Escape ~ S.Harrington

Bonus: Forever

{August 8, 2000}

(New York City, New York)
"So, this is an interview, huh?" Jon took a sip of his coffee as he stared across the table at Nancy.
"Hey, you are talking to a top journalist right now," She pulled out her notepad and recorder.
"And you're talking to a top film maker right now. Nance, can we just talk as friends for right now? I'll give you all the material you want, but I've missed you. You missed the last two meetups."
"Sorry, you're right. How are you, Jon?"
"I think the more important question is how are you? You seem so... stressed."
"I am not stressed."
"Could've fooled me."
"I just- I think I need a break. I go from interview to interview to my desk to my computer to publishing and then I do it all again. It's a lot."
"When was the last time you took a break?"
"The last meetup I went to."
"A year!? Nance, that's a lot."
"I know."

"How about you stay with me for a week? Here, in the city. With me. I can show you around a bit. Might be nice."
"Really?"
"Yeah, of course. This was the only thing I had planned. I may have some friends in Hollywood, but it's lonely here. It'd be nice to be with a friend."
"I'd like that. A lot. Thank you."
"You're welcome here any time. Even if I'm not here."
"So, do you wanna quickly do this interview and then..."
"Please," Jon groaned, "I would like to leave. I hate this cafe. There's one ten times better right down the street."
"Why didn't we meet up there?"
"This one's easier to find and I didn't think I'd be here long."
"Any good restaurants?"
"Oh, so many."
"Would you wanna go to dinner with me, Jonathan Byers?"
"What?"
"Don't make me ask again. I already feel like a teenager bringing that up."
"Yeah, Nancy Wheeler, I'll go to dinner with you."

(Seattle, Washington)
"Did you grab the diaper bag!?" Max yelled down the stairs.
"No, you said you would!" Lucas yelled back, trying to shush their crying baby.
"I can't with you right now," She dug through their closet, eventually finding it.
"I can't get her to stop crying," Lucas rocked their daughter in his arms, "I've tried everything."
Max picked her up and she stopped, "Not everything. You didn't try me."
"Forgot about your-"
"Magic touch, yeah."
"You two are so cute together," Lucas smiled.
"Oh yeah?"
"The cutest."
"I love when you flatter me."
"I know, that's why I do it."
"Shit," Max looked at the clock, "We need to get going. You ready?" She kissed her baby's head, "Are you ready, Bailey?" Bailey reached a hand up and touched Max's cheek with a goofy smile, "Oh, you're so excited to meet your Aunt Jenna and Uncle Steve! And your cousin Eva and cousin Stephen! They're excited to meet you too."

"So, we're staying with Jenna and Steve?" Lucas grabbed their car keys, "And they have the room? For the whole party? Seems like it's gonna be a tight squeeze."
"Are you kidding? Jenna is a detective and Steve's been working in that school district long enough to make bank. Of course they have room. Someone's probably going to be sleeping on a couch, but we're the only ones with a kid, so we get a spare bedroom guaranteed. Thank god for that."
"Taking a baby flying and gambling on her melting down or not seems to have its perks."
"Tell me about it. Oh, and Dustin's also flying in today. I think he's doing something with Jenna tonight? I don't know, but I have their address and it's not too far from the airport. Really glad we opted for a rental car."
"Me too. I'm just so excited to see everyone. It's been a while. I miss them."
"I do too. Shit," Max winced, "She just took a shit."
"I'll handle it," Lucas took Bailey from her, "Just get the car ready. This gives me more time to mentally prepare for getting yelled at by my sister for not calling enough."
"I picked the right husband."
"Yeah, you did."

(Cape Canaveral, Florida)
"Get your asses moving!" Erica commanded, standing menacingly with a clipboard in hand.
She was in charge of a small project with NASA. It was a part of her internship with them. She'd impressed enough people on the assessment board to be in charge of all the interns. She was trying to make a name for herself there, establishing that she knew what she was doing and wasn't going to take anyone's shit for being 'too ambitious'.
"Erica," Another intern walked up to her, wiping sweat from his forehead, "We can't make the calculations work."
"Than try harder, assface," She sassed "I am not gonna look bad because you can't do your job. They will work. Rerun the math and maybe get a second opinion."
"But-"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Go."
"Yes, ma'am."
She let out a sigh as she walked to the break room in desperate need of a coffee.