There went a buzzing in my back pocket. It was Zee Phone. I reached for it after buttoning my pants. Heather tried to swat my hand away, but I dodged her as I stepped back out of the bathroom and into the corridor leading back to the kitchen.
            "Hello," I said into it.
            "Hello, Pico?"
            Heather walked hurriedly beside me. "Who is it?" she mouthed. I poked out my tongue in response to her.
            "Yeah. Who is this?" I finally said back to the phone.
            "Umm.... It’s the Mayor."
            "Oh, May-or," I exaggerated the syllables so Heather was sure to hear. She raised her eyebrows at me in a pang of guilt and picked up her pace to move along ahead of me."I didn't recognize your number. Where're you calling from?"
            "Umm...I'm in jail."
            "Like in the jail or just like at the building for mayor stuff?"
            "Umm...," her voice went into a bit of a whisper. "I'm in the jail, like locked up."
            "Oh..."
            "And they are only letting me make a local call, so I called you since I know you can get in touch with Asha and I thought maybe....oh god...."
            Despite my agitation and sudden flashback to the night of the Ball, I faked sincerity. "What's the matter? Are you okay? Why are you in jail?"
            "It’s a long, long story...but really it’s just a misunderstanding. Nothing that can't be worked out. But umm...I really need for you to get in touch with Asha for me. She'll know what to do."
            "Well Mayor, I would, it’s just that I'm not at the moment speaking with Asha. I mean, we're not really in a fight, we're just not...close...right now, so I don't think I would be much help." My crafted sincerity was starting to wear thin.
            "Okay...but I just really need you to get in touch with Asha for me, okay?" she replied sternly.
            I let the phone go silent. I didn't say a word.
            "Hello?... Hello, Pico?.... Hello? Please don't hang up...please don't hang up...."
            "Okay, look, I'll call her, but that's it. Whatever happens after that is on you."
            "Thank you so much, thank you. So you gonna call her like right now?"
            "Yes, Christ! I'm calling as soon as you hang up!"
            "Okay...okay. Thanks! Bye."
            I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket. The Mayor and her bullshit could wait.
            Back in the kitchen, Veronica and Christabella both watched the television, leaning on the big island that filled the room, munching orange cheese curls; their chewing synchronized. Heather sank back into the wall of the steel refrigerator as I approached.
            "So what's happening?" she said timidly.
            "With what?" I replied aggressively pulling open the fridge door and searching for a drink.
            "Uh...with the Mayor?" she hesitated.
            "Why? You worried?" I sneered taking a big gulp of a bottle of water I had found.
            "Pico, don't be like that. I never got a chance to explain what happened that night. It's not what you think."
            "Whatever it is, it doesn't bother me. You do what you want. We've got no ties," I said coldly, turning away from her and looking to Veronica.
            "Pico..," she yearned. Heather reached for my hand but I shook it loose without looking back at her and found Veronica's backside instead. I grabbed V tight around her waist from behind.
            "Hey!" Veronica screamed. "Where you been? I missed you!" she said turning around to face me and planting a big kiss on my cheek.
            "No place," I said.
            "Well, I've got to get on a plane in about an hour and half and I still need to take a bath so I'm gonna head out. You want to go with me or are you staying here?"
            "Uh," I said, turning to Christabella, "I don't want to be rude or anything. You don't mind if I take off with Veronica, do you?"
            "Oh, no," Christabella said. "You're done for the day."
            "Okay, cool," I said. I winked at Veronica and led her back to the door we had entered. I opened it and there was Huey, ready and waiting. He helped us into the cart and sent us on our way.
            I never saw Heather again.
           

Tags: Pico