The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 105: As Sophie turned back towards the office she wondered if she could order a replacement lid or if she would actually need to buy a new bottle.
As Sophie turned back towards the office she wondered if she could order a replacement lid or if she would actually need to buy a new bottle. She took two steps when Kristen stepped out in front of her and smacked into her. Sophie heard the lid of her water bottle crack and gasped as water spilled all over her. She looked down as Kristen emptied her own bottle onto Sophie. She saw Kristen deliberately shake out the last few splashes on her before turning the bottle right side up, dispelling any notion of it being accidental.
“Oops.” Kristen said, her tone falsely concerned.
“What is wrong with you,” Sophie asked. She held her still half full water bottle away from her as she used her other hand to pull her dripping shirt away from her skin.
“That is a question I would like to hear answered as well,” a voice said. They both looked over and saw Sean and Evers standing in the door to Mr. Evers office. To Sophie it looked almost a if Evers was attempting to hid behind Sean.
“It was an accident,” Kristen said. “I just wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“Ms. Daniels,” Sean said. “Why don’t you see if you can dry off and I will speak to you later. Please come up to my office when you …” He seemed unsure how to finish the sentence.
“Are not dripping?” Sophie said. “Luckily it is just water so the bathroom hand dryer should help. She turned and walked towards the bathroom.
“Ms. Conners if you will join me in my office now,” Sean said. He gestured to the elevator and Kristen followed him to it.
“It was completely an accident,” Kristen said sullenly. Sophie heard her as the elevator doors closed. Sophie headed to the bathroom. Once there, she set her water bottle on the counter in front of the sink and unbuttoned her blouse slipping the sodden garment off. Her skin was damp and there was a small damp spot on the waistband of her skirt and her bra was moist, but the shirt took the brunt of the water. Sophie rung the shirt out and wondered what Kristen could have been thinking.
‘I don’t even know what set her off,” she thought. ‘The down side of not eavesdropping I suppose.’ When she had wrung as much water as she could out, Sophie held the shirt under the hand dryer. The hot air helped to dry the shirt. Sophie had to keep shifting it about as it was a very hot direct heat. She wanted her shirt dry, she didn’t want to cause a scorch mark doing it. When it was dry enough to wear, she put it back on and emptied out the water from her bottle. She left the bathroom, dropped the bottle off on her desk and went upstairs to find out what the fall out would be.
Ten til Midnight 