Just Another Day

zipped through the intersection in a left turn a little too fast. It
drifted a touch closer to the curb than the roads were designed for. Just a
touch. On any other day, Charlotte wouldn’t have noticed, but it’d rained
earlier. So while she didn’t notice the drifting car, Charlotte was more
than aware of the sheet of water it kicked up and drenched her with. As she
was, vainly, trying to clean off a touch, to her surprise the car actually
stopped. She’d firmly been convinced that the driver responsible would just
keep going, but no, he’d stopped. She peered at the man climbing from the
small car.

Apologizing profusely, Charlotte realized it was the file clerk
from the office, Billy. Gangly in his nineteen-year-old frame, he’d not
quite grown into ‘Bill’ or ‘William’. His curly dark hair was rather
disheveled from zipping about in his car, the tie and button up shirt
replaced by an ‘Obey Giant’ tee. Snapping to, Charlotte listened as Billy
offered to take her home and pay for whatever cleaning was
needed. Charlotte assured him that it wasn’t a problem, that she’d just
lived a couple of blocks up from the corner. Billy was insistent and after
some odd glances their way, she relented if just to avoid being a public
spectacle.

Quickly they arrived at her building, and Charlotte walked up to
her apartment, Billy in tow. He was still apologizing and finally she told
him firmly that it really was alright. He seemed to get the message and
finally relaxed as they got to her door. Billy said goodbye then stopped
before completing his turn to leave. Not feeling the short ride to her home
was enough; he offered to cook Charlotte dinner. Sensing a convoluted day
at the office tomorrow if she refused Charlotte pointed him in the
direction of her small kitchen and went to change out of her muddy clothes
and take a shower.

She walked out twenty minutes later to find dinner was