"Yes, ma'am"

#7 - Sleepover (part 2!)

Carter's POV

Once Vivian and I got back to her house, she pulled me to her room and sat me on her bed before moving towards some things on the floor.

"What are you doing?" After a few minutes, I let myself be curious and went to see.

I sat on the ground next to the cushion she was sitting on, rubbing my hands across the carpet, and looked at what she was doing. "Sorting my beads."

I watched as she did; the beads were colorless - a dull grey - and different sizes. "Did you make them?" She nodded. "Cool. What do you use them for?"

Vivian continued to sort them by size putting them into colorfully painted, clay bowls." I make things and sell them: jewelry, chains, uhm, other little things. Beaded rugs sometimes but those are time consuming and boring, so I charge a good amount for them."

I nod as she speaks. "Do you want any help?"

"No, thank you."
"Ok."

We sat there for a bit, at some point Vivian gave me a cushion to sit on and turned her stereo. She sorted out the beads, and I watched as she did that, picking at the cushions. After about half an hour, one of her moms called her downstairs.

I followed Vivian downstairs into the kitchen where Emery (I think) was.

"You going to get started on dinner soon?" She asked as she walked over to us and walked out the room.

Vivian walked passed her to the cabinet. "Oh, yeah!"

I followed a couple step behind her, tapping my fingers against each other. "Do you want any help?"

"Nope," she grabbed some pasta from the cupboard. "You can go take a shower if you want? Or just sit down and wait?" She turned and faced me, smiling.

I'm not going to pass up a free shower. "I'll take a shower."

She turns back around, putting the pasta down and moves to a lower cabinet. "Upstairs, when you're walking to my room," she got out a pot, "walk past it and there's a hall-closet that has towels in it," she filled the pot with water, "the door to the right of it is the bathroom." I nod and she takes the pot put it on the burner. "The door to the left is my parents' room, don't go in there," she tossed a bit of salt into the water as she turned the burner on, "feel free to use any of the stuff in the bathroom, it's mine."

I nodded and thanked her and headed back upstairs. Before going to the closet, I went into her room to get my bag. When I got into the bathroom, I locked the door behind me a pulled my shirt off. When I went to turn the water on, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked sick. I was pale and had dark bags under my eyes. I looked tired - exhausted. Moving away from the mirror, I lean over the tub and turn stuff to get the water running and shower on. When I finally got into the shower, it felt great. The water felt amazing, it was nice and warm.

I closed my eyes and just felt as the water rained down. It was really nice. Eventually though, I needed to wash up. I looked at the soap she had; it was a coconut one.

I finished up shower and got dressed. Then I put my things back into Vivian's room and headed back into her kitchen.

She was setting the table when I got there. "Good shower?" She asked me once I was closer to her. I nod my head and go to help set the table, but a hand moved to my shoulder. I jump and try not to make it noticeable as I take a sidestep to get away from the person. I see Vivian glance behind me with a disapproving look and look as well to see Liliana standing where I was.

"Sorry," she smiles at me. "Viv, how much longer until you think dinner will be ready?"

"Ten minutes max, why?"