Phone Tag

Corbin was seated in the bath, with his legs up the wall. His back was submerged to the bottom of the tub. The sound of running water was somewhat muted as it crashed against itself, inches away from his face. He lay with his hands covering his face in order to keep himself from inhaling too much water. This holding his breath thing was a game he adored. Today he would surpass his old record or lay still enough to not look like he had any trouble being submerged.
As the water felt just right he reached a hand up out of the water, reaching around for the faucet. He found the dials first, so he turned off the tap.

From the hallway, behind 2 sets of closed doors, lay a pile of discarded clothing. The silence of the household was broken by a muffled sound of a simple piano melody, hard and deliberate. The vocalist started to sing, which caused a small little furry animal start to stir. His black beady eyes blinked up as he jilted himself to an upright position. His little green sweater was fitting his plump little body a little too snugly, so that the T on his back was obviously misshaped from being stretched. The chipmunk sat at attention as the song continued to play, until he seemed almost more shocked when it suddenly ended. In his mind, now was as good as ever a time to eat, so he undid himself from the mess of folds in which he had been peacefully sleeping. As he scampered across the hardwood floors toward the kitchen, another sound rang out. He stopped momentarily but decided instead of worrying about it, not to sleep there again.

Candice pulled the phone away from her ear and let her hand drop in its weight.
And then it rang.
"Hello?"

Corbin emerged from the room, dried but still damp. He reached down and dug through the mess of clothes to collect his cell phone. He gave it a once over, pressed some buttons and held it to his ear. he laughed out a smile and nodded a few times in agreement.
After he listened to his message he plopped down on his dirty laundry. With the smile unbroken he made a call.

"Corby!" Cecelia's voice was chipper. But less chipper than it normally was, and leagues less than it was on the message.
"Is this a bad time?"
"oh, no no, not at all. What's up?"
"um, Well your message did say to give you a call."
"Right. Does that man I shouldn't ask how you are?"
"Of course! I'm good."
"I'm glad to hear that!
I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"do you remember that day I ran away?"
"And we found you at the school playground?"
"yep. When you serenaded me!" her voice got a little muted, "oh don't make that face, he's my brother-in-law."
"Cici, you shouldn't use just the first words that come into your head."
"But if I didn't stop him now, he'd be carrying-on about it all day."
"Thats not what I meant."
"Do you remember when you two sang it to me?"
Corbin leaned back against the wall. He tilted his head toward the ceiling. He started singing in just the same place.
"Jubilation, she loves me again!
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing." He chucked. "good old days."
"but its not the same." She seemed disappointed.

"Victor, how nice of you to call, Are you well?"
"Yes, very well thank you. How are you"
"Very good, now that you have called." She stood herself tall and slumped herself into the couch smiling. "What have you been up to?"
"You know, the same old, Writing top ten list novels."
"I always knew you would. Oh could you hold on a moment, I have another call on the line."
"But if course."
"Thank you. Hello?"
"Hey there cuddle cunt?"
"Thats not sexy, you sound sleazy."
"Does it turn you on?"
"Oh god yes, I can't hold it anymore. Take me Dicky!"
"Mmmmm Yeah baby."
"Give me a break, I'm on the other line."
"Hang up on them."
"They called me first, you have to wait your turn."
"Whatever, tease."
"Hey, its your perception, not mine."
"..."
"I'll call you back once I finish this conversation. Promise."
"MK, love, talk to you soon."
"Hello?"
"Hi There."
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting for you."
"I'm back now, so, here I am."
"Would you be averse to me taking you out for dinner?"
"Not at all."
"Good."
"When is good for you?"
"Is tonight too soon?"
"Not at all. It's barely noon. Where would you like to meet?"
"Shall I come pick you up?"
"Please do."
"Would you like to finish this conversation there?"
"No, I just finished my business, do you have any?"
"Nothing that can't wait." Candice giggled. "I'm looking forward to it."
"As am I."
"Talk to you soon then?"
"Alright."
"Tata sweets."
"bye."
Candice removed some of her clothing, throwing it into an unseen corner. "She shoots, she scores, and the crowd goes wild. ahhhhhhhhhh!"

