In Between The Lines

The Pristine Doll Cracked

*SOME CONTENT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS*

*back to Oceanne*

"Dude, don't be ridiculous. She is so out of your league, you ugly shīt" a voice says sounding annoyed but playful.

"That is so rude. How could you say that to your best friend? Me? I'm fūckīn' gorgeous you prīck. I mean, look at her, you can't tell me you don't think she's sexy as fūck." Another voice says, earning a sigh in response. My eye lids move slightly, opening slowly to a blinding light. My body stretches, and I blink, glancing around me.

Sanders is sitting on the couch across from me, laying on his side and elbow, just looking at me, and Quinton is sitting at his desk, writing things down. I quickly sit up, brushing my hair down and clearing my throat. How the hēll did I fall asleep?! I wonder, blushing hardcore.

Sanders laughs loudly, slapping his knee. "Morning Sleeping Beauty!" He says enthusiastically. I have never once slept at work, god I'm in so much trouble, I had work to do...Quinton must have seen the panic in my eyes because he rolls his eyes.

"Don't worry Miss Ellington, you already finished everything I had asked you to complete and more. So calm yourself. Actually, if you want to be mad, that's fine, go ahead and slap Sanders." Quinton says, smirking. I reach out and slap Sanders across the face without even thinking about it. It's not hard, but you could still hear the smack.

Quinton falls onto the floor laughing hysterically while Sanders holds his cheek and pretends to be sobbing. I roll my eyes, then lean in close to him like I'm telling him a secret.

"Why were you watching me sleep...." I ask him quietly, play-glaring. His eyes go wide and he rubs the back of his neck.

"Wel-uh... um... y'see... I just had nothing better to do and um... I'd rather look at you than that shit..." he whispers into my ear. I duck as a terribly thrown notepad flies in our direction, missing Sanders just barely. I crack a smile as Quinton comes up behind Sanders and whacks him on the back of the head. Sanders holds both hands up high in the air mock crying.

Then we're all laughing. It takes quite awhile for us to calm down, and when we finally do, we take one look at each other and break out into laughter again.

I can't remember the last time I've laughed this hard. It hurts my stomach because of the bruises but also because of laughing too much and too hard just gives me a stomach ache sometimes. Or maybe I'm just hungry, I don't know.

Right on cue my stomach growls loudly. Sanders smirks at me, "feeling hungry?" He asks and I raise my eyebrows, "hungry? No no, that's just the Martian inside of me trying to send a message to his friends." I say sarcastically, and then giggle at his confused face.

Quinton stands up, looks at his watch then picks up his phone. "Hello, this is Mr Hyghs, Id like to make a dinner reservation. Yes. Of course. Right now. Thank you."

He walks over to me, handing me my cardigan and then offering an elbow, and then along with Sanders, leads me out to his car. The sky is dark with clouds, so I can't tell what time is, not that I care. I push aside my bad feelings that I shouldn't be doing this, and allow Quinton to take me to dinner. I mean..he owes me one anyway, right?

•••

It takes mere minutes for Quinton and I to be seated with menus in our hands. Sanders went off to another table, chatting with a young female. I watch as the pretty blonde throws back her head in laughter and Sanders smiles, telling her a joke or story of some kind, using his hands as he always does.

I smile, and turn back to my menu. Why can't my love life be that simple? I wonder. I nibble on my lip as I look through the menu. Most things I don't even know to pronounce. Eventually I give up trying to read it and just decide to get whatever Quinton's having.