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“Gods, I’m so fucking sick of being alone here.”
Leo paused his tinkering to look at Piper on his phone. They hadn’t met face-to-face in a couple of years, but they still made a point to Facetime every day. She was slumped at her desk with her face in her hands. “Cheer up Beauty Queen! You’ve only been in college for five months. I’m sure you’ll make friends soon.”
She raised her head. “That’s not what I meant, Valdez. There’s no one here who, like, gets me, y’know? They’re all normal,” she said bitterly.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
“You’re so lucky to live at the Waystation. You’re surrounded by people who understand you all the time, you get to do work you enjoy, and you don’t have to be in school anymore. Can we trade lives?”
Leo laughed. “Sure thing Pipes, I’ll get going on that body-swapper right after I finish up my duties at the shop.”
“Mmm, I was thinking more of a Freaky Friday situation. It seems easier.”
“Oh man, I love Freaky Friday! We need to have a movie night soon.
“So down. Let’s wait till after my finals though, okay? I really can’t afford to flunk—well, anything.”
“You got it.” Leo gave her a mock salute. Piper laughed. Her shoulders seemed to relax, just for a moment, before returning to her self-pity.
“I miss you. I miss—” she gestured half-heartedly at the screen “—this, y’know? Face to face. It’s just not the same when I can’t throw a pillow at you over your dumb jokes instead of just my phone.”
Leo started fiddling with his wires and scrap metal again. “Yeah, agreed. Emmy and Jo are great and all, and me and Calypso are still really good friends since the breakup, which is nice, but like—it’s just not the same. No one is as fun to bug as you.”
She smiled sarcastically. “Wow, what a compliment. I’m honored, truly.”
Leo waved her off dismissively. “Hey, they have mechanics in Oklahoma, right?”
Piper knit her brow. “…Yes? Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“Well, I dunno—you’re clearly desperate for company as cool as me, and I can’t live at the Waystation forever. Maybe I’ll just happen to run into you someday.”
“Wait. Are you serious? You can’t be. You’re joking, right? Please don’t be joking. Oh my gods Leo, that would be amazing. Would you actually?”
“Nah, I’m just toying with you Beauty Queen,” Leo teased. Piper’s face fell, and Leo quickly corrected himself. “I’m serious! I’ve been looking into apartments in your area, and I’ve called a few shops to see if anyone’s hiring. I’ve even had someone ask for my résumé.”
“Oh my gods. Leo, that would be so fucking COOL. Do you know when you’d be coming?”
He shook his head. “Depends on if I get a call for an interview. Plus, I’d need someplace to stay while I find an apartment and furniture—”
Piper interrupted him. “Don’t worry about that, I’m sure my dad wouldn’t have a problem with you staying with us ‘til you’re set up.”
“Sweet! That’s that figured out then, at least. Emmy and Jo haven’t made me pay rent so I could have the chance to save up, so I’ve got enough to get going pretty quick. I just don’t know how I’ll tell them. Or Cal. Or the shop. And I need to hand in my two-week notice ASAP. Gods, there's so much I have to do. Fuck you, Mclean, why did you become friends with me just to move away?”
Piper shrugged, her eyes sparkling. She was grinning wide enough she might as well be in an oral hygiene pamphlet. “Pretty sure you moved first, dude. It’s your turn now.”
Leo grinned back. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But next time, I get to pick where we move.”
“Oh, we? Are we a package deal now?”
“Yes ma’am! You’re stuck with me. Once I get to Oklahoma I’m making you sign a contract that says we are required to live within 15 miles of each other.”
“I’ll have to have my lawyer read it over, of course, but that sounds reasonable,” Piper replied cooly
“Your lawyer? Who’s this lawyer of yours? It wouldn’t happen to be that poli-sci student you won’t shut up about, would it?”
“Shut UP Valdez.”
“Loser.”
“Bitch.”
“You know you love me.”
She sighed dramatically, looking at the ceiling. “Yeah, I guess I do. And with that contract, I’d better love you, or else I don’t know if I could stand being within a hundred miles of you, let alone 15.”
“I love you too. Even though you are mean to me literally every day. Cyberbullying is no joke, those PSAs from middle school really weren’t exaggerating!”
Piper stuck her tongue out at him, and glanced off-camera. “Shit, it’s 2am, I have to be up at 7 for history class. I’ll ask my dad about you staying here and we’ll go over the details tomorrow, okay? I love you.”
“Love you too Pipes. Sleep well.”
The screen froze briefly on Piper’s smiling face as she leaned forward to end the call before going dark. Leo couldn’t stop grinning. Sure, there was a mountain of things to do before he could leave, but at the end of it all, he’d get to see his best friend again. That alone made it all worth it.