Just Between Us #Wattys2019

AWAY FROM HOME: Liquid Paint (Part 1 & 2)

"Did we read that text right? Was that some sort of unfunny prank, or something?"

"Finn, I told you it's for work. Chill out!" Everest replied. "I don't expect to be here for more than a week."

"A week??? See, I've never seen an interview last that long. You have second intentions and I know it!! You could have said no to this job. You could have told your boss he's your ex. In fact, you should have."

"Look, this is a huge opportunity for me. There is no way I could let this go! Cordelia is starting to treat me like her right arm and I'm not about to mess that up because of some awkward interview. If I nail this I might get promoted. There's a lot at stake here."

"Give me the damn phone." Everest heard in the background, along with strange sounds of movement she couldn't untangle through the line. "Cleo here. How are you doing?"

"Uhh... great. How are you?"

"Awesome. Just hanging out with my friends, you know, wondering what the fuck you think you're doing. The usual."

Everest sighed. "Guys, I'm not going to do anything stupid. Look, I've just arrived in London and got my bags. I gotta go to the gate exit. I'll talk to you guys later."

"Call us. Better yet— text us. Every hour— every ten minutes! Just— keep texting us!"

Everest giggled, "Bye, girls."

"Eve—" she heard, as she hung up the call.

She walked out the exit and immediately saw a sign with her last name on it. And a miss right before it.

She walked towards the man with the sign. "Hello." She said with a kind smile.

He offered his hand for a formal handshake, "Miss—"

"Please, call me Everest."

The man smiled kindly yet confusedly, "Like the mount?"

She smiled and sighed, "Like the mount."

They shook hands. "I'm Peregrin. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh! You're Cordelia's son!"

He smiled and sighed, "Yes, that's me. I expect you know all about me."

Less confidently, she denied the assumption. "Uh, Cordelia has told me only about our collaboration. I do not know much of you specifically." She did know she was not expecting that to be Cordelia's son. The boy was older than her maybe a couple years only, and sure, he was wearing a suit and tie, like Baby always did, but he seemed relaxed and not at all uptight and formal. Baby always looked like he was prepared for a business meeting, this boy, whilst wearing the same outfit, managed to look comfortable and friendly, yet at the same time confident and prepared.

Everest immediately shook such comparison out of her head. Why she was contrasting the both of them was a mystery to her. In fact, why she was still thinking about Baby was a mystery.

He scoffed in a that's cute kind of way, "So you're new in journalism, huh?"

She scoffed, almost offended, "Well, yeah I'm not exactly super experienced but it would be a mistake to underestimate me." She warned him right away.