Ci vediamo

4. Repercussions

I unlocked the door and opened for that bitch. To say she was surprised to see me is an understatement.

"What in the world are you doing here?" She asked with a sneer.

"None of your business!" I confidently responded.

"HOW DARE YOU-" She suddenly stopped midway through what I knew was about to be a verbal slap.

I turned around to find Care standing behind me only covered in a short light blue towel, fury burning in her eyes.

"Good afternoon Miss Carol! I'm sorry I'm late today, I had a Family emergency." The bitch said, politely handing me the basket She was carrying.

Care just stood there and said nothing. I felt like a kid of two parents going through a nasty custody battle.

"I thought I made it clear that your habits and prejudices were not welcome around me Rita?" Care asked.

"I'm sorry Carol. It won't happen again." The bitch said visibly taken aback.

Care signaled for me to close the door and I shut the door right in that bitch's stunned face! That felt good!

"Don't ever let anyone disrespect you Harold. Not Rita, not her brother, not anybody. Got it?" Care asked with a serious tone I hadn't heard before.

"Got it."

"I'm gonna take a bath. Feel free to eat, drink, snoop around, pee..." She said pointing to a door right next to her study area.

I chuckled and took the basket to the kitchen. I placed it on a bench and continued washing the dishes from the previous night.

I made breakfast/lunch after I was done cleaning up. It wasn't that hard. Most of the things were already done and delivered from ReKeys. I sat at the dining table reading a book while waiting for Care.

"How is it possible to love books that much? The purpose of this whole thing was so you could relax!"

"I am relaxed! Besides, I was only reading this to pass the time as you finished up."

"Pass the time reading 'Understanding Virology'?"

"Hey, it's your textbook!"

"Touché."

"Why do you even have this?"

"Must be misplaced. Shall we?"

She wore loose black pants and an oversized long sleeved black t-shirt. She'd taken out her eye piercing jewelry and was wearing a black necklace with an oval pendant. I'd never seen it before.

"Beautiful necklace!" I complimented.

"Subtle." She retorted.

"You're paranoid, you know that?"

"Says the person who thinks everyone who's nice to him has bad intentions!"

"Ok. I'll give you that." I said, feeling guilty because I knew she was talking about how I'd been treating her.

"Hey Care?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why are you friends with that- with Rita?"

She put her cup down and looked up at me without saying a word. I was beginning to regret asking.

"Listen carefully Harold. Who I make friends with or don't is not your concern. And I don't believe I owe you an explanation, or do I?" She spoke calmly and yet her tone was strong enough to deliver the message.