WTF is up With Smiley

Study

"Last time you ate?" A nurse asks.

"Two a.m." I answer blandly. He nods and marks his clipboard.

"Drink anything other than clear liquids?"

"Does black coffee count?"

"Coffee without creamer is considered clear." He marks on his clipboard then grabs a bottle and a gown from a locked cabinet. "This, is contrast. I'll come get you when the MRI room is ready."

I nod and watched him leave.

The contrast is nasty, so I try to chug it. It's metallic. It's salty. The fruit flavoring does it no favors.

"Trisha you better get me one hell of a pizza." I mutter to no one in particular as I change. At least the gowns big enough.

After what feels like an eternity he comes back.

After confirming my name and birthday he leads me to an MRI machine.

"Alright, ma'am when you're ready you can lay down on the scan table and we'll begin."

One pair of headphones later and I'm laying as still as I can, watching the inside of a tube rotate.

I try to remember what I learned in the lecture earlier. Mostly that I hate being awake before eleven and that professor is way to excited about rocks.

At least I wasn't the only student there.

"Smiley!"

I jolt awake. Trisha is standing next to the scanning table. Holding a file.

"Did you sleep last night?" 

"Did you?" I ask.

"Fair."

I climb off the table. She walks me back to the examination room. We're both viably tired.

"We good for pizza later?" I ask.

"Long as you got the drinks." She said with a laugh.

"When you coming by?"

"When does Pete go to work?"

"Six."

" I'll be there by seven."

"Cool."

I get dressed and start the long trek home. It starts to snow as I walk and wish I had boots. Luckily the way back to my shared apartment is mostly paved. The salt in my shoe is still annoying.

I stop by a gas station to shake out the offending substance and see about grabbing a two litter of grape soda. Once inside I tuck myself out of the way between the broken atm and a sunglasses display. I fish my phone out to check my bank acount.

$20.50.

Good thing I already paid rent.

I slip over to the soda cooler and grab a twenty ounce of a grape soda for Trisha. My usual energy drink doubled in price so I go to the coffee dispenser.

"Sorry, Hon," an attendant tells me, " I just started cleaning it."

I nod and walk back to the drink coolers. I look for a soda with the most sugar per cent and settle on an off brand cola.

The same Attendant from before rings me up.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" She asked.

I look at the clock. It's about three.

"We got out early for the snow."

She shrugs and hands me my drinks in a plastic bag.

As I walk out I'm glad I didn't spring for a six-pack of beer. Last thing I needed was to be accused of stealing an ID. Again.

I tuck the bag in my coat pocket as I walk. Less rustling so I can listen for foot steps. It's blessedly quiet.

I finally make it to my building.

"Hey, Smiley!" Sue greets. They're sitting outside smokeing a cigarett.

"Hey," I call back as I walk to the door. "Inside too warm?"

"I burned a batch of brownies." They sighed, "But I made a tripple batch."

"Which kind?" I ask, hesitant to open the door.

"Regular. No hot boxing tonight." They took a long drag. "Might share the non burnt ones though."

Confident my job wasn't in jepordy I walked inside. The smell of burned chocolate radiated from the kitchen. I parked my sodas in the fridge.

Two pans of brownies and a pan of charcoal were on the counter. And for the first time in a week I could see the sink.

"Trisha's still coming over, right?" Sue asked from the living room.

"Yeah, said she'd be here by seven." I walk over and see Sue has dug out their candles. Fake vanilla smell fills the air.

"Ya know, if you like her-"

"Can't a person just wanna clean up?" Sue said defensively.

I shrug and walk into my room.

I pick up my pen and journal then sit on the bed.

January 31, cont.

Dear Diary,

Still tired. Might need to pick a new energy drink.

Did the brain scan thing for Trisha. I hope she gets an A. Okay I want pizza, but her success is good to.

Pete was drunk again last night. Said I need to figure out what I want. Like he has his life together.

Smiley