Iron
> > Her meds were a blessing and a curse. They made her calm enough to deal with everything. But they made her calm enough to remember everything. Bad memories just hovered, turning slowly, showing every detail.
Why couldn't she just take a pill to forget?
The clock radio by the bed snapped to life. Damn; she didn't remember ever setting it... then again, it came with the apartment, and she hadn't been here this early in the day yesterday. It was probably a leftover from the previous tenant.
Certainly a leftover, if the station was any indication. News radio. Ugh. She was searching for the Off switch (or at least Snooze) when the story being reported caught her attention. "...latest in a series of violent incidents at the illegal warehouse parties. Also in the north warehouse district last night, one man was found dead and two others seriously injured in a photo supply warehouse early this morning. Police are still sorting out the details of what may have been an altercation between rival drug dealers. If the death is in fact ruled a homicide, this will be the sixth wrongful death in as many days in the troubled neighborhood. Local businesses are calling for increased police patrols in the area; the city council has scheduled a hearing for next week. More as we learn it. In a minute, traffic and weather together. This is KOVN -- Oak Valley News, all day, all night. / Men: are you looking for natural male enhancement? Enfirma is 100%-"
Click. She found the Off switch. She'd set an alarm later -- maybe when she had a job to get up for.
But the news she'd heard seemed good. From the sound of it, Harold had gotten away before the police arrived. Hopefully that would be the end of *that* particular nightmare. Assuming her meds didn't add it to her nightmare playlist...
An unexpected sound from the other room stirred Angela from her lethargy.
A ringing phone.
Probably the neighbors. There, it stopped.
A moment later, it resumed. Not muffled enough to be the neighbors. But she didn't have a phone yet... did she? It was a furnished apartment. Did it come with a phone?
Angela padded out to the front room and kitchen. There in the corner, on the floor. A phone. A muffled ring.
Angela sat down cross-legged on the floor in front of it. "Hello?" she said hesitantly.
"Hey."
Angela jolted with sudden excitement and energy. It was Dino!
"Hey!" she answered, her voice bright.
"How're you doing?" he asked. His voice was warm, soft, soothing.
"Great!" she enthused. And it was true, now that he'd called. "I didn't even know I had a working phone. How'd you get the number?"
"I called the apartment complex manager. I told him you were feeling a little under the weather last night and I wanted to check up on you. I hope you're not mad."
"Mad!? Why would I be mad? So what's the number?"
She wrote it down. It was a little weird having someone else tell her her own phone number.
"So I guess you're feeling better."
"I am now. I didn't expect to hear from you. So we're still going out tonight, right?"
"I wouldn't miss it. What time?"
"I dunno. I'm free all day!" And all night...
Dino's tone was a little surprised. "Oh-kkaaay... How about six?"
"Sounds great! I'll be ready, this time." She giggled.
"I'm sure you will," Dino said, chuckling.
"So..." Angela was suddenly in the mood to talk. "Whatcha up to?"
"Taking a break from work. I needed to hear a friendly voice." So he called *me*. Angela felt all tingly. "What about you?"
"Nothin'."
"How's the job hunt going?"
"I'll try again tomorrow maybe. I'm not really settled in here yet. I need to iron some things. Thanks again for helping me with the car and getting me here and getting all my stuff sent over."
"My pleasure." Mmm, his voice was so dreamy... "So do you have an iron?"
"Oh, shoot, I didn't think about that. I don't know. Lemme check, hold on, ok?"
"H-okay," Dino laughed gently.
Angela bolted up, leaving the handset on the floor. Cabinets and closets were opened, rifled through, and closed. Finally she bounced back to the phone and plopped down on the floor. "Nope, guess I'm gonna have ta buy one."
Shoot, she thought. I don't have enough money. Or any way to get to Well-Mart. Is there even one around here?
Dino's warm voice brushed aside any concern. "Well, where we'll be going I don't think anybody will care if you're a little wrinkled."
"Well, I care." Especially after seeing the way Dino dressed... she didn't want him thinking she was some frumpy sweatpants-and-flipflops kind of girl...
"I'll bring you one."
"No! You've done too much for me already!" She didn't want him thinking he could just buy her affection...
"Relax. It's just an iron. Consider it a housewarming gift."
Yeah, Relax, Angela, it's just an iron. "Okay, but make sure it's got steam and a delicates setting."
