Crumbling Cakes

Part XVI

I watched the clock arm tick down to time out another minute of absolute quiet. The only sound that had permeated in this kitchen throughout the day were the typical sounds of pots and pans banging. Let me rewind for a moment.

Sebastian walked in silently this morning, shoved a Javva The Hutt bag in my hand and a coffee without saying a single word. I tracked his movement to his office where he shut the door, not so quietly. My "good morning" had died on my tongue with the single grunt he spared my way as he shoved breakfast goodness at me. Since grunts are mere incoherent sounds, I didn't consider them words exactly.

Taking the hint, I carried my loot to the small break room—where I'm proud to say I paced myself with small bites and managed a quarter of the burrito that remained where it belonged, which was my stomach—and sat, waiting. This was where my clock watching started. Following the tick of the second's hand and sipping on my sinful brew, happy as an unpoached clam. Basing on the last time I helped, I had about 45 minutes before Jon showed up with the ingredients.

That left me with a lot of time with my thoughts. A lot. I was bored out of my mind and there was nothing for me to do. I couldn't even prep the ingredients we did have because I had no clue what we would be making. Didn't help that Sebastian had been holed up in his office. I'd have been concerned but he seemed in one piece when he grunted by. So I tapped my hand against the table and watched the clock.

Yup, good times.

I'll admit, I'd been rather disappointed with the start of this day. This morning I woke up with a renewed excitement, completely ready to embrace my new barnacle and all that it entailed. All reservations about getting too attached were swept aside with easy self-assured compromises. My embracement was not an easy feat, and I still worried about keeping Sebastian out of Bathilda's crosshairs, but I was ready to welcome him to my sad little circle if that's what he wanted.

It sure as hell would make my remaining time here far more enjoyable. Easy even. If I had learned anything since the truce, it was that Sebastian was a good ally to have. So this disappearing business was a bit of a letdown. Especially since I had been ready to test these new quarters.

When 40 minutes had passed, I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved my burrito leftover into the fridge for lunch, tossed my empty cup, and practically ran to the back door. Standing there for the remainder 5 minutes desperately waiting to hear the delivery truck through the metal. Eventually, I resolved to popping my head out. Jon was late and Sebastian was hiding in his lair.

It was a far cry from how I pictured any of this going. Maybe he was pulling the friend card? I shook my head and had leaned against the brick wall next to the back door. Stop being ridiculous, Dalia. He all but whacked you in the head with it like a club. At that point, I figured the bitter cold might numb the endless cycle of my thoughts. When the glorious sound of the delivery truck showed up, I practically kissed Jon as he stepped out—I was that happy to finally have something to do.

Think about that for a second. I, Dalia, was thrilled to move crates when normally my two left feet caused me dread. Shocker, I know. After propping open the door, I bounced toward the office to inform the silent one that it was go time. I didn't even bother knocking, just shoved my way in and chirped that Jon was here. Gone as quickly as I appeared.

I was a freak of chipper nature. If I hadn't known better, I'd have said I was the victim of body snatchers. In the end, I deduced it was the full tummy and extra strong dose of caffeine that did me in. A balanced meal had the tendency to put your energy levels into overdrive. 

Sebastian spoke with Jon when he finally made it out back and I gladly carried anything that would fit in my arms into the building. Judging from the amount of meat, we were making a hearty meal of several pot roasts.