Stitches

Fourteenth Stitch

fourteenth || Simon

Today, at 3:14PM

hey. finally read ur story.

sorry, who's this?

and excuse me but arent I suppose to be the writer in this partnership?

simon?

the one and only. (calm down fans dont freak out)

how'd u get my number?

harry p spelled it for me (hey it rhymes)

funny

got it from the newsroom's bulletin board. ur info's there since ur staff now

oh

so anyways ive read ur story. and it was . . .

pathetic?

amazing! you've got these mad skillz and u never told me?

that's because i don't. it's not even a story anyways.

oh cmon. it was awesome.

really?

oh, yeah. It's terrific! Radiant! Humble!

did u just quote from Charlotte's Web?

with no regrets

well . . . coming from a master writer like u, that means a lot. thank you.

master writer, huh? me likes the sound of that. anyways, ur vocabulary is good, and ur ideas are nice.

but . . .?

but it honestly wasn't what i expected tho.

well, what were u expecting then?

idk, a more concrete storytelling? like how u guys met. or stuff he said. and things u did. and how when u first laid eyes on him, sparks flew and u were wonderstruck and the world shook and the birds sang and taylor swift was playing in the background. you know, that kind if sht.

wow. that sounded so tragicomedically dramatic. and cliche. and . . . girly.

aren't u a girl?

im not like other girls.

. . . you got that right.

and i hate cliches. with a passion.

oh? i do too. who doesn't, tho?

oh, i can think of a few people. the writing really did help tho. thank you.

im glad it did. now go write some more.

Sent 4:32PM

"Hey, man. Stop smiling at your phone and help me out," Austin says, snapping me back to reality. He's looking at me expectantly, holding a box of plastic coffee cups and a bag of marshmallows that need to be inventoried.

"Sure, cover the cash register for me," I say, texting Perci a quick "brb.

Austin rolls his eyes. "Dude, I have been covering for you. You haven't done a single thing since you got here other than go tap tap tapping on your phone," he says, exasperated. "Who you talkin' to anyway?"