Califuckinfornia

III.

Califuckinfornia

Trellis

Its been a solid three days since she came home in not such a great mood and there's been no improvement despite her promising me she'd be fine after a little while. Part of me wants to sit her down and ask what the fuck's going on but then another part says to give her space because she could be going through somethin' personal and I don't wanna force her to tell me shit if she don't wanna openly tell me. At least that's how I am, I don't like people trying to pry shit out of me that I don't willingly announce myself. 

With workin' two jobs, I never seem to have a day off. Just a couple days where I get to go in later than others and this was one of those days so I was actually up and downstairs before she was. Hearing her slow footsteps come down the stairs, she didn't look well rested or relaxed. She was dressed for work, shoes in her hands and her hair pulled back in two braids going down her back but she physically looked drained and flashed me a weak smile that she clearly forced.

"Good mornin', want me to make you somethin'?" I offered her and she shook her head as she took a seat on the couch to put her shoes on. Bringing one leg up onto her knee, she slipped on the first shoe and worked on tying the laces slowly.  "You need breakfast, Vanity. Especially since you're goin' to the shop."

"I'll be fine, I can head across the way to the store to grab something to eat if I'm hungry but thank you." She said with a yawn before switching her legs to put on the other shoe. I didn't like the tone of her voice, seemed bothered and too quiet given how much she's opened up to me in recent times so what was going on? Was it something I was doing? Something I'm not doing that I should?

"At least have two pieces of toast before goin'?" I urged when two slices that were going to be for me popped up from the toasted. Setting them down on a paper towel, I grabbed the Nutella and began spreading it on the toast for her like I know she likes... I'll even put some banana slices on it so it won't be so boring for her. "Just two pieces and I won't bother you anymore about eating." Standing up from the couch, she walked up to the counter and I handed her the first piece. 

"Why are you pushing so hard?" She asked curiously just before taking her first big bite. I knew how much she loved toast like that. I could see the satisfaction on her face when she swallowed that first bite and went right away for a larger second one. 

"Because I know you're hungry in the mornin', don't sit and play. Baby Girl, I know you love to eat, never been shy about it so for you to not want to eat ain't right." I said which finally got her to crack a proper smile. "See look at you? You were hungry but I want you to be upfront with me, is everything alright?" God damn, she inhaled that faster than I could get the banana slices on the next slice. 

"I'm fine, just going through something that strikes a nerve of mine." She said as I handed her the second piece. 

"I just don't like seein' you so upset. Is there anythin' I can do to help?" 

"It's just my sister. I got word that she wasn't doing too well in terms of her bad habits and I can't get a hold of her. Calling and texting but it gets me no where so I'm worried and scared... plus some other minor things on my mind, I lost Chaniyah and I don't want to lose my sister next." She said quickly stuffing her mouth with the toast so she wouldn't have to say more. 

"She not gettin' better?" She shook her head. "Damn, that ain't good to hear."

"I was thinking about going to the Bay and seeing if I could try to find her myself since contact through the phone isn't working." 

"You want me to go with you? I can take a couple days off to go-" She instantly shook her head. "-You'd go by yourself?" 

"I told you I didn't want you meeting her while she was still doing her habits and I stand by that. I've been up there plenty of times, I know some people I can stay with or I can stay at a hotel or whatever. It's just a thought for right now but I need to get going before I end up caught in the extreme traffic." Throwing in the rest of her toast in her mouth, she folded the paper towel and used it to clean around her mouth.