Hacking profusely in a serious attempt to catch my breath, I entered the hell that was work.
"Good morning, Madelyn," Dayna, the secretary at the front desk greeted me. I glanced at her. She looked like something out of a movie. Jet black hair (most likely not real) with purple streaks, always done up in some extravagantly horrific up-do on the top of her oblong shaped head. Thick, black, rectangular-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her thin nose, which was set dangerously close to her thin-lipped mouth. Her ensemble was always something worth oogling. Today she'd chosed a thrifty put together. A violent purple, silky tank top with a hippy green skirt which appeared to have a forest set across the bottom. Her shoes were bright red, sandals I suppose you could call them, and as she waved at me, the thousand-and-one bracelets on each wrist jangling madly.
"Morning, Dayna."
I walked upstairs to Julie's office. Her desk was lined with pictures of her seven kids-yes, seven, I've counted many times. Four boys: Matthew, Scott, Robert and Thomas; and three girls: Kara, Leslie and Anna. Scott and Robert, the twins, were the oldest, in their senior year of high school. Anna, one year their minor, was a junior. Thomas and Leslie both attended middle school, and Scott and Kara were still toddling through grammar school. There were no notes on her desk except one, attached to a five dollar bill:
Lyn,
Ah, five dollars. How charitable. It was, really, to a college student as myself, but something about taking a personal five dollars from my boss made me feel sympathized.
My day went even more unpleasantly than I'd anticipated. By the time I was in the back seat of the black SUV on my way to the movie set, I'd downed two more bottled Frappuccinos. The vehicle came to a halt and I nearly growled, not wanting anything to do with Julie and her teeny-bopper escapades. I climbed out of the backseat and looked around.
Okay Madelyn, you don't have much time. Just get it and get it over with, I thought. I weaved my way through thr crowds, the pass around my neck fluttering lazily as I picked up speed. Mandy Moore was too busy for an interview, but was so sugary sweet about it I had a toothache. Franka Potente gave me a brief interview, grinning and laughing the whole time. I was eager to get away from her.
I kept walking, feeling accomplished for getting at least one interview, when I saw a man standing, semi-hidden behind a trailer a distance from me. He had a cell phone in one hand, holding it up to his ear, and a cigarette in the other that occasionally retreated from his side to meet his lips. His back was facing me, so I quietly walked over to get a better look. It was. This was the one I was sure Julie would have pushed me for. Elijah Wood. I crept up behind him, and when he pocketed his phone I cleared my throat politely.
"Excuse me-Mr. Wood?"
He whirled around and our eyes locked, only for a moment or two, and his eyebrow rose in question, "Yes?"
I sighed, hating my job even more, "I'm so sorry, but I have to ask...can I please have an interview?"
He shot me a toothy grin and took a last drag of the cigarette before disposing of it, "You know, they all say they're sorry."
Shit, I thought, I hope this isn't too unpleasant.
"But," he continued, "You really are sorry, aren't you? You have no desire to be here at all."
"No," I agreed, "I don't."
"You look young to be a reporter. You look younger than me."
"I'm twenty. I'm only an intern. My boss called in sick at the last minute and needed me to fill in for her. But if I'm not mistaken, I'm supposed to be interviewing you?"
A surprised smile graced his lips and he chuckled, "Well all right then. Wait...is this one of those 'what's your favorite color' interviews?"
I smirked, "'Fraid so."
"I hate those."
"Me too."
He laughed. I smiled. Not a toothy grin. Not a wholesome smile. Not a smile that suggested I wanted to be his friend, just a smile.
As I got back into the SUV, I rummaged in my purse for aspirin, anything. I was done for the day, and I intended to go home and all but die for a few hours until I'd reawaken to study for my exam that took place the next morning.
"Did everything go well today?" the driver asked, glancing in his rearview mirror at me. I made momentary eye contact.
"Well enough."
"Good."
I stared out the window in attempt to clear my mind. Throughout the day, I had indeed been insulted by Britney Spears' publicist, denied of a decent lunch break, snubbed by Mandy Moore, and met Elijah Wood. Perhaps that was the highlight of my day. I'd never considered him any spectacular wonder of an actor, but he wasn't exactly Macaulay Culkin, either. He was nice enough, I supposed, but I still failed to see the attraction that so many people held for him.
As soon as I got home, as I promised myself, I kicked off my shoes and dove head first onto my bed.
"Lyn? Is that you?"
I groaned, "Uhmhum."
My room mate, Tyler, walked into the room. I rolled onto my back to look at him. I loved him, I really did. I loved him for being my one and only friend, and I loved him for always cheering me up. I heard a voice call him from the other room. Yeah. I loved him even when he invited his boyfriend over.
"Hard day?" he pouted at me.
"Yeah."
"Do anything interesting?"
"Not that I consider, you might. Talked to Britney Spears' publicist," I covered my mouth, attempting to hold back a yawn, "Interview Franka Potente and Elijah Wood."
"Elijah Wood?" his eyes sparked with interest at the name. I'd already rolled onto my side, failing to see the grin on his face, "Did you really?"
"Yeah," I mumbled.
"Was he nice?"
"Sure."
"Hot?"
"No."
"You don't think he is?"
"Not at all."
"Tyler!"
"Go ahead, Ty. I'm gonna take a nap so just don't be too loud."
He smiled and nodded, retreating to the living room, closing my door behind him.
