Chase is sitting at his desk listening to music. He is so focused on work that he hasn’t heard anything happening around his house. While taking a moment to stretch he sees his wife walk past his office. “Susan?”
She pokes her head in, he hair is clipped up, she has a laundry basket she’s balancing on her hip and runs her fingers through her hair. This reminds Chase of when he first realized that she was the one for her. They were helping out at this event together and she was talking to the people, picking up garbage and had a tray on her hip. She saw people not doing anything and just balanced it all on her hip, raised an eyebrow and asked them if they thought to do anything or if they thought there time was better spent elsewhere. 
He loved her sassy attitude and that she was so strong willed. He still sees that. “Yeah, what can I do ya for?” She seems exhausted and worn out. Whenever he comes back he is always confused about time, what has been going on the past few days, and the mood of the house. This time is no different. Susan is tired and doesn’t want to say anything to change Chase’s mood.
“I just wanted to talk to you.” Chase gives a smile.

    Dang this fall weather literally came out of no where. I am happy to be wearing cords, have my boots on and a flannel. This could almost be said to be the happiest outfit a girl could have a in the fall. Along with my jean jacket and this bud in my hand. “Ryan you never disappoint.”
    “That’s what all the ladies tell me.” He lowers his sunglasses a little and gives her a wink then turns back to look out on the view. Alexa’s one rule to them smoking is that they must go for a hike to be in the woods. She likes being one with nature I guess you could say. She knows it’s clique but being a typical teenager smoking in a parked car or on some sports field is just way worse for her. Plus, it limits the amount she’ll smoke and makes it almost more nostalgic.
    “Ryan sometimes you amaze me with how into yourself you are. It fits you.” She looks off into the distance. Something is the way the wind pushes the changing leaves gives her an unsettling feeling. She watches as they twist and contort to the winds will. As it breaks free from the branch and falls to the ground off the cliff it gives her a feeling and release. Her buds now finished. Without having to say anything Ryan helps her up and they walk the path that brought them there.

    Seeing Kristina walk down the stairs in her baggy sweater and a high bun, Johnny is in awe of how beautiful she is. Yes, he enjoys when she gets dressed up but dressed in her natural beauty is what always catches Johnny’s breathe. The cold chill outside brings him back to his task but he know he could stand there and watch her all day.
    “Sure is coming down outside.” Johnny brushes the snow off his one shoulder that’s holding the wood he collected from outside. Moving it to be next to the fire place so they have extra through out the night. Kristina just watches him from the couch curled up under a blanket and resting on a pillow.
    “Did you get the bags?” She’s now scanning the room looking for some layers to add rather than just swearing her sweater.
    “I thought you were getting dressed upstairs? The bags were in the room.” Johnny now moves to curl up next to Kristina on the couch.
    “Oh right. I might have forgotten.” She moves to straddle him moving the blanket over them. Johnny’s hands move to her hips moving up and down her leg. “I enjoy when you do that.”
    “Oh trust me, I know.” Johnny just smirks at Kristina then leans forward to kiss her.
    “Now, board game or movie?” Kristina asks while she plays with the buttons on his shirt.
    “That’s not going to lead to either option.” Johnny started moving his finger tips up and down.
    “I know.” Kristina begins to move in to kiss Johnny when suddenly the door flings open.
    “That drive was ridiculous!” A man walks into the room with bags brushing off snow. “Honey come on hurry up!”
    “Excuse me?” Johnny yells to the people entering the house while moving Kristina off his lap and giving her the blanket to cover herself.
    “Someone’s here?” The man looks in the house taking off his hat and having a face of utter confusion.

I should not have gone over there. What was I thinking? I have just left his house and walked to my car. It was an enjoyable evening with a long goodbye. However living the world that we created for the two of us, makes reality hit. This is not my boyfriend, but I’m acting like he is. He treats me like a girlfriend. I am caught up in that happy bliss, but then I’m reminded that he does not like me nor would he want to date me.

