Bulletproof ain't my type

lock combinations and lamb skewers

There are things one doesn't notice when one's mind is preoccupied with other, far more important things. Some things, as it happens, slip by our conscious unnoticed. Little things. Things far more important than every other prominent important thing.

When Fa Fengh showed her ugly face early monday morning, I was ready.

She tapped twice on the frosted glass.

"Come in"

I waited as the door chimed, the sound of access being granted.
I stood with my arms crossed, watching as she slid inside and shut the door closed behind her.

Ripped black skinny jeans and an oversized silver tank. a broad black hair-belt keeping her hair out of her face. She looked like a bratty teenager.

"Good morning", I greeted.

She blinked and lifted her head a notch. I took it that she was surprised. I hadn't even removed my snapback after arriving and I guess it showed.
That I was lying in wait, I mean.

Not a hard task given how obsessively punctual she is.

"...good morning", she says, standing firm. She removes her hands from the door and shoves them in her pockets.

I nod slowly, then gesture to the door with my hand.
"I see you let yourself in"

She tilted her head, the tiniest of frowns on those boyish brows.

Ah, confusion. We're getting somewhere.

"You...told me to"

I nod solemnly.
"But I never gave you the combination"

She straightens up, not breaking eye contact.

I look at her expectantly.

A beat passes.

"Holly's birthday"

How dare she, my brain screeches. It is an immediate reaction, and I have to fight to keep a straight face.
But still- like curling venom... the corner of my lips pulls to one side

She does something weird then. She holds my gaze but-...looks. From one eye to the other. Looking individually at each of my eyes.
She only does it once and looks to the floor right after.

"...'twasn't hard", she says to my shoes.

Her socks are green today.

I press my lips into a line, not sure why I suddenly noticed that.

They are green though. Dark like a night forest.

I turn around and take off my cap, combing my hands through my hair and making sure to flatten the strands.

Today was scheduled for the re-recording.

I put aside my rising reservations and slipped into professional mode.

"Do you need time to warm up your throat?", I asked while switching on the pc.

"No"

Alright.

I sat down on the chair and connected the usb drive. I navigated through the computer, looking for the files we were going to need. "Give me a sec then we can start. Can you go get the recording room set up?"

There was silence for a moment then the sound of the door closing made me turn around.

A simple 'yes' wouldn't have hurt, would it?

I turned back to the computer.