"What are you hiding?"
"I'm sorry, what?" I say, looking up and over at Pippa.
"What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything." I stop picking at my sleeves and take a sip of my coffee.
"Why do you keep tugging on your sleeve?" Jazzy asks as I return to doing just that. I shrug, glancing back out the window.
"Have you seen Conner around?" I shake my head, still peaking outside. "Is that maybe who you're looking for?" I shake my head, again, turning back to the table, facing her.
"No, I don't- I'm not... Looking for anyone." I say, tucking my hair behind my ear and then returning my arm to my lap. "I'm just a little spacey. I had a really long lecture in English today."
"What on?"
"Just to help us with essays. Counterarguments and our like seventh lecture on writing comparative analysis."
"Do you have to write one?"
"Always. How's the theater?"
"We went through this yesterday. "
"But has anything changed?"
"You're caught up with us. We're trying to get caught up with you."
"You're all caught up."
"No Conner, boring essay and lecture, still addicted to coffee, and is hiding something. We aren't even."
"What more do you want to know?" I ask, hoping she doesn't gave an answer and moves on.
"I don't know. How are you feeling?" I shrug, looking at the table.
"Fine, I guess."
"You guess?"
"I am. I am- fine. I'm fine. Yeah." I mumble, mostly to myself, trying to tell her that I'm fine.
"Well, fine, it's nice to meet you. Do you know what's up with Elena?"
"Elena's not here right now, please leave a message after the beep." I say, putting my hands around my coffee. "Beep."
"Hi, Scout, it's me, Jazzy. I can see you." I give her a thumbs up and take a sip of my coffee before folding my arms on the table and pulling my sleeve over my hand, running it over the same spot on the table, over and over again.
"I should get going. I'll see you at the theater Pippa,"
"Okay, see you there." Pippa responds. Jazzy rubs my back for a moment of comfort for whatever the hell is going in with me and then starts towards the door, swinging her bag onto her shoulder
"What are you gonna do for the rest of your Friday after this?"
"I don't have dance tonight so I was thinking maybe take a walk in class and the rest of the night is mine."
"When do you work at the bookstore."
"Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. I'd ask you when you do the show but I kinda know that. Any extra rehearsals?"
"Tomorrow we have one that we normally don't have but it shouldn't be long. Hey, you wanna stay at my place tonight? It should be quieter than the home. You guys should really have desks." I shrug
"We're near a library." It's a tiny one but adorable, quiet, and one of my favorite places.
"You've mentioned it. You really like it."
"I do. You should go sometime."
"I'll check it out. So tonight?"
"Sure, If you don't mind."
"Of course not. What type of Pizza do you like?"
-
"Okay, take your head out if your book 'cause we've got Pizza." Pippa says, sliding into the chair next to me and opening up the box, the sent filling the room. I shut my book and cross my arms on top of it.
"What kind you got?"
"Half cheese and half pepperoni. I have pineapple in the fridge if you want some."
"Ew, no."
"Apparently it's really good."
"Thanks but I'll pass."
"Well than you're not really living. You gotta try new things."
"I am trying new things. This book is in French. It's made for students who are learning French and helps them through it. I've never read a book in French."
"How's it going?"
"Well not as easy as that pizza is gonna go in my mouth, but it's alright." I say, putting a slice of cheese on mine after she gets a slice. She laughs.
"It's hard to imagine that you eat."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you're underweight."
"I fill up on coffee. But it you're wondering if I do eat, here's some proof." I say before taking a bite of my Pizza. "So where's Stephen." I say after swallowing.
"Working. He'll be back in Manhattan on Sunday. Unfortunately during the show but I'll see him after."
"Cool. What's he working on?" We talk while we eat and eventually end up on the couch watching Rent and talking about all the reasons it can't exactly happen, like living in an apartment in New York City and thinking you aren't expected to pay. Nether the less, it's a great story, musical, and movie, and I truly admire Jonathan Larson's amazing writing and Billy Arsons under appreciated contribution.
I dramatically sing,
"You were the song all along
And before the song dies." When Mimi is dying and Pippa's eyes grow wide.
"You should sing more. You're good."
"Thanks." I say, timidly. I've never heard that from someone on Broadway, especially in a show like Hamilton.
"Ice cream?"
"I'm full, thanks."
"You had one slice of Pizza! I'm getting ice cream."
"If you insist." She laughs and walking into the kitchen, returning a minute later.
"Eat up, kid." I feel bad that a lot of it melts but I get tired and fall asleep.
