Write In The Middle Of It

The harvest sun was beating down on Erik's neck as he walked down the street to the front of his building. He never understood why Mekayla's favorite season was Autumn. The weather was so unpredictable. In the morning you could see your breath in the air but come afternoon you want to put on shorts; it’s crazy.

He flopped himself through his apartment door, still never taking off his shoes. With haste, he placed some bags on the counter and walked over to his answering machine. He blinked his eyes to make sure that he saw clearly but in defiance pressed the play button on his machine.

"You have no new messages" the mechanical woman's voice spat at him. Erik called her a condescending bitch as he finally took off his shoes to enter the kitchen.

Normally, Erik's phone rang off the hook, but today, when he wanted a phone call, it didn't ring once. He impatiently waited around the apartment all morning until his stomach couldn't take it anymore; he was hungry. He decided to go down to the market and get something for dinner, but it couldn't be just anything, it had to be special.

That's when he decided on the one vegetarian dish that Mekayla actually loves: eggplant parmesan.

He walked over to his massive music system and slipped in Miles Davis- Love Songs in the CD player. Erik loved to cook and he also loved to relax and for some unknown reason cooking with Miles Davis playing was the ultimate calm. Stepping back into the kitchen he grabbed a bottled water out of the refrigerator and began to prepare his meal. With a razor he gently sliced the garlic and hummed to the music. He figured that Mekayla must be stunned or infuriated but one thing he knew about that girl is that she never, ever, was quiet for too long. He thought she was just trying to torture him by not calling him back, but he knew that within a few hours she would half-heartedly thanking him for the flowers and candy and then asking to come over for dinner. Besides, she knew that soon enough he will need his hair re-braided and she wouldn’t have him going around lookin rough.

This way he thought to himself as the tantalizing trumpet tickled his ears and he warmed up the olive oil for the garlic, by the time she does decide to call me I’ll have dinner done and we can talk and set things straight.

The only thing that bothered him was that he and Mekayla were the best of friends and his actions may have jeopardized their friendship. But what was he supposed to do, completely keep his feelings from her? She had to know sooner or later. He felt as though he was stringing her along for months so even though his timing wasn't perfect, it was necessary. Besides wouldn't a woman want to know if someone was in love with her or not?

Women, Erik thought as he shook his head and sliced the eggplant, I'll never fully get them.

But what if she doesn't call me?

Erik frowned as he dipped the slices of eggplant in the lightly peppered eggs. He became disgusted with himself because never in his life has he done so much thinking about a female.

If she doesn't call me then she is really angry with me, but should I call her. Erik tenderly put each thin slice of eggplant in a thin layer of Italian breadcrumbs and let them sit as he cut the rest of it.

Instantly he stopped, walked over to the phone, picked it up and all he heard was a dial tone.

Frowning he went back to his cooking.

She'll call; she has too.

He smiled as he browned the eggplant in the skillet.

He smiled because Mekayla often said that the way he fried the eggplant made her forget the damn thing was a vegetable.

He smiled when he thought of her giggle.

He smiled when he thought of her look of surprise.

He smiled when he thought of Mekayla period.

But then suddenly he remembered something she said when it came to women.

Men seem to think that time heals all wounds, but if you let a boiling pot continue to boil unattended, it may explode.

Just then the olive oil popped in the pan and hit Erik's wrist.

Shit!

He quickly ran his arm under the cold water from the sink.

This is stupid. If I wait too long all kinds of things can be misinterpreted. He lowered all the burners on the stove and went into the living room to call Mekayla but just then the phone rang. The caller ID showed his job number and he instantly got excited because he knew Mekayla sometimes called him from there when she was on her way over.

"Hey sweetie." He said as he answered the phone.

"Well hello yourself honey!" The brassy laughter of Autumn Green muted Mile's trumpet.

Erik's face wore an expression of utter disappointment but he tried not to reflect it in his voice as he let out a light fake chuckle,

"Oh hey Autumn, I'm sorry I was expecting..."

"Not why I called," she interrupted, "I have a proposition for you."