Strings of Fate
214- Zombies and zen
Despite myte night, I wake up early in the morning. Groaning and mentally pleading for a ss of
water and some painkillers to materialise in my hands so that I don’t have to stand up. If my dder
could magically empty itself that would help too. But no such luck. I carefully disentangle my limbs from
Bemy and climb out of bed. I freeze for a second right on the edge with one foot on the floor when he
groans and rolls over. But he doesn’t wake so I keep moving. First step, the bathroom. Once I no
longer feel like exploding, I head downstairs to get some painkillers and caffeine. For once, no one else
is awake before me, not even Megan. On my way through to the kitchen I ch*ck in on Harry, yeah he’s
still totally out. I don’t expect he will be awake anytime soon, and when he
does wake I suspect the hangover will be hell. Actually, I suspect all the Shifters are going to have a
pretty bad hangover. They’re not used to feeling the effects of alcohol so strongly. Actually, I don’t know
if Cam’s concoction will cause hangovers or not, but I suspect it will. I mean, anything that can make
Alex that talkative and confident has got to have after effects right?
I end up in Bemy’s office at theputer answering emails. I have a few new text messages from
some of the Shifter women as well. They’ve beening in more steadily since I helped the Shifter
woman. Usually I would be more inclined to work on this kind of thing in the evenings when I’m properly
awake but my b*dy has decided to be awake now and I doubt I will be getting back to sleep any time
soon. I still have to set aside a lot of the messages for Bemy to ch*ck or to ask for more information
about. But I can answer a lot of them myself and I’m feeling a lot more confident with it already. I might
even be starting to
enjoy it. The whole process isn’t nearly as stressful now that I’m starting to understand what to expect.
Although I still am really unsure that emails are the best way to do things. Mayber for some things, less
urgent matters. But a few of these emails could have been a three minute phone call and could have
been resolved immediately, while others are just confusing and would be a lot easier with a little back
and forth. Something which would take minutes
on a phone call or in a face to face conversation but would take days or even weeks by email
because of the dyed responses. No, what the Shifters need is a way to get in contact at all times,
maybe some kind of priority system. Really, they just need to know that they CAN ask for help. Then
again, they know Bemy is busy and I haven’t exactly told them that I’m around, or avable. I
COULD though… maybe? It would definitely require a lot more of my time and energy than I’m putting
towards it right now. I wouldn’t be able to go back to work. I know I told Bemy that I would be going
back once Kiara was safe, but if I’m beingpletely honest, the thought of going back to work… it just
isn’t appealing. I can’t imagine having time to take care of these emails and things AND working shifts
at Borderline, or
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214- Zombies and zen
anywhere else. But I can’t imagine stopping either. I WANT to help. I want to work with
N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
Bemy and I WANT to help the Shifters. Not to mention, now that Kiara is going to be
staying with us I need to be around for her. I need a more flexible schedule than shift work
allows. I mean, I’ll have free time when she goes back to school and stuff, but at least for now she
needs me around. She has a lot to work through. I suppose I should talk to Bemy about this, not
going back to work. I suspect he is going to be thrilled to hear I don’t want to go back to my old job. I’m
suddenly not looking forward to the conversation. He’s going to be so smug. I hate being wrong. I was
so sure I would want to go back but I definitely don’t.
Dammit.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Bemyes shuffling into his office, rubbing at his eyes and
squinting against the light.
“Ugh, that drink of Cam’s packs a punch, it is fun though so I suppose it is worth it. I might have to ask
her to keep some of that cure for it handy though if she’s going to bring it by again.” He groans and I
can’t help butugh.
“Is it wrong that I’m enjoying this? Ever since that time I got drunk and Megan just walked it
off, I was
thinking it was unfair that I was the only one who had to suffer after a night of
drinking. This feels like a fair turnabout to me.” I grin at him and Bemy rolls his eyes then winces. He
really isn’t used to the feeling. I suspect this is probably a little worse than a
regr hangover.
“Painkillers are on the kitchen bench.” I inform him, still smiling a little too much. He nods
and shuffles away. I follow him to the kitchen and watch as he downs like six pills which I would find
rming but I already know the dosage for him has to be different to what it is for
me and he would know what he can handle. I look around the kitchen and have to work not
to cringe. It’s kind of trashed. All the dishes, empty bottles and leftovers were all just left out
for us to deal with today. I know that if we asked, someone woulde and help us clean,
but this is our home, we can take care of it ourselves. This is part of having friends over and throwing a
party I suppose. Wordlessly, Bemy and I start to fix up the kitchen and dining room. The living room
can be dealt withter when Harry is up. Also, I think we might need more than a couple of sets of
hands to get that fort apart, it is pretty well constructed considering half the people making it were
wasted. We’re just washing thest of the dishes and Bemy is starting to look much less zombie–like
when I decide to speak.
“So I’ve been thinking this morning.” I start. He nces sideways at me from where he is up
to his elbows in soapy water.
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“That sounds dangerous. What have you been thinking about exactly?” He asks causally, although I
can tell he’s more interested than he is letting on.
“About work, my job, or my old job. Whatever you want to call it.” I respond. Bemy pauses.
moment and I can hear the dish he was cleaning clink as it falls back into the sink. He starts washing
the dishes again and for a little bit I can just hear him breathing, the slosh of
the water and the clink of the dishes.
“When are you nning to go back?” He asks. His tone is t and he sounds defeated. Huh, that’s not
what I expected. I thought he would have guessed what I n to say.
“Well… that’s what I was thinking about actually, I don’t think I want to go back. I was going to ask if
you had more work you wanted help with here. Kiara needs me around and I don’t want to half–ass the
tasks I have been doing here anymore. I can’t do both, and if I have to choose… well I’d rather be here
working with you.” I exin. All at once Bemy has hist arms around me, I squeak as his wet hands
soak the back of my shirt. He k*sses me firmly then looks me in the eyes, delight clear on his face,
pushing back the hungover grogginess he was dealing with before.
“Yes. Please. Please stay. We can make this work. We will figure out how to get everything done
together. I’m actually looking forward to it. You’re going to be perfect. I’m sure of it.” He gushes. Iugh.
“Perfect seems a little far fetched, but I’ll do my best.” I promise, and I’m happy to say that I
mean it.
Chapter Comments
Deborah Dawdy
it’s about time she realizes way she needs to be doing
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