Subtle right? I’m an idiot. Or could this become something in the end? This is dangerous territory to be in. I never thought I would be one of these guys that would like a guy treat me this way without any commitment. I judged these girls. I thought these girls were stupid. I am not this girl.

It’s so typical to think that guys do not think of the consequences of their actions. It’s true. After the first incident of this I said I wanted him out of my life. What changed? It just made his actions and treatment of me okay. Why condone this behavior.

I should probably start my car and drive away instead of debating all of this in front of his house. I start driving and it’s almost like driving from his house with the windy roads and constant stop signs. Like this is going to be confusing territory with stops along the way. One is an exit while one with send you to the confusing back roads where you’ll be trapped. Literally, taking the wrong turn around here sends you in multiple exits with what seems like no way out.

Ridiculous. I now make it to the main road and know it’s easy left turn and straight venture home. Sure there are a few stops and windy roads but not what I just left. Its funny, the further I am from him things are more laid out, there seems to be some sort of plan. Then the closer I get, it’s like I basic thinking is a challenging. Even knowing that makes it difficult to make this turn home.

“Screw it.” I turn and head home to get in my pajamas and curl up in bed reminiscing this night and knowing it was the wrong decision.

“OLIVIA!” Oh God. “OLLLLLIVIIIIAAAA!”

“Yeah.”

“So guess who I saw today.”

“Famous or friend?

“Friend.”

“Boy or girl.”

“Ahh I saw Andrew.”

“Oh, how’s he doing?”

“Okay just telling you how’s he doing would cause you to simply ask how he’s doing.”

“Well no but you saying you saw someone we know yes, that would cause me to ask how they are doing. But clearly whatever happened matters so much more.”

“Yes clearly.” I wave my hand on for her to continue. “Well I am going to the coffee shop and debating in a iced drink or should I try this new drink and he comes walking up to me with a drink!”

“For himself.”

“No for me silly!”

“So he has two drinks.”

“Yes-”

“Well that would have been helpful-”

“He talked about his life and asked about mine-”

“He’s a gentelmen-”

“He has such a good heart-”

“Taking it you were happy-”

“Asked me to dinner-”

“But you are easily made happy so-”

“Olivia are you listening?”

“Of course.”

“Well he agreed.”

“To what?”

“Double date, tomorrow night. Kyle he is unsure if he is free but I am sure when he hears you are the other girl he will drop whatever that boy has to do.”

“You did what?”

“It’s just food.”

“Umm yeah no, not with Kyle.”

“Why would you do such a things?” All roommate goes on a ramble explaining how she was just trying to do a nice thing. She would get to know Andrew better while seeing how Kyle and I talk to see if the two of us are really meant for me. Granted her intentions were there but I just saw the new guy yesterday and my head is all types of spinning.

“Olivia I hear you, now I am just going to lay down. Please let me be for a bit.”

“Do you want chocolate?” Such a necessary girl thing to always have.

“No thank you.” I would love a lot of chocolate and a movie but that would just make matters worse. Lay down and go for a run. Yes a run that will clear my head.

Great so I got to this bathroom, next move. This is some serious stuff. Wake up hating my life and wanting something new and I sure did. Dead guy who is suppose to be me. But could this all be a set up? My friends have been telling me for years something needs to give me a slap in the face for me to get my emotional life together. So maybe when we meet I was talking about the people of the office and saying how they love this life and it is not my thing. But I need work and a life. Well work to pay for life I should say but come on, I just saw a fake me dead. Then guys with suits take me away.

Should I be speaking properly? If you expect that then you are looking into the wrong man head. No windows, so trapped. Trapped in my head, trapped in this weird world of today, and trapped with guys in suit. Great.

“Brooks times up.” The office comes in to my cradled in a ball on the floor. Sure I look like a guy who just broke down, but how should I look? “Or I could give you a minute.”

“Nah man.” I jump up and wander out with my hands in my pocket and walking like a hippy/hipster who just had a good smoke. Maybe that is what I missed out on. Only throwing back a few drinks and not doing weed. Seriously Charlie, this is what you decide to debate now. Well it’s started. “Man you ever smoke?”

