Once
Kyron left, I attempted to eat but found I lost my appetite and
picked at the food on my plate. While an apology was nice for what
had happened, hearing the
details definitely brought my mood down. It did leave me with one
more question that I neglected to ask him while he was here: why in
the world he let me have the artifact? I admit that it saved my ass
from failing for the third time in a row and another scolding from
Avron, but if Kyron’s boss was anything like mine… I’d have
hated to be in his shoes.
I frowned softly and stood up, grabbing my ticket to go pay, pausing to look at the card Kyron left on the table. Uncertainty filled my mind on bringing it along; I wasn’t sure how to explain it off if anyone found it in my possession, let alone how they’d react. I debated with myself for a few moments on the matter and started to walk away when something told me I should just hold onto his card. With a sigh, I turned back around and picked it up off the table before going up to the register to pay. I was definitely going to pay if anyone found it.
Stashing both the card and my receipt in my back pocket, I walked out of the restaurant just as my phone began buzzing in my front pocket. I yelped in surprise but hurriedly pulled the device out of my pocket, answering without looking at who was calling.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Hey Mairyl, it’s Iris. How’re you doing?”
I smiled hearing my best friend’s voice. She had a thing about calling rather than texting people. “Other than a concussion from a job related accident I’m alright. How about you?”
“You got hurt again? Damn it Mairyl, you need to get a new job. I’m doing well and thanks for asking.” She replied and I cringed a little at her tone.
“While I’m flattered you’re calling, did you need something or were you just checking in?” I asked, groaning internally at sounding so impersonal.
“Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the mall and hang out for a bit. You feeling up to it or do you need to rest more?”
“I’d enjoy that, but I do have to take it easy still.” I answered.
“Great! Do you need me to come pick you up or are you driving?”
“No go on driving till my next doctor’s appointment, so I’d appreciate a lift. Just give me a little bit to get home since I’m out on a walk.”
“Okie Mai. Just let me know when you’re ready. I’ve got to pick Thaddeus up from work shortly since his truck is in the shop again. I swear I’ve told him more than once to buy a new one but does he listen? Nope.” – I swear I could hear Iris rolling her eyes at the mention of her boyfriend – “Anyway, I’ll talk to you in a bit.”
I frowned softly and stood up, grabbing my ticket to go pay, pausing to look at the card Kyron left on the table. Uncertainty filled my mind on bringing it along; I wasn’t sure how to explain it off if anyone found it in my possession, let alone how they’d react. I debated with myself for a few moments on the matter and started to walk away when something told me I should just hold onto his card. With a sigh, I turned back around and picked it up off the table before going up to the register to pay. I was definitely going to pay if anyone found it.
Stashing both the card and my receipt in my back pocket, I walked out of the restaurant just as my phone began buzzing in my front pocket. I yelped in surprise but hurriedly pulled the device out of my pocket, answering without looking at who was calling.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Hey Mairyl, it’s Iris. How’re you doing?”
I smiled hearing my best friend’s voice. She had a thing about calling rather than texting people. “Other than a concussion from a job related accident I’m alright. How about you?”
“You got hurt again? Damn it Mairyl, you need to get a new job. I’m doing well and thanks for asking.” She replied and I cringed a little at her tone.
“While I’m flattered you’re calling, did you need something or were you just checking in?” I asked, groaning internally at sounding so impersonal.
“Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the mall and hang out for a bit. You feeling up to it or do you need to rest more?”
“I’d enjoy that, but I do have to take it easy still.” I answered.
“Great! Do you need me to come pick you up or are you driving?”
“No go on driving till my next doctor’s appointment, so I’d appreciate a lift. Just give me a little bit to get home since I’m out on a walk.”
“Okie Mai. Just let me know when you’re ready. I’ve got to pick Thaddeus up from work shortly since his truck is in the shop again. I swear I’ve told him more than once to buy a new one but does he listen? Nope.” – I swear I could hear Iris rolling her eyes at the mention of her boyfriend – “Anyway, I’ll talk to you in a bit.”
“Yep,
be safe.” I said, ending the call with a sigh.
It had been a little bit since the two of us had been out together; I was usually busy getting dirty and she was busy taking care of her relationship. We had met in high school during art class and became inseparable after I had punched someone in the nose for making fun of her artistic soul. I served detention with a smug attitude for proving myself capable of taking a man down. Unfortunately, that was a time past and the guys were still going through puberty; I would hate to take on a seventeen-year-old Kyron to be brutally honest.
