Ophelia sat in the chaos of her apartment, clothes, papers... and dishes. It was worse than when Olly was here. Scattered coffee mugs, crumb covered plates, crumbled up napkins littered the floor around her, she was ground zero of a trash bomb. Ophelia would think about cleaning; she just didn't know where to start? Move the dishes to the kitchen maybe? She rubbed her face with her hand. She pulled some papers over and started reading through them. Research for her next article... she really needed to focus on it. It was due really soon. Freelancing was harder than she thought. She began to read though it again, slowly pulling her laptop toward her. She quickly pulled up the email for the article.
Excellent.
She could get started on it now. When inspiration hit she needed to run with this. Soon the paperwork was covered in highlighter and pen ink. She got a few paragraphs in when she heard a knock on the door. Who could that be? She didn't recall inviting anyone over. She stood up a brushed day old crumbs off her t-shirt... stepping over a few of the scattered mugs...
She opened the door slowly unsure who she would find on the other side. She felt the color drain from her face. Panic shot through her as she went from a 33 year old reporter to a 19 year old college freshman. There stood Olly... she hadn't invited him over had she? She glanced over her shoulder. She was in for another telling off for sure. His face went neutral to scolding.
"Is it worse than the last time?" He followed her gaze. The tone he was using was new, she hadn't heard him use it before.
"Yeah..." She went to scratch the back of her head, her hair was much graeser than she thought. "I got another few articles..." She tried to explain. "Every time I tried to start it just got a little overwhelmed."
"Well, I would suggest you start with a shower and change of clothes." He chuckled.
"Yeah, I'll do that." She hurried down the hall. She grabbed some sweatpants and a new t-shirt.
The hot water ran down her back and she let out a deep breath. She scrubbed her arms and and shoulders. She washed her hair not once, not twice, but three times. She was really embarrassed.... She washed her face but she was running out of hot water. She really hated that he saw her like this. She dressed slowly and looked at herself in the mirror. She ran a brush through her now clean hair. She walked down her hallway and entered the kitchen.
"You didn't have to do that!" She gasped seeing that Olly had started tackling the mountain dishes. He had ditched his suit coat. He had rolled sleeves of his shirt.
"I know." He smiled while drying off his hands. "But its easier to get something back to zero with help." He pointed out.
"I wish I could get back to zero." She sighed. "I just feel horrible that you've seen me like this." She waved her arms around the apartment.
"I'm pretty sure, you had similar issues during your graduate days."
"Yeah. But you didn't see it." She slightly whined.
"How did you get back on track last time?"
"It was just a cycle. I could keep it clean for a week... then I would focus on writing and then it would start looking like this again. Apparently taking care of myself is the hardest thing to do." She sighed.
"I can come check on you." He offered. "You don't live out of the way?"
"I can't ask you to do that." She said while sheepishly rubbing her arm.
"You're not asking, I'm offering." He pointed out.
"I..." She could feel the color rising in her cheeks. "I just feel awful and embarrassed."
"Everyone needs help Lia." He patted her shoulder.
"I feel like I need consequences." She sighed while shaking her head.
"Like what?" He asked.
"Huh?"
"What kind of consequences?" He asked.
"I..." She faulted.
"Meet me for lunch and bring me a list." He chuckled. "I'm sure we can think of something."
Ophelia finished folding her laundry. She knew that Olly was joking but maybe just having to write out ideas might embarrass her enough to get her act together. She searched. "List of punishments". After seeing things about jail time.. She adjusted her search to familial punishments. She just started getting some things down. She had about five or six when she realized that she had written a spanking.. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly scratched it out. She didn't think that Olly would find that funny. She would admit just having to write them out made her want to make sure kept her place clean.
She spent the morning working on an article. She makes sure to put her coffee cup and her cereal bowl in the dishwasher. She was glad to have the metaphorical kick in the pants. He never would know how much he meant to her. Granted she did not want him to know. She got dressed and folded the list and slid it to her pocket. She really was looking forward to lunch.
Ophelia paused outside the cafe. She smiled at the many hours she had typed away writing her master's thesis. She did not want to know how much money she spent on coffee, lattes, and French fries. She heard the bell ring overhead.
"Lia." Olly waved. It looked like he had ordered some sandwiches. She sat down across from him. "How are you? You look better than yesterday."
"Thanks for that." She picked up a chip. "It was really the kick in the pants I needed."
"Is that on your list, a kick in the pants." He joked.
"No but I could add it." She smiled while sliding it across the table. "It was far too easy for you to give me homework and for me to actually do it." She watched him unfold it.
"Though it seems you gave me your first draft." He folded it back up. "You had something scratched out of the bottom." Ophelia's heart skipped a beat again.
"Yeah, I wrote something when brainstorming, but I didn't think you would have found it funny."
"So this is just the first draft. I'm disappointed." He fake scolded. "Should I make you rewrite it now?" He smiled.
"That would be something you would do, then make me explain why every item on the list." She smiled. "I will admit, having to write them out did help me get my act together. I'm still worried it won't last."
"Again, I can help with that." He smiled. "Though, I will be stopping for a finished list." She stuck her tongue out at him. The rest of the afternoon passed with them just chatting.