anomaly

“You know, I’ve always wanted to be a cop.” Louie admitted, “But for some reason, my father told me it wouldn’t work out. There were a few times I almost told him to fuck off - but he would have beaten the shit out of me if I did. Anyway, one of my old buddies from college gave me a call today and told me I went the right route. Lawyering.” He laughed, “Defending a bunch of dick kids with surprisingly good music. Now they tell me I’m invited to their barbecue. Whatever that means.” A shrug. “What about you? Had any crazy thoughts when you were younger?”

“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.” It’s a few days until Halloween, and he’s made different paper covers for complimentary water bottles in his office. “That’s a secret love potion, and you might fall in love with me. That is, if you aren’t already.”

“I admire your unwavering fervor, but all of these kittens have to go.” He says, staring at the litter in disgust. “I’m sorry, I... I’m more of a dog person. I can’t keep looking at this.” Louie sneezes, “And I can’t be near them, either.”

Avery didn’t feel undressed as she continued staring at her phone, watching her dog through her puppycam. She almost dropped her glass when the man grabbed her ass, though she didn’t do much to reply other then smiled to herself. “You need to work on your sarcasm voice. I’m still not quite convinced. I need to hear more feeling.”

“Oh.“ Now he isn’t exactly sure of how to react. Actually, he never was, but the woman’s reply had added to his perpetual state of confusion. First of all, he doesn’t know why someone would wear different earrings depending on where they were, and second, Sebastian wonders if he had done something to upset her. “Leave an earring on purpose? I… Don’t know. It does make more sense than walking around with just one shoe, but still.” A shrug. “You haven’t seen someone with just one earring, have you?”

“a chauffeur.” she says it like it’s the most breathtaking thing that she’s ever heard anyone say — even if, essentially, tapping around on uber was the same thing by her standards. the offer just happened to be overwhelmingly considerate, soft in tone the way he’d always carried around her, and it makes teyani smile again. because nobody’s really taken her and ines into consideration the way that denzel had been doing right now. all that she had lately were sleepless nights and sore aches, fighting to determine if nightly visits from spirits were the product of hallucination or the real thing. but a sleepy sigh from her daughter draws teyani out of the lonelier aspects of motherhood, instead immediately perking at the mention of fresher air. “honestly…me and ‘nessie could use it. i haven’t left my house in…” she paused at the thought, brows furrowing momentarily before a laugh slips past her lips out of nervous habit. “actually, coming here has pretty much been the only time. we should go out and get something.”

“Okay… You know what, just scratch whatever I might have said seconds ago.“ Rolling her eyes, Avery walked over to the shelf he had mentioned and poured herself a glass while looking at her phone. “Are you always this polite?”

“thanks for the cigarette.” he takes a quick puff, inhaling the noxious fumes before continuing his casual conversation with this casual stranger by a casual bus stop. “my clients thought they were slick and took my box of newports. i still can’t fuckin’ believe these things are going for thirteen bucks now. we have to pay to die in this day and age.”

“good. i’m glad you’re satisfied. you can either grab the whiskey on the top shelf or you could get dressed, turn off my lights and get the fuck out. completely up to you.” 

a breath out of his lips was followed by him stretching his hands, as if unconcerned. after all, the amount of women he’s had to deal with …. well, he knew she was the only one that wasn’t blowing up his phone for more. but that didn’t keep him from worrying. “not in love, no …. but, well, you never know.” shrugging his shoulders a little, elvis took a step forward and tilted his head. “considering how you were sounding that night i thought i might’ve changed your life.” the words were in jest, and he was leaning on the desk. “i’m just saying, so i can say that i said it. you get me?”

there wasn’t a moment of doubt that resonated in her at the sight of seeing denzel holding her daughter, with more care and ease than anything she’d ever seen him do before. it made her wonder what gave him the hesitation to begin with, what happened to make him question himself so severely around things dubbed the innocent — but it probably wasn’t teyani’s place to know. all teyani could do was offer her friendship and her support, and she does just that, as often as she’d been able to. “you think so?” there was a smile on her face at the comment, though she tries not to let it reveal that the first thing she saw in her girl was her absent father. “thank you. and a year, huh? i guess i can wait that long. at least i got to hear you sing it first.” she shrugged off the time, because she’d also been painstakingly slow when it came to her craft, and teyani knows what the songs mean for him. she hums at his next question, her brow raising for a little before she eventually nods. “i could eat. where do you wanna go?”