#anywhere

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A phone call.

"Earl? August. She almost got me! No, I don't think so. She snuck up on me! The library. Well I wasn't thinking about it, I needed to fix my pen and.....No, I don't think so. Well I tried to distract her with tea and that didn't work so I just.... I just left. Well she knows SOMETHING is up, she asked about it! 'A Grand Conspiracy' she said, and that -you- were plotting and that she doesn't want a birthday party and that you, and her Uncles and Delores here and the boggans here, I assume, are -plotting.- No! No, I didn't tell her anything. I think. But she's sad and mad at me now. I know. I won't. Ok, just.... be careful? It's not worth it if it hurts her. I know. Ok. I will. Right. Bye."

Earl thanks him, winces, and goes to seek Zara out.

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Zara's phone gets a text

TXT: bzzt Zara. It's Earl. How are you?

But even as he texts, he moves.

Sometime later: bzzt Fine.

Txt: Bzzt Can we talk? Face to face, please?

bzzt Nothing to talk about. Busy.

Bzzt Zara. August told me you were hurt. That's the last thing I wanted. Please, let us talk

bzzt I'm fine.

bzzt Please, tell me where to find you ?

bzzt I want to be alone.

bzzt I'll respect that. How long should I leave you alone?

bzzt I don't know

bzzt I don't like being lied to.

bzzzt LIED to? When did anyone lie?

bzzt Everyone is!

He reviews his texts from August trying to figure things out

then goes back to hers.

bzzt Hiding things, talking behind my back!

bzzt But patting me on the head and saying that oh, all of you love me and would never hurt me but not TELLING me!

bzzt Zara... do you think this is about your BIRTHDAY???

bzzt Not anymore, but it is SOMETHING.

Bzzt Yes. It is something. But not your birthday. I'm asking for a bit of trust.

bzzt I know everybody is planning something and it is a secret

bzzt That's all everyone says!

bzzt Trust you, nobody would hurt me, how dare I not like this!

bzzt No one said how dare you not like this. At least I didn't

bzzt No, just that I should be a good girl and trust you and not worry my pretty little head!

he winces and a few rude responses come to mind, but he takes a breath.

Bzzt Okay. You are putting words in my mouth that I would never say. let alone think

bzzt All everybody is saying is to shut up and trust!

Bzzt No one told you to shut up! Or even be quiet. And I've earned your trust.

Bzzt Or THOUGHT I did

bzzt And I look a fool, because everybody knows but me!

bzzt Now you too!

bzzt _Not everyone knows the details, thank you but if you truly feel ashamed by this. I am sorry. I will tell you all about it NOW if you want. _

bzzt You don't understand at all.

bzzt I guess i don't. I don't understand how you can think such horrible things about me. I don't understand how you can put words in my mouth I never said. I don't understand how I bend over backwards to try to make things right, realizee I've done it wrong, try to make amends and apologize, and all you do is tell me how mean I am and how cruel and what an ass I'm being. I don't understand. I don't understand. But I LOVE you and I'm TRYING to understand

His knuckles go a lighter shade of blue and he almost feels like snapping the smart phone. Deep breaths.

bzzt I didn't say that

bzzt Well, I didn't say the other stuff but that doesn't seem to matter. Look. Clearly I fucked up. This is stressing you out. Let's talk, face to face, your choice where, and I will tell you everything. It's not worth anything if it's going to hurt you

bzzt i want to be alone

Deep Breathe in, hold for a few seconds, release. Deep Breathe in, hold for a few seconds, release.

Bzzt Well. That is your choice and I will try to respect it. Do you want to hear the 'secret' by t ext then? NOW?

bzzt GO AWAY

"Oh she did not just..." a stream of cursing where's at, but at least it's not on the phone. It is a mix of yidishisms, Iowa profanity, and hipster snarl with just a touch of Shakespeare terminology. Folks walk by, one man stares a bit too long and Earl's like "You want a piece of this? JUUUUST KEEP STARING!"

The guy scoots from the t all angry art guy

Another deep breath, but hardly controlled, seething...and he types!