Paraprosexia

Chapter four: Dinner Time

Bim waited for Ed in the studio parking lot. The sun was out and beaming. He was fanning himself with his hand. He pulled out his phone to see Jared texting him. He sent a quick reply to him. Bim tried to find a place in the shade to linger in.

Just as he found a spot Ed pulled up in his cadillac. Bim sighed and trekked across the searing asphalt. He couldn't swear his shoe had almost melted to the ground. He opened the car door and got in. Ed was feeling the heat too. His hat was off exposing his receding hairline, with sweat dripping off his forehead and cheeks. His button up was stained due to all the excessive moisture.

"Hotter than a Texan summer, god damn." Ed said as he drove off. Bim quickly undid his tie and coat. Ed glanced over to see Bim was sweating as well. His hair, usually pushed back, was now falling in front of his face. Bim tried but failed to put it back in its original placement.

Ed laughed which made Bim turn his attention to the cowboy. He saw the man chuckling as he pointed at him. Bim looked down and saw his shirt was wet underneath his armpits. Bim's face became flushed as he crossed him arms to hide it.

"Your a fucking child, Ed." Bim said with a snarky tone, which only made Ed laugh more. Bim rolled his eyes at him. Ed then turned his attention to the radio. He messed with the knob before a static groan came from it. Ed slammed his fist down on the top of it. After a second or two it had been revived.

Ed happily turned to a country music station. Bim ignored it. He propped his arm up and slid his chin and his hand. Ed lowered the windows. Bim caught a cool breeze hitting his face. Ed's mullet flowed in the wind. The Cadillac stopped at a stop light. He stared at people walking down the street. The crowd moved across the street in a hurry. One man caught Bim's eye.

The man had a baseball cap on and his arm in a sling. It was turned down enough that his eyes weren't visible. The thing Bim took note of is the distinct strike of white that was in the man's black hair. The man disappeared into the mist of people. The car drove off but Bim's eyes were stuck on that crowd.

"You know, staring is kind of rude." Ed voiced, Bim snapped out of his focus and looked over Ed.

"Thought I saw someone, but I was mistaken." Ed raised an eyebrow as the response but he shook it off soon after. They drove into a smaller entrance. They passed a large sign. Entering a neighborhood. They drove down a whole strip passing larger houses. Until they reached a smaller house. It seemed out of place with the modern homes that surrounded it. Out of style with the West coast and much more resembled a midwestern home.

Ed pulled into his car driveway and parked. Ed turned off the car and the two got out. Bim grabbed his coat and swung his tie around his shoulder. The walk up the small, stone stairway to the house. Ed yanked his keys out of his jean pocket. Bim watched him unlock the door.

He pushed over the door and the two walked into a cool interior. Ed walked over and flopped over on the couch. Bim rolled his eyes again. The kitchen was a couple feet away. He went into the kitchen, the only room which was updated. The rest of the house felt as if it was stuck in the 90s. He walked over to the fridge and looked around for a beverage.

"Ay, Bim, whatcha think of my new painting?" Ed called from the living room. Bim grabbed a water bottle out the fridge and walked back over to Ed. The cowboy had gotten up and over towards the framed landscape.

"What do you know about it?" Ed asked Bim, the show host squinted his eyes at him.

"Why are you asking me that?" Bim asked, he opened the water bottle and took a sip.

"You're the fact guy, you gotta know something about this." The cowboy answered, a bit more chipper this time, Bim couldn't help but crack a grin. He looked at the painting. Ed placed his hands on his hips as he waited for the show host to say something.