"Pick up pick up pick up" I chanted into my phone. I nervously gnawed on the plastic straw that was sticking out of my apple juice box. Suddenly a charming voice on the other end answered, "What up, sis!"
"Jasper!" I exclaimed, slamming my juice box onto the counter. "Thank God, I need your help!"
For a second there was a pause on his end, and then he asked, begrudgingly, "How much do you need?"
"Oh Jasper," I laughed, "I don't need your money."
I could hear a sigh of relief on his end, "Thank God, because I don't have any. But seriously, what do you need?"
"Listen," I began, "things with Rose have kind of fallen through…" Jasper interrupted before I could continue. "Oh? What happened? You to fight or something?"
"No, we didn't fight… she's getting married and kicking me out. I have no place else to go…" I trailed off hoping he'd catch my drift.
"I see. Well awesome! When is the wedding? Who is she marrying? Can I come?"
Fucking idiot.
"Jasper," I started, bringing my hand to my face in a frustrated manner, "what I'm asking is for a place to stay. Can I come live with you?"
He paused for a moment, processing the question, "Well Alice, I don't know. I just got orders to deploy in the next two months…"
"Again?" I exclaimed, "You just got back didn't you? Aren't there other people in the Army besides you?"
"I do what I'm told to do, ok? It's my job. Listen though, you really need to move back here to Seattle?"
"Well… The only reason I came here was to help Rose out with rent and all. But now that she's getting married I don't really want to be here. Seattle is home, you know?"
"Yeah, I know how you feel," he sighed, "Well, look, um, I can put you up until I leave, but you need to find a job to help with rent!" He added, "No freeloading."
"Duh." I said, intelligently.
"When are you going to be here?" He asked.
"Next week. I'll be up by Saturday."
"Ok," he said. "I'll see you then. Let me know if you need anything"
"Got it. Thanks"
We both hung up at the same time.
