January Clarke and All the Things That Didn't Work

"Wow... what happened? Why are you in my house again?"

"I was riding by and I fell off my bike. And why do you have such a problem with me being in your house?"

"It's not that you're in my house... it's that you just randomly appear in the kitchen every time, without me ever hearing a knock, or ya know... someone breaking in?"

"Your door was unlocked."

"Yesterday it wasn't."

"I have mad skills."

"..."

"So... should I just stand here and bleed out while we talk about the weather, or are you going to help me find some bandaids?"

• • •

"There. That should do it, if I do say so myself."

"It's crooked."

"Bandaids don't have to be on straight to be functional, babe. They just have to cover the bloody part."

"... yeah... okay. Don't know what to say to that."

"You don't have to say anything, to be perfectly honest."

"Wow."

"So, are you hungry? Need something to drink?"

"Not really."

"We have a teapot if you'd want to make some tea. My dad usually has a cup before he goes to work in the morning."

"Oh. Okay."

"So, you want some?"

"Please."

"Okay."

"..."

"..."

"Where are your parents? Why haven't I seen them?"

"Probably because you keep breaking in while they're not home."

"..."

"They work a lot."

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that? They do! My mom is an ER nurse who has crazy shifts, and my dad manages publicity and social media for several big corporations. That combined, neither of them are at home much. And they don't really get along, so they're home even less than they are able to be."

"That's sad."

"It's life. Here's the water--you can pick out whatever tea you want."

"Thanks, Landon."

"..."

"Now it's my turn to ask-- why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you still haven't answered my questions from yesterday."

"I forgot, to be entirely honest. What were they?"

"Well, you answered the one about hobbies. But I also asked about college and future stuff and boyfriends. You can answer in whatever order you want to."

"And if I don't want to answer at all?"

"Not an option."

"..."

"Only joking, babe. Chill."

"..."

"..."

"I guess we can start on the top. I don't even think I want to go to college."

"... really?"

"Yes, really. Now wipe that look off your face."

"It's just... why not?"

"I don't know. There are all kinds of things that are glamorous about student loans and unused degrees."

"It makes getting a good job easier."

"Only if you decide what you want to do and pinpoint what classes to take and zero in on a particular field. But I just want to study languages, so I'll probably just keep learning on my own-- for free-- and then go back and get my degree in it. After that, the options are wide open."

"Interesting take on it all, but I can't say my dad would agree with you."

"He doesn't have to, though, does he?"

"..."

"..."

"You are really sassy, you know that?"

"I had a feeling."

"So, boyfriend?"

"None of your business."

"Wow."

"And as for my future, I see myself in a flat in a big city like Dubai or London, working as a translator."

"I'm impressed. I don't have that much vision for what I want to do."

"Well, sometimes people have it and sometimes they don't."

"..."

"How old are you? I didn't ever ask."

"Eighteen."

"Aha."

"What about you?"

"Seventeen. But I'll be eighteen in August."

"But your name is January."

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"I'm confused."

"I have that effect on most people."

~ ~ ~

Okay, so I went to a pool yesterday, and there is nothing like seeing really skinny, pretty, tan girls to make you realize how average you are. XD

Question: Do you sunbathe or do you swim?

I do both, but when the sun is really nice and I have a book I'm reading, I just take occasional dips to keep from roasting and lay out the rest of the time.

-anne