And Today We Sorted Ourselves Out

[mmerriam]

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***
Jill narrowed her eyes. "You said there was a story."

Mae looked down at her half-eaten cheesecake. "I think it might be more of--"

"Third date story?" Jill supplied. "Because if that's the case, then what say we go out to dinner tomorrow night and you can tell me all about it."

Mae frowned. "I was going to say it was more of a two years into the relationship kind of story and did you just ask me out?"

"That must be some kind of story and yes, I did." Jill scooped up another huge bite of cheesecake on her fork. She paused before popping it into her mouth. "So?"

Mae rested her elbows on the table and laced her fingers together in front of her, looking for all the world like she was about to pray. She settled her chin on top of her fingers and tried to keep her expression as neutral as possible. "I thought you liked the 'hot, hot boys' down at the Fine Line."

Jill swallowed her food and gave Mae a little smirk. "I do."

Mae licked her lips and sat up straight in her chair in an attempt to, as her friend Emma would say, "get the girls up where they can draw attention." Mae was not sure if the effort was having the desired effect, but it was the best she could do short of taking off her blouse.

"I case you haven't noticed, I'm not a boy. I mean, I realize I'm a little--"

"Waif-like?"

"I was going to say "boyish" but that works as well. But I am not a boy."

Jill rolled her eyes and took a drink of her coffee. "Yes, Mae, I realize that. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I like hot, hot girls as well?"

Mae's posture relaxed and she leaned back on the table again, her hands settling on either side of her plate. "Oh. Well, then..."

"Or maybe I like hot, hot lawyers."

"I could introduce you to some, if you'd like."

Jill reached across the small table and placed her left hand on top of Mae's right one. "Maybe I like hot lawyers named Mae."

Mae gave her a soft smile. "Jill--"

Jill released Mae's hand and leaned back. "This is the part where you tell me you're not into women and I get to feel like a damned fool, right?

"Actually, this is the part where I tell you I'm terrible at relationships and that right now may not be the best of times for me start something new."

Jill smiled. "So you do like women!"

Mae looked straight into Jill's pale blue eyes. "Jill, I'm not going to lie to you. There is a lot of – weirdness - going on in my life right now." She sighed. "There are things going on that I'm not sure I can talk about, not without sounding like a complete loon."

Jill's smile widened as she crossed her arms. "Try me. I'm into weird.

***


1150 words today. It was a struggle again, but I got them, and it feels like the words are ready to start coming easier.

And now, for your viewing pleasure: A Word Meter.



In Peace,
Michael

Comments

[wordswoman.livejournal.com]

:::::sighs happily:::::

I'm reminded of Charles de Lint, a bit--something about the interplay between the two characters and the naturalness of the dialogue.

More? More? More SOON?

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I will happily admit that de Lint is one of the major influences on my work. Maybe I'll post more snippets as I go along.

[mylefteye.livejournal.com]

Nice work, Mike.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Thank you!