“ Have fun?” Natalie asked as Matt as he returned from his jog and walked in the dining room where she was having her breakfast. “ Lots,” He replied, out of breath as he took a swig from his water bottle. “ Eating alone?” He inquired, studying her face. “ Looks like it.” Answered Nat, not unkindly. “ Where’s AJ?” “ He left, he’s at his place.” “ Aah.” Matt nodded before taking a seat across from her and looking up when Mary entered the room. “ Would you like anything for breakfast?” She asked, taking in his sweaty appearance with slight disapproval. “ No, thanks.” She left and Matt looked at Natalie. “ I don’t think she likes me.” Nat laughed and looked at the clock. “ What do you wanna do today?” “ I don’t know. Do you need to work or something?” “ Nope.” “ Ok, then what do you wanna do?” “ You wanna go shopping?” “ Do I ever?...” “ Don’t you want to buy souvenirs?” “ Sure, might as well paste ‘tourist’ across my forehead and make me dance.” “’Make you dance?’ Jesus, I wouldn’t want to wish that upon anybody.” She smiled, pushing her plate away and finishing her coffee. “ Well, I guess we could go shopping, I do need to buy a gift for someone’s birthday.” “ Whose?” She immediately asked and Matt rolled his eyes. “ You are so damn nosy, has anyone ever told you that?” “ Of course. Is it your girlfriend?” “ Maybe.” He replied, standing up. “ I sure as hell hope you don’t have a girlfriend with the way you were flirting with what’s-her-face last night.” She reminded, standing up also. “ Please, like you’re one to talk.” He retorted with a grin. “ What is that supposed to mean?” “ Nothing except you’re screwing your neighbor yet you are ‘currently single’according to the press.” “ Shut up, we are not-...doing anything!” She protested hotly, her cheeks reddening. “ Oooh, good comeback.” “ Go to hell. We are just friends, that’s it.” She walked past him and he laughed. “ Shopping it is, then.”...
*****
“ What’s wrong?” Matthew’s face had turned considerably grave when he answered his cell and she felt a grip of fear. He listened silently to the person on the other line and muttered an occasional ‘uh-huh’ before hanging up and looking apologetically at Natalie. “ I’ve gotta leave.” He said, shoving the remnants of his Whopper into the paper bag and sipping his drink. “ What? Now?” “ Yeah, something’s come up back home and I need to be there.” “ Is everything ok?” She asked, following his actions and gathering up her shopping bags. “ Yeah, it’s just dealing with work.” He said, grabbing his bags as they walked to the car. “ That sucks. You just got here.” Once in the awaiting car, she looked at him pointedly. “ I’m sorry, I know. Next time,” He promised. “ But we didn’t even get a chance to catch up...” He didn’t say anything as the scenery whizzed by them. She sulked when they reached the house and felt guilty for whining...and for not spending too much time with him. “ I’ve gotta grab my stuff and then take off for the airport. I need to call a cab first.” He mused to himself upon entering the house. “ I’ll come too. We can take the car.” He looked at her gratefully as he disappeared upstairs. She sighed and turned on one of the lights, remorseful that she’d be in an empty house again. She shouldn’t have shifted Mary’s hours to just daytime services; at least she had been another person in the house, and once she could confide in at that. “ Ready?” Matt asked a few minutes later, glancing at his watch. “ Sure.” The ride to the airport was filled with nervous jabber on her part; pointless talk of scripts and directors, none of which he had knowledge of. An hour later, they were seated in the waiting area and silence had fallen between them. “ This place is empty.” Matt remarked, looking about him. “ Considering it’s Wednesday night, I would expect too many people here.” He shrugged and looked at his watch agan. As if on cue, the stewardess announced his flight and he looked at Natalie. “ Well, that’s me.” He said, slowly getting up. “ Have a safe flight.” She said, unsure of what was expected as she reached over to give him a hug. “ I love you...Don’t stay a stranger, it’s your turn to come visit me.” He reprimanded into her shoulder and she willed away the melancholy that stung at her. “ Call me, ok?” She pulled away and watched as he picked up his bookbag and give a small wave. “ I will. Be safe,” She stayed where she was by the gate as he walked past and disappeared from sight. Waiting a few minutes, she turned to leave also...
