Strings of Fate

144- Celebrate and catch-up “Okay.” | answer simply.

“Okay?” He asks.

“As in you'll quit your job and work here instead?” he clarifies. | nod firmly. My decision made. Bellamy picksup by the waist and swingsaround. | squeal in shock.

“Bellamy!” | laugh. He placesback on my feet and leans in to givea quick k*ss.

“Thank you.” he says sincerely.

“You don’t need to thank me. You offered a fair compromise that we can both live with. All | de was meet you halfway.” | remind him. He shakes his head stubbornly.

“No, you can argue all you like but we both know that realistically | am the one getting everything | want. I'm not giving up anything.” He points out. | shrug.

l Can't promise this arrangement will last forever. Once the killer is caught I will in all likelihood want to get another job. I'm still not sure | feel right living off your income. But if | were to go to work, | suspect you would send so many guards that paying them would cost several times more than my living expenses anyway.” | explain with a grin. Bellamy just winks at me.

“Perhaps, | might. Okay, yes | definitely would.” he admits.

“I knew it!” | cross my arms over my chest and mock glare at him. He just grins at me, hist good mood apparently impossible to dent. Until it isn’t... his smile dulls slightly.

“I know this isn’t how you would have liked everything to go. Moving in here because spsycho is threatening you, leaving your job and taking over parts of a role you never signed up for. I... I'm sorry.” He frowns. Oh, he must be feeling bad, he actually apologised. | shake my head with a sigh.

“Don’t think like that, things will always happen that we didn’t plan for or volunteer for, we 1/5 144- Celebrate and catch-up just make the best of it, and sure, things happened differently that | might have anticipated, but it's not like | had no choice. This is as much the result of my own decisions as it is the situations that I've found myself in. Don’t apologise when | know you’re doing the best you can. It’s not like you've done the wrong thing.” | remind him.

He stares.

“You are far too accepting. Okay, instead of apologising, I'll just thank you again. No matter what you say about getting a new job later, you have to know that I’m hoping you'll enjoy your role here and want to take on the rest of it.” He reminds me. | nod.

“Yes, | figured. | suppose that’s a possibility too. We will just have to see how things turn out. I don’t think I'll miss my job too much, but that doesn’t mean this one will be any better.” | point out. Bellamy nods his acceptance.

“Soo... will you call and quit your job now? | can arrange for people to go fetch the rest of your things. It might be a little late today, but I'm sure they can get it all tomorrow.” He says.

confidently.

“Why the rush?” | ask. Bellamy shrugs.

“Less tfor you to change your mind?” He suggests. | roll my eyes.

“I've made up my mind. I'm about as stubborn as you are, | doubt I'm going to change it. again so easily.” | remind him and he smiles again.

“Fair enough. Will you call and quit now then?” He persists. | laugh and roll my eyes.

“Okay, okay. Relax.” | placate him.

Amber answers on the first ring when | call Borderline.

“Congratulations!” She says in way of greeting.

“Uh, thanks? Um... Amber... What are you congratulatingfor exactly?” | ask, a little confused. Honestly, when she skips part of the conversation | sometimes find myself asking the questions where with anyone else | would expect it to be the other way around.

“For escaping- | mean, moving on from this nightmare of a place.” She says cheerfully. | 2/5 144- Celebrate and catch-up frown.

“I mean, thanks? But Amber, | didn’t know you disliked it there so much.” | observe. | can practically feel her shrug through the phone.

“It's not where | want to stay forever. I like the type of work, but | think | would rather manage my own place.

Somewhere smaller and less prissy.” She informs me.

“Huh, that would suit you I think. Do you think you'll do it one day?” | ask.

“I hope so. But it takes a lot of money to start something like that. I'm saving, but it’s not easy. | can’t even gamble for it. Oracles aren't allowed to participate in games like that for money. No one would bet against us anyway so it’s useless.” she sighs. | laugh. She's right, | would never bet against her in cards or any similar game.

“Well, | hope you manage it. Letknow if | can help you with it at all.” | offer.

“I will. I suspect | will end up taking you up on that offer someday. And good luck to you too with your new job.

Anyway I'm working tonight so | won't be able to make it for dinner, but thanks for thinking of me. Letknow how it all goes.” She says, clearly starting to wrap up the call.

“Dinner? What... | didn’t invite you to- oh nevermind. Bye Amber, thanks for everything and I'll talk to you later.” “Bye Ry.” She hangs up with a click. Wait, did | actually quit? | don’t think | ever said it... oh well. She got the idea. I'm sure Amber will make sure everything works out. She's good like that. Bellamy is rocking back on his heels, practically bouncing in place.

“I'm going to make scalls. Arrange for all your stuff to get picked up tomorrow. Do you particularly want your furniture or should we leave it behind? | mean this place is obviously already furnished, but if you're particularly attached to anything I'll make sure we can find a place for it.” He rambles, already heading for the door.

“Uh, no | don’t need any of it. It's all cheap stuff anyway. Maggie can keep it and rent the place out furnished if she likes.” | push my damp hair out of my face and follow Bellamy downstairs. He heads to his office and starts making calls and | settle into my recliner. My 3/5 phone vibrates with a message from Harry. | swear it’s like the guy knows whenever something interesting happens and suddenly inserts himself into my life so he can catch up. on the gossip.

Harry- Hey Ry! | was just thinking that we should catch up. Like, in person. Do you have dinner plans? Ryann- | don’t have plans, but givea bit to chat with Bellamy. | don’t know if he has something planned already. It's been a long day.

“Hey Bels? Harry wants to hang out tonight.” I tell him casually. Bellamy scrunches up his face in distaste.

“Really? But Harry is so... he’s just so....” He trails off. Clearly not sure how to answerwithout insulting my friend. | raise an eyebrow and wait. Bellamy is saved from answering by Megan walking in.

“Hey Ry, you're looking better. Did | hear something about Harry? Is he coming over” | would love to meet him properly in person. We talk so much, it would be nice to have a better picture of him.” She says cheerfully.

“That's what we're just trying to figure out. Harry wants to hang out tonight, what do you think Bellamy?” | ask.

He frowns.

“Does he have to chere?” He says with a half groan.

“Well you don’t want us going out anywhere.” Megan reminds him snarkily.

“We could all go, it would be safe if you and Darrien calong right? Please?” | ask, batting my eyelashes at him. Megan catches on and chimes in.

“Yeah Bellamy, con. I'm sure it would be a nice distraction for us all.” She adds.

Oh! And it can be a celebration of my leaving my old job!” | throw out. Okay, that might be at low blow, but I suspect it will work. | can see Bellamy is wavering. He gives in with a sigh.

“Oh fine. We can all go.” He says reluctantly. Megan squeals in excitement and I grin. | should.

4/5 144 Celebrate and catch-up invite Amber too. Oh, wait, no. She already turneddown. Well, | guess she can cnext time. | text Harry back.

Ryann- Spoke to Bellamy and Megan. The winning suggestion right now is that the group of us go out for dinner (Darrien too!) | quit my job today, it's going to be a celebration dinner.

Harry- Excellent. | know just the place. Also CONGRATS!