"Not the same as what?"
"It was better in my memory."
"Well, didn't it meant more then? How can it be as good when the situation isn't the same?"
"Are you reading my mind?"
"I don't think so."
"Last night I saw Candy, she sang that song to me, and she got alot of people to sing with her for me. But it wasn't the same as that time."
"I'm not surprised."
"Corbin..."
"Cecilia,"
"Do you hate Candice?"
"Don't be silly." he smiled assuringly. "You know I love her, like I love you."
"But that's no good."
"Its the way it is."
"You have no idea what I am talking about."
"I don't have a clue."
"At least you're honest."
"Look, tell me what this is about."
"Candice acts like you hate her."
"What did she do?"
"She wasn't listening."
"she wasn't listening to what?"
"To me!"
"And what were you saying?"
"I was talking about your movie."
"riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Well thats might be the flub right there. Did you ask her how she was?"
"probably."
"Do you remember?"
"She was frowning a lot, and she kept her mouth shut, until she reamed me out about being a bad house guest."
"Were you being a bad house guest?"
"Maybe, but I'm her sister."
"And she's and adult, that is her house, and she has a whole life of her own. you have to be respectful. Why do you think she lives alone?"
"Because she can't hide her intolerance?"
"Of?"
"Injustice."
"I am glad to know you were listening to me at least."
"You take all the sharp angles and make them make sense."
"That's what I do."
"She's hard to deal with."
"Heart break can be deadly. At least she's still trying."
"Have you talked to her?"
"Not recently no. Should I be expecting a phone call?"
"Should, but thats unlikely."
"Well then, I will not wait without breathing."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Cici."
"Yes?"
Corbin looked down at his own feet to fidget with his toes.
"You're a good girl. You should listen to your sister more often. I bet she has lots to tell you about."
"Yessir."
"She probably totally brilliant. And I know she misses you severely."
"Yea. I know."
"Ok, well let me get off this so she can get ahold of me if she wants to."
"Better plan."
"Alright, you be good."
"Will do, You too!"
"Bye"
"Bai Bai!"
Corbin put his chin in his hand and looked at the blank wall before him as if he was thinking, but there were no wheels turning.

"Hello Eddie!"
"Why hello Missy."
"Dear heart how are you?"
"Damed peachy."
"That sounds almost bad."
"Thats about right."
"What's up?"
"When can I see you again?"
"humm, let me think. In all the videos I made for you."
"Come on, I want to see you again."
"You're a glutton."
"I can't help it, you're just so damed hot."
"Let me check my schedule. SWEET, I don't work till the middle of the month, and then I am off for two months."
"Wanna spend two months with me?"
"You know I am a very busy person all the time, right?"
"You should Hibernate this year."
"I might just. What's your tomorrow night looking like?"
"No plans."
"Then we should make some."
"Definitely."
"Your place?"
"umn, maybe not, the wifey is here all day tomorrow."
"The Wifey?"
"Yessm."
"Well that settles it. I am done with you."
"What?"
"Seriously, take a look in the mirror, look though your albums, look at your little son. I will not do this anymore."
"But,"
"It was a pleasure knowing you, but this isn't gonna work out for anyone."
"candy..."
"No, I am sorry if this hurts you, But I won't allow myself to be the reason that your family is scarred."
"Is that what I mean to you?"
"Yes, I want the best for you and your family. This is how much I care for you, I care enough not to hurt innocent bystanders."
"But what about the time we had together."
"It's in the past now isn't it?"
"I guess it is, if this is what you're really saying."
"Good Bye." Candice turned off her phone.

Moments later the house line rang. "I never should have..." She picked up the receiver, "No, No more, I am done with it."
"With what?" Cecelia's voice was shocking. "I thought you would be home now."
"I am, What's up?"
"I wanted to thank you for cooking for me and letting me stay at your place. And Thank you for the Doritos. The guys liked them."
"You're telling me they can't buy their own disastrously hazardous snack?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really."
"So, Did you call Corbin yet?"
"Are you gonna pester me all day until I do?"
"Maybe."
"Then, I'll call him after I've had a bath."
"But that could take hours."
"Then I'll call him from the bath."
"Kinky."
"Don't get slutty on me now."
"Never."
"Good. o.k. let me get off the line so I can use it later."
"Right-o."
Candice put down the receiver.

Cecelia turned to her cohorts.
"Your family doesn't seem like they listen to you much."
"They still think I'm a little kid."
"But you are still a little kid." Kevin locked his arm around her neck. "Thats why we love you."
She bit his arm. He pulled her closer.
"It's why I love you." He smooched the back of her head.