Ordinary Lives

two.

"How do I look? Like an accountant you'd want to hire, or an accountant you'd want to send into spiraling poverty by denying her a job?" She turns towards me and frowns when I don't reply. "Charlie?"

I glance up at my mom. She is without a doubt a gorgeous woman, but the signs of wear and tear can't be overlooked. There's a rip in her pantyhose and her lipstick is already fading off, smudging around her dry, chapped lips. She's sweating, the sheen on her pale skin betraying the nervousness she's been able to so far hide with a masterfully perfected mask of confidence.

I feel bad. Consumed by my own "boy problems", I forget that my mom has been looking for a job for 5 months.

"Come here," I say. My mom bends down so we're both at eye level. Licking my thumb, I swipe at the red near her bottom lip until it disappears, only a slight red tint over her smooth flesh where I have rubbed her raw. "Your interview will go great. Me and Gems will pray for you to the accountant gods the whole time she's over."

Mom smiles. "What'd I do without you Charlie?"

I snort. "Well for starters- you'd probably be much more of a catch at age 38 without an 18 year old daughter. And your blood pressure wouldn't be so high."

She chooses not to respond to this, probably because she knows it is incredibly cynical but also partially true. As she spends the next five minutes gathering her belongings for her interview, I find myself looking out the window of our living room. Gemma and Leo are still hanging out. They'd asked me to stay, but I figured they'd be better off with a bit of time to themselves without my presence adding an unnecessary damper on everything. Both of them had shot me sympathy filled looks when I'd paid Lover Boy and made my way to leave the tea place. I could see the wheels turning in Gemma's head, wondering if she should even let me be by myself. I'm fine repeated 10 times was enough to sedate her and she'd reluctantly let me leave to go home, promising she'd come over later.

I can't help being pathetic and contemplative- Timmy's homecoming is inescapable. I've already been asked about it by 3 people not including Gemma and Leo. Everyone seems to think I am overjoyed or that I should be. No one knows the truth.

Outside the window, the sun sets. I forget how much I love New York in the summer. The rays of pink and orange kiss every part of the visible sky, tinting it deep and vibrant. An orange haze sets over the many brownstones, as the sun keeps sinking lower and lower. It almost looks like the city itself is on fire. 

Today is ending. Tomorrow will start. And tomorrow, Timothée Chalamet will be back in town.

I squeeze my eyes shut and turn away from the window. Tears prick the corners of my eyes- and with my unfortunate luck, my mom notices.

"What's going on, Charlie?" Mom demands.

"Nothing," I groan. "Mom, seriously- focus on your job. I'm fine."

"You're lying. You don't have to lie to me Charlie. I hate the idea of you not being able to tell me something just because of something like a job interview. If there's something going on, you-"

"Mom," I interject. "Nothing is going on."

She doesn't say anything, pausing, and then kneels down beside me. "Is this about Timmy coming back?"

What else could it be about? "No. It's not."

"You know, Nicole told me he's looking forward to seeing you."

"Is he now?" I snap. "I guess I can understand him wanting to see if the thing he ruined is still ruined. You can tell Nicole the feeling isn't mutual."