A/N: This is unedited and was written in the middle of the night. Mistakes happened. We both know it!
Many thanks to Hanna for helping me write this chapter. It's always easier to do this sort of thing with two people than with one, even if you don't always realize it. Also, thanks to you readers for not lynching me for this taking so long to get out to you. I've been really bad.
You can expect another update to be in your hands--or available for your viewing pleasure on Wednesday. You have my word. -LLK
January 4, 1998. 1:27 PM; EST.
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Greg woke up with a bit of a start as his face collided with the floor. Disoriented it took him a few minutes to realize he'd fallen off of the couch in his own living room. He made his way back to standing and wandered into his bedroom realizing that Adam had made camp in there the previous night. No wonder Greg had decided to sleep on the couch. It was amazing the kinds of places he'd been known to wake up the day after an evening out with Adam. Adam's 21st birthday certainly wasn't the exception to the rule.
Deciding to take pity on his roommate he moved back out of his room without saying a word. Simply grabbing a fresh t-shirt from the floor and pulling it over his head as he walked down the hallway. For the time being he'd let his roommate sleep where he was. He was bound to wake up eventually anyway and until then it was technically still his birthday.
Greg looked at the clock in the kitchen as he made his way to the coffee pot stealing some of the Blue Hawaiian coffee that the neighbor had given Adam as a birthday gift. The two of them were given the stuff for almost every special occasion either of them had since they'd moved in. They became fast friends with the guy up the hall who owned a coffee shop and he frequently hooked them up with their favorite brew. The trouble was keeping any of it in the house for very long before both of them had demolished it.
Once he was satisfied that the coffee was brewing he moved to the table and picked up the purse he'd left there the night before. It took only a moment before he remembered grabbing it a few minutes before he and Adam had left the bar–and that some girl had accidentally left it behind. He dug through the purse for a few minutes before finding an address book and a driver's license.
He found a phone number which belonged to a person with the same last name as the one on the driver's license and dialed. A few rings and there was an answer, "Hello."
"Uh–hi," Greg stammered a bit. "My name is Greg. I found a purse at a bar last night. I was hoping to return it to its rightful owner. Do you know a Tessa Harlow?"
"That'd be my little sister," the voice on the other line answered. "Thanks for calling. I know she'll be thrilled that someone found it."
"Right," Greg agreed. "Uh–could you please put her on the phone. I'd like to arrange some way of getting it back to her."
"She's not here," the voice told him solemnly. "I could give you the number to her dorm though, if you want to try her there."
"Sure thanks," he said grabbing a pencil so he could take down the number. "Uh–I didn't catch your name."
"Kirsten," she told him. "You ready?"
"Yep," he took the number down quickly thanking the girl on the other end of the line one last time before hanging up. The phone rang a few times before there was an answer.
"Hello," she the voice on the other end of the line sounded exactly the same as the one he'd just hung up with. Even their method of answering was the same. Though, this voice was much more pleasant in tone–other than that they were the same. It was eerie.
"Uh hi," Greg said gently. "I'm calling for Tessa?"
"It's your lucky day but it's just Tess," the voice replied. The more Greg heard it the more he decided it was more pleasant than the previous voice. "Who's this?"
"Oh sorry," he said feeling a bit foolish for not introducing himself. "I'm Greg. I think I found your purse last night."
"You did?!" She replied, sounding relieved. "I've been so worried. You have it? Is there anything missing?"
"Well uh... I don't know honestly," he said as he checked through it carefully. "Address book, wallet, two sets of keys, a CD--uh looks like Spice Girls. And some papers and stuff's all here."
"That sounds like everything. I'm so relieved. What did you say your name was again?"
"Greg," he commented slowly wondering how she'd forgotten in only a moment. "And I guess it's a shame some of it wasn't stolen. I could trash the Spice World CD for you if you want. Nobody ever has to know it saw the inside of your purse but you and me."
Greg felt a bit more relaxed and thankful when he heard the sound of laughter coming from the other end of the line. "Hey now. Don't be dissing the Spice Girls. I saw them in concert. They were really good."
"Oh right," he teased back. "I guess I forgot that your wallet says you're only seventeen. Too young for real taste. What were you doing in a bar at that age anyway?"
"It was my sister's birthday," She said and then feigned insult before going back to the topic at hand. "Oh yea? And what do you listen to, oh wise one?"
"We'll be here all night if I try to give you a lesson in music," he wared her playfully. "Let's just say the greats. Kiss, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones. None of this pop-y twelve year old girl music."
"Oh, well thank you for enlightening me," her reply dripped in sarcasm. "I actually listen to them too, but I happen to like a little bubble gum pop on the side."
"Nice," he agreed. "Uh... well I could maybe put a mix tape in your purse when I bring it to you if you want. But it says here you live out of state. Are you going to be back in New York before long?"
"Alright, you're on." She said excitedly but her voice turned disappointed very quickly. "Unfortunately no, I'm back at school. I...I had to leave last night, so I think you'll have to mail it to me. I'll send you a check for the cost if that's alright."
"Oh I'm sorry," Greg said as he fumbled through his pockets looking for some cash. "Unfortunately it looks like my roommate spent all of my money last night–it was his birthday too. I've got a couple of stamps though. You want me to just put your license and important papers in an envelope and mail them? I could send the rest after pay day."
"That would be great if you wouldn't mind," she told him. "And you can check the wallet for cash. I don't think there is any in there though."
"It doesn't look like it," Greg said, checking. "I'll just put everything aside and send them out to you by about Tuesday. That okay?"
"Sounds really great," she agreed. "Thanks so much. I owe you one."
Their conversation trailed on for a few more minutes and then a few more. Finally they both agreed that it wouldn't be such a horrible thing if they kept in contact over the next few day–just to make sure she got her purse back safely. Besides, they also both agreed that neither was so bad and that it might be fun.