pinkxjellybean, your involvement cracks me up. :)

Chapter Ten

By two in the morning, the exhibits, Larry, and Tally had most of the mess cleaned up to the point where no one would ever notice what had happened, if anything, and they all just milled about after that.

Ahkmenrah found Tally leaning against a wall in an otherwise deserted corridor, staring at nothing. "Who would you choose?" She asked. "McPhee or Mrs. Tinsley?"

"McPhee, without doubt," Ahkmenrah replied. "Who would you choose?"

"McPhee, as well."

"Well, I see the dust is settling."

"That's good. I like settled dust."

"Good. That's good."

"Ahk, look, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time."

"Oh, good, because I've been meaning to do the same thing."

"You first," they said at the same time. "No, you first. I insist. Oh, just say it already!"

"Alright, you first, since you're the lady," Ahkmenrah said.

"I really like you," Tally replied, doing her best to look him in the eye.

"I really like you, too."

He took her hand, causing her to blush and him to smile. She sighed and looked up at where the wall met the ceiling. "We're really messed up."

"How do you figure that?"

"You and I both know you're long dead, for one. Second, what're you gonna do when I'm gone?"

"I'll get over it, slowly and surely but I'll get over it."

"Hm. Well, that's good to know."

"So, what's your plan for tomorrow, now that you can actually afford to have a plan?"

"Well, notify the board of my decision, finish cleaning out Cecil's apartment, mundane stuff."

"Decision, you said?"

"To let them take the money out of my paycheck to fix the window."

"Are you sure about this?"

"It's either that or get fired. I'm the first person they'll blame, so I'm covering my bases now."

"Oh, that's smart."

"Maybe you're rubbing off on me."

"Excuse me?"

"I heard you were a smart guy."

"Who told you that?"

"The grape vine."

"I'm sorry?"

"Word of mouth."

"Ah." Ahkmenrah leaned against the wall, staring up at one of the high points on the wall opposite. Tally had released his hand after a moment, but Ahkmenrah soon found she was fiddling with her flashlight, so he returned to his position.

"Hey, dawn in twenty minutes," Larry said, passing them by in the hall in which they leaned against and stared at walls.

"I must be off," Ahkmenrah said.

"See you tomorrow."

"Of course." He flashed Tally a smile as he turned to leave.