Tweetie

60

"C'mon," Roderick opened the door to the quiet room, revealing the busy police station that never seemed to calm down. "At least sit out here so you're not overwhelmed by the case."

She followed along silently as he led her towards his office which compared to any other room in the station was far more peaceful. Sure, there was paperwork everywhere, but it was at least quiet and reasonably clean. She dragged herself through the glass door he held open for her and immediately dropped into the seat opposite his desk and sank into it.

"Rest for a while, I'll let you know if something happens."

"Can I use your phone?"

"...Sure. If you rest."

She nodded, unwilling to even part her lips again because of the energy it took from her. And soon enough, she was left alone yet visible to everyone who passed the windows that look out into the office area.

She sank into the comfortable office chair, finally being met by the exhaustion that pounded at her head on and on like the beat of a never-ending song and she sunk into the desk, still cold and wet, but too far gone to care.

She held the phone, trying her best to recall a number. Which was the easiest to remember? Which had a good ring to it?

She typed the numbers that popped into her head first, not entirely sure who's it was other than knowing it was one of the boys.

"Hello? Who's this?"

"Leo?" She unintentionally said in a lifeless.

"Tweetie," Leo immediately gasped, surprised to hear her voice come from the unfamiliar number. "You disappeared, is everything okay?"

"I'm at the police station," she explained, deciding she didn't have the energy to spare to put any into her voice. "I had to give some statements and other work things. Sorry, I was kinda dragged away. But I stole Roderick's phone."

"That's fine," he tried to reassure her, "don't worry about it."

"How was the game? Did Fox do well?"

He paused, caught off guard by the question that shouldn't have been at the front of her mind.

"We won, Fox got a home-run."

"Oh," she chirped, "good! Tell him I say well done if you see him!"

"Thanks, Tweetie."

"Oh," she paused, hearing Fox's voice. "Oh, hi! We're on speaker?"

"Sorry, I should've said. We were all worried though. How're you doing? I take it the medic said you were fine?"

She sank, feeling her energy continuously drift away from her.

"I'm fine, but... she didn't let me keep the shock blanket."

"...Where could I buy a shock blanket from...?"

She assumed Ryan's voice wasn't supposed to be heard when he was whispering, yet, she did and she found herself smiling, glad that they weren't there to see her face burn over something so silly.

"Tweetie," Joel spoke up, "you're... Hazel White? I honestly thought Ryan was kidding, but, I mean... what?"

"Dude, I told you, Leo told you, Fox told you."

"You guys are always tricking me."

"No we're not!"

She listened, smiling tiredly to the conversation she didn't need to be part of to enjoy. Her chin rested on the desk in front of her, she felt heavy. Too heavy.