p.m.
Continue to monitor subject at close range. Keep subject away from the Messenger.
Request status report re essentials required for party.
To: L
From: J
Date: February 12
File: 776244
Subject: Gaia Moore
Last seen: Broadway, 3:44 p.m.
Subject and Messenger are being closely monitored. All party plans are moving swiftly. Expect further communications via the Messenger.
GAIA
Maybe itâs possible that men have a âtime of the monthâ just like women. I once heard a theory that males have testosterone surges that affect their moods, but I always thought it was a bunch of crap. Now Iâm not so sure. It might explain the weirdness of the two most important guys in my life (aside from my father, of course): Sam and Ed.
Okay, maybe not Edâs. My first guess is that things arenât so hot between Ed and Heather. Heâs been pretty icy to her of late. So maybe Heather is why heâs totally humorless these days. But he wonât tell me anything, so I donât know for sure. All I know is that heâs acting very peculiarâjittery and distant and generally un-Fargo in all ways.
As for Sam, I have no theories there. Except for the lame-assed hormonal one. But I do know beyond the shadow of a doubt that something is up with him. I know what itâs like to be on thereceiving end of caginess. Itâs not like Iâm unfamiliar with secrecy in a relationship, of course. But only my own.
Yes, thatâs hypocritical. But itâs also the truth. And I never lie. Which is another reason this whole trend disturbs me. Both Sam and Ed are lying to me. About what, I donât know. But maybe this is my punishment. Maybe this is karma: the whole what-goes-around-comes-around part of existence. For once Iâm happy and my life is out in the openâbut now everyone else is acting weird and keeping secrets.
Or maybe this is just what life looks like from a happy personâs perspective.
If so, happiness is overrated.
pretty boy
This one had close-cropped bangs and was more overweight than muscular. She also had a lazy, milky eye that drifted to the side.
SAM HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG heâd been standing outside Joshâs closed door. Minutes, definitely... possibly longer. But he was frozen solid, still as a statue in the sickly yellow light of their suite. There was nothing to be done. As a chess player, Sam knew the certainty of defeat very well:
that one clear moment when your opponent had cut off all options.
And even if Josh was in there, what could Sam possibly say, given the circumstances? He was utterly powerless. One wrong move and he was in jail for life. Checkmate.
Checkmate
So he stood by the door with his heart in his throat and his chest constricted until Josh opened it himself.
âSammy!â Josh greeted Sam with a slap on the shoulder and his usual grin. Sam couldnât believe heâd once found that perfect smile reassuring. Now it made him sick. âI thought I heard somebody out there. Come on in. How was the delivery?â
For a split second Sam thought about punching him in the face, knocking him cold, strangling him. But he couldnât move. He couldnât even look at the guyâdressed in the old sweat suit he always wore, as if he truly were just another ordinary RA at NYU. Sam couldnât bring himself to look anywhere but his shoes.
âDid you get your package?â Josh asked.
Samâs head jerked up. He shot daggers at Josh with his eyes. He couldnât believe it. He was dealing with a true sociopath. Which meant that Josh was more dangerous than Sam had imagined. Which only made Sam more frightened.
âDid you?â Josh pressed, his voice hardening.
Again Sam remained silent.
âIâm sure you did.â Josh opened his closet door and pulled a box from it with an envelope attached. âNow, this oneâs not going to be too pleasant.â He handed the box to Sam. âI need you to take
Continue to monitor subject at close range. Keep subject away from the Messenger.
Request status report re essentials required for party.
To: L
From: J
Date: February 12
File: 776244
Subject: Gaia Moore
Last seen: Broadway, 3:44 p.m.
Subject and Messenger are being closely monitored. All party plans are moving swiftly. Expect further communications via the Messenger.
GAIA
Maybe itâs possible that men have a âtime of the monthâ just like women. I once heard a theory that males have testosterone surges that affect their moods, but I always thought it was a bunch of crap. Now Iâm not so sure. It might explain the weirdness of the two most important guys in my life (aside from my father, of course): Sam and Ed.
Okay, maybe not Edâs. My first guess is that things arenât so hot between Ed and Heather. Heâs been pretty icy to her of late. So maybe Heather is why heâs totally humorless these days. But he wonât tell me anything, so I donât know for sure. All I know is that heâs acting very peculiarâjittery and distant and generally un-Fargo in all ways.
As for Sam, I have no theories there. Except for the lame-assed hormonal one. But I do know beyond the shadow of a doubt that something is up with him. I know what itâs like to be on thereceiving end of caginess. Itâs not like Iâm unfamiliar with secrecy in a relationship, of course. But only my own.
Yes, thatâs hypocritical. But itâs also the truth. And I never lie. Which is another reason this whole trend disturbs me. Both Sam and Ed are lying to me. About what, I donât know. But maybe this is my punishment. Maybe this is karma: the whole what-goes-around-comes-around part of existence. For once Iâm happy and my life is out in the openâbut now everyone else is acting weird and keeping secrets.
Or maybe this is just what life looks like from a happy personâs perspective.
If so, happiness is overrated.
pretty boy
This one had close-cropped bangs and was more overweight than muscular. She also had a lazy, milky eye that drifted to the side.
SAM HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG heâd been standing outside Joshâs closed door. Minutes, definitely... possibly longer. But he was frozen solid, still as a statue in the sickly yellow light of their suite. There was nothing to be done. As a chess player, Sam knew the certainty of defeat very well:
that one clear moment when your opponent had cut off all options.
And even if Josh was in there, what could Sam possibly say, given the circumstances? He was utterly powerless. One wrong move and he was in jail for life. Checkmate.
Checkmate
So he stood by the door with his heart in his throat and his chest constricted until Josh opened it himself.
âSammy!â Josh greeted Sam with a slap on the shoulder and his usual grin. Sam couldnât believe heâd once found that perfect smile reassuring. Now it made him sick. âI thought I heard somebody out there. Come on in. How was the delivery?â
For a split second Sam thought about punching him in the face, knocking him cold, strangling him. But he couldnât move. He couldnât even look at the guyâdressed in the old sweat suit he always wore, as if he truly were just another ordinary RA at NYU. Sam couldnât bring himself to look anywhere but his shoes.
âDid you get your package?â Josh asked.
Samâs head jerked up. He shot daggers at Josh with his eyes. He couldnât believe it. He was dealing with a true sociopath. Which meant that Josh was more dangerous than Sam had imagined. Which only made Sam more frightened.
âDid you?â Josh pressed, his voice hardening.
Again Sam remained silent.
âIâm sure you did.â Josh opened his closet door and pulled a box from it with an envelope attached. âNow, this oneâs not going to be too pleasant.â He handed the box to Sam. âI need you to take
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