Perfect Places

Notepad And Pen

   "Oh, Rae, darling! Perfect timing!" The woman in the blazer and mini skirt exclaimed from the front porch.

   My lips parted slightly, like I was about to say say something. And I wanted to, but I didn't know what exactly to say.

   Mary and Kevin stared at me. Their eyes were burning holes through me. I was getting more uncomfortable by the second.

   I slowly slipped my hand away from Zane's.

   "Hey, I can help-" He started to suggest.

   "No," I turned to him, "I should handle this on on my own ..."

   I prayed he would understand.

   "Yeah, I get it. Call me whenever, I'll always pick up." He smiled weakly at me, "If you ever text me, I'll always respond."

   I smiled back at him, "Alright, I will."

   "Oh, and, I hope everything goes okay." He turned around, and started walking back to his house before I could reply to him.

   "Thanks." I muttered under my breath.

   My eyes made there way back to the front porch. I slowly walked up the front steps, and onto the creaky floor boards.

   "Hi darling! I've just got a few-" The lady said to me, a little too happily.

   "Yeah, yeah, I know. I've done this a few times." I sighed.

   "Questions." She smiled at me.

   From the corner of my eye, I could see Mary rolls her eyes in annoyance, and Kevin's right knee start bouncing.

   I glared over at both of them. I hadn't even said a word to them yet, and I was already mad at them. Both of them.

"Let's start, shall we?" I asked sarcastically, wedging myself in between Kevin and Mary without looking either of them in the eye.

"Yes, please. Let's just get this over with." Mary grumbled.

The woman laughed, "Heh, yeah. Well for starters, hello. I'm Karen Brown."

"PFF-" I laughed, covering my mouth.

Karen stared at me, "What is so funny, Miss. Carnaby?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I smiled, controlling myself, "Is your name really Karen?"

Kevin and Mary glared at me, and so did Karen.

"Yes. Yes it is. Is there a problem with that?" She asked me, sounding a little too serious.

"Oh no, my apologies, carry on." I smirked.

Mary and Karen had been remaining silent. Which was odd. It was a new record for them. And hey, I wasn't complaining.

"Alright, anyways. First question, how many times have they verbally abused you, Rae?" Karen questioned me.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Mary beat me to the punch.

"Excuse me, we have NEVER abused her in any way, shape, or-" Mary practically yelled.

"I DIDN'T ASK YOU. I ASKED RAE." Karen screamed.

All three pairs of our eyes got wide. Karen has actually yelled at us. I didn't even know she was capable of such a thing.

"Anyways, Rae, how many times have they verbally abused you?" She asked me politely.

There was a short silence, as I counted up the number of times silently in my head.

"Well," I began, "the last time they did, it was yesterday."