Crush
Tuesday, Day 2
Once again, across the street from Frank’s house, Julie’s day started out in uncanny parallel to Frank’s. She, too, woke before dawn; and her first destination was also the bookcase. Breakfast could wait; she had P.D. James calling her.
And after that, her diary.
“Dear Diary,
“Yesterday this Town Crier character tried hitting on me.
“I didn’t care for it. Especially the way he made an announcement to the neighborhood afterward.
“‘Hear ye! Hear ye! Julie has cruelly and most unwisely rejected the smooth advances of the Town Crier!’
“I don’t think I like Town Criers.”
Sorry again, Joe.
Now that you’ve got that off your chest, anything else to report, Julie?
“Dear Diary,
“This morning I wrote in my diary.”
Sigh.
These two just keep getting more and more riveting, don’t they?
Anyhow, after recounting her diary-writing for the benefit of her diary, Julie had her morning shower and some breakfast. With plenty of time to kill between breakfast and work, she then, naturally, headed straight for the…
…telephone?
Because what she wanted to do, more than anything, was spend some time with Frank before work?
Not Crime-Scene Cleanup and You, not The Lighthouse
Please, Frank. Oh, please. Don’t screw this up. Come over when she asks you.
“Hi…Frank? Hey. What’re you up to?
“You too? Well. I did some diary-writing this morning myself, you see.
“No. I didn’t even know there was such a channel. But yes, I’m sure it would look very nice in high-definition.
“Mmm hmm. Say, Frank, the main reason I called was that I was wondering if you’d like to come over. Like…now-ish?
“Yes, I am at home. Still right across the street, yes.
“What? What makes you say that?
“Well, I suppose I could have just come over there; but being shy doesn’t come into it. Sheesh. I just felt like phoning you and having you come over here. If you’re interested. Or would you rather argue about the whole thing for awhile instead?
“Okay then. See you in a few.
“No, I don’t think you need to bring over your own books. I’ve got a bookshelf of my own over here, you know. And I’ll have an extra recliner set out for you.”
Well. That went about as well as could be expected.
But what about when Frank actually arrived, expecting to study together or talk shop or something? How would Julie play it? How would Frank—who had already rejected one female’s advances that morning—react?
“Still find me shy, Frank?”
That went way better than one would have expected. (And right in front of the mail carrier, too. Definitely not shy.)
What do you think, Frank?
Mmm hmm. That’s what we thought.
After a bunch of flirting, and a bit more smooching, Julie officially had a crush on Frank, and things were definitely looking up for this story.
So what would she do next? What would be Julie’s very next move, right after seeing those hearts dramatically burst forth from someplace deep inside her? What way would she find to express her feelings, her rush of emotions at this heady moment, her hopes and dreams and anxieties?
Oh, sure. Falling in love makes a lot of us feel like paying our bills too.
Hey, why not totally cut loose? Go wild, Julie. Go ahead…bring in the paper while you’re at it.
You know you want to.
Um, okay…see, we were being sarcastic just then.
But it worked out okay. She set down the paper on the end table; Frank was right there waiting, looking up at her expectantly; and she still had kissing on the brain.
Sorta.
“So now what, Frank? More kissing, or my crossword?”
“Um…well…now if I were you, I’d…”
“You’re right, Frank. Got to keep those logic skills sharp. Crossword it is.”
Sigh.
“And then, of course, I should really start that next chapter of Crime-Scene Cleanup and You.”
“You comfortable, Frank? Good thing I bought that extra recliner today, huh?”
Sorry, Frank. Looks like you should’ve brought a book over after all.
“Isn’t this a lovely date, Frank? I really hope we can do this again tomorrow.”
“Mmm.”
(Oh, c’mon. You read the previous installment. You can’t say the boy didn’t deserve this.)
Soon enough, it was two o’clock, and time for Julie’s carpool.
At eleven, Julie returned home from work, dead tired, just as Frank had been. (Just what were the two of them so busy doing during their shift, anyway?) And so it was straight to bed for her.
Did she dream about Frank? About crossword puzzles? About her diary?
She’ll never tell.
Next installment: Does the crush develop into something more? How long can this parallel lives thing be kept going if it doesn’t? Tune in and read all about Julie’s day off!