Antilove

Dieci

CAPITOLO DIECI

good dates lead to hot kisses

***

EVERY DAY AT HALF past seven, Rose Kaufman takes her medication. It's not important but she's switched from Xenazine to Keppra because Dr. Manning feels that a treatment like Xenazine would be too detrimental for someone who's hardly displaying symptoms. 

    Dr. Manning prescribed her a month back, when Rose didn't do well during her fine movement exercises however, she also had to prescribe anti-depressants, which Rose neglected to take due to her diet (read: alcohol). Keppra is a safer alternative for her problems, as the side effects don't necessarily put Rose in danger.

    Putting the glass of water to her lips, she swallows it like a seasoned patient and proceeds onto her day.

    It's very simple, she imagines.

    First, she eats breakfast. It consists of orange juice and scrambled eggs. Rose isn't good at scrambling eggs but she does it anyways, often throwing the pan in the sink carelessly with burning yolk stuck against it.

    Second, she gets changed. On days like Wednesday, she prefers wearing pants as her legs haven't been shaved in a few days. It's a beauty standard she despises but one she subscribes to.

    Then, she grabs her bag and heads out to wherever the photoshoot location is. Los Angeles is busy in the way that everyone is vying for success and success regretfully comes with hard work. The first year getting into her job was difficult. Many of her hours were spent being an assistant and often without pay but it helped get her name across. As did getting scouted.

    After she's finished her shift, she goes home. But on Wednesdays, she goes to the grocery store to uphold her adult responsibilities. But not completely adult—she never makes lists.

    So as she walks around glancing at the produce, she picks up eggs, ham, cheese, and bread. A stranger bumps into her and he winks, much to her chagrin. But she presses her lips in a thin line and tries to offer him a smile, and minds her own business. Lucien would probably be much better at shopping than she is so she tries to think like him. Tomatoes, pasta, and some cold cuts are thrown in her cart. God, that's so stereotypical. She exchanges the tomatoes for strawberries and proceeds to the checkout counter.

    There's only two people working at the register so she goes to the one that's perceived to be faster. She smiles and greets her and asks if she has a membership card to which she declines the offer to get one. After she's paid, she drags her groceries out to her car.

    "Sorry."

    It's Gray Marten. Gray who's ran into her and caused her to stumble and drop her wallet, Gray who just last month, spat at her, accusing her of all her rightfully done deeds. He does realize who he's come into contact with, eventually—how could he not?

    "Do you take it back? Your sorry?" she asks him. Her voice comes out as diamond-cut marble, just the way she wanted it.

    "No," he snarls, "you deserve my sorries."

    Rose smiles wistfully, knowing just how red her lips look in the sun, at this parking lot. She's forgotten that he comes here too, it's all too familiar. Her expression merely indicates her flippancy. Slowly, she balances her bags and picks up her wallet.

    "Bye Gray," she says. "Nice meeting you."

    Just as she's turning around and tracing her steps back to her car, Gray puts his hand on her shoulder—and Rose contemplates backhanding him.