The next day was a slow day at work; I spent all day piecing together videos and stories for the company's website and Tally went on with her normal receptionist- type business. At the end of the day we walked out the door and headed for my truck, but instead found a rented black and blue Jeep Wrangler in front of the building with Gustav and Bill in the front seats. They were both wearing sunglasses and Bill had left his hair down.
"Hop in," Gustav called.
Bill got out of the car to help Tally climb over the bars into the backseat and sat with her; leaving the passenger seat next to Gustav open for me. I climbed into the car and buckled myself in as Gustav drove off around the corner.
"Where's the nearest coffee place?" Gustav shouted over the sound of the wind rushing past us.
"Right around the corner here," I yelled, pointing in said direction.
We pulled into a spot right in front of the coffee house and exited the vehicle. We walked in to the dimly lit building that smelled of vanilla and cinnamon. We placed our orders, which the guys insisted on paying for, and sat down at a small booth just big enough to seat four people.
"So how was work?" Bill asked; more to Tally than to me.
"It was fine," she replied plainly.
"What about you?" Gustav said to me "How was your day?"
"Dull; I had no one to interview, so got to spend the whole day writing articles for our website," I said unenthusiastically.
"So would this be considered the highlight of your day?" he asked.
"Pretty much."
When our order was called, Bill went to get the tray with Tally trailing right behind him. Gustav and I sat in the booth awkwardly for a few seconds before he spoke again.
"So who would you say has been your favorite person to interview since you started with your company?"
"Ummm, this might sound a bit fan- girlish, but probably you guys," I said as I felt my face turn red.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"And why would that be?"
"Because you guys actually act like you're excited to be there; not the usual bored, tired, 'yeah, let's just get this over with' people I usually get."
"Were we? 'Cause we actually were pretty tired yesterday. But I guess that's what Red Bull is for."
I laughed lightly at his comment. Bill and Tally returned with our drinks then and we all sat around talking about life and other random paraphernalia. Two more drinks per person later, we realized that we'd spent nearly three hours in the coffee shop and it had gotten dark outside. My phone told me it was a quarter 'til eight.
"Wow, time does fly. Can you drop us back off at our work building so we can drive home?" I asked Gustav.
"Sure," he said.
We left the building and climbed back into the Jeep in the same arrangement as before. The night air was hot and sticky, so the air surging past felt good in the top- less car. When we got back to the parking lot, Tally and I collected our things preparing to get into my truck.
"So when will we be seeing you girls again?" Bill asked as we got down from the Jeep.
"You probably won't," I said, "since you guys are leaving soon and I have a lot of stuff to do with work-"
What about you, Tally?" Bill asked my sister. "Can I take you somewhere tomorrow night?"
"Yes," she piped up before I could say anything.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea, Tally," I said sternly to her.
"Oh come on; what harm can one little date do? Bill protested as he winked at Tally. She blushed and giggled shyly.
'No! NO! I will not allow this!' I screamed in my head.
"Where?" I questioned him.
"I think Tally is capable of deciding for herself," he scolded me.
"You don't even know-"
"Yes," Tally said firmly, "yes want to go somewhere with you, Bill."
I looked at her astonished; since when did she become so defiant?
"Yes," she said again, "I'm going."
"Great, I'll pick you up after work," Bill said as he and Gustav drove off.
The drive back to our apartment was silent and tense. When we walked through the front door, Tally went straight to the bathroom and locked herself in. I sat on the old, beat up couch and stared at the wall. When she was done with her shower she put on her pajamas and sat on the lumpy armchair next to the T.V.
"Ev-"
"Why would you do that?"I blurted out. "Why would you just agree to something when you know I would say 'no'?"
"I like him," she mumbled.
"Tally, he will be gone in two days, do you understand? You are hurting yourself by getting close to him. It will be better for us all if you just forget about him now."
"I can think for myself," she yelled.
"No you can't! You make decisions spur of the moment; you don't think about the big picture."
"There's nothing to think about!"
"What if he finds out about our past?"
She stood and walked towards our room. I stood as well, though I'm not sure why.
"There's nothing to know!" she shouted.
"Vera!"
We both froze where we stood. Tally slowly turned to face me. The look on her face resembled a young child when he hears someone say a curse word. Neither of us had used our real names since we left home. Now that one of them had been spoken aloud, there was an ungainly sense in the air that brought back all the unsettling memories of our last day at home.
"Tally, please don't-"
"But I want to see him again."
After carefully formulating a plan I finally agreed to let her go out with Bill. I drove down to the nearest Best buy and got her one of those pay as you go phones. After programming my number into it, I gave her very clear orders to call me as soon as their date was over or if there was any kind of emergency. The next day after work I watched as my baby sister climbed into the front of that black and blue Jeep with Bill and drive around the corner.
