The Rest of Us Just Live Here

I want to keep scolding her, but I can’t help but scan the pages. Lots of references to blue eyes and indie kids dying and the Immortals. Lots about the Immortals.

“Most of it’s speculation,” Meredith says. “‘Immortals’ could mean a lot of things, but people are thinking maybe a kind of multi-dimensional thing. Or elves. Or angels, even. And the blue lights are an energy that kills you or brings you back to life or something. I’ll bet that’s what the deer were running from.” She sinks her chin down to her hands on the table. “Nobody knows for sure because the indie kids aren’t talking to anybody but themselves. It’s happening a lot of places, though. In some version or another.”

“Just like the vampires,” I say, almost to myself. Then I see her worried little face. “But you’ve got nothing to worry about. They never come after little mites like you.”

“What if they cancel Bolts of Fire?” she asks, and you might think this is a ten year old asking a selfish question when people are dying. Not Meredith. She’s asking if everything’s going to be all right. It probably will be, but when did “probably” ever help anyone?

“Jeesh, people are cranky tonight,” Jared says, coming over with the coffee pots. “Want anything else, Merde Breath?”

“Fresh cheesy toast?” she asks in a small voice.

Jared smiles. “Coming right up. Mel and Henna just pulled in by the way.” He glances at me.

“Nathan’s with them.”

I take the coffee pots from him and walk back to my side of the restaurant. Tina’s already pouring out a Ronald tale of woe to Mel and Henna by the front door. “…and his toenails are like something out of a fable–”

“Hey,” I say. They say “Hey” back. It’s kind of like verbal tag, isn’t it? Hey, here I am, are you here with me, Yes, we are here with you, and everyone feels good because “Hey”.

I tip my head to Meredith’s booth. “She’s worrying. Looking stuff up.”

Mel sighs. “I told her not to, but I’m not surprised.” She heads over to our little sister.

“Staff discount on whatever you guys want,” Tina says. “Make somebody happy.”

“Thanks, Tina,” I say. She smiles and just stands there, looking at me and Henna. Then looking some more. Then looking some more. Then finally saying, “Oh!” and heading off to force more cheesy toast on customers.

“You okay?” I ask Henna when Tina’s gone.

“Yeah, you?”

“Good. Weird. Good.”

She smiles. “Me, too.”

I swallow. “Listen, Henna–”

“I know. Unfinished business.” She looks down at her cast, covered in ink by all the signatures. The biggest one is Jared’s. The smallest one is mine, but it’s the only one she allowed on the palm of her hand. “I’ve been thinking,” she says. “Do you remember what I said, just before we hit the deer?”

Oh, shit. “Not really.”

She knows I’m lying, but doesn’t say. “You said you loved me. And I said I didn’t think that was true.”

“You don’t know that.”

“But I don’t think you know it either, Mikey.” She taps her cast. “I do want to kiss you again, though.”

I half-grin. “In the name of exploration?”

“Three of your tables want their bills,” Tina says, reappearing. “They seem kinda pissy about it, too.”

Henna’s already heading over to Mel and Meredith, who are lengthily pretending to order from Jared. “I thought Nathan was with you,” I say, as she goes.

“Still outside,” she says, shrugging.

And I wonder if she’s kissed him in the name of exploration.