the love rectangle

하나

my alarm sounds at 06:00. i begin to groan and shift, then become aware of my partner's body loosely interlocked with mine. instantly alert, i gently disentangle myself from their limbs and head for the shower. we were out late last night. or early, depending how you look at it. our close friend Four owns a book shop that is only open at night. Three loooooves going there and i have a hard time dragging him away, even when i need to be up the next morning. Four has set up a bed for me in the back, saint that he is, but i have yet to utilize it. i always forget. and if i have to choose between sleep and my hand in Three's while we play settlers of catan, i know which one i am choosing.

i exit the shower, go through my skincare routine with lightening speed, and re enter the bedroom. there is an outfit laid out on the bed for me, complete with a belt, socks and shoes. Three is now magically on "their" side of the bed looking a little too peaceful to be real.

One: i woke you up, didn't i?

Three: *eyes firmly shut* i don't know what you're talking about. i am fast asleep.

One: i'm talking about this outfit someone just put together for me.

Three: i can't see anything. my eyes are wide shut.

One: *pulls on the shirt* you could have stayed in bed, you know.

Three: *grins sheepishly, keeping their eyes closed* i mean, i mostly did. mostly. sort of.

One: *continues getting dressed*  i'm heading to work. they're just going to put me in a new outfit as soon as i get there.

Three: *gives up all pretense of sleep and sits up indignantly* you would leave the house in anything if i let you!

One: what if that's because i secretly like it when you pick out clothes for me?

Three: *snorts* it's not a secret.

One: you always put me in one of your shirts when i'm heading to work.

Three: *grins* you noticed.

One: i noticed and i like it. i need some good mojo to carry me through the day. the first day we're actually acting is the hardest.

Three: how are things going with the second lead?

One: i don't know. *sees Three's face* no like, i really don't know. he's a little confusing.

Three: how so?

One: well he seems to be a great actor, but there are so many times we have been reading the script and he just....spaces out. misses cues. has to be reminded of what his lines are. it doesn't bode well for the show as a whole.

Three: have you talked to Four about him at all?

One: yeah, i mentioned Two last night and Four said the name was familiar but didn't remember anything specific about him. so i'm flying blind on this one.

Three: maybe you could get Four to sit in on a scene or two at the studio.

One: *groans while "styling" his hair  [running his fingers through it]* he probably would. i just hate asking him.

Three: but he definetly doesn't mind doing it. plus it's good for appearances if you two are seen in public together.

One: by appearances, you mean you, right? *rubs Three's head affectionately before pulling his watch off the nightstand to put on*

Three: yes, me. so by default, you too. *winks*

One: if you're not too busy today, could you reach out to him for me?

Three is an herbalist. they call themselves a glorified gardener but there is no one more skilled at coaxing plants into giving the very best. they work at a greenhouse/nursery adjacent to the local market, supplying all the locally owned businesses and individual households within our community with whatever ingredients are needed. it is slow, steady, year-round work; the perfect place for someone like Three. i had no idea what slow living or a balanced lifestyle was until i met them. Three does get busy sometimes but it is mostly their own doing. They make time for everyone no matter what, are always trying to collect stray animals, and forget time is passing until it becomes too dark to see without turning a light on. i think sometimes they would forget to eat if i didn't feed them.

Three: i should be able to. i'm not going to work today.

oh. that's right. the reason we were up late last night. some of Three's seedlings did not survive the transfer from tray to plot and they were heartbroken. their plants are their babies; all night, just when i thought they might have forgotten, they would mumble "my babies are dead" or something along those lines and the whole grieving process would start over again. Four and i gave up trying to head them off and settled for letting them tell us about it again and again. we gradually helped them to see it wasn't their fault and they are still good at their job but a day off is the best idea.

One: thank you. if you want to come by the studio, you can.

Three: *shakes head* no thank you. i don't want anyone to know about me.