You Are What You Eat

4.

"What are you doing in here?" She asked and looked terrified, even. How did she get here so fast?

"I..I," I don't even know. I was just getting myself a glass of water. My mind couldn't even process what I heard. I didn't want to remember it.

Anne hurriedly cleaned up the mess of the broken glass and mopped up the water. If there's anything I've learned about Anne during my short stay here, it's that she despises a mess.

"I think you should go back to bed. Now. Before Colleen comes down here." Anne gave me this look, like she was praying I would just obey her order and run upstairs and hide under the covers. But why?

"What? Okay.." I whispered back and walked back to the room I was staying in. I definitely couldn't fall back asleep now. I pulled the covers over me and just stared up at the ceiling.

Somehow, I managed to fall asleep and I woke up early in the morning. I walked downstairs to see the girls rushing around, getting ready. Probably leaving for work.

Anne was dressed up quite professionally, and I couldn't help but admire her. Her red hair was curled into spirals that rested on her shoulders. I wonder what she does for a living?

"I'm a student teacher at the elementary schools," Anne replied, as if she just read my mind.

"That's great." I said. It was weird, pretending that nothing happened last night.

She kept looking at me. I guess she wondered if I was still thinking about last night's events. I definitely was, but I wasn't going to say anything.

"You can hangout here today, okay? I know you didn't sleep much last night." Anne spoke softly. "Will you leave after dinner tonight?"

I was beyond grateful and didn't expect this offer from Anne. I smiled and nodded my head.

"Of course. Thank you so much." I replied.

"Yeah, of course.. I will see you later." Anne said with no emotion.

Soon, the three girls left for their jobs. I was thankful that I wasn't home alone. Helen was still there, sitting on the couch. We got into some small talk, and she explained to me that she babysits a lot but she happened to have no call-ins today. I considered getting a job. Then I could save up my money and get a place of my own, one day.

"I was wondering if you would like to help me around the house?" Helen asked while standing up. Her short hair was flat and she wore minimal makeup. She was wearing light wash skinny jeans and toms, and a dark purple sweatshirt.

"Of course," I replied. These girls were so nice, I would take any opportunity I can to repay them.

"Great! Okay, so I have to gather all the laundry in the hampers to take down to the laundry room downstairs." Helen said and then bit the side of her lip in thought. "And maybe you can help take the trash out? Nadine would be thankful if she didn't have to take it out today." She laughed and I nodded.

"Alright."

So I went to the kitchen and took out the garbage and put a new bag in the can, and pulled the garbage to the curb. Throughout the day, I've just been helping Helen clean and she played some music on the TV.

"I'll make us some lunch. Thanks again for the help." Helen got up from the couch and trailed into the kitchen.

I heard the fridge open and shut a couple times and plates were set on the counter. I just continued to watch the television screen with the music station channel on, playing some laid back rock song. I watched as the music icon moved from spots on the TV screen. I couldn't stop thinking about what I heard last night. Did it even happen? Was it just a dream that seemed way too real? I didn't know what to believe.

"Lunch is ready," Helen set a plate with a sandwich on the dining table. I walked over to it and opened the sandwich's slice of bread. It had some sort of roast beef in it and provolone cheese. I ate it quickly and by the time I finished, the front door opened and Nadine walked in.

She sighed and hung up her jacket. "Long day of bullshit." She laughed and so did Helen. She walked into the kitchen, passing me at the table. I walked into the kitchen and set the plate in the sink.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Wash that. Any dishes you use during the day must be hand washed and night dishes get put in the dishwasher." Nadine scowled. Her sudden attitude caught me off guard. So, I guess not all of the sisters are as nice as I thought.

"Oh." I kinda laughed and used the soap and sponge to wash the plate I used. "My bad."

"Yeah. Anne's rules. She wants to make sure everything is clean and perfect." Nadine said while she reached into the fridge and pulled out a brown bag towards the back of the fridge.

After washing the dish, I placed it on the drying rack. I watched as Nadine pulled out bread and opened the brown paper bag and pulled out something wrapped up in tinfoil out of it. It was the roast beef I had on my sandwich earlier. I walked out of the kitchen and saw that Anne was home too.

She smiled and plopped down on the couch and chatted with Helen.

Within three hours, Colleen got home from work, and we were all seated at the dining room table eating dinner.

I remember what Anne told me, and it was time to leave. I thanked everyone for letting me stay. I got up and started heading towards the door, but Colleen got up and ran in my direction, blocking the front door with her hand resting against it.

"Where are you going? You can't go back out there." She said.

Anne was seated at the table, and her facial expression narrowed. Almost like she was telepathically asking Colleen, 'What the fuck are you doing?'

"Why not? It's not raining anymore." I countered. "Anne told me to leave after dinner. I promised her."

Colleen looked over at Anne with an angry expression on her face. Anne just sat there, keeping her composure.

"Anne? Is that how you choose to treat him? Blake, you can stay. We like you." She smiled.

"Colleen-" Anne wanted to say something, but Colleen talked over her.

"We decided that we'll let you stay here for two weeks. That should give you enough time to try and get a job and maybe rent a hotel room. I feel terrible just throwing you out, right after you found a place to stay." Colleen surprised me by staying. She snapped her head in Anne's direction, scowling.

"Two weeks? Are you for real?" My mouth formed an 'O' shape in surprise.

"Yeah. We're just nice like that." Colleen smiled and Anne shook her head. I felt bad; me staying here and Anne clearly doesn't enjoy company, or she just doesn't enjoy homeless guys chilling at her house. And I totally agree with her, I feel bad.

"Thank you. All of you. This was so unexpected. If there's anything you want me to do for you guys, just let me know. I can clean, I can have chores, anything to repay you guys." I said. Two weeks seems like a long time and a short time put together.

I will have to try and get a job quickly and hopefully get back on my feet. I can always go back to my house, but I try to avoid that option. I am not going back there.

"Do you have a computer so I can start filling out job applications?" I asked eagerly. I know I have two weeks, but I am not wasting any time. I am serious about working and getting a place of my own, even if it's really small. It's better than nothing, and I really want to get back on my feet.

Colleen smiled and looked over at Helen and Nadine sitting next to me on the couch.

"It's getting late, don't worry about that now. You can start working on that tomorrow. I promise if you just remind me in the morning,"

"Thanks." I replied to Colleen and after hours of just sitting here watching a show with them, we all went to bed. I was tired as hell but I just laid there in bed, staring up at the white ceiling. I couldn't get what happened out of my mind. The voice I heard. It sounded like a guy in the basement. Why would these girls hoard a man in the basement? They're so nice and definitely not serial killers at first glance. Maybe I was just hearing things. I drifted off into a deep sleep and I was thankful to finally sleep comfortably in what seems like forever again.