Malik turned the key and felt the deadbolt of his front door lock into place. He turned to walk toward his car and saw Callie leaning on the driver’s side door.
“Can I ride with you today?” she asked.
“Shouldn’t you be done with tests?” Malik asked.
“Shouldn’t you be done getting up at the crack of dawn?” Callie shot back. “Less attitude and more driving.”
Callie was of average height and had a thin, frail frame. Her long, jet-black hair and hazel eyes attracted a lot of unwanted attention.
Malik rolled his eyes. “How’s your mom doing?” he asked as he unlocked the door.
“Eh… not well. She’s drinking more. It’s impossible to get through to her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Malik said as he took off his sports coat and was prepared to place it in the back seat, only to see Callie there. “What am I, Lyft?”
Callie only smiled as Malik placed his sports coat in the front passenger seat, then started the engine.
“Have you talked to Aunt Lily yet?” Callie asked.
“Not yet.”
“Why not? She said that she was more than willing to help out in any way. And you know that she means it.”
“I know. But I’m just—”
“You’re just what?” Callie interrupted. “Collecting more data?”
“Exactly. We need to be certain before we file any paperwork. I don’t want anyone to steal our idea.”
“Sure. I’m glad that Dr. Patel likes you enough to give you a job, but c’mon, man. You’re sitting on the golden ticket. You just need to cash it in.”
“Whatever,” he said. “Why are you going to the office today anyway? You don’t have an appointment.”
“I’m not going to his office; I’m going to the hospital.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to mind my own business,” Callie said with a smile.
“Baaahhh! Why do I put up with you?”
“That’s easy, boy genius. You don’t have any other friends who expect great things from you. Well, you don’t have any other friends for that matter.”
“You mean, I don’t have any other friends who get on my nerves as much as you do?”
“Well, what are friends for, if not to annoy you?” She smiled. “In all seriousness, are you coming to volunteer at Mason Mill Park this weekend?”
“I—”
Before Malik could get a word out, Callie continued, “Before you give me some lame excuse, remember that I know that you have absolutely nothing else to do.”
“That’s not true,” Malik said. “I could have a date or something.”
“Oh really?” Malik saw Callie staring at him in the rearview mirror. “You asked her out?”
“Maybe. What if I did?”
“I’m calling bull. So, as I was saying, Ronnie’s going to be there, and I’m sure he’d be happy to have your help. My parents will also be there, of course, and so will Aunt Lily.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Callie.”
“Why not?”
“Your mom isn’t my biggest fan.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Malik felt how untrue they were. Malik and Callie had been the closest of friends ever since they were little.
“You know that’s not true,” Callie snapped. “My parents think of you as a son.”
“I know.” Malik focused hard on the road. “I don’t know why I said that.”
“I do. And you need to stop. Just let it go. No one is blaming you, so stop trying to carry a burden that’s not yours to carry. I got sick. People get sick every day.”
“But I—”
“Get over it, please,” Callie said.
The two rode in silence for a few minutes until Callie let out a laugh. “I can’t believe you said that. If my mom heard you say that, she’d tackle you and smother you with hugs and kisses. Then I’d be forced to choke on my dry heave.”
“Don’t be gross,” Malik said as they both laughed.
“Your dad’s going to be in town Saturday?” Malik asked. “That’s surprising.”
“I know, right? He’s been buried in work, but he’s finding a way to make it happen.”
“That’ll be nice. My mom hasn’t mentioned anything, but I’m sure my parents will be there too.”
“Dude, your mom doesn’t miss anything.” Callie paused and then said, “So…”
“What?” Malik said.
“Are we going to talk about the elephant in the…” Callie motioned around her. “Car?”
“What now?”
“This car. It’s like the first-generation electric vehicle.”
“That’s right; it’s a classic.”
“I don’t think that’s the word I’d use.” Callie brushed her hand against the ceiling of the vehicle. The cloth that lined the car’s ceiling was detaching and hanging down. “You should do something about this before it gets worse and blocks your visibility.”
“I’ve got it under control.” He opened the glove box and pulled out a box of thumbtacks. “Here,” he said as he handed the box to Callie, “put a couple of these up.”
“Ha.” Callie laughed. “No way will I support your stubbornness. I maintain that you need to fix it properly or get a new car.”
“You’re the only one complaining about it.” At the next stoplight, Malik turned around, pushed a couple of thumbtacks in the ceiling, and secured the material in place. “See, all better.”
“That’s a shame,” Callie said. “If this were Lyft, you’d be getting a one-star rating for having a hazard for a vehicle.”
“You know I can’t afford anything else right now.”
“My dad told you that you can—”
“I said no, Callie,” Malik snapped. “I don’t want your old car.”
“Okay, okay.” Callie crossed her arms.
“What are you doing at the hospital?” Malik tried again.
“Mindya,” Callie said.
“What?”
“Mind ya business,” she said with a smirk.
“You’re so shady these days. Are you going to see Ronnie?”
Callie’s expression changed, the smirk fading away. “I’m just worried about him.”
Malik heard the concern in Callie’s voice.
Callie continued, “You know, this isn’t easy, and he goes out a lot.” Then the look in her eyes changed, and a smile returned as she sought eye contact with Malik in the rearview.
“Oh no,” Malik said, “I know that look.”
“What?” Callie asked as she raised her eyebrows in a weak attempt to look innocent.
“That’s the look you get when you want to ask for something,” Malik said. “Out with it.”
“Can you keep an eye on Ronnie?”
“I see Ronnie all the time,” Malik said, knowing that’s not what she meant.
“No, I mean, spend time with him. Make sure he’s okay. He’s trying to carry too much.”
“I am keeping an eye on him. He’ll be okay. Promise.”
Callie smiled.
“You, on the other hand,” Malik said, “I’m not so sure about. When are you gonna tell me where you’ve been sneaking off to?”
With a sigh, Callie said, “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to say anything.”
Malik nodded in agreement.
“I’ve been interviewing for a new job. It will be a pretty big deal if I get it. I’ll get to travel all over the place. I want it so badly.”
“That’s awesome. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you with interview prep.”
“It’s a secret, so you can’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.”
Callie stared at him in the rearview mirror.
“I swear.”
“Good,” Callie said. “Besides, how can you have time to help me prepare for my interviews when you need to figure out what you need to do to take your invention to the next level.”
“Our invention,” Malik corrected as he pulled into the parking lot.
“No, Malik,” Callie said in a calm, sincere tone. “It’s your invention now.”