Chapter Text
I’ve always wondered what it’s like to fall deeply in love. As a child I loved to read romance novels and comics and fantasize about meeting my soulmate. I am what my peers would call, a late-bloomer. I had my first kiss with a boy I didn’t even really like when I was 21. He wanted a relationship with me while I thought we were better off as friends. We “broke up” after six months and I haven’t met anyone else since.
Bzzt bzzt.
My phone vibrates as it receives a text message. I unlock my phone and see that it’s from Dannie, my best friend and roommate. He’s currently at work at the Los Angeles Times.
Hey T, have u decided what to draw for the book cover? -Lord D
I had been hired to illustrate a children’s book cover for an author that wishes to remain anonymous. According to their agent, their name is Ross. That was all the information I could get out of my client.
I have a few thumbnail sketches done. I sent it to Ross’ agent for their approval then we can move on from there. -Therese
Cool, cool. Wanna get sum coffee at the new cafe down at 3rd Street? -Lord D
Sure, see ya there. -Therese
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The cafe was packed with people as it was their opening day. I squeezed through the crowd of people to find Dannie waving at me from a table in the corner.
“Took you long enough!” He said playfully.
“I’m surprised you didn’t throw me a life ring while I was drowning in a sea of people.” I retorted.
“Babies are born knowing how to swim, so I was sure you’d make it.” Dannie chuckled. I rolled my eyes and punched his shoulder.
“So how’re those thumbnail sketches? Can I take a look-a-roo?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I giggled and took a sip of my coffee. “Sorry, no-can-do doofus. The contract I signed with the agent says I can’t reveal anything until the book is published.”
“Dang, they got you sworn to secrecy? Who’re you illustrating for? The CIA? FBI? KGB?” Dannie gasped. “Are they listening to us right now?”
“Pfft, nothing like that you dork. They’re paying me a handsome amount so I’ll honor their contract.” I pretended to zip my mouth shut.
“Aight that’s fair.” He threw his hands up in compliance.
Dannie asked who Ross is and I could honestly say I had no idea. I’ve never even met Ross. I have no idea who this person is, or what their life is like and I honestly couldn’t care less. Their agent had sent me an email after seeing my other children’s book cover illustrations. I am thankful for the opportunity to illustrate another book cover, but Ross will just be another one of my business clients.
Dannie took a sip of his hot mocha with marshmallows. “Y’know, you should take more of an interest in people, T.” He said with a mouth full of marshmallows.
“Didn’t you ever grow past the age of 7? Mocha with marshmallows? I thought you were born in the 90’s, not 2009.” I mocked.
Dannie shrugged. “You sound like a baby boomer, let us millennials enjoy our avocado on toast and mocha with marshmallows.”
“This is why your generation can’t afford houses.” I said in a fake adult voice.
Dannie ate another marshmallow in an exaggerated way. “Anyways, you should dig in more to this Ross person. It seems sketchy that they won’t tell you anything about them.” He took another sip of his drink. “What if Ross is actually a rat controlling the person from the top of their head?” He gasped. “What if they’re actually Banksy!”
I shrugged off Dannie’s absurd ideas and said that Ross was probably just a normal author that loves writing children’s books. They probably have a normal life in a normal house with a normal pet, like a cat.
We stayed in the cafe for another hour, telling each other the drama of our work lives. Dannie’s writing gig at The Los Angeles Times has got him meeting some good and bad people. He talks about how he had to write an article on a man who claimed he was abducted by aliens. I said it could’ve happened because there’s no way we’re the only planet with life in the universe. Dannie waved my thought off and said that even if there is life outside of Earth there’s no way they’d come visit us because we’re still too primitive.
Dannie took a Lyft back to work and I drove back to my apartment. I unlocked the door to my apartment on the third floor of the building and dropped my keys on the shoe cubby. I walked into my modestly sized living room and sat on the couch.
Just another normal day in the life of Therese Belivet.
That was what I thought until the phone call came.