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 Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:14 pm
Nobody had special ringers on Toby's phone. Nobody had a photo. He did have caller ID, though, and when he instinctively whipped his phone out of his pocket the moment it started ringing he saw a name he wasn't expecting. Maia. He hesitated. If he answered, he was bound to feel that tug in his heart. He ******** hated that thing. If he didn't, Maia might think he resented her. The latter mattered more, and on the third-and-a-half ring he picked up.
"Hey!" His voice was cheery despite his deadpan expression.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:19 pm
"Hey Toby!" Maia responded, smiling. "I'd been meaning to call you." She'd missed him. She hadn't really talked to him much since coming to Oregon. "How are you?" Dari said things were fine, and though the alien had never lied to her, she couldn't help being concerned.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:21 pm
"Oh, the same old stuff. Nothing exciting. What's it like to be home finally?" He toed the pavement.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:31 pm
This wasn't her home, not anymore. But she couldn't say that. "Good," she settled on saying. "I miss HQ and classes an awful lot, though." And him! "Dari was right about the seagulls. They won't leave now. I made you a good luck charm to keep you safe when you go out on missions."
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:34 pm
"Aw, well, you'll fall back into the swing of things," he assured her, "Seagulls are horrible people. Dari said you might be coming back for the holidays, eh?" He hadn't had an excuse to have Thanksgiving in years, but he didn't figure she meant that holiday.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:45 pm
"For Chriatmas, maybe thanksgiving." Maia smiled. "I want to make you a special Christmas present," she confided, "And Dari too," She added. "But I don't know what you'd like. And your birthdays coming up too. But I can't mail you a cake, I already asked the lady at the post office if I could and she said it wasn't a good idea. It'd smush. But I want to bake you something! Want cookies?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:48 pm
Toby couldn't help but smile. He even gave a short laugh. His free hand found his pocket as he leaned against the nearest wall. "That's very true. Besides, they'd probably take it and eat it themselves. I miss cooking with you."
Oh, ********, that last part had just fallen out. Oops.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:06 pm
"I miss cooking with you too!" There was no hesitation. "We could cook thanksgiving dinner together," she offered. "Or Christmas. We could invite Lori too. Do you think he goes anywhere for thanksgiving?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:12 pm
"Sometimes we get together with some of the new entities for homemade food. Ireland doesn't have Thanksgiving the same way, and his family doesn't do Christmas." A lot of the entities relied on each other for local holidays.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:22 pm
"Let's do that," Maia smiled. "I'll come for Thanksgiving and Christmas, if my budget allows. Plane tickets are pricey! It'd be nice to see everyone again. I really miss you. You guys." Bad cover up and she knew it. "Maybe I can come for my birthday and stay until new years?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:24 pm
Toby didn't catch the bad cover-up. He had figured the "you" meant he and Dari, and then she'd just repeated herself. That was weird.
"Yeah, sure, if you want! It's rough living so far away from friends." He'd stayed for just that reason. ...well. That and many others.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:28 pm
"Yeah. I'm used to being in the same house as you and Dari." It'd been like going off something cold turkey, except for the Skype calls she got from Dari. "Are you taking care of Seamus for me?" she asked. "And my goldfish?"
She wanted to hug him. To be there with him, to see his smile.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:32 pm
"It can be hard to go from roommates to none too. Sorry about that." Why was he sorry? He wasn't sure. Because he'd taken her in and ruined her in the first place? But she had been crying!
"Seamus still only likes me sometimes. The goldfish live like princes. Or princesses. I'm not sure what they are."
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:44 pm
"Don't be sorry," Maia said. "It was my decision. And it's beautiful here. But I fell in love with Arizona." With him. "I want to come back soon, for a visit." For good. "Maybe we could watch the stars together. They're brighter at HQ than on my beach." And she hadn't bothered to look. They reminded her of him.
"Maybe I'll Skype Seamus and ask him to be nice to you for me."
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:50 pm
Toby nodded. "It's hard to not." He'd certainly fallen for her. "Definitely. I look forward to seeing you." Please stay. "Sure. I haven't gone stargazing since you left." He couldn't. It made him mournful.
"Could you? I think that might work. He might also come begging me for food, though."
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