Stitches

6: Stuck In You

—Kendra—

Kendra and Casey entered the kitchen. The two moved to the back when they reached a pile of bags set to the side of the back door. "Alright, let's get this trash set." Casey said as he pulled out his phone. "Still no Spotify." His shoulder raised in a shrug. "Good thing I got the album on my phone." With a few taps, guitar riffs played as he tucked his phone into his pocket.

Kendra watched him as his head kept to the rhythm while he hurried to the door. The riffs continued as he stood at the door with his body seemingly in position. "What are you-" 

Before she could get her question out, the drums began. He raised his foot, then kicked the door's exit bar just as the guitar went into full swing. The noise of the metal made Kendra's ears ring. The equipment on the wall shook as the door slammed against the building.

She stared at him for a moment. "Did you really need to kick the door open?" Kendra asked as she watched the door to the dining room to see if an enraged Miss Della would storm in to tear him a new one.

"Relax, it's fine," he said as Kendra stared out at the parking lot, her view slightly obstructed by her co-worker. 

"Sure it is." Her voice lacked confidence when Casey's sarcastic smile vanished. He reached into his pocket and held his phone again.

"Load up on guns–" He tapped the screen to pause the music, and the two remained in silence.

Casey frowned. "Ok, what the hell is up with you today?"

She didn't need this right now. "It's nothing okay?" She said hoping he'd drop it.

That hope quickly died. "You're acting off and getting all quiet." She felt her heart in her throat as he stepped towards her. Why did he always feel a need to pry?

"I'm fine!" Her words did nothing to stop his advance.

"You only do this when you're about to lose your shit." He stood before her, went silent, and waited for her response. Until his patience ran out. "Say something, dammit." 

Could she tell him? Would he believe her?

"That guy you found..." The gears head were turning, making assumptions as his brows furrowed. "Did he do something to you?" His hands balled into fists. "Cause if he did, me and Fred-"

She shook her head. "No, do you really think our boss would've let him live, let alone stay here if he did?"

His face and hands eased. "Well... no." For once, he didn't have a comeback. "But seriously, what's wrong?"

She sighed, "Let's just get the trash done, then I'll tell you, okay?" With her promise made, he took a step back as he reached for the bags. They rustled as he lifted two in each hand.

"I got the trash, you take the cardboard." He said before making his way outside.

"Sure," she took the last bag off the floor. The bag was light but stuffed to its limit with broken-down boxes. 

Kendra made her way to the door. As she looked outside, the water and uneven pavement had formed an archipelago of shallow puddles and raised, cracked concrete islands.

It would be okay. She would just take the cardboard out, then get back inside and talk with Casey.
Simple enough.

She took her first step outside. The petrichor in the air was calming. Water dripped off the building into rippling puddles.
She just needed to stay calm.

A slam pulled her back to reality as the lid of the dumpster clattered. "Almost had it." He said as he grabbed at the hard plastic and heaved it upwards. The lid slowed as it reached the peak of its arc. "C'mon, fall back!" The lid froze in place a moment before it fell backward, and another slam sounded from the back wall of the dumpster. He pumped his arm up before reaching for a bag and tossing it in.