Page 3 of After All This Time

and you are correct!

honestly, i’m amazed i’m functioning at all right now

SAGE

what’s that quote from alice in wonderland again? “we’re all mad here” it’s not just you

shit, i got to go

my roommate needs my help with something. please remind me why i decided to have someone live with me?

ME

is it because you’re in desperate need of attention and constantly feed off other people’s energy?

SAGE

screw you

ME

you know you love me

SAGE

no, i tolerate you

there’s a difference and what you just said is absolute bullshit BTW!!!

ME

oh, really? i had no idea

SAGE

bye, bitch

ME

bye, loser

Sage is one of my best friends, I’ve known her since high school. We’ve always had the kind of friendship where we’re not afraid to be brutally honest with each other. She doesn’t hold anything back, except her own feelings. Mostly because she’s had this storm cloud that’s been following her for several years.

Bella inserts a forkful of food into her mouth. “Eat up. You need brain food to tackle that novel of yours.”

“It’s not polite to talk with your mouth full.” I press my lips together to stop myself from breaking out into laughter, but it doesn’t work.

She fakes a laugh, scrunching her face. “Well, I can say that sitting at your computer screen for several hours isn’t going to help write your book.”

“Yeah, I know. Also, you're not the one going into overtime with writer's block." I manage a grin, leaning in my seat.

“Good thing I don't write fiction,” she spits out.

I stick both of my middle fingers up at her. “Thank you for that.”

“Sorry. Unlike you, I was never drawn to books or writing them.”

“And that’s okay,” I say before taking a bite of eggs and a piece of fried tortilla. “Holy shit!”