Permitted

Part 1: Ugh...

Sylvie woke to the sound of his alarm clock, as he did every morning. He reached out and bopped his alarm clock, stopping the godforsaken sound. He got up from the massive pile of pillows and blankets he called a bed (what? he might be a professional psychologist but that didn't mean he had enough money to buy a mattress), picked up his glasses, and walked across his apartment to the kitchen.

He poured himself a bowl of plain cheerios and ate until he was awake enough to think properly. Just then, he heard his doorbell ring. On his way to answer, he grabbed his coat and put it on so he would seem more professional to whoever was knocking, forgetting he was still wearing his oversized pajamas.

He opened the door and was almost smacked in the face.

"Oh jeez, sorry kid!"

Sylvie, shaking himself out of his slight daze, looked up and recognized Giovanni, the criminal man from the museum. Behind him was Molly, his first friend.

"Jeez! What are you doing here, criminal?" he exclaimed. He gave Molly a little wave. "Hi Molly."

"Molly thought we could all get together and hang out!"

Molly waved back. "Yeah! You guys are awesome friends and I feel like you'd really get along if you got to know each other better!" She smiled.

"I'd love to spend time with Molly but I have to leave for work soon," Sylvie responded, adjusting his glasses a little.

"Oh..." Molly said, her smile drooping into a sad frown.

Sylvie felt a jab at his heart. "Maybe I'll come over to your store after work though? I have some free time."

Molly brightened again. "Yeah! Let me know when you're on the way so I can let Boss know!"

Sylvie eyed Giovanni with disgust. Do we have to include him? he thought to himself.

Giovanni raised an eyebrow at Sylvie, then quickly went back to his usual smirk. "Tell you what, how about I pick you up from work and drive you there? That way we get there at the same time."

"I can drive myself, thank you very much," Sylvie retorted.

"No you can't, not without an adult in the car," Giovanni said. "You're fifteen right? So unless you wanna commit a crime—" (here he wiggles his eyebrows) "—you have to have someone over 18 in the car."

Oh yeah. Sylvie raised his eyesbrows. "I'm surprised you know that much about laws with how much you hate following them."

"The more you know, the more you can break!"

Sylvie sighed. "Fine. Whatever. I work at the Sweet Jazz Clinic and I get off at 6." He handed Giovanni his card. "Just call when you get there."

"Cool! I'll see ya later! Come on, Molly!" Giovanni finger-gunned at Sylvie and started to leave.

"Bye Sylvie!" said Molly, before following the tall man.

Sylvie closed his door and went to go sit down. He realized he'd been wearing his pajamas the whole time and felt his face flush a little on embarrassment. He rushed to his room, changed into his usual attire, and went back out to his living room.

He made sure he had his wallet, ID, keys, phone, and anything else he needed for the day before looking around the room. After making sure there isn't a neighbor staring at him through the window or anything, he summoned five Counting Sheep and pet them, kissing each on the head, before leaving his apartment and letting them disappear on their own.

He went to work via bus and checked his schedule. He had appointments all day. Great.