Page 59 of Overachiever

Remee

“He seems really great,” Rachel says, watching Owen walk away with Colby. “Did you guys work things out?”

“Yes. I’m still nervous about being in a relationship, but I don’t want to be without him, you know?”

Smiling, she sits back. “I do.”

“I hate that I need to leave when we’ve just found each other again, but I meant what I said. Two hours isn’t that far, and I’ll visit as much as I can. Maybe you two can come to visit me too? There’s a playground across from my apartment, and I’d love for you to meet my roommates. We’re all close. They’d love Colby to bits.”

“Maybe for Thanksgiving or Christmas,” she suggests, looking thoughtful.

“I’d love that.”

The time passes quickly as we talk, with so much to catch up on, we could talk for weeks straight without a pause. It’s late in the evening and the place is starting to clear out when Owen and Colby return. Poor kid looks worn out. No doubt I look that way trying to keep up with Owen sometimes.

“It’s about time to go,” Rachel tells him.

“Okay. Owen got in trouble. He can’t go in the ball pit no more anyway.”

“You little rat,” Owen grumbles, making him giggle. “No wonder you’re named after cheese.”

“What did you do?” I ask

Owen holds up his hands. “Nothing!”

“Yuh-huh!” Colby cries, giggling his head off.

“Who are you going to believe? Me, or a four year old?”

“What did he do, Colby?”

“He climbed way up and did a cannonball, and balls flew everywhere! It was so cool! Then the man came and said he had to leave.”

Owen shakes his head, and reaches over to cover Colby’s ears. “Rachel, don’t take this personally, but you’re raising a snitch.”

On our way out, we stop at the counter for Colby to cash in his game tickets. While he’s perusing the plastic prizes, Owen steps between Rachel and me, speaking in a low voice. “I asked Colby why he lays in the play yard at school. He’s pretending to be dead to attract a carrion bird so he can keep it for a pet. He doesn’t want you to know because you won’t let him have a pet bird. So you didn’t hear it from me.”

“I love him,” I say, covering my mouth to stifle a laugh.

It’s hard to say goodbye to them already, and tears fill my eyes when we all hug goodbye in the parking lot. Owen and I drove to the restaurant separately so we could head straight home from here. He plans to drop his stuff off at his place then come over to mine.

Happiness grows in my chest the whole drive home as I let myself think about the last couple of days. Things changed so fast. I went from being miserable and broken hearted to being in a loving relationship. A half dreaded visit to my mom turned into reuniting with my sister and gaining a nephew. Family.

I can’t wait to tell Serena, Zara, and Kelly everything.

After this long living on Violent Circle, I shouldn’t be surprised by anything, but I still didn’t expect to see a firetruck with lights flashing to be parked in the center of a crowd of neighbors. It takes me a moment to guide my car around the edge of the gathering, and park outside my apartment.

Serena, Kelly, and Zara sit on the steps. My gaze follows theirs across the street and –oh my god someone’s on the roof of the laundry room.

“Welcome home,” Kelly says.

“Just another Saturday night?” I chuckle, sitting beside her. In the dimness of the streetlight, I’m not sure I’m seeing what I think I am. “Who’s that?”

“No idea. Not from the circle,” Serena says.

“How did she get up there?”

“Maintenance left a ladder propped against the building when they were patching the roof earlier. I saw her climb up. She keeps getting close to the edge when anyone tries to go up after her. They’ve been trying to reason with her.” A flood light clicks on, illuminating the roof. “It’s not going well.”