F'N FABULOUS (Completed)

Snuggle Bun

Jessie, grateful the taxi showed up as ordered, cowered in silence in the back. People interaction was at the bottom of her to do list at this moment.  The driver must have sensed her mood and didn't make any attempt at small talk.

Her apartment would not be described as upscale nor trendy.  It was located in downtown Beaverton in a pocket where most people don't choose to live in if they have any other options. It's the type of place that accepted government assistance, and amazingly enough, her broke-ass still could barely make the payments. Mrs. Jadis, her landlord, warned Jessie she was one more missed payment deadline from not having her lease renewed at the end of the week. Somehow Jessie had to make $600 in two days.

The stress of not finding a job while simultaneously needing rent money was a reason she met Greg. Jose, a friend and a recruiter scouting for potential hires, called her when Jessie's resume came across his desk.  She wasn't a good fit for the job, but Jose invited Jessie and Mel out to the club to catch up. She accepted to blow off steam.

Greg found her on the dance floor; she relished the attention of the stranger. His hands pressed against her hips. Mel slunk away saying someone was eye-fucking her from the VIP lounge and she was on a mission. Jessie laughed at her friend when thirty minutes later she received a text.

MEL: Don't wait up. 

JESSIE: Do I need to find my own way home?

MEL: Definitely. *wink*

The driver snapped to get her attention out of her memories. She cringed when she saw the crumbling brick of her apartment from the cab, it was a perfect reflection of the organ that was supposed to be sustaining her.

"You sure you are ok to be here? Sure I can't take you somewhere safer?" Cabbie said looking at her through the rear-view mirror. He was cute for an older man. Short dark stubble peppered his sand-colored cheeks told the story of his long shift. His blueish black hair was almost all tucked under the white turban with only a few stray hairs peeking out giving his hair color away. Jessie imagined he wanted to get home, to his family. He had tired eyes.

She gave him a smile, shook her head, and handed a twenty.

He nodded back and handed her a receipt with his card. "Call me if you need anything." His accented voice stressed his worry.

He didn't know her.

If he did, he wouldn't offer his help.

She paused not sure what to say in response.

It was only a moment, but she already showed Cabbie she was a mess.

She couldn't even pay for a cab without someone showing pity.

She murmured, "Thanks." and waved him off trying to get out of the taxi before embarrassing herself any more.

Inside, she walked quickly past the cracking off-white paint. Patches of black mold near the front door told of last month's flood that Mrs. Jadis still hadn't fixed. Hell, she might have to move so she didn't get black lung. She breathed through her mouth so she wouldn't have to smell the hallway which stunk of dust, dander, cigarettes, weed, throw up, piss, and bleach all attacking her nose for attention. She quickened her speed and fumbled with her keys to get in. If she had some extra money, she would buy some Fabreeze for Mrs.Jadis.

Once inside, she flicked on her pink Himalayan salt lamp and air scrubber, a housewarming gift from her parents. With her foot, she moved a towel in front of the door crack.

It was a small studio, but it was hers. Jessie threw her keys and purse onto the dining room table by the door.

"Another one bites the dust, Floofer."

On cue, a big cotton ball of fur hopped over to her. She bent down and gave the rabbit a few head pets.

He thumped impatiently.

"Well, I'm sorry," Jessie responded.

Jessie grabbed a banana chip and sat on the floor near the rickety garage sale futon. In a basket near where Jessie sat, she found the grooming comb used for their ritual. Alternating the comb and head pets, soon Mr. Floofer was grinding his teeth in a bun purr. Jessie also realized her mood had shifted. Jessie was still upset, but somehow calmer.

"I would be okay if it's just you and I until I die... too bad you are already an old ass bun bun," Jessie told the rabbit. As if in response, he stuck out his tongue to lick the banana from his lips. "Just give me a few more years, okay?" Jessie said while sighing.

Mr. Floofer knew the head pets were done; he hopped over to the litterbox near the kitchen and munched on some timothy hay leaving her to wallow in her own shame.

Grooming was always messy. Jessie brushed off of her clothes as much hair as she could. Being meticulous, she then swept, dusted, and wiped up every bit of dust and bunny hair... well mostly.

One resigns to the dust bunny battle when one adopts a rabbit. After her anger-cleaning, she moved into the kitchen and took out a pint of strawberry-banana non-icecream. She ate it out of the container while sitting on the counter watching Mr. Floofer munch away on his own snack.

"Dude couldn't even say anything," Jessie said shaking her head. "- like nothing. Just looked at the floor... like it was going to turn magically into a three-ring circus, or maybe it would pop up a penis too."

Mr. Floofer started grooming himself; he wasn't impressed of said topic of conversation.

Bunnies eating is probably the most adorable thing anyone has seen, but Mr. Floofer was a divo especially when he knows he is being watched. He would suddenly jump straight up, kick out his back legs in a happy binky, and zoomie over the whole apartment. It always made her laugh, and this time, it was needed. It was like he could feel her emotions and knew she needed to laugh.

"I agree." She let the sweetness of both her rabbit and her dessert calm her more. "I just wished it didn't hurt so much."