For The Record

02

02

LIVING in a period called Post-Skylar seems to be a shitty way to commemorate her death, but if I were to talk to anyone about it, they'd just tell me I'm Grieving with a capital G, and that we all have to process it differently.

I don't know who would approve of my desperation and my tears and my clutching at straws for answers, but I can't just sit here and do nothing.

The phone in my hands continues to ring, the vibration trilling through the phone like noisy birds with hoarse throats, signalling the crack of dawn. Truth be told, I know he can't be answering, but I continue to hold out hope--for another ring, and another, until--

"Hi!" 

The sudden greeting makes me jump in my seat. Eyes widened and mind alert, I scramble for my headphones and hook them to my ears, forcing myself to register the figure on the screen in front of me.

The person who might know what happened to Skylar.

"Is this Ariel Winter?" I demand, my adrenaline pulsing at an all-time high.

One second. Two. 

He sure knows how to keep me waiting.

In the lull, I take him in at face-value. Dark hair. Cerulean eyes. Dimples at the corners of his pink lips. Sweet. Innocent. Innocent enough not to arouse suspicion. Innocent enough to keep secrets. Innocent enough to get away with murder, if he so wished. 

"Yes. Who's asking?" A kind tone, still polite, but frosty. Guarded, A cautiousness that can only confirm that he's the one I'm looking for. 

I suck in a deep breath. "Everleigh Rush. I--" am the best friend of Skylar Miyasaki, my tongue itches to say, but I bite down on it, a spike of pain jolting through my mouth. No. I have to match his cautiousness. I have to play him at his own game. "Was wondering about your recent job posting?" 

"Oh, the, um--" He searches through a mess of papers on his desk, a touch of pink rising on his pale cheeks. "--there was two. One for cleaning, and one for a roommate. Which one are you?"

"The one that earns money."

"That would be both." He rubs at the back of the neck, facing the screen with a sheepish expression on his face. "I need a roommate for the company. Not for the money."

I quirk up an eyebrow. "So, why did you need a maid?"

His blush deepens, and he averts his gaze. "I don't. It just sounded more legitimate. But you're welcome to take the job, I have no requirements or anything--except that you're willing to move--"

"Done," I interject, before he can finish his sentence. "Perfect, actually. When's the earliest I can come by?"

The sooner I move out, the better.

"Um, tonight or tomorrow is fine." He clears his throat, still abash. "Just message me ahead of time so I know."

"Okay, that's fine." Another text message comes in from my brother and I click my tongue, realising it's high-time I start responding to him. "I have to go." 

We exchange goodbyes, the phone call switching off with a click. I switch to my texts and tap on Nath's contact, scrolling through his recent plethora of messages with dry eyes, barely reading them. Once I'm confident I've gotten to the bottom, I send him a text:

[ ME ] 

i got a job moving out later

WHAT he fires back instantly, as if he was sat there waiting for me. Did u ignore everything i sent u?

[ ME ] 

idk was any of it important 

[ NATH ] 

I dont know maybe the part where i said DONT do anything crazy just a thought 

[ ME ]

its called being innovative 

look you cant stop me i just need a lift to the address tonight 

[ NATH ]

How about no

[ ME ]

then i wont come home at all and ill just walk there at night and who knows what will happen

"just a thought" 

[ NATH ]

Fucks sake FINE but Im coming with u to meet the person because this is crazy ev 

Have u even thought this through for more than 2 seconds

[ ME ]

it was at least 3 seconds

let me do crazy things i am in an emotionally vulnerable place rn 

[ NATH ]

And thats why im worried

U had better come home if u wanna leave before mum gets home

With that timer above my head, I turn off my Wi-Fi and pocket my phone, nodding to the waitress staring at me disapprovingly when she notices me upping to leave when I haven't even ordered anything.

The sooner I do this, the better.

At least then I won't back out.