The walk back to the dwelling was uneventful. I quietly navigated through the hallways to my room, closing the door behind me before stashing the card in my pantie drawer. I stared at its hiding place for a moment or two, frowning since it didn’t seem safe enough. My gaze darted around the room for somewhere safe and I bit my lip as I spied the frame that held the picture of my parents sometime after they got married but before they had me. No one ever touched the pictures; they knew how much they meant to me.
Stepping up to the mantle, I took the photo down, eyeing it with sorrow for a couple minutes. I wished I had more time with my parents because it didn’t seem fair that I had so little time with them when others had spent more time in their presence. Flipping the frame over, I undid the clasps holding the back to the frame and pulled it up, setting the card at the bottom of the photo before placing the back and fastening the clasps once more before setting the frame back on the mantle.
“I wish you were here… then maybe my life wouldn’t be so screwed up right now.” I whispered.
To be truthful, once I discovered I had a talent for talking to spirits, I tried to find them for a couple years. They never answered. I wondered if they hated me or something along those lines but I knew it wasn’t my fault what had happened. Ghosts and spirits were finicky about who and what they talked about with the living. Sometimes they were even spiteful enough to send me in the wrong direction because they didn’t want me finding their treasure. Unfortunately for them, they wouldn’t be able to take it to the next life.
I pulled my phone out and shot Iris a text saying I was ready as I opened the door once more, heading for the front entrance. I slipped it back in my pocket before looking down to find Syrus right in my way. “Excuse me.”
He frowned and pulled an earbud out when I nudged him with my foot. “Come again?”
“I said excuse me. You’re sitting in the middle of the hallway.” I replied, giving him a frown of my own.
“I’m sorry.” He mumbled, picking himself up off the floor, stopping and staring at me.
“Can I help you?” I folded my arms as the staring contest ensued, finally receiving an answer after a moment or two.
“Well… promise not to laugh?” He asked.
“If it’s not a joke, I promise. What’s up?”
He hesitated again and I was ready to just walk away when he grudgingly grumbled, “I was wondering if you were interested in going out sometime.”
Hearing this came as a surprise. My mouth fell agape, my mind struggling to process the words that just left his mouth. Blinking a couple times, I gave him a disgruntled look. “Did I hear you correctly? You want to go out with me? Have you been sitting there since I returned home to try and work the nerve up to ask that?”
He merely nodded. He glanced away, fiddling with the wire of his earbuds. “Probably shouldn’t have asked that huh?”
“Look, I need to think about it. I’m still trying to heal from the concussion. How about I give you an answer in a day or two?” I answered, hoping that would be the easiest way to let him down.
“Fine, but I feel like you’re going to say no already. I don’t mean to make things awkward.” He replied, walking away from me in the direction of his room.
“What the fuck…”
I shook my head, continuing on my way to the front entrance once more. Firstly, Kyron came to apologize for hurting me – which I was still upset about – and wanted to be friends. Second, Iris wanted to hang out – that wasn’t abnormal but it hardly happened anymore. Lastly, Syrus, my adoptive brother wanted to try and see if we had anything between us. I pinched the bridge of my nose and made a small unhappy noise. I had a lot to think about and it wasn’t going to help me rest one bit…
“Okay, you’ve been extremely quiet Mairyl, what’s wrong?” Iris asked, as we looked at one of the racks in her favorite boutique.
It had been a little bit since the two of us had been out together; I was usually busy getting dirty and she was busy taking care of her relationship. We had met in high school during art class and became inseparable after I had punched someone in the nose for making fun of her artistic soul. I served detention with a smug attitude for proving myself capable of taking a man down. Unfortunately, that was a time past and the guys were still going through puberty; I would hate to take on a seventeen-year-old Kyron to be brutally honest.
The walk back to the dwelling was uneventful. I quietly navigated through the hallways to my room, closing the door behind me before stashing the card in my pantie drawer. I stared at its hiding place for a moment or two, frowning since it didn’t seem safe enough. My gaze darted around the room for somewhere safe and I bit my lip as I spied the frame that held the picture of my parents sometime after they got married but before they had me. No one ever touched the pictures; they knew how much they meant to me.
Stepping up to the mantle, I took the photo down, eyeing it with sorrow for a couple minutes. I wished I had more time with my parents because it didn’t seem fair that I had so little time with them when others had spent more time in their presence. Flipping the frame over, I undid the clasps holding the back to the frame and pulled it up, setting the card at the bottom of the photo before placing the back and fastening the clasps once more before setting the frame back on the mantle.
