Return to sender

Roots

The luckily rainless sky stared down at you in tones of dark grey, an emotionless canopy that bathed your surroundings in its muted colour. Trucks and cars sped past on their way to other places, likely more exciting destinations for some and you looked up at the towering office block before you, the shiny windows reflecting today's weather and fast moving clouds as the wind whipped at your clothes. Given the fact that your potential manager wanted to meet you on the Monday after you'd called, nothing could be done about interview attire other than to borrow from Levi's neighbours.

So here you stood, petrified of fucking up and wearing a skirt suit that had a decidedly nineties feel about it, sharp angles and probably padded shoulders making you feel like a total idiot. All you could hope for was someone with no eye for fashion.

Levi had remained in the village, his own work duties calling and you sighed, pulling at the uncomfortable but generously gifted fabric as a million thoughts ran through your mind - what if this didn't happen? What if you said the wrong thing or the company was not for you? What would your parents think of your sudden decision to up roots and settle here because of love?

"They'd probably laugh but still understand." You spoke to yourself quietly, images flashing past of happy family memories, the way your mum and dad clearly adored one another on those rare occasions you were all together... "Yea. You understand, don't you?"

Glancing upwards, you paid respects in a traditional manner and gulped back the threatening lump in your throat; a power suit and tear stained cheeks would cement your fate for sure. With a deep breath, you stepped forwards and entered the building, the very edifice which you'd stolen from on Friday.

The talk of the town was, of course, all about you and Levi and the man of the moment had suffered enough by ten o'clock, his basement office surprisingly well frequented this morning as visitor after visitor entered unannounced, offering congratulations and well wishes. Despite it being all in good spirits, he nevertheless begrudged the sudden influx of bodies in his personal space.

"Fuckers need to let me do my job. Coming down here and interrupting me. Tch."

"I thought you'd stopped all this talking to yourself, Levi?"

"Piss off, Mike."

"One day, you'll actually be nice to me." Mike smiled regardless and watched his friend sulk, the crossed arms and small pout saying it all as steely eyes glared out from under low dark brows.

"I'll be nice to you when you get me a lock for that fucking door."

"I can arrange that."

"What? It's that easy?"

"Levi, you forget that I can do whatever I like here. You want a lock, you get a lock."

"Ok." Levi mulled this over, mischief creeping over his features and he tilted his head to the ceiling. "In that case, how about knocking a hole through and getting me a sky light?"

"A lock is one thing. Major building work is another."

"Fine." He sniffed and returned to stoic introspection, papers shuffled needlessly around the desk as his oldest companion spoke once more.

"Don't worry. She'll do great."

He was worried though, not about your abilities and suitability for the role, but the very real chance that it just wouldn't work out. Levi was about to respond, snap something harsh about not being concerned when his phone rang, your name popping up only twenty minutes after the interview had started. It didn't fill him with confidence and he lifted the device carefully as if handling a poisonous snake.