Times - h.s.

The Red Sky

"She seriously went to your work to tell you that? Oh my god," Brin chuckled, "that's wild. That seems like a really insecure move. Like, something I would do." Her laugh filled the living room as we ate the food I brought home.

I picked up a napkin to clean my mouth. "I know right. I mean, should I even be worried?" I unbutton my jeans and lie down on the couch adjacent from where she is on the floor.

"Eh, it's probably an empty threat. She's mad because you're hot."

"You're probably right, and no, that's not true. I'm pretty sad though." I exhale and pat my belly. Brin notices me and snorts.

"What for?" She asks, taking a fry into her mouth and then plopping onto the empty spot by my feet.

"Mark hasn't talked to me since he left yesterday. I don't know if I should call him or something. Would you call? What if he's ignoring me because he realized how stupid I look when I walk in heels?"

"I doubt it. Maybe you should call, just to check up on him." As soon as Brin says that, my phone starts to light up on the side table. I peek over at the name. Mark.

"Speak of the devil." I say, holding my phone up for her to see the screen. Brin crawls on the couch so that she's between my legs now and makes an attempt at snatching my phone from me, but fails miserably.

I press the answer button. "Hello?" I look over at Brin only to see her mouthing speaker, so I get up and walk to my room.

"You suuuuck." She calls out.

"Alexa? Hi. How are you?" Mark breathes into the phone. Wow, I've missed his voice.

"How am I? How are you? How's your mom, is she okay?" I ask, genuine concern taking over me. I slide my curtain open with one hand to let the sun fill my room and watch as the cars pull in and out of the apartment complex's parking lot.

"My mom?" Mark asks.

"Yeah, how's she after the accident? She's okay... right?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry, I'm just so shaken up over it still. Could've lost her, you know? But yeah, she's okay. I'm at the hospital." He stutters. I can hear some shuffling around on the other end and I wonder what he's doing.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm glad you're both okay. Should I go over and bring her some flowers? I know I haven't met her yet, but you can at least introduce me as your coworker." I laugh into the phone.

Mark doesn't laugh back though. "Well, um... I don't think now's a good time. I mean she just got out of the hospital, she probably wants some time to rest or something."

"You just said you were at the hospital, I'm confused." A black Escalade pulls into the parking lot and I have to replay what Mark said in my head to make sure I heard him correctly.

The other end goes quiet and I open my window to peer out of it more and see who is inside the car that just parked. "I am. At the hospital. I came to collect my mom's... clothes she left by accident." Mark explains.

"Aw, how kind of you." I smile. It's replaced with a look of distaste when I see Harry step out of his car and close the door, then pull out his phone.

"That's me, the gentleman." He says mockingly. What is the matter with him today? Seeing his mom in such a bad state must've shook him up. "Did I miss anything at work today?"

"Nope. Nothing. Nada. But, it was pretty boring without seeing your cute face across the way." Harry puts his phone to his ear and my phone simultaneously begins to buzz. I don't feel like mentioning my encounter with Skyler to him, especially if he's all wound up from his mom's accident.