A late night encounter

A man, awake late at night, hears and sees the door to his office open.

The door creaks in front of me.

Odd. Creepy even, because it's closing in on the darkest hours of the night, so no one should be awake. That's why it's my favorite time to work on plans. No one to bother me. Until now, apparently.

I glance up from my desk to see Penny in a simple shirt and thin, baggy pants- likely stolen from somewhere. She leans against the doorway, head tipped onto the wood at an awkward angle. She's always had eye bags, but the heavy shadows and flickering candle lights emphasize them. I put my pen down to acknowledge her. She looks... tired.

"Penny?"

She waits a beat before replying. "Jack." Her tone is stern- scolding, even. The candle flickers.

"... ahaha." She doesn't laugh with me. "I didn't mean to, Penny." Her expression doesn't falter.

"Mean to what?" She asks me calmly, but the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like soldiers. Oh dear.

"I just wanted to finish the plans before I went to sleep, I promise. I'm almost done," I plead.

I'm not even close to done, but she needs to leave so I can make it true by morning.

"Jack,"

She sounds tired- I'm sure she is. She works as hard as anyone here, even if it shows in a different way. It makes me feel guilty that she woke up just to tell me off. It makes me wonder if she's always known when I work late-

She continues, "You didn't answer my question, Jackrabbit," baggy pants swaying gently, she steps into the office, notably keeping her distance from my desk. I don't even process the old nickname she uses for me. "I asked what you 'didn't mean to do.'"

My sluggish, sleepless brain stumbles over her words. Did I say that? Of course I did. I know I did. Yeah. Probably...?

Right, I remember. Sweating, I smile nervously. Geez, and it was only 3 seconds ago, too.

"I didn't mean to stay up so late." Another lie. Of course I knew what I was getting myself into. Unlike Penny, I meticulously manage my time- even if it gets a bit messy sometimes.

Penny tries to hide a scowl, face scrunching for a moment before relaxing again. She must have the patience of a saint, for going back and forth with me like this. She obviously knows I'm lying. I know she knows, and she knows I know she knows, and I know she knows I know she knows, and... Ugh. I think I've been awake too long now.

Penny slowly blinks, resting her weight on one leg and leaning heavily to that side. Her body language screams exhaustion. Guilt knocks on the door to my heart, lets itself in, and I'm helpless. I wish she would leave me alone to finish, but I know she won't, and I can't even hate her for it. The frustration is too minute to disturb my sluggish self. I'm reminded of the papers underneath my hand. I don't even want to do those.

"Jack," she calls out to me again when the silence grows too thick in the office. Her voice softens. "Would you go on a walk with me for a bit?"

Alarm bells go off. "Is something wrong?" It must be, right? The Penny, asking to hang out? I actually might be dreaming. Am I? I pinch myself.

"No," her eyelids fall briefly, jumping back up. "I can't sleep." She sways on her feet.

I smile wryly at the irony. "Even if you're falling asleep right now?"

Honestly, if it weren't for the light and my pure strength of will, I'd be the same way. Perhaps worse.

Then my vision twists oddly and the ground under my feet starts to argue about the direction of gravity.

Subtly, I use the desk to stay upright.

"That's because I'm with you." She says. "It's different in my room, in my bed, alone in the dark," her voice trails off. "I can stay awake long enough for a walk. I'm an expert."

It's true. At least for the time I've known her, she's always suffered from insomnia. The kind where you lay in bed for endless hours and then the kind where you wake up as soon as you fall asleep. We used to get late night snacks together if she needed a buddy down in the kitchen.

It's been a long time since she asked for my company though, night or day. I thought she got better because she stopped asking. But... I guess she didn't. I should've known, really. Maybe I didn't bother to ask.

I want to accompany her as much as I want to get this work done- but, objectively, my work is more important. Saving lives and stuff. In fact, it shouldn't even be a question. Majority over minority.

Penny watches my expression sour. Her shoulders, raised imperceptibly, fall.

Penny lets out a sigh and waves her hand. "Never mind. I know you need it done by tomorrow." Pause. "I shouldn't have bothered you."

"Wait, Penny," I stand up from my desk and grab my jacket from the back of my chair. I've known Penny way longer than this whole thing- how could I possibly tell her no?

"You're coming?" She asks.

"Yeah," I smile, "I can finish my work in the morning."

Penny groans, upset. "That's only a few hours from now. You might as well sleep until then."

Stepping to her side, I naturally lay my jacket over her shoulders. Penny stares at me. Then she pulls the jacket on tighter and runs her arms through the sleeves, being swallowed by the thing. She mutters something under her breath. A curse at me, no doubt.

"I already planned on staying awake, so I can do this instead." My lips draw further up my cheeks, something she clocks as teasing.

Penny scoffs, before grabbing my hand and tugging me into motion. I follow along with a small laugh.

Author's Note

How is it? I'm not the best at dialogue.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

i thought the dialogue was very natural. the story itself is an interesting scene: a pair of people who are trying to restrain themselves. there's tension and conflict but neither character is dislikeable. during their interaction we understand each of their needs and we watch as they wrestle verbally in order to reach a compromise. it is subtle story-telling, well written.

[Rustling Leaves]

Thank you! I'm glad it came across well.

[undead]

i liked this a lot! all of the writing felt compelling, making me want to read line after line. the dialogue felt real. really real. i felt like i was listening to two people talking. great scene, keep up the good work.