exasperatingly "I can't afford-" "-I didn't ask if you could afford it, I said we're going to Pita's." she insisted. I straightened up and saluted "Yes Ma'am" I waved before jogging back over to our shared bathroom.

I hurried grooming, this day totally snuck up on me, Sarah made me a deal the other day, she'd let me crash on her couch rent free but I was going to work with her company and get a nest egg started. I tried to avoid looking in the mirror just yet, I was more tired than the last day, the more my neck swelled in pain, and the more I heard those cruel words ringing into my head.

Sarah's knock just barely brings me out of it "It's Sarah, just checking on you" she said, I blinked around the bathroom then looked at my phone, thirty minutes had passed, I sighed and tapped on the door "Okay, take your time, I got you up early." she said. It was early that's true, but still I hurried to slip on the nice cream sundress she got me with little sunflowers all over.

It even included a high collar for my neck.

When I stepped out, she was excited to see it on me, happy I just tried it on at least, I snagged my purse and left the apartment. We drove to the nice cafe she referred to, perfect movie quality English cafe with a lovely Italian couple running it. Really peaceful corner of Oxford that we loved.

Also, bottomless mimosas.

I grabbed a table and set up the laptop as she ordered our food and drinks, I pulled up my work for Sarah to go over. She was doing me a really huge solid, she arranged a work-from-home position for me at her job, with my condition it was a huge help. I scan over my papers and feel that well of uncertainty in my stomach, a seven-year gap in employment never looks good, even if I have what I've heard is an excellent excuse.

'I'm surprised she's even considering hiring me, friend or no'

I smiled up as she walked back over, skillfully maneuvering her body through the tables while delicately holding up two mimosas. She smirked when clearing the hoard and I gave my smallest golf clap as she approached the table.

She shimmied her shoulders with a giggle and set the drinks down "Okay, got it up?" she asked, I gestured the screen. She settled in the booth beside me, comfortably wrapping an arm around my shoulder as she read it "Okay, this looks good" she murmured. I picked at the skin around my nails as she revised my attempt at her work, she said it wouldn't be a problem but she was putting her neck on the line.

I did a little bit of office work before I married Carter, so I knew my way. Though I haven't set foot in an office in years, it came back to me like riding a bike. She sat back and smiled "Solid work dude, I think you're ready." she said happily. I arched a brow "I am?" she nodded "Yeah, I told you it's a lot easier than I make it seem." she said. She crossed her arms "You've got this in the bag" she said.

I raised my eyes in worry "Had it in the bag seven years ago" she sighed "Relax, I'll be on standby while I'm on vacation" she said. I gnawed at my lip "And they're okay with you putting a complete stranger at the helm of all this important stuff?" she rolled her eyes and sipped her drink while bobbing a fist back and forth to sign 'Yes'. I smiled and took my drink "They're fine with me putting in an independent contractor as long as they're experienced and pass standards." she assured me. Her arm slipped down and pulled me in "You're gonna do great, hell maybe they'll hire you afterward" she said.

I smiled a little and nodded before drinking my drink before she leaned forward, pulling up her program "So we're gonna start here, this is a normal day for me." she said. I doubted that considering the drink but whatever. She continued to explain her job, she worked for a company that sold utility equipment, industrial air conditions, and the like. Boring but I'd be making bank. Especially if they took me after she came back from her vacation.

As she went on, I absorbed everything I could, nursing the remaining mimosa I had, surprisingly I got it fairly quickly, she even let me at the helm of a couple things. Once the food was in sight "Okay get this expensive pain square away from me" she hissed, tucking her laptop away. I hummed happily seeing my favorite, a mountain of French toast, bananas and chocolate covered in honey. The omelet Sarah ordered looked to die for too, but nothing heals the soul like sugar.

We dove in but continued signing to speak "So when are you leaving?" she shrugs "Tomorrow night. God I'm excited too." she said. I smiled as she gleamed happily, she'd been talking about going to Japan since we were in high school and carried it through college. It was nice to see her giddy for this trip, she busted her ass, and she earned it. I smiled and continued eating as she seemed to stare, a rare weird silence overcame us that I can't help but feel at fault for.

"Hey... If you're not sure about being left alone just yet I can post pone-"

I raise my hand and snap my fingers

"Don't you dare, I won't let you."

"Benji, really, if you're not ready it's fine, I can wait a little longer. If Bender were with you, I'd... Ah, shit I'm sorry"

I felt a pit in my stomach, out of everything I'd lost recently, my Staffordshire terrier Bender was the hardest hit. I smiled and waved again "Seriously, don't worry about it" "I'm always worried... Maybe I'll post-"

I snapped again, warning her with my gaze not to press the issue, she sighed and frowned "Stubborn till the day you die" she murmured. I keep eating until my stomach begs me to stop and lean back, the waiter walks over and refills our mimosas for the fifth round (For Sarah, it was my second, I offered to drive.)

We chatted as we ate until I had to drive her home, once we got home, she had to retreat to her office to get the okays from the boss. I got changed into an oversized baseball tee that went to my middle thigh I decided to go through my emails, I sifted through quite a variety. Some Grocery store coupons, therapy appointment reminders, a couple of legal emails.

My head started to ache at the amount of times I had to read 'No evidence he is in possession of it' over and over along with a pile of fake apologies. My hand trembled as it reached up, gently touching the long scar on my neck. I shuddered and pulled it away before slamming the computer shut and burying myself in an endless scroll of useless information and cute videos.

I did absolutely nothing for four hours straight and hated myself the whole time.

My favorite hobby.