16 Ian #2
We don’t want to go to the cops
An idea crosses their mind. Ollie pointed this out yesterday—Victor can run phone numbers.
IAN
But could I ask you one favor?
VICTOR
Is that why you apologized?
IAN
No I just thought of it
Sort of a lie, but not really. It’s not why they apologized anyway.
VICTOR
What is it?
IAN
All we have is this guys phone number
Can you run it? Get us an address, maybe a real name?
The ellipsis appears and disappears, then shows up again.
VICTOR
No more keying my car, promise?
IAN
Yeah
I’m sorry about it
VICTOR
No you’re not
IAN
I’m not sorry about the first time I did it, but I am about the rest of them
VICTOR
Yeah alright give me the number
Ian pulls up the reservation Brandon took a photo of and sends it.
VICTOR
Got it
Running it now
You guys still do those game nights?
IAN
Yeah
VICTOR
Those were fun
Tell Brandon, Ollie and Nicole I say hi
And tell Brandon to stop falling for assholes
Ian smirks at that. Victor always got along with everyone, genuinely liked his friends. Was almost like a big brother to Brandon.
VICTOR
This guy didn’t even give a real number
IAN
What do you mean?
VICTOR
It’s some company line
IAN
What company?
VICTOR
Just says KBA. I don’t know them. Want me see if I can find something out?
IAN
No
Thanks though
VICTOR
Sure
Anytime
You know it was good seeing you
Aside from the yelling and false accusations
Ian’s body suddenly fizzes like shaken soda. Good to see them? What does that mean?
“Okay,” one of the old dykes says, putting seven more books down on the counter with a slam that startles Ian away from the texts. “I think we’re done for now.”
Ian rings them up, glad for a reason to put down their phone, which suddenly feels radioactive. They have no idea what to say to Victor. Maybe he was just being polite, good seeing you as a way of saying goodbye. And with a little dig at the end. Very Victor.
Very hot.
Maybe they should have a game night. They can invite Victor, and—Ian stops the thought, shaking their head.
They are hiding out. There was a murder .
People could be hunting them, like the heart-eyes-tattoo guy.
They can’t have a game night. Are there even charades gestures for the murderer is right behind you ?
“Thank you,” the old dyke says as Ian hands them two heavy bags of books. “Hope whatever is going on in your phone works out.” She winks.
“Blowing up their phone,” Kate says. “That’s what they call it, right?”
“Not really,” Ian says with a grimace.
Kate walks around the counter and pats them on the back. “Sorry if that was more attention than you wanted.”
“It was fine,” Ian says, rolling their eyes. It was kind of nice, actually, having these strangers back them up for no reason, like Ian could lean on them to keep from being crushed under the burden of trying to be a decent human being.
“Good.” Kate smiles. “I think I’m going to run out for coffee. You want anything?”
“Where are you going?”
“That one with the cocoa-nib cold brew.”
“Yes please. That. Biggest size they have.”
“The usual, got it.” She shrugs on her coat and walks out.
Ian’s phone buzzes and they look down, wondering if Victor is actually elaborating a little. But it’s the group chat.
NICOLE
Tattoo guy is dangerous. Ex special forces turned freelancer.
Also I think my boss is hitting on me.
Ian feels instant whiplash, the terror from the first part of the message vanishing in the laughter of the second as they try to imagine Nicole dealing with work and romance mixing.
Assuming she means the boss that she mentioned the other day, the woman.
A man would be icky. They suppose any boss hitting on someone who works for them is icky, but if it’s queer, it’s somehow funnier, too.
Because it’s Nicole. Stumbling into romance.
The only way she was ever going to find it, with her life choices.
IAN
That’s terrifying and hilarious
I mean the ex-special forced thing is terrifying and the boss hitting on you is hilarious.
NICOLE
I figured. Why is it hilarious?
Ian thinks, trying to nail it down.
IAN
Because you sound like Brandon
They can hear Nicole laughing at that one.
brANDON
Hey! A guest isn’t the same thing as my boss!
OLLIE
Is she hot?
I assume she
NICOLE
She is
brANDON
Go for it!
Oh gods, no. Ian can’t handle two of their friends being that person who fucks at work.
IAN
Do not take relationship advice from Brandon
brANDON
Fair
NICOLE
I won’t
I’m just shocked
OLLIE
Why? You’re amazing and beautiful
NICOLE
I gotta go
IAN
Have fun fucking your boss
NICOLE
Shut up
Ian laughs, wondering how insane Nicole’s day is right now.
How insane everyone is. It’s funny how the fear seems to have faded somewhat, or how they’ve become more accustomed to it.
That’s probably not a good sign. Ian takes a deep breath.
Should they be more terrified? Less? They have no idea.
Maybe Nicole will figure it out. She’s the only competent one.
They stare at their phone a while, wondering exactly how to say what Victor found out without it being a big deal that they texted. But it’s impossible, of course.
IAN
I texted Victor. The phone number that made the reservation is registered to a company—KBA. That’s all he would tell me. Didn’t know what they are though.
And I don’t want to talk about it
Victor says hi and he misses you guys and game night, though
They stare at their phone for a moment longer, but their messages stay unread.
They feel a faint relief but also a sudden well of loneliness.
They want their friends to ask how they are and tell them it’s okay to text Victor and that maybe they’ll get back together or they definitely won’t—something. They want to be comforted.
Gross. They put their phone down. They need to find something to read.
The door chimes as someone comes in. Ian glances up at the mirror in the corner. It distorts the man, but one thing is terrifyingly clear: the heart-eyes emoji tattoo on his neck.