to the moon & back

“–oh right. I forgot about that. You can’t avoid him forever though. Best to tell him. I’m sorry I know that’s not the advice you’re looking for but I’m my father’s daughter and I hate the fact that I give advice like him. His ‘disappointed in you’ face is the worst.”

“I mean, I’ll find it. Eventually. I can’t go through another shift like that. It’s been... so long, you know? And I don’t want my mom to worry, since they’ve always been tough on my mental state. So, I’ll find it. Has to be in my room, and I don’t think anyone’s been in there. But until I do, facing Adam or my mom isn’t a feat I’m keen to accomplish.” She smiles softly. “Tell me about it. I cried the first time he gave it to me.” She drops her eyes to the floor beneath her, clasping her hands together. “How are you?”

“What? Arden, now you’ve just made me more confused.”

“Didn’t I give you an answer?”

“Leave. Quit. Depart from job.”

“Not an option. Thank you for the input though. Seems you’re already warming up to me from all those visits to Cabin Coffee.”

“ I live with a stubborn old fairy who thinks anything but his own music isn’t worthy of his time.. His favorite genre is polka. I’m pretty sure I have it worse than you did. It is not the best of both worlds. Arden… turn it down. ”

“Do. Present tense. Eddie and I still live with him. Fine, I’ll turn it down, but note that I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. It’s my decision. Took no prompting from you.” 

“Don’t avoid him. It only makes things worse. You know this.”

“Worse than him finding out I can’t find my moonstone because I threw it across my room after talking to Caleb? Right before almost shifting in front of an entire bar?” She sighs. “Seeing his ‘I’m disappointed in you’ face is worse than my dads.”

“Yeah, I have, quite awhile ago.”

“And? You got it? Didn’t get it?”

“When am I not eating is a better question. Well, other than being tired, I don’t think I’d be much help for some photos, I’m way too awkward for that.”

“It’s fine. We’ll go candid.” She takes a seat. “Did you find anything?”

“Can you just let me life for once in my miserable life, Arden?”

“What? Me? Let you live? Absolutely not. Torturing you keeps me sane. Besides, I think I’ve earned mothering you. I have to remind you to take your allergy meds every morning, for Christ’s sake.”

“ Everything is destructible. I’m still sorry to Aaron, though. Man… growing up sucks. “

“Ha, fuck him. I’m sorry to Nina. It was his decision.”

“ Aw, you fuckin’ suck up. Maybe a bit. And unfortunately, Reese made that quite obvious. –So, you photograph other shit? ”

“Did you finally give in and fuck the girl? I’m sure she’s a great lay. And I’m sure she genuinely finds your scars a turn on. There are worse ways to go. Me? I don’t... I’m not a photographer. But my mom is. And my first toy was a camera, so I guess I’ve got a few skills. But I’m a people person, I’ve never really enjoyed taking pictures of... things or places.”

” Mind turning that shit down?? I could gouge my ears out, and it still wouldn’t drown out your shitty music taste. “

“You aren’t allowed to complain about my music taste until you’ve lived with AF Spinkleheimer for over a year. Trust me, Hannah Montana gets stuck in your head after a while, and it’s no longer just day torture. It’s day and night torture.” 

“You know, returning to work after recuperating from major surgery isn’t as fulfilling as I thought it would be. But, then again, why did I even think it would be fulfilling?”

“I spent way too long eavesdropping into your surgery to want to do it again. And by that I mean you’re gonna rupture something or some shit if you take it that hard.” 

“Having your parents in town is all fun and games until you run into someone who won’t shut up about that one time you chugged two fucking liters of vodka without passing out. Thanks a bunch, Craig.” 

“Listen, you have no fuckin’ right to complain. My parents live here.” She grins. “How’s your sister, though?”

“Russo’s is reopening this Friday. First twenty customers get their entire dinner paid for! Just letting you know – I mean… if you don’t have other plans, we’d love to see you there.”

“First twenty? You do realize you’re gonna have people lining up at four in the fucking afternoon, right?”

“Nope. Not thinking about it,” Jaslyn protested, waving a hand dismissively. “I am enjoying my last few weeks of freedom. College talk will have to wait until term actually starts up.”

“It’s either talk to me ‘bout it or talk to your parents about it.” 

“Are you gonna stand there with your mouth hanging open or are you gonna help me lift this?”

“What’s the magic word?” She purses her lips, laughing nervously before crouching down next to him. “I think... we need to talk... and it might be better if you didn’t have something in your arms to throw at me.”