LOVE AT THE FORUM

Chapter 14: Late Night Talking

The one good thing about being on probation is leaving early. I finish my work for the night and gather my things, turning off the light and locking the door behind me. I can hear the concert still going on, the sound of Harry's voice echoing through the halls.

I bite my lip and quickly make my way down the hall. When I'm about to reach the exit, Anita walks out of the restroom.

"Maggie," she says softly, looking at me with sad eyes.

"Wait, I thought you were out sick?"

"Well I got sick while here, I was too scared to drive home and throw up on myself, I've been knocked out on my office floor."

I nod and we stare at each other for what feels like years.

"I'm sorry," we both say at the same time, and laugh a little.

I quickly pull her in for a hug and she squeezes me tightly, "You okay Mags?"

"No. Not at all," I cry softly and she rubs my back as we stay hugging.

I pull away, wiping my tears and shake my head, "I just, I miss this. And you, and Rog and Ha..I just miss it."

She bites her lip, "He misses you too. Everyone has a bet how long you're going to keep him outside your door. You've made a lot of people rich so far."

I roll my eyes laughing softly, "Well I'm glad at least someone is having fun."

"He told me you weren't buying him his dried fruit."

Anita shakes her head, "Nope, and then the little punk in pink added it to his rider. I finally stopped being mean to him this past Tuesday."

"Aye Anita." I laugh softly.

"She hasn't been here you know? At any of the shows since. I heard Mike telling Roger that she tried to come in one night and they didn't let her."

I nodded, chewing the inside of my cheek.

"Sorry, I won't bring her up again."

"No, Anita, it's fine, I just don't know what to say. It's not like it can be anything. I don't want to get fired."

She nods, and whispers, "Have you talked to Charles?"

"Nope. Not happening. I had Becca uninvite him from my mom's birthday barbecue tomorrow. My mom and I argued about it, but I don't care," I looked at her and smiled, "You're still invited by the way."

She smiled big, "Becca had told me to come, that you would get your head out of your butt, but I didn't want to push."

"Well you aren't, so I'll see you tomorrow okay? I gotta go buy the asparagus I need to cook in the morning for tomorrow."

"Okay Mags," she said, hugging me again, "I love ya!"

I let go smiling at her, "I love ya too."

—

I got to the store an hour before closing, which was nice, because usually I would have to run in with fifteen minutes left to get whatever it was I needed.

I grabbed the asparagus and seasonings and then just wandered around the store. I got some chips, a thing of Oreos and my favorite frozen CPK BBQ Chicken Pizza to eat for dinner tonight.

I finally made my way to pay, and headed home.

Once I got to my apartment I started to preheat the oven, and put the rest of the groceries away. I popped the pizza in, setting a timer for my oven to shut off when it was done, and tied up my hair to take a quick body shower.