July 2085: in between days, part 5.5

Charlie Roseland is 20. Ingrid Thompson is 22. Laney Thompson is 26. 

Soundtrack, "In Between Days" by The Cure

Thursday, July 27, 2085: 11:30 pm


Ingrid left two car-loads of people downstairs and went to see if her sister liked the idea of having company. Seeing as how Laney wasn’t even dressed, it didn't look promising.

“You okay? Are you sick or something?”

Laney moved, finally, to resituate her head on the pages of her book. “No, I'm okay.”

“Did something happen at work?”

“No, nothing ever happens at work.”

“Then what are you doing? Reading through osmosis?”

Ingrid snickered at her own joke, but Laney just stared on, blank and unconcerned, occupied and sort of dazed.

July 2085: in between days, part 5

Charlie Roseland is 20. Sophia Nelson is 21. Ingrid Thompson and Benny Winters are 22. 

Soundtrack, "In Between Days" by The Cure

Thursday, July 27, 2085: 5:30 pm


"It's the last day for the summer fair, Charlie. Five hours is not even enough time. Carpe diem. Let's seize the fucking day."

Charlie didn't stop home after work. He threw his gear into the dusty crevice behind the front seat of his truck and drove over to the county fairgrounds. Ingrid waited in the center of the midway with his friends, like they were already her friends now too, like she'd transplanted herself into the middle of his whole universe so she wouldn't be missed or forgotten. Her lips curved into a pleased smile.