Pay Off

You’re good for my ego

At ten on the dot the bell above the door chimed signalling someone entering.

“I’m sorry we’re closed” I knew who it was so I don’t know why I bothered shouting. Guess it was habit or maybe it was fear that Cole forgot and didn’t actually care about being my friend. That thought hurt.

“Well that’s good news, tell me what I can do to get us out of here earlier” Cole greeted me with that signature smirk.

“I’m pretty much all done, just let me cash up here and then we can go. You didn’t really need to come back to walk me home you know. I can make the short walk just fine” I assured him as I started emptying the register.

“I know you can but you confirmed today Lia that we’re friends. And I don’t let my friends walk any distance alone at night” he replied sincerely.

“Oh really, you always walk Harry home do you?” I laughed. Suddenly, I threw my hand up to my mouth in shock. I’d slipped up. Harry Maguire was Cole’s best friend in middle school. They were close enough that they kept in touch. Each year Harry would come back to school telling stories of the summers he spent with Cole.

I chanced a look at Cole to see if he noticed my slip up too. Of course he did, he always listened when I talked. His face displayed equal amounts of shock.

“I knew we had met before. I thought we went to school together back before I moved away but when you denied it, I thought maybe you just looked like someone, I mean you have no reason to lie to me, right?” The way he looked at me as he asked broke my heart. He was a genuinely nice guy and I couldn’t tell him the truth. But I didn’t need to tell any more lies than necessary any more either.

“Sure we went to the same school and had a few classes together. But we never met really, we never had any conversations together back then and I don’t think you ever knew my name. I didn’t see the point in visiting a time I’d rather forget.”

“Why did my father move you in with me really? I can tell your avoiding a subject when I ask how your family know mine so I can only ask what sort of deal you two have here?” The look of sorrow overcome his features like he felt betrayed and it was painful to see. I could tell him it was all in his head, that I don’t know what he was talking about but I knew it wouldn’t work. He knew his father too well.

“I can’t tell you that” I whispered. I needed to fight for my place here, in this university and with Cole so I spoke up this time, “but I can promise you any deal I may have with your father does not concern you in any way. I wouldn’t have ever agreed to anything that would hurt you, I didn’t even know you would be living with me when I was here, that truly was a surprise to me. For a long time, I thought you was in on the deal too and I hated you as much as him. When I figured you didn’t know anything, it was hard to hate you at all. But Cole, that’s all I can say. Please, I beg you do not make me say anymore, but also please more than anything else, do not let your father know that you know something is up. He would take this school away from me” I almost sobbed the end bit.

I sensed him study me for a moment. “I get that. My dad often makes deals, and most of the time the other person never knows they made a deal with the devil. At some point, will you tell me?” He looked at me holding his breath for confirmation.

“I knew I was making a deal with the devil. But I was going to hell anyway, so I signed the deal to get something at least in return for my pain. One day, when I’m in a position where I can, I promise I will tell you it all. But until then, please don’t mention your father to me, and don’t mention me to your father?”

“I’m going to trust you this time Lia, please don’t hurt me for it” I could see the vulnerability he was opening up for me.

Without thinking I ran and threw my arms around him, squeezing him tight. “Thank you Cole. I promise I’m not here to hurt you, I never could. I want to be your friend more than anything. Maybe a little bit less than how much I want to be your roommate actually thinking about it” I let out a little laugh as I let him go.

“Yeah” he shrugged “I’m a pretty awesome roommate. Now cash up that register and let’s get out of here. We’ve got classes early tomorrow so we need to go get us some beauty sleep!”

“Sure thing” I replied as I grabbed the till and took it to the back to cash up.

It only took a few minutes before I came out locking the office door behind me. “Ready?” I asked.

He didn’t need to respond, he held the shop door open and ushered me out as I turned off the lights behind me and locked the shop door. Then we walked side by side back towards our apartment.

The air was cool and we were surrounded in the silence of the night when he suddenly spoke up “so what do you think he whispered?”

“Huh? What are you on about” I looked at him like he had lost the plot.

“The CDC guy. What do you think he whispered in his ear before he blew the place up?”

I burst out laughing. “Cole Talbot, would you like to watch the first episode of the next season before we go to bed?” My smile stretched across my face.

“I mean if there’s time, why not?” He shrugged.

I playfully shoved his shoulder as I sped up my walking, “better hurry home then” I called back to him , then laughed as he took off running.

As I neared our building I could see him holding the door open for me so I quickly jogged up the few steps of our stoop and carried straight up to our floor. Somehow, Cole beat me to our door and opened it up to gesture me inside so I just shook my head in disbelief at him.

“OK I smell like coffee so I’m going to go get changed quickly, you get that area set up ready” I gestured towards the sofa and TV.

“Yes, Ma’am” he replied giving me a salute.

Man I wish I had something to throw at him right now.

Once in my room, I quickly changed into my matching pyjama shorts and cami top and fixed my hair into a messy bun. I was tired and needed to be up early so we had to get this episode started so I could get to bed.

I moved back into the living area and noticed Cole wasn’t here. I listened and heard shuffling in his room so figured he was getting changed too. I plopped myself down on the sofa to wait for him to return, not realising I’d put myself in the middle.

“Thank god we are friends now!” He shouted excitedly as he ran and threw himself over the back of the sofa to land right next to me, giving me his boyish smile.

“What?” Not for the first time, this boy had me confused.

“Well when we started this, you were all over there as far as you could get from me and I was here feeling like I have coodies or something. Gave me a right complex” he rubbed a hand over his heart. “Now we’re friends it will be better for my ego”

I gave his shoulder another playful shove, “shut up and start the episode will you?”

I guess I was more tired than I thought as I don’t remember much before I fell into the most comfortable sleep.