Stressed Spelled Backwards |Lesbian Story|

Chapter 14

I had trouble getting to sleep that night, even though I was really drained from the day's activities. Last time I checked, Clarice Kingsley was positively dating my two best friends. Karmen and Elise were both warring against each other to impress her. If they had figured out that I quite casually slipped and got myself tangled up in the web of Clarice's charm and allure, the biggest mess in Celie's building could very easily be my life.

My routine was becoming settled. At six A.M. I'd rush down to the deli, set the coffee machine, heating up the grill, and defrosting the meat. The Pole Dancer was usually just coming home from work, so I'd mix her a double Alka-Seltzer cocktail and send her upstairs. Then I'd lock up and out for my morning walk. By the time I came back and showered, I was ready to open for the day.

This morning, I pretended to be asleep, but I had on eye on Karmen Kaverina. She rose furtively from her bed and tiptoed to the bathroom.

"Occupied!" came Elise's voice.

"What? Hurry up, Princess Peach!" Karmen yelled.

"Go away!"

"Girls! Shhh...You'll wake up the whole building." I hissed at them in a low voice.

Splashing, yelling, banging on the door finally ended. Then they switched. Elise began to dress, and Karmen followed suit. They silently looked daggers at each other. At last, Elise broke the ice.

"Where are you off to? You don't have a job anymore," she said.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Karmen said with a smirk. Elise narrowed her eyes, thinking. And when Karmen walked towards the door, Elise sprinted out of the apartment before her.

"Hey! Don't beat me to her!"

I knew right then and there that the two girls were going to race towards Clarice's house.

It was a Saturday. I went to open the deli but then I found Clarice sitting on the doorsteps. I was surprised. If Karmen and Elise were going to find the model at her house, they were obviously barking up the wrong building. Or whatever that meant.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm waiting to have my breakfast?" she said and smiled. The smile made my morning a lot fresher and brighter than usual. So I let her inside with me.

"You're not working these days?" I asked since I had noticed that she had been around a lot lately.

"I decided to take a break from modeling," she said with a casual shrug.

"You know how many girls in the world would kill to get your job right now?" I said.

"Not you though," she said and smiled again. Her emerald eyes lingered on my face until I had to distract myself.

"So what would you like to eat?" I said.

"You choose for me," she replied. "I'm sure whatever you do will taste delicious."

I felt my cheeks burn hot. I swear if she was flirting with me, I would die. And if she wasn't, I would still die.

I immediately went to make her some toasts with omelet and baked tomatoes drizzled with olive oil. I figured that she would want a healthy start for the day.

It was still early that there was just the two of us in the deli. She sat on the counter, looking at me when I came back with her breakfast.

"So are you still working tomorrow?" she asked after I put the meal in front of her.

"Yeah, why?" I said.

"Would you teach me how to bake?" she said. I blinked.

"Why?"