“I wish you were here… then maybe my life wouldn’t be so screwed up right now.” I whispered.
To be truthful, once I discovered I had a talent for talking to spirits, I tried to find them for a couple years. They never answered. I wondered if they hated me or something along those lines but I knew it wasn’t my fault what had happened. Ghosts and spirits were finicky about who and what they talked about with the living. Sometimes they were even spiteful enough to send me in the wrong direction because they didn’t want me finding their treasure. Unfortunately for them, they wouldn’t be able to take it to the next life.
I pulled my phone out and shot Iris a text saying I was ready as I opened the door once more, heading for the front entrance. I slipped it back in my pocket before looking down to find Syrus right in my way. “Excuse me.”
He frowned and pulled an earbud out when I nudged him with my foot. “Come again?”
“I said excuse me. You’re sitting in the middle of the hallway.” I replied, giving him a frown of my own.
“I’m sorry.” He mumbled, picking himself up off the floor, stopping and staring at me.
“Can I help you?” I folded my arms as the staring contest ensued, finally receiving an answer after a moment or two.
“Well… promise not to laugh?” He asked.
“If it’s not a joke, I promise. What’s up?”
He hesitated again and I was ready to just walk away when he grudgingly grumbled, “I was wondering if you were interested in going out sometime.”
Hearing this came as a surprise. My mouth fell agape, my mind struggling to process the words that just left his mouth. Blinking a couple times, I gave him a disgruntled look. “Did I hear you correctly? You want to go out with me? Have you been sitting there since I returned home to try and work the nerve up to ask that?”
He merely nodded. He glanced away, fiddling with the wire of his earbuds. “Probably shouldn’t have asked that huh?”
“Look, I need to think about it. I’m still trying to heal from the concussion. How about I give you an answer in a day or two?” I answered, hoping that would be the easiest way to let him down.
“Fine, but I feel like you’re going to say no already. I don’t mean to make things awkward.” He replied, walking away from me in the direction of his room.
“What the fuck…”
I shook my head, continuing on my way to the front entrance once more. Firstly, Kyron came to apologize for hurting me – which I was still upset about – and wanted to be friends. Second, Iris wanted to hang out – that wasn’t abnormal but it hardly happened anymore. Lastly, Syrus, my adoptive brother wanted to try and see if we had anything between us. I pinched the bridge of my nose and made a small unhappy noise. I had a lot to think about and it wasn’t going to help me rest one bit…
“Okay, you’ve been extremely quiet Mairyl, what’s wrong?” Iris asked, as we looked at one of the racks in her favorite boutique.
Snapping
out of the quiet trance of watching her wavy brown hair bob, I gazed
at her and shrugged. “Sorry. There’s a lot on my mind right
now.”
“Would you like a sounding board for it all?”
I gave her another shrug. “If you don’t mind it being about a couple different men…”
“Ooh, do tell me everything.” Iris piped up, grinning excitedly.
Looking in her blue-green eyes, I knew I could trust her with anything I said and it wouldn’t go anywhere. “Which do you want to hear first? The lunch escapade or when you came to get me?”
“What happened on my way?” She furrowed her brow, turning her attention back to the rack.
“Syrus asked me out.” I said, causing her to sputter before coughing
“He did?! What did you say? God above, that… wow.”
“I told him I needed to think on it for a couple days just because of the brain injury and things. I don’t quite know how to let him down because I don’t think of him that way. Never have.” I admitted, kicking the thin carpet beneath my feet.
“Just gotta be truthful Mai. No easy way around it but doesn’t mean you have to be an emotionless bitch in letting him down.” Iris answered almost instantly.
“I’m not a bitch.” I frowned.
“Mmm, you get pretty grumpy when guys ask you out and you don’t have an interest in them.” She gave me a look that said don’t-try-to-lie-to-me.
I made a noise and brushed it off. “Whatever.”
She turned and lightly touched my arm. “Are you feeling okay Mai? Is this too much?”
Taking a breath and releasing it, I replied, “I think I’m still upset about the concussion.”
“I was wondering if that was playing with your emotions. How did it happen if you don’t mind me asking? I know you were working but you didn’t say…”
“That’s where lunch comes in. See, I couldn’t remember anything from the night it happened other than where I was and what I was looking for… Kyron showed up -”
“Wait, Kyron showed up? You mean that blonde cutie you talk about all the time? What did he do?” She inquired, actually taking an interest in him.
