Chapter 2: An Extra Large Pizza with the Works
Cloe made her way to the lab to clean out her desk and wash out a few last test tubes, hoping against hope that she wouldn't bump into him. She didn't have time for wallowing now; that would come later. She worked as quickly as she possibly could, knowing that he would have some more paperwork that would take him at least an hour. That would be plenty of time for her to get the lab ready for move-out inspection.
On one of the chairs, she noticed that he had left his old MIT sweatshirt that he always put on when the lab got cold. Without missing a beat, she stuffed the shirt into her trash bag, put all of Jay's stuff minus the sweatshirt into a neat pile, did a couple of last minute wipe-downs to get it looking just like it did their first day there, and then fled the lab about as quickly as she entered it.
Back at her apartment, she could finally let it all hang out. After changing from the stuffy skirt and blouse into some jeans and a t-shirt, she opened the trash bag and fished out the sweatshirt. She buried her face in it before putting it on. Then she dialed her favorite pizza joint.
"Hey, Mickey."
"Chloe! You called early today. It's only one."
"I want an extra large with the works and the crust just the way I like it."
"The works? Doctor Felger must have really been hard today."
"Nope. He resigned and terminated my position. Could you also have Tony pick up a half gallon of chocolate ice cream and some tissues on the way over? I'll be sure to tip generously."
"You always do. Did you know that Tony usually makes more off you in a week than all our other customers combined? I'll be sure that you get the best wallowing food you can. You are our number one customer. We'll miss you, especially on Friday."
About forty-five minutes later, Tony arrives with the pizza Chloe ordered, a half gallon of "Death by Chocolate" ice cream, two boxes of tissues, tortilla chips and cheese dip, and a two liter bottle of Dr. Pepper, Chloe's favorite soft drink.
"That'll be $42.81. Anything else, Chloe?"
"Nope, I'm good. Don't spend this all in one place." She chides as she hands him hundred dollar bill.
"Boy, am I going to miss you."
"Me or my tips?" Chloe asks jokingly as she cracks the first smile of the day.
"Both." Tony lets out as he blushes.
"Well, I was a waitress all through my undergrad years, so I know how hard it is."
"Thank you."
"Bye."
Once she has closed the door, Chloe popped a CD into her little boom box and devoured her treats while listening to some of the saddest love songs ever written.