It was that weird stretch of night where phone calls were off-limits but overthinking was fair game. Bea lay in bed, her phone the only source of light.
The first text came through at midnight.
CLAIRE BEAR: Just finished a presentation on concrete curing. Everyone clapped. Except the guy I might be dating. He just smirked like a proud contractor.
BEYA SLAYA: Wait wait. BACK UP.
CLAIRE BEAR: His name is Marco. He builds things. Like walls. And sexual tension.
BEYA SLAYA: OMG I’m so into this for you. Send pic
CLAIRE BEAR: Can’t. He’s in my structural mechanics class. I’m playing it cool. He only knows me as “that girl who broke the tensile model and then blamed it on a ghost.”
BEYA SLAYA: A classic meet-deranged.
CLAIRE BEAR: Speaking of which, you good? You haven’t panic-texted me in like 48 hours.
BEYA SLAYA: Not since Gage came by with the Tier 4 documents a couple of days ago.
CLAIRE BEAR: Severance still pending?
BEYA SLAYA: Yeah.
CLAIRE BEAR: Does that mean you’re waiting for confirmation you broke up?!
BEYA SLAYA: No? I don’t think so…
BEYA SLAYA: Do you think it’d be weak of me to withdraw it?
CLAIRE BEAR: Do you want to withdraw it?
BEYA SLAYA: I don’t know. After reading the fine print it doesn’t just give him rights, it gives me guarantees.
BEYA SLAYA: Would it be crazy if in hindsight I…didn’t hate that part?
CLAIRE BEAR: What woman in her right mind would say, “No thanks, I’ll risk it”? Show me. I just want to check her for a pulse.
Bea snorted a laugh.
BEYA SLAYA: Enough about me. What’s happening with your job apps?
CLAIRE BEAR: I’m not applying to the UR.
BEYA SLAYA: What?? You don’t want more free stationery?
CLAIRE BEAR: I had a moment of clarity after I dropped a plate of fries on an accountant.
CLAIRE BEAR: I need experience first. Get my sea legs before trying to impress a republic that gives toddlers financial advisors.
BEYA SLAYA: I guess I probably won’t even be here next year.
BEYA SLAYA: I’d be so sad if you were here and I wasn’t
CLAIRE BEAR: Exactly.
BEYA SLAYA: I really need to sleep.
CLAIRE BEAR: Go. I need to get to work.
