Samantha kept typing and responded in a loud voice : "You can't pedal for shit."
"I'll practice." Jeannette said, scratching her nose.
"Where are you gonna get the money from?" She said and locked her phone.
Jeannette spotted a light in the night sky. She then answered: "I've got enough to buy one."
A hand tapped Samantha's shoulder and a voice said: "Send me a copy of that document tonight. I have to take a look at it, again."
Samantha turned around. She didn't find anyone in the staircase and a door behind them closed. The blinking light of an airplane reflected on her glasses. She massaged her jaw and kept on with the conversation: "You don't have time."
Jeannette rubbed the coffee stain on her shirt and blurted: "I'll do something about it."
"This is fucking stupid." Samantha told her then put her hat on.
"I don't know why I told you anything. You're always negative. It's something I really wanna do." Jeannette said, putting her earbuds in her ears.
"Your choice." She stopped talking.
Jeannette asked: "I'm going to Charlie's house tonight. Are you free?"
"No. Didn't you hear her just now?" Samantha picked her phone and read the new message with half-closed eyes.
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She started to check the local map. There was only two paths. One being straightforward and the other a zigzag through alleys.
"Well, this step is over." And she drew a straight line on the map.
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Jeannette checked her watch. It was 7:40 AM.
She started walking up stairs and thought to herself: "Where's he, though?"
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It was 7:30 AM.
She took the main path, looking around for a sign of his presence.
When she arrived at the building, she found his bicycle locked to a pole in the parking, as usual.
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She stopped the bicycle and raised her hand, putting a smile on her face. He left the door open and entered the living room. In ten seconds, he came outside and locked the door. Then he left his house.
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She stopped the timer as he reached the parking. It was raining. Samantha was strolling on the sidewalk breathing on her hands. The trees swayed in the wind.
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Looking at the map for another time, she changed the path at two intersections and sipped her coffee. She was wearing two scarves.
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"Shit, shit, shit. I can't afford another one." Jeannette pulled her body out from under the bicycle.
She entered the building and faced him. He was putting the key in his pocket, looking outside. She took another step and said: "I was going to win this time." He responded: "There's nothing to win," and then he walked towards the stairs. Samantha saw her coming out of the building and waved for her.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
