Welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Each morning I spend fifteen minutes writing on a singular story line. Each morning starts with the last line of the previous day. The goal is to get a (very) rough draft out of the simple story idea and to avoid letting the story idea languish in limbo forever, actually writing it out. This is the third year I have done this writing experiment and each year I learn just a little bit about myself and the way I write as well as creating a framework for the story. But without further ado…
Day 151: “No problem,” Sebastian said. “So who are Toby and Lisa?”
“No problem,” Sebastian said. “So, who are Toby and Lisa?”
“Lisa was my best friend and Toby was my boyfriend. It turned out they were seeing each other behind my back for the last year and a half.”
“Ouch,” Sebastian said as the car inched forward though the heavy traffic.
“Yeah,” Gwen said. “It was a big ouch. Then I found out they both still expected me to take care of the planning details for them despite everything.”
“Really,” Sebastian said.
“Yeah, Lisa called and expected me to plan the wedding.”
Sebastian snorted a laugh, his face crinkling up with amusement. Gwen smiled. “It does sound ridiculous when I say it out loud like that.”
“I think it would sound ridiculous even not said out loud,” he replied.
Gwen nodded. She leaned back against the back of the car seat. Since her arrival she hadn’t really thought about Toby and it had been weeks since she thought about Lisa. ‘Ever since I blocked her and got her to stop calling using her mother’s number.’
As she thought about it, Gwen realized the date Lisa set for the wedding was fast approaching. Soon Lisa and Toby would be married. Gwen tried to decide how she felt about that. As she thought about it, she realized there was no real emotion running through her. The anger and hurt faded and now there was nothing. It was just a fact. Rain is wet, snow is cold and Toby and Lisa are getting married.
‘I guess that means I am over Toby,’ she thought. Lisa was the part that hurt the most though. Gwen chewed on her lip as she thought about Lisa. Somehow losing her as a friend no longer hurt either. ‘I wonder what that says about me.’
Sebastian wound his way through traffic and pulled up in front of the apartment building. Gwen decided not to worry too much about her no longer feeling anything about losing Lisa as a friend and said goodbye to Sebastain before leaving the car and heading upstairs.
As she was a little later than usual, everyone else had already arrived home and the food for dinner had just been delivered. “Ethiopian,” Margaret told her when she asked. Gwen nodded and went to her room to drop things off before returning and helping to set out the meal.
“I had a talk with your father today,” Margaret began as they filled their plates. “We talked about you staying here and he thinks that if you are happy here it might be best. He has decided to see the house and move to something smaller now that it is just him,” Margaret looked at her, gauging her reaction.
Gwen nodded slowly. “I can see that,” she said. “It was a bit big for the three of us but it was in a good school district and centrally located but if he doesn’t have to worry about me being in school and its just him in the house I could see him wanting to downsize.”
“I think he is moving into an apartment near his office,” Margaret said. “The furniture that isn’t moving with him will be going to storage, including the furniture you aren’t bringing, but he thinks it would be good for you to have your things.”
“Does he know when he is going to put the house up for sale?” Gwen asked.
“We discussed timelines and he will wait until your current classes are complete. You should be able to get down there and pack then come back easily. I’ve looked at some timelines. And I know from a few things Jenny said that Mihael needs to get some things from home before he starts classes in the fall, perhaps we can arrange for he two of you to go together, especially if you plan on bringing your car back.”
“It would be nice to have,” Gwen said.
Ten til Midnight 