CARTERSTROPHE

CHAPTER 6.

"I'm friends with a monster, he's right here on the table".

BEE

The sweet fragrance of vanilla and lavender greets me as I unlock the door. I pull the control switch again as light floods the rooms this time around revealing a spotless house. I carry in my grocery bags and close the door with my foot. Going straight to the kitchen, I lay the bags on the kitchen counter for proper selection and examine the room once again for any hint that my roommate had come in when I was gone. However, everything seemed to be in the exact spot I had left them.

Unpacking the groceries I set to work because making it on time to Nicki and Harry's dorm meant I had to start organizing. I arrange the new sets of groceries I had gotten in the cabinet and search for a place to keep my yogurts and cartons of milk. The only place available was the refrigerator. I felt bad already for using every other equipment and appliance in the house but I needed to store my dairy products. I mutter a quick apology to my roommate and prays she wouldn't get offended by me encroaching on her personal space before pulling the refrigerator open.

The refrigerator was empty except for a carton of expired soy milk and a jar of Cadbury's Smooth chocolate spread. The expired soy milk gets tossed into the trash while I return the chocolate spread to the refrigerator. I turn it off at the socket before cleaning it thoroughly and placing a pack of baking soda in it for any lingering odor. I turn it on for a few minutes before placing two cartons of almond milk, few bottles of water, and small packs of Greek yogurt in it.  When I'm done with the kitchen, I take the rest of the bags to my room and unpack. My phone chimes with a text from Nicki telling me to be ready in 30 and dress nicely because Harry was going to drive us to have lunch first and meet people. dress nicely?   Well, I have lots of nice dresses and outfits in my closet, that wouldn't be a problem, will it.  

I get into the bathroom, take a quick bath, and cleanse my mouth with a mouthwash.  Plugging in a flat iron,  I straighten my hair and pull it into a tight ponytail.  In my closet, I find my blue turtle neck top with tiny heart embroidery and pair it with dark blue jeans. Most of my shoes were back home at spring lake so I'm stuck with a black ankle boot with leather straps. I feel too dressed up as I apply a small coat of strawberry-scented clear gloss and smack my lips twice. I take my teal green bird print overnight bag and pack nightwear, toiletries, extra underwear, and my phone charger. My lack of sleepover experiences makes me feel uneasy and I'm not even sure what to bring with me. 

My phone rings as I admire my reflection in the mirror and I reach for it almost immediately.

"Hey Bee". Nicki's shrill voice calls out from the other end of the line.

"Hi Nicki, what's good". I reply. A loud familiar horn blasts repeatedly in the driveway and surprisingly I hear it through the phone too. They must have arrived. 

"I'm okay babe. We are at your driveway. Are you done preparing or do you need help?" I guessed right, they were here already. 

"I'll be right out, give me a sec.". I apply two spritzes of perfume on my pulse points and behind my ear lobe.

"Okay." She replies hanging up. I grab my purse and overnight bag, make sure the doors and windows are properly locked before leaving.

Harry's truck is packed just at the end of the driveway and she honks twice when they see me. Nicki opens the door when I approach and I get in. The car smells faintly of cigarette and something else I couldn't decipher and I'm glad the windows are rolled down.

"Hi, guys." I greet and dump my bag on the passenger seat. Harry winks at me through the rearview mirror, her eyes were smoked out with black eyeliners making her gray eyes look fierce.