fading voices [ the SEQUEL to little talks ]

[ 09 ]

i could lie and pretend she was who i wanted her to be.

abby: hey, cooper!

me: oh, hey abby.

abby: fancy seeing you here.

me: well, i'm addicted to coffee and this is a coffee shop. 

abby: did you go to yesterday's math lecture?

me: nah, skipped.

abby: me too.

me: yup. 

abby: why the coffee addiction at such a late time of night?

me: i like to stay awake and recount all of my mistakes. and then i file each one into three different cabinets. one is labelled "failure" and another "probably gonna do this again" and the third just says "cooper, you're an idiot." then i continue to sip coffee and watch the simpsons re-runs while masturbating to the sound of my room mate fucking his girlfriend in the bathroom.

abby: ...

me: gotcha.

abby: dude, you're the best. 

me: it's been said, a few times. 

abby: we should go out some time.

me: we should?

abby: we should.

me: er, i guess we could...

abby: is this about that nina girl?

me: you know about her?

abby: i've seen you looking at her a few times.

me: oh, yeah. we were good friends in high school.

abby: if you don't like me, just say so.

me: abby...

abby: shit. sorry. it's late, i should go.

me: but wait -

abby: see you tomorrow, cooper.

me: abby -

abby: and if you're gonna skip again, meet me at starbucks at one. i want one of those huge-ass latte things. 

me: it's a date.

abby: don't lie, you asshole.

me: love you too?

abby: that's better! i can see us now... platonic love at its finest. we'll be the best pair of gay friends, without the gay.

me: okay...?

abby: okay. 

me: you've really never had a latte?

abby: goodnight!

me: damn, she seems almost as annoying as me.

me: i have been kind of lonely lately, i guess. a friend is a good idea. nina would want me to. 

me: more coffee will make this better.