Back Talking & BackHanding

Working

Sean POV

Rick took me to the cabin that Ari and I had been staying out and we spoke for a little but he left afterwards. I hadn't bothered to explain the story to Ari. Why did she need to know every detail? She didn't. Anyways, the cabin Rick had let me rent was somewhat similar to the one he'd given me to stay in. It had one bedroom with two beds, a bathroom, a kitchen. But it was much smaller and had no yard.

I walked in and through my stuff and myself onto the bed. Boy was I tired. Later on, I finally got myself to get up and put on some sleeping clothes. An middle aged woman (maybe a little older than my mom), named Abelina, knocked on the cabin door. She always brought me some type of food because I was too lazy to cook. Paresseux, she called me. Lazy in French. I opened the cabin door and greeted her kindly with a smile.

"Hello, Ms Abelina." I said. Abelina held two large glass bowls. They had foil over the top of them and had the same thing in them. I raised my eyebrow. "Hello Paresseux," She said as she pushed me aside and walked in. I looked at her strangely. Not at the fact that she invited herself in but I was still confused as to why she brought so much of the same dish. I was only going to stay for two or three nights and one bowl would have done me just fine.

"Um," I closed the door and walked into the kitchen where Abelina had went. "What's that?" I asked. "This? Ah, this is Mélange de salade de pâtes Français pays. Country French Pasta Salad Mix. Very good Paresseux." I nodded as she uncovered the foil from one of the bowls, watching as she swept through the pantry looking for maybe a bowl and fork.

"Yes, and it looks very good. But why so much? I'm sure one bowl will last me Ms Abelina." I say. The dish looked carefully prepared and cooked to perfection and I'm sure it tasted delicious but, I still didn't need THAT much food. "You're très maigre, Paresseux. Very Skinny. And all this isn't for you." Abelina said.

I scratched my head and blinked. "Okay, so are you joining me for dinner or something?" I sat down on the stool next to the counter and watched her scoop some Pasta into a small wooden bowl. It was neatly shaped and looked hand made. Many of the things were hand made and I thought that was pretty neat.

"Look, Paresseux, I'm flattered but aren't I a little too old for you?" Abelina smirked as she looked me in the eye. Abelina was very kind and had a nice sense of humor. She was strict and was sorta starting to act like she was my grandma. I never knew my grandma so I thought it was pretty cool. I chuckled and shook my head. "Im out of your league anyways." I joked and Abelina laughed.

She stuck the fork into the Pasta and slid the bowl over to me. "I want you to take the other bowl home to your little wife." Was she talking about Ari? Ari was not even my friend so how could she be my wife? "Whoa, um, Ms Abelina she's not my wife." I say blowing the steaming hot pasta and taking a bite. Wow, French food is good.

"Okay, you're girlfriend." Abelina went over to the sink. I hadn't washed any dishes so there was a few left in there. "Paresseux, you really need to stop being so Paresseux." She mumbled and started to wash them. "No, we aren't dating at all." I say. "Well tell me why not." I bit my lip thinking about what I want to say. There was any real reason. If there was it was because I kept holding onto that grudge.

A grudge that honestly I think I have the right to hold onto because it's just such a terrible thing that Ari did. And also the fact that I bully Ari. She doesn't like me at all anyways. We could never be together without me feeling guilty for what I do to her. But she doesn't even feel guilty about what she did to me so why should I feel guilty about showing that I'm mad about it?

Ari acts like she doesn't care and like she doesn't remember why I started being mean to her. I'm started to think she actually doesn't. "Well..." I start but don't finish. I just put another clump of pasta in my mouth. "Well what, Paresseux?" Abelina asked. "We just can't be together...she did something to me that I just can't forgive her for." I admit putting my head down. "Do you love her?" Abelina turned off the water and turned to face me.

She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her body against the sink counter. "Yea, I do." I say. "Then that's what's important. That you love her. And loving her is forgiving her enough." Abelina dried her hands as I pondered over what that statement could mean. She walked over and joined me at the table, taking a seat of her own.

"When you love someone, you don't really have to say the words 'I forgive you.' If your love for that person is strong enough to where you want to hold on to them, then your heart will mentally forgive them." Abelina said. I raised my head and met her gaze. I smiled just a little. She smiled too. "I'm from Paris, France, Paresseux. The most romantic city on earth. I might be old but I know a thing or two about Love."

I chuckled some. "I believe you." I said. Abelina waited until I finished the small bowl of pasta she made me. She placed the left over and the bowl for Ari in the fridge and made me some type of drink out of goat milk and this type of tree nut. She called it Yuia Milk. Whatever that meant. "I want to know more about this girl," Abelina said grabbing her jacket off the coat rack by the front door.

"The next time you come to visit, you will tell me about her." I nod. "Okay, Ms Abelina. Have a nice night." I stand by the door and wait until she gets into her wagon and rides off. Her wagon was pulled by a big male mule named jumper. He didn't like me too much so I kept my distance. When Abelina was gone, I close the door and blow out all the candles.

This cabin didn't have light switches which was not only scary but irritating. I crawl into the warm bed and rest my head on the pillow. Now, the bed was warm but Ari's blanket was defiantly a lot more comfy and warm. Ari. Oh I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd done to her. Once my anger started, I wouldn't be able to stop it. I knew just locking her outside wasn't the worst thing I could do to her. And with her smart mouth and attitude, I knew it wouldn't be the only thing, either.