I hated to break it to her that while he may be good looking he could be a bastard. “He’s the one who gave me the concussion in the first place.”
Her eyes went wide, a horrified expression taking over. “What the hell? I knew your job was tough as it is, but this? Good lord. You shouldn’t see him again if you can help it."
“Kinda hard to avoid him really… but he apologized and had the audacity to suggest being friends. Can you believe that?” I said, shaking my head.
“He apologized for hurting you? That’s… actually a good thing, but he honestly shouldn’t have done it in the first place.” Iris continued frowning deeply, finally pulling away from the rack.
“What do I do? I don’t have anything lined up so I can leave… and it wasn’t till recently that I’ve had trouble doing my job either.” I sighed.
Iris sighed to herself but put a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. You’re smart, brave and talented enough. Let’s go look somewhere else. I’m not finding anything that really screams out to buy it today.”
I nodded and linked our arms together. “I do hope you’re right.”
“Have I ever steered you wrong?” She smirked.
I paused to look at the ceiling as I thought about all the times we did get into trouble outside of school. “Multiple times. Should I start listing them?”
Iris made a dismissive noise as we headed towards the exit. “The past is in the past dear. Besides, how many times have you been the one to start things?”
“Only because people were starting in on you.” I answered in defense of my actions as we walked out of the boutique and onto the next store...
“Would you like a sounding board for it all?”
I gave her another shrug. “If you don’t mind it being about a couple different men…”
“Ooh, do tell me everything.” Iris piped up, grinning excitedly.
Looking in her blue-green eyes, I knew I could trust her with anything I said and it wouldn’t go anywhere. “Which do you want to hear first? The lunch escapade or when you came to get me?”
“What happened on my way?” She furrowed her brow, turning her attention back to the rack.
“Syrus asked me out.” I said, causing her to sputter before coughing
“He did?! What did you say? God above, that… wow.”
“I told him I needed to think on it for a couple days just because of the brain injury and things. I don’t quite know how to let him down because I don’t think of him that way. Never have.” I admitted, kicking the thin carpet beneath my feet.
“Just gotta be truthful Mai. No easy way around it but doesn’t mean you have to be an emotionless bitch in letting him down.” Iris answered almost instantly.
“I’m not a bitch.” I frowned.
“Mmm, you get pretty grumpy when guys ask you out and you don’t have an interest in them.” She gave me a look that said don’t-try-to-lie-to-me.
I made a noise and brushed it off. “Whatever.”
She turned and lightly touched my arm. “Are you feeling okay Mai? Is this too much?”
Taking a breath and releasing it, I replied, “I think I’m still upset about the concussion.”
“I was wondering if that was playing with your emotions. How did it happen if you don’t mind me asking? I know you were working but you didn’t say…”
“That’s where lunch comes in. See, I couldn’t remember anything from the night it happened other than where I was and what I was looking for… Kyron showed up -”
“Wait, Kyron showed up? You mean that blonde cutie you talk about all the time? What did he do?” She inquired, actually taking an interest in him.
I hated to break it to her that while he may be good looking he could be a bastard. “He’s the one who gave me the concussion in the first place.”
Her eyes went wide, a horrified expression taking over. “What the hell? I knew your job was tough as it is, but this? Good lord. You shouldn’t see him again if you can help it."
“Kinda hard to avoid him really… but he apologized and had the audacity to suggest being friends. Can you believe that?” I said, shaking my head.
“He apologized for hurting you? That’s… actually a good thing, but he honestly shouldn’t have done it in the first place.” Iris continued frowning deeply, finally pulling away from the rack.
“What do I do? I don’t have anything lined up so I can leave… and it wasn’t till recently that I’ve had trouble doing my job either.” I sighed.
Iris sighed to herself but put a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. You’re smart, brave and talented enough. Let’s go look somewhere else. I’m not finding anything that really screams out to buy it today.”
I nodded and linked our arms together. “I do hope you’re right.”
“Have I ever steered you wrong?” She smirked.
I paused to look at the ceiling as I thought about all the times we did get into trouble outside of school. “Multiple times. Should I start listing them?”
Iris made a dismissive noise as we headed towards the exit. “The past is in the past dear. Besides, how many times have you been the one to start things?”
“Only because people were starting in on you.” I answered in defense of my actions as we walked out of the boutique and onto the next store...
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