I Have Been Chosen

Oliver 8

Saturday 17th January

After doing his Saturday morning cleaning, laundry, and making a planned schedule for the next week, Oliver checked his phone, seeing that Cody was currently online, having sent a message in the band's group chat about new song suggestions they should learn.

If Cody was messaging, he was wise enough to take a day off, following Oliver's advice. So Oliver decided to send him a message.

Oliver: How are you feeling wounded soldier?

Cody's reply was almost instant.

Cody: much better! Painkillers are doing their stuff

Oliver: good to hear, glad you took my advice and stayed at home

There was a long pause of no reply. Oliver watched the small print of the 'Cody is typing' switch on and off. He frowned, knowing what this meant. Cody hadn't stayed at home, had he?

Cody: haha yeah, they sent me home

"Knew it," Oliver sighed, shaking his head in disapproval.

Cody: I helped open and set up the kitchen but they sent me home since I couldn't serve customers with a bruised face

Oliver: told you so

Cody: borrowed some makeup from a coworker so should be fine for tomorrow

Cody: think the pain should be all gone by then too

Oliver: you should take the weekend off to recover

Cody: nah! I'll be fine!

Oliver: (gif of Marge Simpson, arms folded and making her iconic catchphrase of a disapproving groaning)

Cody replied with a series of laughing faces.

Oliver set his phone down, believing the conversation to have satisfyingly ended. He was about to fold up some laundry and put them away when his phone lit up, receiving a new message from Cody.

Cody: thank you again for last night

Cody: I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else about what happened

Oliver: I won't, it's not my place to say

Oliver: I'll keep it a secret

Cody: thank you (smiley face)

Oliver paused, his finger hovering over the phone's keyboard before finally sending another message.

Oliver: please don't tell anyone about Pride

Oliver: especially Kara

There was a long moment of no reply, not even a 'Cody is typing' small print. Then finally, Cody messaged back:

Cody: of course I won't say anything

Oliver: thank you

Oliver put his phone down for the second time, returning to folding his dry laundry, when he received a notification, another message from Cody.

"How long is this conversation going to be?" Oliver sighed, hoping that he put a pause on his chores for something important and not just Cody replying with an emoji or a one-word response.

Cody: are you looking forward to your new job on Monday? Excited?

Oliver: I am certainly looking forward to the increase in pay and better retirement plan package

Oliver returned to his laundry, finding himself waiting for a reply, distracted by his phone despite the fact that once he had finished this task, he could be distracted for the rest of the day. His phone lit up. After folding a bath towel, Oliver checked it.