When I woke up hours later, it was to my bed dipping slightly to the left. I rolled onto my side and wearily opened my eyes.
"Hey Sleepyhead. I bought you some dinner."
"What?"
"A salad and pita bread from that deli down the street."
"Mmm, thanks Ty. Is Chris still here?"
"No, he left awhile ago. Come on, come eat with me."
"Hm? Okay," I yawned, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed.
Tyler and I usually didn't talk when we ate together. He would often try to piss me off by making obnoxious noises with his fork as he stabbed the lettuce on the bottom of his bowl. Clang, clang clang. I paused and looked up at him and begun to swing my foot, hitting a leg of the table every time it swung forward. We often acted like children over dinner, only we didn't have parents there to tell us to cut it out. This was why it was rare for us to go out to dinner. We always ended up getting take out instead. Sometimes we'd sit in the living room on our big, overly-cushy second second hand leather couch, given to us by his brother, and watch movies as we ate, and sometimes we'd just sit in the kitchen as we were then and not say a word. It was a small kitchen. Five cabinets, seven drawers, a small sink and stove and a coffee pot in the corner. I looked at the counter to my left and smiled vaguely. There were always interesting things there. Some typical stuff, keys and papers. But then there were the odd things. CDs out of their cases, a castle of bottle caps next to the toaster, and a bag of marbles in the far corner.
I finished my salad and rinsed the bowl and fork.
"Ty, what are you doing tonight?"
"Maybe going out with Chris. Unless you wanted to hang out."
"No it's okay. I have studying to do."
"Why don't you quit studying and worrying so much for once?" he asked, kissing my cheek, "All that's not good for you."
"I know. But what choice do I have?"
"All right. But don't say I didn't try to help you. You're 20, Madelyn. Start having a little fun."
I managed a weak smile, "Thanks Ty. I'll see you later."
In my mind, Tuesday didn't exist, nor did my psychology exam. Nothing existed until I was violently launched back into work on Tuesday afternoon.
I sat in my office, rummaging in my bag.
"Shit, shit, damn it..."
"Madelyn? Is everything all right?"
I looked up. Julie had appeared in my doorframe, looking over the bridge of her reading glasses.
"Yes, everything's fine."
"Yes, well. There's someone here to see you," she informed me, raising her eyebrows and leaving.
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Hi! Um...what are you doing here?"
Elijah walked awkwardly into my office and put a bag on my desk, "I fiured you'd be missing this by today."
I took the bag and looked inside, letting out a sigh of relief, "Oh my God thank you so much."
I took the tape recorder out and checked it over, placing it on my desk, "I thought I was dead."
He smiled, "Don't mention it. I'll let you get back to work."
I grinned, "Thanks again!"
He smiled and waved, but as he reached my door, he whirled around, a coy smile playing across this lips.
"But now you do know what this means?"
I looked at him in bewilderment.
"It means you owe me a favor."
"What - you want something in return?" I asked, perturbed.
"Sort of. How about coffee tonight? What time do you get off?"
"I can't tonight. I have a portfolio due tomorrow."
"Then tomorrow night?"
"I'll be here until four."
"After?"
I looked up at him. His pale blue eyes sunk into his porcelain skin, his turtleneck sweater clinging to him. I eyed the expression on his face carefully.
"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
He grinned, "I'll see you then."
I sat back, dumbfounded.
"What did he want?"
I looked up at Julie. "He was returning something of mine."
The rest of my day went by in a blur. Things I always noticed were no longer significant to me. The typical goings-on in the middle of the city took no affect on me, and the hot dog vendors screaming on every street corner seemed not to exist. I walked into my apartment and closed to door, collapsing onto the couch. I had the suspicion that the grin I held had never left my face, for reasons I couldn't be sure of.
"You saw him again!!"
I opened my eyes and looked above me. Tyler was looming over the couch, a big toothy grin on his face.
"Who?"
"Elijah! You fuckin' saw him!"
"Shut up, Tyler."
"You di-id," he giggled, "When...why?"
"I forgot my tape recorder yesterday and he brought it back," I shrugged, "Not a big deal."
"And?"
"And...I'm having coffee with him tomorrow night."
He jumped up and clapped his hands together, laughing manically. "Ha ha! I knew something would happen!"
"Nothing's going to happen. He reckons I owe him a favor, so I'll buy him a coffee and that will be that."
"That's not true and you know it. You liiiike him."
"I don't. Not at all."
"Okay. I'll get back to you on that when you get home tomorrow night."
"Tyler shut up."
He smiled and climbed onto the couch, straddling my lower back and rubbing his palms into my shoulder blades.
"Mmm, that's great."
He laughed, "Would you like it better if they were Elijah's hands?"
"Fuck you, Tyler."
He laughed, "Oh and you're in denial too, it's sooo cute."
"Okay, Tyler. I'll give it a chance. We'll see what happens. But don't get your hopes up, I can't imagine why he'd ever take an interest in me."
"Come on," he smiled, stretching his legs and settling himself on top of me, "Why do you say that?"
"Ty, you're my only friend."
"That doesn't matter. He doesn't know that. This is a good opportunity for you. You don't know him, you don't have a history. You can start with a clean slate. And if it doesn't work out...can I have him?"
I hit him with a pillow.
Use my office today, I trust you can operate a computer. Here's five dollars. A tip for my late notice, I know you're the only one I can trust. Don't let me down!
Julie