Like Starlight - The Spine

Chapter Six ~~ Tally-ho Spiney-o!

She arrives home practically gritting her teeth together, turning the key out of the ignition and sighing. Letting all of the pent up anxious energy from work reside here and here alone. The one thing she'd been looking forward to all day was seeing The Spine again, wondering what he'd gotten up too.

She rests her head on the steering wheel, breathing in and out, glancing over to the passenger seat. Her tote bag had a book sticking out of it, and multiple different blueprints. The book is really what caught her attention, she'd asked for suggestions, and one of her coworkers who had been on the clock had simply handed her the book.

She was so drained after work, her father had sent his secretary to ask her to join his company again. More pay than she could ever imagine, a permanent position in the Walter Robotics family, creative license over everything she could dream up.

But she still had to tell the poor boy, as politely as she could, a very simple and exact 'no'. He didn't even look surprised. Even somehow relieved to get the answer finally. He'd left without another word.

The rest of her day had this looming cloud of dread over it. Making it hard to move, but she'd thrown herself into your work, finding the anxious energy was the perfect creative fuel for her project.

It had taken years to properly execute, but after those many hours of trial and error, day after day, she'd finally made the design perfect. The small problems had all been buffed out, the systems had been wired, it was go time.

She couldn't wait to tell The Spine.

She picks up her bag sluggishly. Opening the car door with lead seemingly inflicting her bones, she tries to straighten herself up as the front door of her home opens. She stops slouching, but can't seem to muster up a bright enough smile.

"Hey!" She says with a wave, conjuring the book from her bag, her smile growing just a little brighter as he looks at it with a confused quirk in his eyebrows. She puts it in his hand, grinning. "Got a book for you from my coworker, they said I could have this one."

She moves past him a bit and walks into the house. She sees a familiar metal box lying on the table, and a guitar propped against the couch. She nods to herself a little, and walks into the kitchen, letting her bag and keys rattle against the granite countertop of the island separating her cooking space from her dining area.

"So, do anything fun today?"

She questions, scooping quite a few ingredients from the fridge before closing it with her foot. Looking over her shoulder to see him still staring at the book, with the door closed. He seems surprised that she'd given him the book.

"Not particularly. I read the books you set out for me."

"Ah, yeah." She says, filling a pot with some water at the sink while turning on the stove with one hand. "My non-fiction collection isn't too different from my romance collection, it's just... real stories."

She sighs a little heavily. Brushing some hair from her face, she was so exhausted. Maybe she could just eat an apple for dinner tonight, and sleep away the terrible feeling overcoming her.

"Sophie?" The Spine asks, and suddenly her eyes snap open. She hurriedly shuts the water off. Sighing, rubbing the sleep and dread from her eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." She mumbles, dumping some broth into the stock pot. Moving to grab a cutting board from a drawer between the sink and the stove.

"I know you'll be fine. But are you alright right now?"

She takes a deep breath, pressing a palm to her forehead. Leaning her arm against the counter.

"Just a rough day at work. Some... not so savory people showed up. Despite my constant requests that they simply send me an email."