The Night Shift

2:15am Tuesday

"Western Star Storage, how may I help you and why am I asking this I'm talking on my phone."

"Hi Brenner,"

"Stop laughing, okay it was a reflex to answer the phone with that late at night."

"Okay, sorry. How are you?"

"I'm good thank you,"

"How's Caelin?"

"Hang on I'll put you on speaker phone,"

"Did you really just put me on speaker phone for your dog?"

"He's a people person, er- rather people dog? Does that make sense?"

"Aw he barked hello. Hi Caelin!"

"He's always been popular with the ladies; haven't you buddy?"

"Oh my gosh he has the smuggest expression on his face, how does he even do that? You're a dog! How do you do that?"

"Uh, Brenner,"

"Oh sorry, so how have you been?"

"I've been good I guess; I fell asleep in my English Lit class today. The teacher was not happy, but it was funny when she was getting up me because she called me this other girls name, a girl that was away that day and so I don't think I'll be getting into anymore trouble about it. I feel sorry for Jennifer though, poor girl, but she did skip class today so I guess that's kind of karma."

"Wow, I think that's the most I've ever heard you say in one go."

"Really? Huh,"

"You okay though? You don't usually fall asleep in class, do you?"

"No, I try not to, it's just around this time of year it gets harder to sleep and so I kind of take what I can get,"

"Why is it hard for you to sleep around this time of year? If you don't mind me asking,"

"Uh well it's, I mean,"

"It's okay you don't have to tell me, but is it the main reason you have insomnia?"

"Yeah, and thanks for not pushing."

"You're welcome, want to change topics?"

"Yes please,"

"Okay, um, hey we never ended up finishing our game of twenty questions. Do you want to finish that?"

"Sure, I think it was your go to ask a question though."

"Hmm, okay. If you could have one super power what would it be? And it can't be to have all the super powers one!"

"Damn, okay. Uh I think I'd love to be able to control the elements. All of the basics like: water, fire, earth, air, and then electricity and metal and all those. What about you?"

"Cool, I don't want to sound like a copycat but that sounds pretty badass. But if I couldn't have that though, I'd probably have the power of immortality and the power to grant it so I wouldn't be lonely. Can you imagine that, you'd be able to learn and experience so much. Learn every language known to man, see every place on earth and maybe travel in space. Time wouldn't effect you so you could spend years traveling without dying before reaching another place."

"Wow, who would you make immortal?"

"Caelin obviously, and I suppose anyone I thought worthy. Scientists, doctors, historians, inventors. Anyways your turn,"

"Hmm, what's your favourite memory?"

"Oh come on that's like asking who your favourite Winchester is. Uh, the one that comes to mind would have to be my seventh birthday. My dad woke me up at midnight and we snuck out of the house, my dads an astronomer by the way, he took me to this really big hill near our house. We spent the night just laying there with him pointing out constellations. When the sun started to rise, mum turned up with breakfast. We had hot chocolate and pancakes while we watched the sunrise,"

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"Yeah, good times, good times. Do I get to ask what your favourite memory is so far?"

"Sure, uh. Well one of them would have to be when I was about eight, by brother and I we used to prank my dad. It was just silly childish pranks but we thought we were geniuses. So one-time dad left the super glue out after fixing one of Quinn's, my brother, toys. We covered the whole tube in super glue so that when he would pick it up to put it away it would stick to his fingers. Only Quinn ended up getting it stuck to his arm and when I tried to get it off I got stuck. So we had to go and find dad to help us get it off and he just laughed at us for a full five minutes. We finally found out that dad had left it out on purpose and there was already glue on it, that why Quinn got stuck so easily."

"Ha your dad's a genius! And your brother sounds like a cool guy,"

"Yeah dad never lets me forget about that one. And yeah, Quinn, he was, he was one of a kind."

"Was?"

"Yeah,"

"Oh Sel, I'm sorry. Was, was it recent?"

"No, when we were twelve."

"We? Were you guys twins?"

"Yeah,"

"Shit, I'm so sorry Sel. Wait twelve? Was that when your insomnia started?"

"Yeah, but that's a story for another time,"

"I'm sorry I made you talk about him."

"No, no it's okay. I like talking about him, it makes me fell close to him again, you know? Like I'm still somehow connected."

"He sounded like a pretty cool guy,"

"He was; I think he would have liked you. And Caelin, he loved dogs too."

"I'm sure Caelin would have loved him too, the dog loves everyone. One belly rub and he'll do anything for you."

"I'll keep that in mind,"

"I heard a yawn, did you want to get some sleep now?"

"Yeah, I think that might be a good idea,"

"Goodnight Sel, and thanks for telling me about Quinn,"

"That's okay, goodnight Brenner."

(...)

"Okay now Caelin, how did you make that face before?"

"Wait why am I talking to my dog again?"