Page 81 of Audiophile

“Hey, Ray?” I call over to him. “Could you help Carla to her car and also check out the car alarm that’s going off in the parking lot? I’ll broadcast it.”

“Sure thing. Carla, how’re your boys?” Ray takes her arm and walks her to the doors.

“Sorry,” the girl says, grabbing a soda and a candy bar. “I’m not observant. I can barely remember my own.” She shrugs before turning and taking a selfie right in the checkout aisle. Her wide smile is contagious, and I scan her items with a laugh.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “I’m not either. Most days, my yellow scrape is the only beacon I need. Do you want a bag?”

“That’s okay. I’m only getting something because I have to use your bathroom—the gas station was just—no.” She grimaces. “I’m trying to hit some waterfalls in the area on my drive south.”

“Monty’s not known for his cleanliness,” I admit. “Have you gone up to the waterfall loop? I was there the other day. They’re running fast from the recent rain. Only if you have someone with you, though. It’s not a great idea to hike alone.”

She blinks her huge, blue eyes at me. “Who do you usually go with?”

I press against my sternum and the rough pang that vibrates there. “Oh. I had a friend but…it’s just me for now. My brother might be up for it.” I take a moment to consider the truth of it. Tommy’s pretty athletic, and we’re growing closer every day.

“Wish I had a brother to hang out with. I’m just passing through, but who knows? Maybe I’ll be back sooner than later.” She smiles as she passes me a bill, and squints to read my nametag. “Thanks for the tip, though, Petra. I’m sure you get this all the time, but you have beautiful eyes.”

“Oh, thank you. Nothing like yours, though. You’re gorgeous.” I’m sad that she’s not sticking around. Reed only knew me from what I decided to share. I’d love to have other friends like that. People I connect with, not because of proximity, but because of a shared camaraderie. I hand her the change and her receipt with a smile. “I hope you have a great trip wherever you’re headed. Have a nice day.”

“Thanks. You too.” She smiles at me and heads for the bathroom.

The afternoon drags. Each tick of the clock is one minute closer to holding the kingdom of Galin in my hand. I can’t wait to run to the print shop to pick it up. But the store grows busier, and Ray finds me a half hour before my shift is over. “Nancy called in sick. Could you stay an extra couple of hours? Maybe you want to make some up from calling out last week?”

Guilt sits in my stomach. I wasn’t sick, and Nancy covered my entire shift for me while I was at the beach. “Yeah, no problem. I can stay until a replacement comes in.” Ray squeezes my arm in relief.

But by the time I finish my shift, the print shop is closed. I swallow my disappointment as I walk to the car. I squint at it from several spaces away, where something glints in red on my window.I grit my teeth at the bright lipstick streaks that spell outwhore.The judgment in this town is unreal.

I turn, though I know the culprit is long gone, and slump against the side. “Maybe I just wanted some dick!” I huff. “How terrible would that be?”

Better than half-falling in love with some guy in a week.

At least Reed would be proud that I said something about wanting dick in a public parking lot. I laugh, and there’s a warmth in my chest that has me aching to text him. He takes away the power of the lipstick on the window, and I grin as the sanitizing wipes in my glove compartment smear it beyond recognition.

I manage to hold on to my blasé attitude through the night and into Sunday morning. There’s no follow up text from Reed, and hurt mixes with relief. I knew it wouldn’t take much to get him to lose interest, and dangling unrealistic possibilities in front of me would only prevent me from moving on.

I don’t go to Rosary, but I do spend the day away from my laptop. I leave my headphones at home and follow a small hiking path to a nearby waterfall, embracing the fresh air. Reed’s voice echoes in my head, pointing out forest features that send my imagination soaring.

I want to tell him about the Marionberry fairies, or the Walloping Woodpeckers who are the service detail to their Queen. I lean against a tree, typing out the whole story to him of the queen’s thwarted assassination attempt by the cruel leader of the scrub jays.

I swallow the thump in my throat and delete the block of text, stuffing the phone in my pocket.

After I regroup with a toffee iced coffee, I head to the print shop, where Georgie Faulk is working behind the counter. “Petra!” he greets me with a smile.

“Georgie.” I smile right back. At seventeen, Georgie still has a round face that hasn’t matured as fast as the rest of him. He’s tall and stocky, with a mischievous but sweet smile that makes his face cherubic. “I heard Darin had to pick you up.”

His cheeks darken and he throws me a sheepish grin. “Yeah. Apparently senior pranks have a legal limit.”

“What did you do? Don’t tell me the rest of them hung you out to dry?”

“We might’ve let a bunch of goats and pigs loose on campus over in Herinsford. They ate…everything. Bushes, grass down to the root, banners, posters.” He bites back a smile, not sorry about messing with our rival school. “Their football field was covered in shit.”

“Georgie!” I reprimand, but we both laugh. “Well? What’s your punishment?”

“Community service. We borrowed Big Billy’s animals, so we all have to help out on the farm.” I imagine Big Billy’s mustache twitched in approval when he found out how his ‘borrowed’ animals had been used. “I, uh, hope you don’t mind, Petra. I kind of saw what you were working on. I won’t say anything, but it’s pretty cool. Something my little sis would like.”

“Thanks.” Warmth builds inside me. Maybe she would like it. Maybe Natalia could make a difference—could be loved by someone more than just me. I smile at him as he hands me a paperbag with my spiral-bound copy heavy inside. “See you around, Georgie.”

I wait until I’m in the car before I unwrap it.

---