“Smoke? No I don’t do cigarettes.”

“Not what I’m asking. Weed.”

“Brooks, I work for the government. Not going to share.”

“Right big brother and whatever. Obama smokes so I think your safe.” I turn into the office and the Lieutenant it waiting for me. “Hey man do you smoke?”

“In college, now Brooks have you ever left the country?”

“Yeah typical Mexico, Caribbean and cruise things. So in college you did weed? I feel like I’ve missed out from never doing it, do you think so?”

“Only if you feel like you’ve wasted your life with doing nothing. Doing nothing with your life and it’s not because of drugs is a waste. But Brooks did you have a twin?”

“Nah, only child. I think maybe my parents had a weird love child and never told me. That would probably explain a lot.”

“So as far as you know, there is only one of you.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think the world needs another one of you.” In that moment I hear and explosion and the officer suddenly jumps and grabs me shooting the Lieutenant and jumping through the glass. No one is in there but one man. He’s wearing a black suit and calm as ever. Something tells me to trust him.

Mind you trusting a man in all black, by himself behind a mirror where a man has just been shoot, yeah should totally trust him. I am freaking out. “Guess what the effity eff! Do you know what you just did. He, government, of shiiiii-”

“Shut up! We’re only wasting time. Sure he’s not better off dead?”

“He’s who we need.”

“Need for what.” We start running for the window. “Window! Window, nothing below it, We are so not on the first floooo-” The glass shatters around them, the are sailing through the air on about the thirtieth floor. “Hale Mary’s that is what I should probably be doing. Right, Officer that’s what you’d do. Wait your corrupt. I’m flying, no dying in the air ohhh-” Smacking into a foam thing was not my plan to the be through to and air craft. I should totally be that dead guy.

Sorry for the wait

You’d think I would learn my lesson the first time. I grew up being a simple kid from the suburbs, went to college, and now have a job in the city. Basically what your told in high school the life you should have and many people try to reach that bar. Now I’m here sitting in my car dreading those minutes ticking down for me to walk into my office and ask how the eff did I get here. Look at my other coworkers walking in. They car pool. All like they’re friends and truly love their lives. It makes me sick. Guess I should get out of my car and head in. Look at my car it’s even a freakin’ BMW. I am the clique of what life I was told to live. I could be all suave and walk in with shades, lock the car behind me and own this building. But I know this building would be an easy hot shot and I could sleep with any girl I choose. Now I’m not a cocky guy but for this office I am one of the people who have a life out of the office, I work out, and I do a lot of volunteer work so I am a freakin’ catch.

The thing is women working in this office have no lives outside of work. All day they work and may go out one weekend night and it’s to blow off steam with girls they party with. Partying women, well they shouldn’t even be called women they are actually girls due to their actions, do not have true friends and don’t know how to be a friend. Why waste my time? Goodness. Take the elevator and be trapped with someone in it and either talk or stand in silence, I’ll that the stairs. This way it is passing by people not chit-chat and these people wouldn’t walk the stairs even if the building was on fire. I know sounds like a stretch but kids with trust-funds come from their own little world. I worked my way here, I commute from Jersey. I place these people probably think traveling from they need shots or something.

One floor down now only five to go. Sure I may be late to my desk but coming from the stairs looks better. My boss will simply look at me ask about the weather or something and then give me two task to do. routine is his thing. Three floors down, three to go. I wonder what could be on the menu this morning for breakfast. Maybe a muffin, or a bagel. Oh the options. Sixth floor. Made it, here goes nothing.

“Back away!” A police man is pushing everyone to the side. I see blood on the walls and shattered glass everywhere. Women crying and people puking. What just happened?!

Monica is walking into the office with more questions going through her head then she thought possible. She goes to the desk to get checked in expecting Tony to be able to bounce these ideas off of but it’s a new person. “Good Morning.”

