Where do they all belong?

 "I wouldn't want to come between you and your grandmother," L said. "You should drive."

L and Macy were walking to the car in the apartment car lot. It was right where she'd left it, but she could already tell that Macy was lost. Seriously, it frightened her to think just who could take advantage of this small-town girl. Of course, L already knew she would be driving again today.

"Just pay attention, OK?" L was always serious. Not that she thought everything was a teachable moment, but she would do her best to simplify it. "Get familiar with the streets."

"All right," She was wide-eyed at the moment.

"I know it's a big garage."

"We didn't have parking garages like this back in Denver," Macy shrugged.

"I'm sure you did, you just didn't have to use one," L was matter-of-fact as she went down the path to take them out of the dark into the bright sun. Macy winced as if she preferred the cave life. It didn't bother L; she was used to it. From the moment she got to work, she was on the move.

"I suppose you're right?" Macy smiled back like an optimistic first grader. L, on the other hand, kept her knuckles white on the wheel and drove through the heavy traffic, but it didn't keep her waiting long; she got into the groove and made her way toward work.

"So did something happen last night, other than that phone call from your grandmother?" L asked with a sour lip.

"Oh," Macy laughed softly. "I heard from an old coworker. Jake."

"Really?" L knew she didn't need to know. "At least, it wasn't your ex."

"Yeah, it was good catching up with Jake and the library."

Macy agreed as she studied streets and landmarks. She shook her head, no. "It really looks all the same to  me."

It wasn't long until L drove into another massive parking lot building. "Is he going to call again?"

Macy nodded as if she believed so. L kept an even smile.

"L, what's your real name?" Macy asked before they went their separate ways.

"Elenor," L said she'd always hated that name. Then she got back to the driving issue. "Maybe it's best if you learn the transit system."

The Never Ending Night Part 2

 

Macy was sure she could sleep, especially since she yawned constantly before bed. However, going to bed was a different story. Thinking about what her Gram had said about the car worried her. She couldn't get it out of her mind, even after a warm shower, a fifteen-minute face mask, and brushing her teeth. It all came back to haunt her that she was definitely not adulting.

Of course, she went back to the kitchen to see if there was a yogurt. If only she could calm down. Yogurt usually helped, but she seemed more awake now than earlier. Still, after brushing her teeth one more time, she finally bedded down, trying not to worry. She kept the lamp on for a while, but staring at the ceiling felt like a punishment, so she turned it off. About two minutes later, her phone lit up. She had it on DO NOT DISTURB, but someone was calling. Her luck, it was Dean. Sometimes, he'd call her out of the blue. 

Macy imagined him with some guys from work out at the bar, drinking. She knew he wouldn't be sober, but then she noticed it was Jake, someone she used to work with at the library. She smiled as if it were a late Christmas present or maybe early Valentine's. Deep down, she'd missed their conversations, which generally were during breaktime. Although they'd eaten lunch together a time or so. Those were moments she wished there had been more of. But they were just friends.

"Is it too late to call?" He said he almost hung up. 

"It's fine." It had been ages since they last spoke. He'd wanted to know if she'd made it home back then when she'd left Colorado.

"So everything is going OK?" His question was gentle. "I don't know your new address." As always, he was apologetic. 

"Yeah, it's cold."

"Same." There was a pause, and he then said. "Do you like it there?"

"I want to." 

Jake was the kind of guy she could tell everything to. He wanted to know about L. "That's so great you found someone in the building where you work. Amazing." Macy sensed the smile in his voice. She sighed happily listening to him talk about all the troubles at work and about how many librarians it took to find a book.

"I didn't get in trouble, but almost," he told her. "I had the key to the study rooms and the book sale room and didn't even know it. You think I'm going mental?"

She laughed softly. "No, I think you're overworked and underpaid." 

There was something soothing in his voice, and she asked him if he could call her this time tomorrow night. He said, "Of course."

Macy went to sleep that night without a worry in the world.

The never ending night

 Macy couldn't help but groan when Gram Jeanie called. She winced, wishing she were already in bed after her first day at work. This emotional stuff took a lot out of her. 

Macy was pretty sure she might have the flu after that intense lunch with Wren, who prodded her about Wade and his wicked ways. Wren evidently didn't honestly trust him. Still, Macy guessed they could or would be friends. Macy knew she had to trust Wren to navigate her through the Receptionist World. Now if she could take notes, but Wren talked too fast and always questioned Macy about Wade's eating habits, and did he fall asleep instantly?

Macy had no answers for Wade's fiancée, and at ten p.m., she didn't feel like answering Gram's questions about her first day at work.

"It was OK." Macy summed it up, hoping to make this a quick phone call. No way did she want to tell her how she'd dropped down the receptionist status.

"Why didn't you call me? You should have called me as soon as you got off work, or at least when you got home?" Gram always sounded worried, and her worries were always contagious.

"Well, it wasn't exactly what I expected," Macy told her, lounging on the couch just in her PJs. She yawned sleepily.

"What do you mean?" It was as if it were all foreign to her grandmother.

"I got there OK, because I met someone in the building who knew how to get me to work." Macy let slip with a sigh and a shrug.

"Don't you shrug me," Gram snapped. "Did you let this person drive your car?"

"Yes." Macy felt she needed to be honest.

"You didn't!" Wrong answer. Gram blasted back. Gram insured Macy's car, not this stranger she met in the elevator.

"But. But L is really nice and..and.." It felt as if L was the only friend she had. L brought her back, and they'd had a quick dinner of sandwiches and soup at the deli near the brownstone.

Macy felt estranged from Wade. Honestly, he'd been no help. And a lot of his stuff was left behind. It hardly left her room for her own things. 

On the upside, she did have a nice bed, and she thought the sheets were clean. But she might just sleep on the couch tonight. She was that tired.

"It's gonna be all right, Gram," Macy wanted to hush her up with a practical plea.