The next day, Stanley entered The Purple Spoon, as the first thing that caught his eye was a conversation between a worried Jordan and a stern boss.

“Please, sir?” Jordan pleaded. “I want to get more time off!”

“Look, sorry, but I can't do that.” The boss replied. “Hilary may be sick, but we don’t have a lot of workers here, so you’re going to have to work late this time.”

“Oh, man... alright.” Jordan gave up and walked off with his head hung low.

He greeted the few employers still present before going back to work.

“Hey Jordan, how’s it going?” An employee greeted as Jordan walked along.

“Oh, it’s going great,” Jordan replied, keeping his cheerful persona in front of others.

“Hi there.” Stanley did the same thing.

“Hello... um, Simon?” The employee guessed.

“It’s Stanley.” He corrected him.

“Oh, sorry.”

Jordan overheard the conversation and couldn’t help but laugh. He made jokes involving Stanley while doing a shuffling dance.

Stanley’s eyes twitched. The irritation around this guy grew. He wasn’t the only one, as some other employees became sick of the jokes he made.

Stanley couldn’t stand it anymore as he marched over and pushed Jordan to the floor. “Will you shut up?”

“Ow!” Jordan thundered. “What the heck is your problem?” He snapped, rubbing his head in annoyance.

Stanley ignored the question by asking another question. “Why do you even have my body and look like me? I’ve been wondering for a while, but nobody said anything. I was afraid of being considered crazy and delusional!”

“Like I’d know to care, or even tell you.”

“You’re lying; you’re hiding something from me, I know it!”

“Did you not hear what I—? Ugh.” Jordan slapped his forehead in disgust.

The other employees, including the boss, circled the two as they argued and fought with each other.

“Do you know about this text?” Stanley continued as he pulled out his phone. “What was that about threatening to steal my room away?”

“What are you saying?” Jordan couldn’t recall. “When—? I don’t remember texting you; I don’t even have a phone. And how did you even get—?”

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“Man, you’re a horrible liar, aren’t you?”

“No, you’re the crazy one making stuff up! And I swear, if you call me that one more time, I will put your head through that wall!”

“Just try it, punk!”

Lightning sparks grew between the two as they glared at one another. The ambiance got darker and colder around them. Finally, the boss stepped in to split them apart.

“Hey now, knock it off you two!” He roared. “You guys have a lot of work to do, and you’re disrupting all the customers, so break it up, or else you’re both fired!”

Silence filled the room shortly after. Stanley and Jordan eventually nodded in agreement. They turned their heads away in disgust and walked off in opposite directions.

.-.-.-.

Time passed by. After work, Stanley headed to a pharmacy to buy some medication and food to bring to a sickly Hilary. He went upstairs to her room; standing beside the door, he inhaled and breathed out, trying to steady his heartbeat.

He then knocked softly at the door, extending his hand to grab the knob and move the doorway open. Stanley was about to ask if he could enter when he saw Hilary lying on the desk, blood soaking in her bandages. Looking at her motionless body, Stanley feared the worst.

Stanley dropped his stuff and rushed over to check up on her. She sat upright before he reached her. She sighed and touched her bandaged covered arms.

“Are you alright?” Stanley asked. “What happened to you?”

“I'm fine,” Hilary replied. “I... accidentally hurt myself while writing in my journal.”

“Is that why you have bandages? You sure I shouldn’t call—?”

“It’s okay, Stanley, I don’t need help.”

Stanley looked over and spotted a pink journal book with lovely cursive wording written on it. “Hey, what are you writing?” He couldn’t help but ask.

Hilary slammed her hands to close the journal and glared at him. “None of your business!” She snapped.

Stanley jumped back and shrieked. “I didn't know what I was thinking there. I’m sorry!” Stanley exclaimed.

Hilary calmed down and sighed. “It’s fine. I didn’t mean to get nasty and overreact. I’m sorry too.”

“It’s okay.”

“So, what brings you here?”

“Oh, right!” Stanley walked back to pick up the bags containing Ampivid medicine and other snacks to hand to her. “I brought you these in hopes of getting you better.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet, thank you!” Hilary chirped as she took the stuff off his hands.

“You’re welcome...”

“I’m sure I’ll improve after taking these; thanks to you, now if you’re done, could you please leave? I want to get some rest.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll see you later. Hope you get better...” Stanley said as he walked toward the door.

“Same here, and thanks again.”

As Stanley headed back to his room, he reached into his pant pockets for the keys. His eyes widened in surprise when he realized the keys were missing! He looked back down the corridor, confident that they would be lying along his path.

“Jordan...” He hissed, then clenched his fists upon thinking and guessing about where it could’ve gone. He stormed over to Jordan’s room and banged on the door. “Hey, you, open the door now! I know you have my keys, so hurry and let me in!”

Nobody responded. Stanley grit his teeth and kicked the door open. To his surprise, no one was inside; the room was clean, with barely any objects in sight. The windows were open as the mahogany curtains blew in the wind. While looking around, besides the open windows, the one other thing that caught Stanley’s eyes was a note on the coffee table. He picked up the paper and read it.

“Meet me at the hotel, if you dare.” Stanley read out loud. He squeezed the paper in his grasp and glared at the windows across from him.

Is he trying to lead me to a fight? Stanley wondered. Well, if that’s the case, then bring it on.