7:00AM. The coffee machine makes my tea- the only thing in my house not used for it's common purpose, at least as far as I'm aware. I put the tea in the same mug, and take my same spot on the couch where my brother sat just a few hours ago. I hit play on the remote to see what my brother has left.
"Hey, thanks for the tip about Sarah!" he says. He's changing his shirt on camera, tugging a shirt over the unruly head of hair. "I caught her just as I was leaving for the gym. But, hey! New girl at work! What's she like? She pretty?" I don't know, we didn't talk, I answer in my head, practicing my responses so I don't forget. He winks at me on the last part, and it's strange to see my own eyes winking at me. Besides the fact that most people will never witness their eyes winking, I don't even wink. I try it back at him, and the motion feels weird.
"Work was okay," John continues. "I typed up a long disposition, then got some pizza with Tom. He was upset and wanted to talk about his ex-girlfriend." He puts emphasis on the 'ex', as if this surprises him. Perhaps it does. "Yeah, I guess she cheated on him, so he broke up with her, even though he cheated through the entire thing, but I didn't point out any of his contradictions, just listened, just like you told me to." I nod in approval, even though he can't see it.
"Then I went to the park for a bit. There's some sort of tree that smells really good this time of year?" It's formed like a question, even though the actual question, if there was one, is what kind of tree he's talking about. I think it's pine.
"Now that you mention it though, I have been kind of tired lately, but I've been getting my four hours. I even went to bed a little early last night," He's lying. It's not in his nature to do anything early. He prefers 'fashionably late.' "I also started playing basketball at the gym with some of the guys there before work... And, Jonathan? About this girl- would it be so bad to like her back? You can do it, you know, go off and have some fun every so often. It's okay. Anyway, peace. Have a good day,"
The screen returns to its standard black.
It would indeed be bad to like her back. That can only lead to things getting complicated, and that's why we have rule number six: No girlfriends.
Next in my day is a visit to Doctor Nariman, or Doctor Nari, for short. Among the standard here: me on a table, a bright light overhead, a constant beeping coming from various machines, some in rhythm, some not. Wires are attached to various places on my body, but perhaps the most important one is connected behind my ear, at the site of a peculiar-looking mole, that actually serves as an internal timer. It keeps our schedules sharp.
What isn't standard is the long pause Doctor Nari takes after doing the scans. I can see her behind the glass, her brow furrowed, leaning over the monitors and pointing things out to the other doctor next to her.
"Is everything okay?" I ask.
"Yes," she replies immediately. "There was a slight drift this morning when you were switching consciousness, just a few seconds. We fixed it." I nod, and go back to staring at the ceiling. Moments later, Doctor Nari comes to disconnect me from the wires.
"Your brother told me you've been feeling pretty tired lately," she says as she finishes. I sit up.
"Yes," I say.
"That's perfectly normal." She says, and I give her a questionable look. "You have one body living two busy adult lives. It's a lot to handle at all, but taxing to your body in particular. I want you to understand that there is nothing to worry about."
I have a meeting with my boss, Hans, the second I get in to work.
"Our clients are very pleased with your work," he says, sitting back in his chair.
"I'm glad. The house makes much more sense now," I say. He nods for a moment, then stops to think.
"How are things going with your sick relative?"
"About the same," I mutter. He's talking about John, who is actually fine, but Hans doesn't know anything about him, and will never.
"That's a real shame. I was hoping to put you on the West Side Tower Project, but you'd have to work more hours," It comes off like he's trying to bribe me. This is a really good project, an honor to be a part of, and my heart drops a little. As much as I want to, I can't. Not with John.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I can't." I say, and hang my head. There is nothing I want more than to be on this tower project.
"I was willing to hire you as a favor to Leslie, and then I saw how great your work is, but Jonathan, if you want to be a real architect, you're going to have to figure something out." he says sadly, as if he's a parent I've disappointed. I don't know what that's like, so I just nod, not meeting his eyes. If I've disappointed anyone, it's me, although the situation is out of my control.
"Hans asked me to work on the West Side Tower Project," I tell John in the camera that night, almost bitterly. "Obviously I can't." It's nothing against John. It's just so frustrating. I hope he understands.
"I got some of that chocolate gelato from that place you like. I put some in the freezer for you." I already ate mine. I don't like it nearly as much as he does, but I eat it because it reminds me of him.
YOU ARE READING
Jonathan: A Fanfiction Novel
ФанфикJonathan wakes up at exactly 7AM, every single day, sticks to his routine, works hard, follows the rules and keeps his head down. His brother, John, is precisely the opposite, waking up at 7PM, generally follows his schedule, but likes to live his l...
