THREE
Arlo
I makemy way back to my apartment after a long day. I live across campus in the Black Pearl District. My place is close to the Mississippi River and the Audubon Park. I like how close my place is to campus and my job and that it’s far enough away from Bourbon street that it stays clear from most of the tourists.
I ride the elevator up to my floor. My building has 6 floors with two apartments on each floor and I’m on the top one. I just got done dropping off the newest software that I designed and now I’m ready for some dinner and bed.
I unlock the door, tossing my keys on the side table as I hang my bag on the hook by the door. I dig out my laptop, plugging it into the charger before I head into the kitchen. I’m too tired to make anything so leftovers it is. I open the fridge and pull out some grilled chicken and steamed broccoli that I made last night. I pop it in the microwave and wait and just like every other time that I’ve had a free second, my mind drifts back to Briar.
I wonder what she’s doing right now. Is she eating? Is she hungry? I should have asked her out to dinner, I think, kicking myself.
The microwave dings and I pull out my dinner, taking it over to the kitchen table. I devour my dinner in record time and realize that I’ll have to pack some snacks in my bag so I’m not starving if I have a late-night again. I wonder what kind of snacks Briar likes.
I sigh as I try to push her from my mind while I do the dishes and clean up a little. I plop down on my leather sofa and try to drown out thoughts of Briar with some tv. My place is pretty bare with just the essentials. A couch and recliner, flat-screen tv, and tv stand in the living room, a bed and dresser in the two bedrooms, a desk, chair, and a lamp in my home office.
I flip the tv off and debate doing some more work. I develop software and apps for a company downtown and provide IT and security for them too. I get to do most of my work from home and only go in once a week to go over what I’ve got done and what I’m working on.
It’s only 10:30 pm so I grab my keys, heading back out into the hallway and up the flight of stairs that leads to the roof. I push the door open and move the brick over to keep it cracked while I walk over to the two lawn chairs someone set up out here.
I sit down in one, tipping my head back and staring up at the stars. I stare up at the twinkling lights for a while, trying to unwind. Suddenly, I see a shooting star and before I can think about it, my eyes are closed and I’m making a wish.
Please let Briar love me too.