Nikki's phone rang. She winced inwardly at the bad timing and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Nikki," Isaac said cheerfully. "How you doing?"
"Oh, good, good," Nikki replied, standing up from the couch. "How was the wedding?"
Really, really bad timing.
"Oh good. I'm wondering how long before Tay and Nat decide that they can't handle living states apart though," Isaac chuckled.
"That's great. Listen, I'm sorry, but I need to cut this short. I'm a little busy at the moment."
"Oh."
"Work, you see."
"Oh, okay. Well, I just called to check in, and to find out when you'd like to go out again? There's this movie -"
"Look, this new job is taking up an awful lot of time," Nikki cut in. "I really don't think I'm going to be able to go."
"Oh."
"In fact," Nikki continued, gazing up at the man that the Fudge Gang had asked her to get close to, and putting an adoring expression on her face, "it's probably better if you leave me out of your plans for awhile."
Silence.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Isaac asked softly.
"Yes," Nikki hated to say it, but she had been thinking about it for sometime: her position in the Fudge Gang was important to her, and so was this mission, and a boyfriend in the picture would definitely hinder that.
"I see..."
"Listen," Nikki interupted, deciding she really didn't want to hear his response, "I really have to go now. Bye."
She hit the 'hang up' button on her phone, and turned it off.
"Who was that?"
"Oh, friend of mine," she replied. "Trying to plan a camping trip."
"Ahh, you don't like camping?"
"I'd rather be with you."
He chuckled.
"And do you consider me a job?"
Again, Nikki winced inwardly. She tried to be so careful about what she said to Isaac, knowing he would hear.
"Well," Nikki replied, batting her eyes. "I am a model... and I have been... modelling... for you."
He laughed appreciately, and Nikki returned to her seat next to him.
***********
In another part of Tulsa, Isaac heard the click of Nikki hanging up on him in his ear before he'd even finished his sentance. He stared into the receiver for a moment, then slowly hung it up.