Ren & Wade

 

Ren squints hard wondering if she'll get through the day. Wade offers her black coffee and says he'll make bacon sandwiches.

"You've never had my bacon," Wade nods as if it's the best. "I know my bacon. Even my parents think so."

Ren sighs, she knows they have a lot to do. "Let's pass on it today, but I promise I'll try it." She can't quite look at him because thoughts of last night coming rushing back, but it's a safe secret. He doesn't need to know. After all, the ankle still looks a tad painful even if he says it's not that bad as he limps around.

Wade smiles and admits she will be impressed with his blueberry pancakes. Meanwhile, Ren presses her lips knowing his clothes won't do. She asks for Cocoa Cola.

"Coca Cola? Do you have any?" She's thinking ahead, They need to get out of here. She has shut off the countertop heat plate, hoping to move him along.

"I think I have a can or two," he shrugs saying he's saving it for something special, He practically winks. She doubts he remembers anything last night. The Coca-Cola was for the whiskey. She guessses.

"Just hurry and get it," she hates to be testy, but she knows she needs to check on Auntie M, change Ren's clothes and she might just find a boot big enough for Wade's hurt ankle. She plans on calling in for an appointment in the afternoon. She plans to make the co-pay, but she must get to the house phone first.

"What's this for?" Wade brings the drink to her. 

"To keep us awake." Ren pours half a cup of black coffee in the cups and adds the extra caffeine.

"I don't know about this," Wade makes a face of disgust. But she tells him it's not that bad as she forces it down, "Come on, we got places to go," She heads toward the door and snatches the moped key from his flannel shirt.

"What are you doing?" He says after managing the disgusting concoction.

"We are going to get our jobs back, but I need to do the driving," She tells him getting in her old shorts and the tee she wore yesterday at work. It doesn't bother her much that he watches as if he had no idea she could do this on his watch, but then he shies away at the last minute.

So, she throws him some Chinos she is sure his mother bought for him. She says the blue tank is fine and tosses the flannel shirt at the door. Somehow they are going to make this legit. Although, she isn't sure how. Yet, he lets her lead the way and in about ten minutes they are at the old apartments where she lives with her Aunt.

Wade lights up a cigarette. "Now don't take so long?" he nurses the nicotine as if this is what really helps not that Coke Coffee she kept insisting. Ren races up the old stairwell, it's only four flights, but she doesn't have the energy she expected. She takes deep breaths heavily and hopes the door to M's is unlocked. It is and it's the best surprise Ren could have wanted. 

She looks to the recliner. Her old aunt is sacked out while the Lucy Show is blaring. She doesn't move.

Ren thinks about the old boot that her aunt's husband used, He had big feet and it was used when he had ankle problems. Only, he isn't around anymore. She grabs it from under the bed and reaches for the house phone in the old woman's room. Ren never uses it. She has her mobile, but it's at the bookstore.

It rings through, and yes she lies a little about the ankle problem, "Can we ..I mean me.....actually, it's my brother. He's visiting and got hurt on his skateboard..can I get in around one?"

"Sure thing," says the secretary. Ren smiles. At least that's done. She runs with the boot and goes to her room to change. She finds a skirt and her favorite thrifted tee. Maybe she wasn't dressed nice enough and that's why Miss Lily did this?

Before she leaves she grabs some protein granola bars. She hopes Wade approves, but she bets anything he will tell her his homemade ones are much better for her and tastier.

Ren almost stumbles, but she keeps at a frantic dance. Auntie M has plenty of her favorite packaged food. Auntie M takes veggie supplements. 

Soon enough, she is back and Wade is in the backseat of the moped, nursing a cigarette. He offers it to her, but she says they don't have time.

"I think you should let me drive," Wade is dead serious. His face shows no emotion, even if he wasn't pleased when she put that orthopedic boot over his ankle. "Miley and I go way back." His moped has a name. Ren looks back at him as if he's lost it, but she won't bicker. "We've been through a lot, and you aren't treating her nice." He's in a pout.

"We just need to get to the bookstore. We need to clear our names. We aren't the bad guys," she tells him. He nods as if he might make it a few more blocks with her. He grabs on to her waist as she jets forward, she has on the helmet. Off they go, and she practically parks at the door of the bookstore a few minutes later. 

It is clouding up and he's about to tell her, but Ren is thinking of something else.

Before he can move quick enough, she marches into the bookstore without him.

"Oh, come on Ren," Wade sighs as if he doesn't like confrontation, But Ren is bold. She finds Miss Lily looking at the pretty display of children's books.

"We need compensation!" Ren demands. The almost middle-aged black woman shrinks back as if this down downright nasty talk. She looks Ren over in a frustrated pout. She rings her hands as if this is crazy talk.

"I was wondering where you two got off too," she laughs as if it's just a joke.

"NOT FUNNY!" Ren demands she'll call the cops. "Maybe they'll find something interesting down there in the basement. You locked us there."

Miss Lily, is a little worried, as she opens the cash register. "I'll need fifty but Wade needs at least a hundred. He hurt his ankle getting us out of there."

Wade shrugs behind her and points to his bad foot. Naturally, Ren counts the money and hands him his share which he practically smirks. "Look we want Mondays and Sundays off."

Miss Lily doesn't say a word.  Wade agrees with a nod. "We'll do what we can up here, but we are never ever going to that basement again!" She practically shouts.

"You can't wear shorts anymore, young lady," Miss Lily responds with her hands on her hips as if she has rules. Lily is wearing a summer strappy dress with a floral kimono as if Ren better take a good long look as to what is presentable here.

"We need our things," Ren goes on, Wade shuffles to the breakroom lockers. "We will be back tomorrow."

Just then somebody taps her on the shoulder. She thinks it is Wade, after all, she is about to drop, and she hasn't told Wade about the doctor's appointment. But it isn't Wade.

"Hey girl, what's going on?" Ren looks at the long-haired dude or dudette over. His skin is soft and supple and he might be wearing a little lippy.

"Oh..."Ren hugs herself. Honestly, her head is throbbing. Roni is the last person she ever thought she'd see at the bookstore. They haven't seen each other since the University. "Maybe..I'll text you later..um, I have someplace to be right now." She tells him. Still, he was the first guy (although, she isn't sure who Roni might be now) she met on the first day of classes at the University.

"I have a car," Roni's smile is sweet as sugar. Oh, their smile is sweet Ren corrects herself. Roni always wanted beautiful skin and long hair, but the voice has changed too.

"Are you working here?" Ren wonders.

"No way," the laugh is so genuine. "I come here for the old Anime."

"Oh," Ren looks him in the eye. About then Wade makes his presence known. "Um, could you take us to a doctor's appointment?"

"No problem," Roni's grin is open as he gives her a little nudge with his hand. "You sit up front with me, and we can catch up."

Roni leads the way. Ren grabs the backpacks from Wade. Of course, she promises Miss Lily they will be back.

After she gets Wade settled in the back seat of Roni't Pink Fit, Ren pushes in the moped near the door as if it might be an art piece. "I promise we will be back before you close."

Wade hesitates. She swears he blew a kiss to Miley from the backseat, but she won't hold it against him,

"It'll be fine, Roni is a good driver," she whispers to him.

"Oh Really?" She knows it doesn't sit well with Wade.

"It's gonna be fine," Ren assures checking to see if he has enough leg room. "Roni's just an old friend. A good friend."

Wade winces as if he needs to know more.