"You know, I have a friend named Alyssa and they know that. And her dad works in Indiana."
"Well opps. Don't tell them that."
"And she doesn't sound like Carleigh." I say as he put his key in the hole.
"She barely spoke."
"Alyssa is never coming to that home." Like I would bring a friend there. He opens the door.
"That kid is adorable." I say, seeing his son. I meet Vanessa and then Lin sets me down at the table.
"Hungry?"
"I'm good. Thanks."
"I'll get you something. Any allergies."
"No and thanks but I'm not hungry." He leaves me to study and returns a few minutes later with a peanut butter sandwich. It sits there while I study, untouched.
"Mhm." I wake, hearing myself respond to the pain. If I weren't so tired, I'd freak, finding myself not quite on a surface.
"Sorry." Someone whispers before setting me down gently and removing his hands. "Are you okay?"
"Lin?"
"Yeah. Did I hurt you?" I opened my eyes but it's dark and I don't want them adjusting to the minimum light because I want to sleep.
"No." I whisper, shutting my eyes. Something drags along my hip and then I feel a finger gently press on the bone.
"Ow!" I let out without deciding. My body contracts slightly and Lin lets go before brushing the hair out of my face, his finger sliding down my cheek.
"I'm so sorry. Do you want ice?"
"No thanks." I say, falling back into my sleepiness.
"Good night, Elena." He whispers. I hear him walk away a few second later and I fall back asleep.
-
"Wow. You sound extremely excited in that. 'It's Elena, leave a message.'" He repeats. I turn my head to hold me cell phone between my shoulder and ear. "Anyways, I'm glad you got a phone. They never gave you my messages. I hope you're paper went well. I know you were stressed about that." I toss down a letter and switch to the next. "Pippa says 'hi' and we have two people that lost their voice yesterday so the show was interesting but hey, that's what swings are for. I'm very sleep deprived because I had an interview, the show, and then Seb wouldn't sleep. We're trying to get him back on a normal sleeping schedule but it's throwing us off of ours. It's a lot easier to have a conversation when it's too someone but I don't see you often. I hope you had a good week. Call me back. If I don't answer just fill me in. Alright, bye." I put the mail down and grab my jacket, sliding it on as I make my way out of the room and call him back. It goes to voicemail.
"Hey, It's Elena. Clearly."
"You leaving?" Ms.Abbott asks,
"I'll pick up popcorn."
"Jane's out tonight."
"Luis?"
"No." I nod.
"Sorry I missed your call. Paper went okay. I'm waiting to get it back but I've turned in essays that I've felt worse about so I mean, shooting for an 'A' but it's out of my control."
"We're out of coffee!" Nick shouts at me, wanting more.
"Get a job and buy it yourself!" I call before shutting the door. "I have to go. Um, tell Pippa that I'll see her Friday. Bye."
-
"Hey, I caught you." Lin says.
"Yeah. Book stores practically empty. I'm just organizing at the counter." I tell him back through the phone as I enter books into the computer.
"How exciting. Do you have Pippa's number?"
"No." I say, grabbing a pen. He tells me it and I scribble it down. "Call her please."
"Did something happen?"
"No. She's fine. I have to go, of course, but hey, I'll call you tomorrow night."
"Not before eleven."
"But you have roommates. Don't they sleep?"
"Fire escape. We all do it."
"Be safe. Eleven tomorrow night."
"Alright. Talk to you then. Bye." I hang up and dial Pippa's number in my flip phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey, It's Elena. Did you need to talk to me?" I ask her.
"Oh, hey. Yeah, I just can't come Friday."
"Okay. You didn't need to call me."
"I want you to know. I'll see you there this week though. It's just that Friday is the time we plan and we just run into each other the rest of the time."
"Addicting coffee there, right?"
"Coffee is addicting anywhere but it is good."
"Well, addicting scones."
"True. Can you talk for a few minutes?"
"About what?"
"Life."
"I suppose. What's up?" I say, leaning over and doodling on the side of the page of the messages I took.
"Long rehearsals."
"Fun. How's the Stephen."
"The Stephen?"
"A noun's a noun." She says as I drop the oen and go back to the book list.
"A pronoun."
"Same diff. Someone bought a book called Knitting with dog hair."
"Huh?"
"I'n entering these into the computer and a customer bought that yesterday. I didn't even know that we sold that."
"Interesting." The phone rings.
"Hold or hang up." I press hold and pick up the phone, check for the book someone is looking for and then return to the phone.
"Strict." She says, referring to the last thing I said to her.
"What is?"
"Hold or hang up."
"Hey, it's fast."
"And ruthless."
"I gave you an option."
"I guess so. What time are you done working."
"Oh, I don't know. It was supposed to be an hour ago but I can't go for much longer because I have a class."
"Dance?"
"Yeah. Ms.Nova. My moms friend. I'll probably have to close up because no one else has been here for three hours and I don't think anyone is coming back. What are you doing."
"Making dinner. Pasta with spinach and Alfredo sauce."
"Oh, I want some!"
"Sure, I'll give you some through the phone."
"Num num. I should probably go. Phone plan."
"Sucks that bad."
"It's not horrible. But I don't love it. There's always pay phones."
"I'll set aside some quarters for you."
"No, you need those."
"You would be surprised how little I do."
"Impossible."
"Possible. I'll see you at the café."