“Oh hi. Morning I mean, sorry where is Tony?”

“He no longer works here.”

“What do you mean?” The new attendant behind the counter is unsure of what to say.

“He was asked to leave. Something about talking about God in the office.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

“No, I’m sorry miss.”

“Is there anyway I could contact him?”

“I have is number I can give you. It’s such a shame he was the most helpful here. He knew I have been struggling to pay for school and I know he has a big family to pay for but he would offer me hours.” Monica is in awe of thinking she thought this man was simply mean and would pass her by. While she has been the ignorant on and probably is the cause to him losing his job. Monica’s day is a blur. She has no clue what to work on, who to contact, and almost never answered her phone. Mike stopped by to apologize for the previous night and she almost broke down.

“Need to go for a walk?”

“I should do work but I know I wont do any.”

“Come on. I know I don’t seem like a good person to talk to but I am sure I can help.”

“Okay. You’ve gotten a man fired about telling you about God?”

“Just come one. Isn’t there chairs or a park near by?”

“Yeah just out the back entrance.”

“Okay that is where we will wait to talk.” They stay silent through the office, reach the elevators and still silent. Once they reach the air Monica feels more relaxed. “I have not gotten anyone fired from sharing God, however that is why I left my previous job. I have been a Christian my whole life. I never knew what it truly meant till my twenties when I truly needed God in my life.”

“Your a Christian?”

“Yep. Born and raised”

“Then your really blessed to have parents that raised you that way.”

“What about yours?”

“I believe my parents where christians, but they passes away before I could question religion or really come to an age where I knew what God would mean to me and my life.” Monica and Mike continue to sit and take in their surroundings not saying a thing. They get lost in a conversation and Monica asking questions about God and what he means to Mike. Going around debating, not sure what it all means, to before they know it, the sun is setting. Still more that Monica wants to know so they go to dinner together.

Monica is walking down the street to work, still with the biggest smile. She’s turning to work seeing the security guard that always gives her an issue. Still keeps her smile on, gives him a big grin, “Morning Tony, isn’t today beautiful.”

“Yeah yeah.” Tony just sits on his stool with his book. Monica stops.

“You know Tony, I have seen you almost everyday for about two year and I don’t know the slightest thing about you. Do you have any kids?” Tony is so taken back from Monica even talking to him. Even more so by her asking about his life.

“I have been happily married for twenty three years. We have three children.”

“Wow that’s amazing. How many boys and girls?”

“Two boys, the first born is Anthony Jr. The the middle is a girl.”

“That’s awesome. How old are they?”

“Umm. Two in high school and one entering their second year of college.”

“Where does Anthony Jr. go to college?”

“He goes to school here in the San Fransico University.”

“That’s amazing. Congratulations! Welp Tony before I’m late for work I’m going to catch the elevator but it was great talking to you. I’ll see you on my lunch break and ask about your other son and daughter.

“Alright Monica.” Monica makes her way to the elevator and she goes about her work for the day. She meant what she said with coming down on her break and talking to Tony about his two other children. The daughter is going to be a senior in high school, she is looking to get a soccer scholarship to Notre Dame. He grads could get her in but she wants to play where ever she attends school. He is pushing for the education, but knows he’s daughter will make the right choice. His son will be a junior and he plays basketball, not very well but it is his passion. He is not sure what he wants to do yet so they are for him doing a gap year so he doesn’t rush into anything.

Tony meet his wife doing missions work. Monica talked to him about what he’s done on mission and what made him want to do that and push him to do this work. Talking about Tony’s missions trip actually made Monica after work go and buy a Bible to see what made Tony want to give months of his life doing work for this cause. She spent the night reading chapter after chapter and being torn. She wept. Got angry. Needed breaks but in the end stopped and just reflected. 

When Monica woke up she say her bed all disheveled with the notes she had taken, her computer, and the Bible. Will all this she does not know what she has woken up to and all she can think to do is put on clothes to go for a run, grab her ipod, and leaves.