Out of Milliways: Reestablishing contact

[the_antiangst]

After stretching his memory, Angel had managed to pull up what he thinks is the number he last called Lena at, and the restaurant's phone book turned out to have an area code map in it, so he's got that sorted out as well.
He doesn't know how much she knows, though he's got a feeling she'll be... surprised, at the very least.
Only one way to find out, though... and so he dials.

(Lena previously made an appearance in some backstory Millific.)

Comments

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, in Buffalo... the phone rings.
Lena marks her place in her book, in case it falls closed while she's up, and goes to answer. It'd better not be work; she's lost track of the number of times she's told them she won't cut her vacation short. Their own damn fault for not hiring enough people, the way she sees it.
"Hello?"

[the_antiangst]

It's still a working number, at least. That's a good sign.
"Hi, Lena?"

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

"Yes. May I ask who's calling?"
If they have to check on the name, it's probably not work. Might be a telemarketer, though, and that could be even worse.

[the_antiangst]

"It's Angel."

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

Angel. Angel.
Who does this person think they're messing with? It's bad enough hearing everyone ask why one of her best friends was randomly cut out of that movie, but now they've got to impersonate him?
This is beyond infuriating.
"Whoever you are, hang up and stop fucking with me."

[the_antiangst]

He can practically feel the ice coming down the phone line - always was an impressive trick of hers. Fortunately, he'd thought of something for this eventuality.
"'Well, if I hadn't done that, when were you going to tell him? He deserves to know there's a guy under those damned skirts of yours, Andrew, and before waiting too long to say anything ruins everything. Felt I had to force your hand on the matter.'"
When in doubt, quote an argument only two people were party to.

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

Lena very nearly drops the phone, at that.
She remembers that argument very, very well. Not exactly something you forget, getting into a shouting match with a friend over whether you've wrecked his chances with a guy.
If this isn't actually Angel, it's someone who's done their research, and well. Especially considering she doesn't think that conversation was written down for posterity.
She's not sure what to say, so she doesn't say anything.

[the_antiangst]

"...Lena? You all right?"

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

"I... but... you're..."
Forgive her if it's not up to her usual coherence, one of her friends appears to have come back from the dead.

[the_antiangst]

"Every bit as surprised as you are, honey, believe me. And this isn't permanent, either, so is there any chance you can make it to Santa Fe in the next week?"

[rent-a-characte.livejournal.com]

"...Possibly? I'm on vacation from work in any case, but I'd still be at the mercy of the airports. Give me the number where you're at and I'll call you back when I know?"

[the_antiangst]

So he does, and he waits, and about half an hour later she calls back.
She's landing in Albuquerque two days from now, at 8:30 in the evening if all goes well.
This is about the last thing he ever expected to have the chance to do. Pity he won't be able to introduce her to Mark.