*8:00 PM*
After a (surprisingly) normal and enjoyable meal--frankly, the first real one I've had in weeks (Sadly, I've been living on Lean Cuisine.)--Sam pays the check, telling me, "Well, we have to be back by nine,"
"Which means we'll walk in around 8:55," I finish with a smile.
"Right," he smiles back and leans his arms on the table. "Which means we have an hour to kill before we go back. When's the last time you saw the reflecting pool at night?"
"Oh, it's been years," I reply.
"Shall we, then?"
"We shall." I answer, theatrically.
He drives me over and we sit on a bench at one end overlooking the pool.
"It's gorgeous," I muse and pull my jacket tighter around me to block the chilly breeze.
"It is, isn't it," Sam agrees as he slips his hand into mine.
We sit in content silence for a few minutes while I build up the courage to ask him the question that's been bothering me all day.
"Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think I look like Lisa?"
Sam turns his head to look at me and leans back a little, asking, "Lisa?"
"Yeah...I found out about her today. And I saw a picture of her. She's me, I'm her...it's uncanny." I shrug.
"You do look alike," he understates. "I didn't realize it at first, but Josh pointed it out to me. And by that time, I was already a bit...attached..."
"Is that why you keep calling me "Lisa?""
"Yeah. I guess so."
"It's okay, you know. I realize I'm not making it any easier for you to...forget about her, if that's what you're trying to do, or--"
"Yeah. That's what I'm trying to do."
I smile and gaze at the Washington Monument in the distance.
"We should go back," Sam tells me.
"Yeah. We should."
We remove ourselves from the bench and he wraps an arm around me as we walk to his car.
"Hey, Sam," I ask, "You know, last week, when you, like, totally molested me and stole the five dollars that I rightfully earned?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Do you really like me, or did you just want your money back?"
"I'm not even going to answer that!"
*9:00 PM*
"Why are we watching this in CJ's office?" Donna asks no one in particular.
"Because she's not here. Why use our own space when we can use hers?" Josh replies as he appears in the doorway, bearing a beer in each hand.
"Pfffft," Donna exclaims from her spot on the floor.
I'm lying on the couch, and I sit up a bit when I see Josh hand Sam one beer and keep one for himself.
"When are y'all going to stop ruining your livers?" I preach.
"Yeah. You two should know better," Donna adds, "Especially you, Josh, with your sensitive-"
"Hey!" he cuts her off.
"At least you could have brought us something to drink," I scold and hope I'm not helping start a White House-style battle of the sexes. Oh, who am I kidding? It's been going on forever.
"Toby got up and retrieved his own. Why couldn't you?" Sam asks in defense of the guys, but he's smiling at me. I'll get him back.
"Will you kids shut up already?" Toby pipes up from where he's slowly spinning around in CJ's desk chair.
"We're not kids," Sam corrects.
"Shush. She's on." Then I hear Toby mutter, "ooh...I should stop," under his breath and his spinning comes to a halt.
Donna slides back and leans against the couch. "He's in love with her," she informs me quietly, and I nod knowingly.
Sam overhears us and turns to ask, "Who is?"
"C'mon, guys, I'm trying to watch!" Josh whines.
"Oh well," I sigh, and we all settle in to watch CJ's appearance. So that we can make fun of her about it tomorrow.
As I watch, I run my hand through my hair, and I can't help but think of Lisa Fredrick.
I don't mind remembering. As long as Sam can forget.
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