"Yes, ma'am," Dino said smartly, failing to cover his amusement. "Oh, about the car. Ilya says he should have it dropped off there at your place by noon. So you can set up some interviews for tomorrow afternoon if you want. I don't know how you're fixed for money with your, um, situation with the house and everything, but I can't imagine a woman like you just sitting around the apartment day and night; I'd imagine you'd be anxious to get back to work."
Angela had told him all about herself the day before at lunch -- well, the short and sanitized version -- but only now did she realize she knew practically nothing about him. She'd done all the talking yesterday -- how rude! And her mom had always said, "let the boy do the talking -- they like to talk about themselves." It had been true of her first date with Ricky -- gosh, that seemed like a million years ago! -- he'd rambled on about his dad, school, his friends, losing his mom before he was really old enough to remember much about her, computers, his drawing... Lunch with Dino, on the other hand... had he said a word the whole time?
--waitaminute, did he say "a *woman* like you?" She was so used to people calling her a girl, or a young woman (always with a subtle emphasis on Young), or the eye-rollingly belittling Young Lady. Truth was the age difference between her and Dino had been nagging at her subconscious, and despite (or perhaps because of) his gentlemanly behavior she worried that she must seem too young and immature to him... In fact, the hot-dog-at-the-boardwalk idea was starting to seem like a bad move... But maybe he didn't see her that way at all if he was calling her a woman.
Or maybe she was just reading too much into it. Why was every little word he said so important? Well, besides the fact that he hadn't said that many...
God, the first cute guy that shows any interest, and you're all over him. Don't you already have a boyfriend?
Well, yeah, I guess, but... things have been kinda weird with Ricky lately. We're just not on the same wavelength anymore.
You mean since you moved out. What did you expect?
No, even before that. I don't know, he just seems... different. We don't talk anymore.
You didn't talk much ever. You haven't even known him that long.
Yeah, but in the beginning it was like we totally *connected*...
That was just your hormones. Same as now with Dino.
Nu-uh! It wasn't like that at all. We just fit together. Lately it seems all Ricky's interested in is sex.
Unlike you? Just two nights ago...
I didn't want sex. I just wanted... I don't know. Someone to hold me.
And your interest in Dino isn't sexual?
No!
What is it then?
It's... I can't explain it. He's... different.
You mean you have nothing in common.
I don't know that.
Exactly. You don't know anything about him. He could be an axe-murderer.
An axe-murderer who wears Prada and drives a Ferrari. Sure.
So you're attracted to his money.
No!
Well, it's certainly convenient.
I like him because he respects my independence.
By buying you lunch and taking care of getting your car fixed. Oh, and don't forget the iron.
That's not what I mean. He doesn't treat me like a little kid.
We wouldn't want that. Enjoy the hotdogs at the boardwalk tonight...
Shut up! There's a difference between having fun and being told what to do. Everybody else I know is always trying to hold me back. Even Miguel.
Or maybe they're just trying to keep you from doing something stupid. Besides, you just met Dino. He doesn't know who you are. Any more than you know who he is.
Well, it can't hurt to find out.
Can't it?
"Hello?" His gentle voice brought her back to reality.
"Sorry."
"Is this a bad time?"
"No!" she almost shouted. Way to look desperate, Angela. "I was just thinking."
"Well, I was just saying that your car will be dropped off there tomorrow morning, so you can schedule job interviews for tomorrow afternoon if you want." He paused, as if testing the waters. "A woman like you probably can't stand sitting around doing nothing for more than a couple of days."
There, he said it again. Oh, Angela, watch out, he's a charmer.
What's wrong with being charmed?
"Then again, you've had a rough time lately, you deserve a couple of days' relaxation." Said as if he'd offended her with the earlier comment.
"No, I'm anxious to find a new job. I hate having to depend on other people for stuff."
"Well, maybe some day, you can help them in return," he soothed.
"Yeah, I guess. So anyway, where do you work? Do they have any openings there?"
"Well, um," Dino seemed suddenly nervous. "I work downtown. I'm not sure if there are any openings, but I'll check."
"Yeah? So what do you do?"
"It's hard to explain. But I promise I'll tell you all about it tonight, okay?"
"Oh."
"Listen, I've got to get back to work, so I still have a job to tell you about. I'll see you a little after six, okay?"
"All right." Did he really have to go?
"I *really* have to go. It's only a few hours."
Angela would be counting the minutes . . .