The van was 30 minutes late and for Aiden it meant that moving day was already ruined. Grumbling and mumbling, he squatted beside the final box of his precious vinyl collection, a treasure of early press Velvet Undergrounds, Hendrixes, Talking Heads and Joy Divisions, interspersed with the occasional Nine Inch Nails, Swans and Aphex Twin. With his tongue out and up to the side, he shut it with duct tape, adding a couple more layers just in case. At the end of the hallway, Cassandra was giving one last check to the windowed cabinet her Mom handed her down a few years past. She patted and squeezed the thick layer of bubble wrap that was cradling it, and it seemed to take the hit alright.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aG5y51GZw
"Where did you find these people anyway? You know how much I hate it when somebody can't keep an appointment."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV65dy98tx
"I mean, does it matter?" Cassandra shrugged and opened her arms. "They're on the way, we managed to pack our entire lives in time and we found a truck that's big enough to fit everything in one trip. Don't go there, alright?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHlQs42N9d
Aiden closed his eyes and sighed, starting at a high pitch and quickly descending. "Alright. If they damage these, I swear..."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPOmh9Jn1X
Cassandra's thin nostrils let out a snort of laughter, a playful tone made of sweetness and mockery. "If they ruin your collection you go ahead and teach them a lesson." She got close to him and rubbed his hunched back. "It's going to be ok, I promise. Tomorrow morning we're gonna put all of this behind us anyways."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPZKqNN1Zv
"Yeah, maybe." He straightened up, surveyed the landscape of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap structures then scratched the back of his head. "Now I'm thinking where we'll fit all this crap."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeIrmh1SXl
"What do you mean, where? I know it's been a few weeks but have you already forgotten how big the place is? That's the whole point of us moving. I bet you we'll have plenty of space to spare. We measured everything. The numbers don't lie."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpjw6cdLqB
"I suppose. I'll believe it when I see it. Worst case scenario we'll throw half of your stuff out. I'll take your favorite clothes and give them to charity."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe9Q5gX6Ef
Cassandra's voice filled with playful indignation. "Mr. Aiden Sinclair, is that the future you envision for me? Blandly dressed with nowhere to go? I thought my clothes were for your enjoyment, too."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmzsbrBGuA
His lips curled into a mischievous grin. He mirrored her mocking tone. "What can I say, Ms. Cassandra Rivera. I'm a humanitarian. You gotta spread the love.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvC8KAPLSp
"I'm about to spread your love all over this hallway, tonto!" Her Puerto Rican heritage always emerged in moments of excitement. She smacked his shoulder with a fist, the impact light but with a hint of a sting. They shared a big laugh. Luckily the doorbell was louder than that.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12jxdUNRQe
"Right on cue!" she teased. Aiden's eyes narrowed at her, biting into her pixie freckled face.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEYYGYI8UL
"Listos?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbCCWYTogd
She opened the door, sent some hellos out into the staircase and the moving crew poured into their soon to be ex-apartment.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhM5KQ0ea0
