somnolescent

hour eight - salvator eggs a car but can't use the toilet paper

"Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go back inside or we'll be forced to call the police." - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

☾☆☽

one in the morning exactly. the entire town of causter oaks was probably asleep by now. that meant, of course, the walmart goodies could be put to use.

"do you have a clue whatsoever about where your boss lives?" asked salvator as he and elyshia stepped out of the causter oaks ice cream parlour.

the snow was falling steadily now, the tiny flakes the size of miniature cotton balls, but not yet accumulating on the ground. the ground was wet and slippery still, however. and somehow, elyshia thought she need not mention the bitter cold.

"i know she lives in the same apartment complex as i do," she said slowly. "but i don't know where exactly."

he grinned at her mischievously. "by any chance, do i get to-"

"no," elyshia told him shortly, with a laugh. "you are most definitely not allowed inside my apartment, thank you very much. there's barely any room for me, what makes you think there's enough room for the both of us?"

"we'll go one at a time then," he retorted cheekily and she rolled her eyes at him. "alright, fine. do you know how to find your boss's apartment?"

"of course, just ask the front desk," elyshia answered him with a shrug. "but there's just one problem."

"okay, and what's that?"

"how do you egg and toilet paper the exterior of someone's apartment?"

there was a long pause from both of them. neither seemed to have an answer. at last, salvator said, "we'll figure it out when we get there, it's too cold to be standing outside in this weather. although that would have been nice information to have when i spent seventy dollars at walmart..."

she grinned sheepishly. "ah... right. sorry about that."

"no worries, ely," he said, shaking his head. "just lead the way to the apartments."

as they continued down the block of the ice cream parlour, salvator began asking questions. they were personal, but not so personal that ely had much trouble answering them.

"does the coffee shop salary pay for the rent?" he asked curiously.

"mostly, yes," elyshia answered truthfully. "when i call in sick for so much as a day or two, no. salma lets me work at the diner at night if that happens and then i can afford the apartment rent. that's why i need this coffee shop job so badly."

"which explains your extremely frightened facial expression when your boss told you that you were fired because of the coffee spill," he smiled but ely found that she couldn't.

"not just that," she said quietly. "well, mostly that. but i hate the idea of people watching me when marie was chastising me and chewing me both inside and out. it's terrifying when the entire causter oaks knows what's inside the deepest, darkest crevice of your past. they already know what they assume i'm all about, and here marie is, making it worse."

"i'm sorry," said salvator, sounding like he meant it. "you don't deserve that. it doesn't matter what you did. you don't deserve that."

if only you knew the truth, salvator saxon.

around three minutes later the two reached elyshia's apartment complex. they walked through the fogged-up glass double doors of the causter oaks apartment building and into the small, cozy, warm lobby. the heat was on, and the fireplace was roaring in the corner, surrounded by a plush sofa and two loveseats. the front desk currently wasn't occupied, although it should be, at all times. even in the snow, at one in the morning.