The Beauty in Time

45

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I love dramatic shows. Dramatic shows and trashy reality tv where one person is always yelling at another. It's the gossip in me.

This is mostly why I've been flip-flopping between two shows. Matthew likes to say it's the lawyers and the doctors. Very, very dramatic.

I love these two shows. Matthew's not a huge fan, but he watches them with me anyway. When he's not busy, of course. Tonight, he is. Tonight, he has his cousin and a couple of other friends over at his to watch a game.

This isn't really like him. He's a fan of football, but only in passing. He doesn't have parties for it. But I guess he lost a bet of some sort, so he's hosting his cousin and his friends. I've been told his friends are more of his cousin's friends, but he likes them too. Sort of.

Anyway, he's busy with his little viewing party, so I'm alone with the dog and the cat at my place tonight. Until I'm not.

See, here I am, enjoying the dinner he made for me before his party began, watching my doctor show. It's a nice night. Nice enough to have the screen door open to let in some air and light. Cujo lays lazily in front of it, so he likes it too.

It's all fine and dandy until something stupid happens. See, there's this character. She has no name. No real name, anyway. I mean, she chose one, but it's not her legal name. We don't know what it is, and even she doesn't know. She says she doesn't know.

But then, as it turns out, she does know. She steps into the room, chin held up high, smiling at her doctor love interest. And she declares her name.

"Fuck!" I cry dreadfully. I fall back against the couch and just groan like a little baby while the stupid show continues on.

Three seconds later, the door flies open. Matthew probably has the sliding glass door open too. I've been able to hear him and his friends every now and then when I assume something celebratory worthy happens. Or something that they hate. Which happens often.

"Elle?" He calls. He hovers sometimes. I could make the slightest noise, a quiet hiss under my breath or a gasp, and he comes running.

I look over at the doorway to see five very curious guys peering curiously into my apartment. Only one of them I actually know and like, so I narrow my eyes at the rest and fix the blanket on my lap, pulling it up to my chest. I'm only in my tank and pajama pants. No bra.

Matthew waves them all away quick. "Hey," He warns on a sharp whisper. They disappear somewhere behind him, and he looks around the room for something I dropped or hurt myself with. "What happened?"

I gesture weakly to the tv. "Jane Doe's name is Rebecca." I pout.

He frowns, glancing at the tv as he inches a little further in. "Oh," He acknowledges. "I'm sorry, sunshine. I know you liked this show." He sighs. I reach for the remote. "We'll find a new one." He assures. I only hum quietly. "Want me to stay over?"

I look over at him and frown. "Is the game over?" It just started, I thought.

"Not yet, no." He shakes his head. "But do you want me over?"

"No." I blurt out quick. "No, no, go finish your game." I eagerly wave him away. I think the others are just lingering in the hall behind him.

He narrows his eyes suspiciously at me. Pulls out of the doorway to look over his shoulder. "Don't make a mess. And don't touch my shit." He orders.

I groan loudly at him. "Matthew!"

He ignores me, dismissing his friends and sending them off into his apartment alone. He inches inside and tosses the door shut behind him.