In one sentence is the spark of a story. Ignite.
Mission: Write a story, a description, a poem, a metaphor, a commentary, or a memory about this sentence. Write something about this sentence.
Be sure to tag #writeworld in your block!
http://writeworld.org/post/130278832834/its-three-oclock-in-the-morning-Sam
“It’s three o'clock in the morning,
Sam.” Val leaned against the back of the door as she argued with him, her ex.
“I know. I’m sorry... I just ...” A
pause. “Please, Val? Please open the door.”
“Why?”
“I can’t talk to you out here.”
“No. You can go home.”
“I can’t.” He sounded panicked.
What on earth? She yanked the door open
and he nearly fell inside. “Why not?” she demanded.
“I just can’t.”
“Sam,” she warned. “Spill.”
“I thought it was too late for talk.”
“Talk or I’ll make you leave.”
“It’s that guy.”
“What guy?” Although she thought she
knew which guy he meant.
“He’s at my house.”
“Which guy?”
“That young one... what’s his name -
he’s been following you around. I don’t know why he’s started on me.”
“Emyr.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah... him.”
“Why is he following you?”
“I just said, I don’t know. You’d have
to ask him”
“I will.” She pointed at the couch.
“You sleep there.”
He got that look on his face. “Really? After
everything we’ve done together.”
“We are not together now. You’re an ex,
Sam. We parted on terms good enough to let you in the door at three am, but you
will never get back in my bed.”
“Jeez... okay.”
“Good night, Sam.”
***
Val tossed and turned, trying to go
back to sleep and failing. Why was Emyr at Sam’s place? Wait... how did Sam
know who Emyr was? Or that he had been following her.
She didn’t think he was dangerous. That
wasn’t the vibe she got from him.
She asked Sam in the morning. He showed
her a photo one of his housemates had taken. It was definitely Emyr; standing
with his back against a tree, ankles crossed. He had to know the picture was
being taken. “Who took it?”
“Ben. He said he’s been around for a
few days but he only got the shot last night and then he sent it to me.”
“Emyr is not dangerous. I don’t know
what you’re scared of.”
“He’s been watching my house.” Sam had
been left a house by a relative. He rented rooms out to people who cooked, and
cleaned as well as contributed to the bills. She had been a tenant and then
she’d been more than that.
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Doesn’t he scare you?” Sam asked.
“No. He’s annoying though.” She would
have described Emyr as a puppy. An eager one who wanted her affection.
****
The next day she was more aware of
people around her but she didn’t spot Emyr until the day after. He was outside
her office when she left for lunch. His face lit up when she stomped across the
mall to confront him. “Val!”
“Leave Sam alone.”
He pouted.
“Why are you even at his place? Answer
me.”
“Can we talk somewhere?”
“No. “
“Please, Val. I’ll buy you lunch.”
“I don’t want-” but her stomach growled
and betrayed her.
He obviously heard it. “There’s a bar a
block over, but they do great lunches.”
She checked her watch. “I have to be
back in an hour.”
He beamed at her.
***
The bar looked a bit shabby, more of a
rough place than she usually frequented. A booth at the back would have suited
her better but Emyr pulled out a chair for her at a table in the dead centre of
the room. “Drink?” he asked.
“Just a soda.”
She watched as he went to the bar to
order drinks. He had a glorious ass. Wide shoulders, slim hips, and not an
ounce of fat on him. Pity he was so young. Too young to be in the bar, she
belatedly realised. “Now, tell me what you’re up to.”
“We’ll order first.”
He ordered a mixed tapas platter, she a
burger.
“Emyr?”
“Sam is not good for you.”
She frowned. “I know that; that’s why I
dumped him and moved out.”
The meals appeared lightning fast.
“Good lord, did we get someone else's’ food?”
He chuckled. “No. Probably not.”
Probably? Okay.
“Here,” he said. “Try this.” He held it
out in front of her and she took it from his hand.
“That’s good.”
“So you aren’t getting back with Sam?”
“Ugh, no. That ship has well and truly
sailed.” Busy holding her burger with both hands so that she could eat it, she
was only half listening to him. “Wait up,” she said with a mouthful that she
swallowed before adding, “What makes you say that?”
“He still likes you. Try this.” He fed
her this piece from his fork as she was still holding her burger. He looked
incredibly pleased to be sharing his meal with her.
“How did you get that from following
him?”
He snorted. “It’s obvious. And you were
visiting the house.” Now he fed her a piece of potato wedge.
“I was visiting Ben. He’s been having a
rough time.”
“Oh.” He moved some food around on his
plate and then glanced up at her through his brows. “Not Sam?”
“No. Ben was my friend when I lived
there.”
“So how did you know it was me?”
“Sam showed up at my place at three am.
Woke me up and said he was too scared to go home.” She snorted.
Emyr looked horrified but he was
holding his fork in mid-air so she stole the chorizo from it. He blinked. “That
sounds like a line.”
“That’s what I thought. You’re not
scary.”
“No.” He appealed to her mutely.
“He slept on the couch,” she added.
“I’m not that stupid.”
“Good.”
She studied him. “So why were you
watching his place in the middle of the night.”
An eloquent shrug.
“Emyr, please tell me why.”
He met her eyes as he fed her some more
potato.
It suddenly occurred to Val that the
bar had gone very quiet. Everyone seemed to be watching them.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Emyr declared
and gave her his last piece of roasted red pepper.
“It doesn’t?”
“No.” More meat this time. He beamed at
her.
She chewed contemplatively. “So you’ll
stop harassing Sam?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then. That’s all I wanted.” Val
looked at her plate and grabbed a handful of French fries. “Here,” she said as
she dumped them on his plate. “Payback.”
“I fed you,” he said quietly.
“True.” She shoved a fry in his mouth.
“There! Now we’re even.”
“Yes, we are.” He looked very serious.
She was sure she heard the barmaid gasp
and mutter something but didn’t hear it clearly.
“At any rate, I have to go back to
work.”
