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 240: “Gym’s closed,” he told her as he walked over. “But I’m guessing that’s not a priority.”
“Gym’s closed,” he told her as he walked over. “But I’m guessing that’s not a priority.”
“Not so much today,” Sophie replied. He looked past her into her apartment, saw the mess and let out a low whistle.
“You think Kristen did this?” He asked. “Kind of reminds me of something she did to her roommate in collage, just on a bigger scale.”
“Is that so,” the officer said. He was halfway down the corridor and turned around, his sharp ears picking up the little tidbit.
“Um, yeah,” Kevin replied.
“Do you know the details?” he asked.
Kevin shrugged. “Kristen always had a temper and when she didn’t get her way she tended to react poorly. I think her roommate refused to let her borrow a dress or something like that and she kind of trashed all of her roommate’s things. Kristen’s family reimbursed her for everything and a little extra for the trouble I believe. I doubt there were any charges filed.”
“And the roommate’s name?” The officer asked.
Kevin gave it along with the year and the name of the university. The officer nodded and when Kevin could provide no more information he left.
“Man I hadn’t thought of that in a while,” Kevin said
“You’d thing she’d grow out of something like that,” Janine said.
“You’d think,” Sophie said.
“Do you need help tidying up?” Janine asked.
“I think I should be able to get it myself, but I think I may need a ride to the store. I’m not sure what is left in the fridge that isn’t destroyed.”
Sophie looked to Kevin. “I don’t think I’ll need a ride today either,” she said. I am calling in and using personal leave, or a sick day, whichever this falls under.”
“Yeah I’d say someone was sick, but I don’t think it is you.”
Kevin wished her well and told her to call him if she needed anything. “Even if it is just to pick up take out on my way home,” he said as he headed off.
Sophie thanked him and Janine offered a hug. “I’ll check in later,” she said. “We can always commiserate over dinner if you need.”
“Thanks,” Sophie said. Janine left and Sophie went into the apartment. She locked the door but with the cracked doorframe it didn’t fit too well. Her building manager promised to send someone to fix it before he left but for know Sophie felt better slipping the deadbolt, even if it wasn’t that much protection. She turned away from the door and started surveying the damage.
Ten til Midnight 