INSIDE THEIR MINDS

Something Else

DEREK

I take a look over at Erica as she continues to laugh at Phil, and try to put myself in Phil's shoes but thats when I realized I kind of already had.

Alex had talked to Erica, thanking her for saving her and I thought it would have been incredibly awkward with Erica being my ex but everything went fine. Erica was corgial and polite, something not always of the norm with her.

"Have you heard anything about Kate's condition? Is she going to be able to leave soon?" Alex asks.

"A therapist visited her earlier today and was going to do an evaluation." He says finally finishing up his melted milk shake.

"Oh that can't be good." I answer, knowing that the outcome of those aren't exactly predictive.

"Well she hadn't mentioned that anything was going to happen." He said now no longer smiling.

"She's alright." Alex said trying to convince him. "It's Kate, of course she's okay."

"I think I'm just worried about Nora and Trevor, that's a lot for my sister to handle."

"Aren't you heading back tomorrow afternoon?" I ask.

"That's the plan but I want to take Kate with me." He says turning his gaze to the menu propped up against the short ledge of the window.

I can't imagine how hard this all must be for him. He's separated from his children, his ex-wife's condition is unknown, and his girlfriend is confined to the hospital as well. I can now understand why Alex insisted on us sticking around, she really is a wonderful person and friend.

"Alex and I can stick around here and watch out for Kate, I know she would want you to be with Nora." I say looking over Derek.

"You're right." He grumbles. "I know my sister would never admit it but I know she is overwhelmed with so many children."

"How far away are we from home?" Alex asks taking my hand and entangling her fingers with mine once again.

"About two and a half hours." He said now looking out of the window and onto the empty street.

"That's enough time that you could get back here if we really needed you. " I answer looking over at Alex with a smile.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

"We've got this, Phil ." Alex says hugging herself into me.

"Okay, I will call a long distance taxi and see when they will pick me up. Here take this."

He hands Alex one of his many credit cards and she takes in from his hand and shoves it in her purse.

"Buy whatever you need, I mean it, don't be afraid to spend whatever you need to stay comfortable. You have both done so much for me it's the least I could do."

Then in a split second, he was standing from the booth and walking out onto the street, his phone against his ear.

"I know that there are other important things to focus on but am I the only one that could use some more clothes to wear?" Alex asks me with a slight hint of a disgust as she put her nose to her shirt.

"No, I think after three days these clothes have hit their max."

"I agree.

PHIL

"The cab will be arriving in 20 minutes." The man from the cab company said sounding weery.

"Thank you." I said back. I guess they don't get many long distance taxi goers.