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perfectworrytitle: Wednesday
verse: Ghosts by the Reservoir
community:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
writerverse
prompt: Phase #6: Challenge #08a: Big Break, The Short Story
word count: 659
rating: G
summary: Between his studies as a first year college student, his job as an admissions intern, his other job as a part-time exorcist, and the ghost that stubbornly refuses to leave his apartment, Ian is having kind of a bad day. Mary rescues him with a cup of coffee.
"You okay, Ian?"
Mary threw her messenger bag into the inoffensive armchair beside the college center sofa Ian had colonized. He lay face down, his long legs sticking up over the opposite armrest. Mary knew the answer to her question before she asked it, as soon as she saw his ratty canvas sneakers dangling in the air.
Ian rolled over to look up at her with bloodshot eyes. "Work," he groaned. "Admissions fair today, started early but I had to set up at the ass crack of dawn, and Dr Storey's class is at nine."
"I'm in that class, Ian. I know."
"You weren't there," he said, glaring up at her accusingly.
"Concert last night," she said, and although she shrugged it off, she had to admire Ian's dedication: exorcism last night that she asked him to do so she wouldn't miss their gig, work-study assignment ungodly early in the morning, and he still dragged himself to his frosh writing seminar? Mary figured he probably handed in his weekly reading response, too.
If Ian was feeling judgey about Mary's rather more lackadaisical attitude towards her studies, he softened up immediately when she presented him with a steaming cup of coffee. She bought it black, no sugar, just the way she knew he liked it, and set it down on the small podium table between them.
Ian hauled himself upright on the couch, his hair falling in his eyes, conspicuously soft without his usual gel. His dark roots were showing under the highlighter orange dye.
"You're my favorite person," he told her, unscrewing the travel safety cap from her stickered and graffitied mug. He drank deeply after a tentative sip. Satisfied he wouldn't burn his mouth and make a bad day worse, he finished off half of it in one go.
"Nah, I owe you one," said Mary. "Thanks for taking my assignment last night. I didn't know you had a fair this morning, or I wouldn't've asked."
Ian waved her off. "I didn't know I had a fair this morning either, until Thompson called me at like five a.m. saying she'd be outside to pick me up in twenty minutes. Just forgot about it entirely, too much shit going on, I guess."
Mary nodded sympathetically. "More weirdness in your building?" she asked, dropping her voice.
"Yeah, same ol'. He doesn't clatter my dishes or scream or anything, but knowing he's there gives me the heebie jeebies." Ian shivered.
"Since when are you afraid of ghosts?" asked Mary, concern hidden under the chiding in her voice.
"I'm not afraid of him," grumbled Ian. "I just don't like the idea of him, like, watching me in my sleep or something."
Mary laughed and ooh-la-laed and batted her eyelashes. He kicked her in the shins. "There are some girls who would find that very romantic, you know."
"Yeah? Well, they can have 'im, then."
Mary was used to seeing Ian sleepy, eyes bloodshot and hair mussed. What she wasn't used to was seeing him bitter and irritable. Her expression softened. "Do you have anything after the Frau?"
"Sleep," said Ian. "Thomspson gave me the afternoon off for getting me up at fuck stupid o'clock in the morning."
"The come crash in my room," said Mary. "It's just across campus and, you know, no creepy ghost audience to watch you sleep."
"Saint Mary," said Ian. "Mercy on my soul."
Mary shook her head. "You did me a big favor, man. The gig was great. Manager said next time, they're gonna book us for a Friday night instead of a Tuesday."
"Hey, congrats," said Ian, hauling up his backpack. He stood, and Mary watched for any unsteadiness. If he swayed, she would send him packing. Ian could afford to miss one hour of German 102. But Ian was sure on his feet thanks to the coffee, and they set off together towards the coffee shop for another cup before splitting off for their different classes.
verse: Ghosts by the Reservoir
community:
writerverse prompt: Phase #6: Challenge #08a: Big Break, The Short Story
word count: 659
rating: G
summary: Between his studies as a first year college student, his job as an admissions intern, his other job as a part-time exorcist, and the ghost that stubbornly refuses to leave his apartment, Ian is having kind of a bad day. Mary rescues him with a cup of coffee.
"You okay, Ian?"
Mary threw her messenger bag into the inoffensive armchair beside the college center sofa Ian had colonized. He lay face down, his long legs sticking up over the opposite armrest. Mary knew the answer to her question before she asked it, as soon as she saw his ratty canvas sneakers dangling in the air.
Ian rolled over to look up at her with bloodshot eyes. "Work," he groaned. "Admissions fair today, started early but I had to set up at the ass crack of dawn, and Dr Storey's class is at nine."
"I'm in that class, Ian. I know."
"You weren't there," he said, glaring up at her accusingly.
"Concert last night," she said, and although she shrugged it off, she had to admire Ian's dedication: exorcism last night that she asked him to do so she wouldn't miss their gig, work-study assignment ungodly early in the morning, and he still dragged himself to his frosh writing seminar? Mary figured he probably handed in his weekly reading response, too.
If Ian was feeling judgey about Mary's rather more lackadaisical attitude towards her studies, he softened up immediately when she presented him with a steaming cup of coffee. She bought it black, no sugar, just the way she knew he liked it, and set it down on the small podium table between them.
Ian hauled himself upright on the couch, his hair falling in his eyes, conspicuously soft without his usual gel. His dark roots were showing under the highlighter orange dye.
"You're my favorite person," he told her, unscrewing the travel safety cap from her stickered and graffitied mug. He drank deeply after a tentative sip. Satisfied he wouldn't burn his mouth and make a bad day worse, he finished off half of it in one go.
"Nah, I owe you one," said Mary. "Thanks for taking my assignment last night. I didn't know you had a fair this morning, or I wouldn't've asked."
Ian waved her off. "I didn't know I had a fair this morning either, until Thompson called me at like five a.m. saying she'd be outside to pick me up in twenty minutes. Just forgot about it entirely, too much shit going on, I guess."
Mary nodded sympathetically. "More weirdness in your building?" she asked, dropping her voice.
"Yeah, same ol'. He doesn't clatter my dishes or scream or anything, but knowing he's there gives me the heebie jeebies." Ian shivered.
"Since when are you afraid of ghosts?" asked Mary, concern hidden under the chiding in her voice.
"I'm not afraid of him," grumbled Ian. "I just don't like the idea of him, like, watching me in my sleep or something."
Mary laughed and ooh-la-laed and batted her eyelashes. He kicked her in the shins. "There are some girls who would find that very romantic, you know."
"Yeah? Well, they can have 'im, then."
Mary was used to seeing Ian sleepy, eyes bloodshot and hair mussed. What she wasn't used to was seeing him bitter and irritable. Her expression softened. "Do you have anything after the Frau?"
"Sleep," said Ian. "Thomspson gave me the afternoon off for getting me up at fuck stupid o'clock in the morning."
"The come crash in my room," said Mary. "It's just across campus and, you know, no creepy ghost audience to watch you sleep."
"Saint Mary," said Ian. "Mercy on my soul."
Mary shook her head. "You did me a big favor, man. The gig was great. Manager said next time, they're gonna book us for a Friday night instead of a Tuesday."
"Hey, congrats," said Ian, hauling up his backpack. He stood, and Mary watched for any unsteadiness. If he swayed, she would send him packing. Ian could afford to miss one hour of German 102. But Ian was sure on his feet thanks to the coffee, and they set off together towards the coffee shop for another cup before splitting off for their different classes.
