2.

The wrinkled scrap of paper sat on the table.  Thomas had made this table out of an old door and he was sure this was the heaviest thing to ever sit upon it.   He sat with his arms crossed sitting on the table and his head resting eye-level focusing on the paper as if he were trying to make it move.  This was too much for his brain to contemplate for nine-thirty on a Tuesday night.

She felt the same.

Addy was on her bed staring at that useless piece of plastic.  She laid with her arms crossed and her head resting eye-level determined to make that plastic do it’s job.

Thomas grabbed the paper, balled it up, and walked off to his room as if he would be able to forget about it.  The paper would sit alone long enough for Thomas to leave the room, but that was all.  Thomas would sigh and return to his previous position by the table.

Addy got off her bed and walked into the bathroom.  Maybe a hot shower would clear her mind.  She walked into the bathroom and started the water only to run back into the room like she had heard an intruder.  She was still alone.

Thomas was getting angry.  Why was this his master?  Why was this getting the best of him?  He was a man, right? Nothing could stop him.  This was his domain.  This was his jungle and he was the king…or not.  Those seven numbers had him under arrest.

Addy finally made it to the shower.  She tried singing, she tried singing louder, she tried screaming.  It was all in vain.  Then she heard it.  She jumped out of the shower and ran to her bed.  False alarm.  Addy hurled the plastic back onto her bed and returned to her shower.

Now, Thomas was pacing.  He stomped around his loft never breaking eye-contact with that paper.  He sat on the couch, moved to the kitchen, up the stairs over the balcony, and to his patio.  Finally, enraged, he reached in his back pocket for his phone and snatched the paper from the table.

The hot water was finally working.  Addy’s mind had moved on.  She thought about work and magazines and fashion.  Maybe tomorrow she would go to the malls.  A new outfit was surely in order.  “Wait”, her thoughts were interrupted.  “What was that?” she thought to herself.  She leapt from the shower and ran to her bed.  She grabbed her phone and thrusted to her cheek. 

“Hello?” Addy said…

“Hey, Addy?” Thomas’ voice was warm on the other side…this was not a false alarm.