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Jake:Mornin’.

Me:Yo.

Jake:Another wine filled date tonight?

Me:I was thinking I’d move up to vodka.

Jake:Cute. Wanna come party instead?

Me:On a Sunday?

Jake:What, you think we take Sundays off?

Me:Ain’t no rest for the wicked?

Jake:Rest is for the dead. Life is for the living, Piper.

His words hit me hard. I didn’t want to play it safe and live with regrets. I wanted to do what I loved and make the most of the life that I had. It’s what I’d been trying to do, what I’d been working for.

While I looked at his words, another message from him popped up.

Jake:So, plans?

As much as life was for the living, it was also for enjoying the rare, peaceful quiet. Especially when that included some chocolate and garbage TV.

Me:Just being lazy tonight, no work.

Jake:So that’s a yes then.

Me:No, it’s a me saying I’m being lazy, so maybe another time.

Jake:Would you change your mind if I said it was a party at our bud Jet’s house?

Me:Uhh, no?

Jake:What if I said that Jet was the X-ers drummer?

Me:No way! I saw them in concert once, they’re amazing. How do you know him?

Jake:We went to school together. They’re leavin’ on tour in a few days. Tonight is a goin’ away thing. In?

Me:Oh, I’m so in.

Jake:I see how it is. When it was just me, you were lazy. Now you’re goin’ for the band. Groupie.

Me:Damn straight. What time?

Jake:I’ll pick you up at eight.

Me:Awesome.

Jake:I gotta get some work done. See ya, babe.

Now how am I supposed to be lazy?

*******

“No, I’m sure this sketch would get approved. Who wouldn’t want a cake that looked like it was cut with a weed whacker?” I muttered to myself. Tilting my sketchbook to the side, I looked at it again. “Or maybe it was mauled by Satan’s cats.” Ripping the paper out, I crumpled it up and tossed it on the growing pile.