Roman glanced at her. "The keys were already inside." He said and shrugged. "How was I supposed to know the window had problems? You should've sat in the back."
Zadia bit her tongue and turned to the backseat shivering in discomfort. "This person has a collection of stuffed animals back here. That's creepy, no way I'm sitting back there." She told him and spared the bag of money a second glance, before reaching for one of the Elmo bears. "I used to have one of these as a kid." She touched its bright orange nose. "I had to donate it though because my mom—" Zadia paused. "She didn't like the fact that I was so attached to it."
"You were attached to an Elmo bear?" He scoffed. "God, I forget how young you are sometimes."
Zadia lifted a finger at him. "First off, there's nothing wrong with Elmo. Yes, his voice can be annoying at times but he's the reason why I like learning about things." She put her finger down. "Aren't you in your twenties? We're the same age."
Roman chuckled. "Zadia, I haven't been in my twenties for a while now."
Her ears perked up at this. She'd always assumed he was in his twenties because he looked so young. "Wait, what?" Her eyes widened. "So, how old are you then?
"That's confidential."
"Oh, bullshit!" She groaned. "Tell me."
"No."
"Come on Roman, I won't tell anyone. Hell, there's no one to tell anyways."
Roman shrugged, shaking his head. "I'm not telling you."
She crossed her arms together. "You suck."
"And you sound like a child." He remarked, then he paused. "You don't talk about her much." Roman pointed out. "Your mom. You talk about your dad here and there and bring up stories including both parents, but you never talk about your mom."
Zadia placed the Elmo bear back. "You don't talk about yours either." She said and turned her body around to stare at him. "My mother hates me... she's always made it known, so I try not to ponder about her." She nodded his way. "What's your excuse?"
"I watched mine die." He told her and the car fell silent for a month. Roman glanced at her, hands tightening around the wheel. "You alright?"
"I think I should be the one asking you that." She said and then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"I'm sorry your mom hates you."
Zadia chuckled and sat her chin on her hands. "This just got awkward."
"That seems to be happening a lot, lately."
"Name one food you can't live without on three." She began counting. "One...two... three!"
"Apple's."
"Lasagne." They said at the same time and laughed. "Why'd you make that face?" Roman questioned. "What's so wrong with lasagna?"
"It's basically cheese and noodles." She scrunched up her face. "That's nasty."
"And apples are better?" He scoffed. "They're like the worst fruit."
"What!" Zadia exclaimed, not believing what just came out of his mouth. "Watermelon is the worst fruit, apples are superior."
Roman rolled his eyes, nodding in agreement. "Watermelons are disgusting."
"It is. I don't see how people eat it, it's all so mushy and watery. Like fruit and beverage, all rolled into one." She shivered. "And it's got this unexplainable aftertaste that seriously comes out of nowhere."
ChApTeR - 15
Start from the beginning
