More Than A Favor (Elaine and Logan)

As soon as I sent my message to Caleb, my phone rang.

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"Why's that? Is he trying to bang you?" Caleb's straightforwardness caught me off guard.

I burst into laughter. "I wish! But I haven't even met the guy. How could I make that happen?"

"You haven't met him?" Caleb sounded surprised. "So you're asking out of curiosity? Girl, are you saying I have too much free time on my hands?"

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I knew Caleb had been busy, especially since he'd just posted about his billiards challenge. Maybe my request had been a little reckless.

"Forget it if you're too busy. I was just curious. It's not that important anyway."

"Girl, are you trying to guilt-trip me?" Caleb raised his voice, pretending to be angry.

I laughed again. "No, really. If you have the time, check it out. If not, don't worry about it."

"I always have time for you, not for others. I'll look into it," Caleb agreed.

He didn't hang up immediately, and I sensed he had more to say-probably something about Logan's announcement.

I waited quietly. After a pause, he finally said, "Forget it. It's nothing. Call me anytime."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever he had been about to say, it would have been awkward. It was better this way.

"Okay."

Remembering his billiards challenge, I asked, "Caleb, when is your challenge? Give me a ticket-I'll come to cheer you on."

"Haha, sure!" he replied readily.

After hanging up, I drove home. I hadn't slept well due to the restless dreams from the night before, so I planned to catch up on sleep.

When I arrived at my neighborhood, I noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance.

Parking my car, I walked over to see what was going on and spotted an announcement posted at the gate.

Demolition.

The word made my heart sink.noveldrama

Although I had a premonition that this would happen eventually, seeing it confirmed was still hard to accept.

For many, a demolition might mean a surprise fortune. But for me, it felt like the destruction of the happiest and warmest memories of my life.

"Everything has to be moved out within two months. Those who move out early get a $10,000 bonus." "I've been wanting to leave this place for a long time. It's finally happening!"

"I just signed a one-year lease with a tenant. Now I'll have to compensate them if I make them leave 15:57

33.09%

early."

The crowd chattered on, some excited, others frustrated.

I quietly left the crowd and chose to walk home instead of driving.

The neighborhood, though old, carried a charm that was irreplaceable.

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The locust trees flanking both sides of the road were lush and green, just as they had been in my childhood. I remembered how my mom and the neighbors used to pick the flowers when they bloomed and make black locust pancakes.

Summers were spent cooling off under the trees, playing with my mom.

The rockery nearby had been the best playground for me and my friends. We climbed up and down it so much that the rocks had worn smooth over the years.

As I walked, memories flooded my mind. My heart ached at the thought that soon, all of this would be leveled.

With the neighborhood and my parents' home around, I felt as though they were still with me. But w ithout them, I wouldn't know where to place my longing.