I remember not wanting to leave that night. It was even hard to fall asleep, and eventually I let Sammy into the bed with me so I didn’t feel quite so lonely. Dogs are good for that sort of thing.

The next morning I heard a knock on the door just as I was about to call in ‘sick’ to work. I answered quickly, my smile appearing embarrassingly quick once I saw him at the door. “Hey! Oh, I raincoat,” I said, seeing it in his arms, “is it supposed to rain? I hardly ever watch the news or weather. I know I should, but I just always forget.” I went on about the weather in the area as I went to the couch and stuffed a few things into my bag, how it could be sunny and bright one day and chilly the next, without much warning. I was wearing a pair of shorts and a loose black tanktop, though I was debating changing while I rambled on. Poor Peter, sometimes I wonder how he ever got a word in edge wise with the way I went on at times.

I must have decided the outfit was fine since despite the call for rain the temperature wasn’t that bad, because I didn’t change. Besides, there was a jacket in the car if needed. “Give me a sec and we’ll be ready to go, okay? And no laughing no matter how I sound, got it? If you laugh then I’ll laugh, then the jig is up!” I said, going to kitchen and picking up the landline. I quickly dialed the pub’s number, getting one of the managers, Celestine, on the phone. “Hey Cel, it’s me,” I said slowly, my pitch lower than normal. “Listen I just wanted to- hn…to let you know I’ll be late today.” A pause. “Well I’m just waiting for my stomach to settle. I was up all night with my head in the toilet, but I took something this morning so I think I can-“ The corner of my lips twitched into a grin as I looked over at Peter and gave him a wink, but I didn’t break character.

“Oh- you really think so? Okay, okay, I guess you’re right. No, don’t want to get anyone sick. I will. No, no, no need to come over later. Might go to Mom’s, or somethin’. Thanks. Bye.” As soon as the phone was back on the receiver I smirked, walking back to Peter with a skip in my step, strutting as if I was ‘something else’. “And that’s how it’s done,” I said with a fake look of arrogance before I broke down and laughed. “Mom’s already in on it too, so I’m covered.” I put on my bag just as I had on our outing the other day, a pair of tennis shoes, and nodded toward the door. “So, which direction have you not gone in yet? I’m sure we can find something where ever you’d like to go, just don't want to do any repeats."