didn't mean to piss you off. You don't seem like the rock-n-roll type." He gives me a smile. Those dimples I noticed the first time I saw him appear and I fight the heart-melting sensation.
I'm struggling to hold my totally-undeniably-pissed expression.
I go to my favorite chair and sink into the cushions. "Why were you in the restaurant when the gunman came in? You should have been gone by that time."
He's not focused on my walls at this point. When he picks up a Rolling Stone Magazine , he raises an eyebrow at me before putting it back on the nightstand. "I went back in for my keys. I left you and your uncle, couldn't find my keys, and went back in. You know the rest."
"Nothing told you to go back in? Intuition?"
He rubs a hand over his jaw. "I told you. I needed my keys."
"Oh."
"I know you're trying to make sense of all this, but it's the world we live in. Crazy people are out there." He walks to over to my window.
"And how do we tell the crazy ones from the sane ones? They all look alike to me."
"You'll never know the difference. We all think we're sane. The world's full of lunatics trying to pretend they’re sane and sane people walking the edge of sanity." He walks to the door of my room and pauses. "See you later."
I don't respond. I just listen to the sound of his footsteps fading away.
----
I t's five o' clock . The nurse is gone for the day and I can finally relax. Billy retires to his quarters early, so I never see him this late in the day. I log in to my laptop and see a message from Collin. Collin and I have been friends for years. The podcast show we created called Rock Universe has a growing subscriber fan base.
Collin_RockMeister: Long time no see. You doing okay?
Malerie: Tired of doing the show alone?
Collin_RockMeister: Nah. I'm the star when you're gone. I crank it up and let loose.
Malerie: Ha ha. Have you been drinking?
Collin_RockMeister: Very funny. It's been boring as hell. Can you do next week’s show with me?
Malerie: Yes, but I may still be on painkillers. So, don't let me wander off from topic. Ok?
Collin_RockMeister: Done. Actually, can't promise that. Might be the most fun show ever.
Malerie: And who are we interviewing?
Collin_RockMeister: You are out of it. It’s only your favorite of all time. Jelly Bean Queen is the coup de gras. Can’t believe we got them. Hell yes, we are in the big leagues now baby.
Malerie: I feel so out of sorts lately. Bring me up to speed?
Collin_RockMeister: Sure thing.
Malerie: Still have their drummer?
Collin_RockMeister: No. They fired him.
Malerie: No rehab then.
Collin_RockMeister: But Paulie asked me to avoid that topic.
Malerie: Are you crazy? That's a hot one. It's one we want to talk about.
Collin_RockMeister: No, Mal. Seriously. Don't do it.
Malerie: You can say I didn't know the subject was off the table.
Collin_RockMeister: You are going to get us in trouble with other bands.
Malerie: Don't be a wuss.
Collin_RockMeister: Don't be a bitch.
Malerie: It's my contribution to the show. Keepin' it real. Honest. Intense.
Collin_RockMeister: I wonder if you could be this cutthroat you were in the same room with these guys.
Malerie: As if.
Collin_RockMeister: And what are you going to do when you run into one of these musicians in person?
Malerie: As if.
Collin_RockMeister: It could happen.
Malerie: Not.
Collin_RockMeister: Go with me to the next Jelly Bean Queen concert. They're playing in Chicago. I'll buy a plane ticket. We'll request the setlist. Tell them we want to do an interview on our show. They might say yes.
Malerie: Can't.
Collin_RockMeister: Why? You don't even know when.
Malerie: Sure I do.
Collin_RockMeister: When.
Malerie: Hey Collin … gotta go. I'll chat at you a few minutes before we go live on the next show. Can you get the band members connected?
Collin_RockMeister: Are you mad about me asking?
Malerie: Duh? No, course not. I just have to go for now. Talk to you later.
Collin_RockMeister:
I'm struggling to hold my totally-undeniably-pissed expression.
I go to my favorite chair and sink into the cushions. "Why were you in the restaurant when the gunman came in? You should have been gone by that time."
He's not focused on my walls at this point. When he picks up a Rolling Stone Magazine , he raises an eyebrow at me before putting it back on the nightstand. "I went back in for my keys. I left you and your uncle, couldn't find my keys, and went back in. You know the rest."
"Nothing told you to go back in? Intuition?"
He rubs a hand over his jaw. "I told you. I needed my keys."
"Oh."
"I know you're trying to make sense of all this, but it's the world we live in. Crazy people are out there." He walks to over to my window.
"And how do we tell the crazy ones from the sane ones? They all look alike to me."
"You'll never know the difference. We all think we're sane. The world's full of lunatics trying to pretend they’re sane and sane people walking the edge of sanity." He walks to the door of my room and pauses. "See you later."
I don't respond. I just listen to the sound of his footsteps fading away.
----
I t's five o' clock . The nurse is gone for the day and I can finally relax. Billy retires to his quarters early, so I never see him this late in the day. I log in to my laptop and see a message from Collin. Collin and I have been friends for years. The podcast show we created called Rock Universe has a growing subscriber fan base.
Collin_RockMeister: Long time no see. You doing okay?
Malerie: Tired of doing the show alone?
Collin_RockMeister: Nah. I'm the star when you're gone. I crank it up and let loose.
Malerie: Ha ha. Have you been drinking?
Collin_RockMeister: Very funny. It's been boring as hell. Can you do next week’s show with me?
Malerie: Yes, but I may still be on painkillers. So, don't let me wander off from topic. Ok?
Collin_RockMeister: Done. Actually, can't promise that. Might be the most fun show ever.
Malerie: And who are we interviewing?
Collin_RockMeister: You are out of it. It’s only your favorite of all time. Jelly Bean Queen is the coup de gras. Can’t believe we got them. Hell yes, we are in the big leagues now baby.
Malerie: I feel so out of sorts lately. Bring me up to speed?
Collin_RockMeister: Sure thing.
Malerie: Still have their drummer?
Collin_RockMeister: No. They fired him.
Malerie: No rehab then.
Collin_RockMeister: But Paulie asked me to avoid that topic.
Malerie: Are you crazy? That's a hot one. It's one we want to talk about.
Collin_RockMeister: No, Mal. Seriously. Don't do it.
Malerie: You can say I didn't know the subject was off the table.
Collin_RockMeister: You are going to get us in trouble with other bands.
Malerie: Don't be a wuss.
Collin_RockMeister: Don't be a bitch.
Malerie: It's my contribution to the show. Keepin' it real. Honest. Intense.
Collin_RockMeister: I wonder if you could be this cutthroat you were in the same room with these guys.
Malerie: As if.
Collin_RockMeister: And what are you going to do when you run into one of these musicians in person?
Malerie: As if.
Collin_RockMeister: It could happen.
Malerie: Not.
Collin_RockMeister: Go with me to the next Jelly Bean Queen concert. They're playing in Chicago. I'll buy a plane ticket. We'll request the setlist. Tell them we want to do an interview on our show. They might say yes.
Malerie: Can't.
Collin_RockMeister: Why? You don't even know when.
Malerie: Sure I do.
Collin_RockMeister: When.
Malerie: Hey Collin … gotta go. I'll chat at you a few minutes before we go live on the next show. Can you get the band members connected?
Collin_RockMeister: Are you mad about me asking?
Malerie: Duh? No, course not. I just have to go for now. Talk to you later.
Collin_RockMeister:
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