Roommates

Chapter 13

Evangeline unlocked the door to her apartment and pushed the door in. She allowed Aurora to follow her in. More nervous than the night before, she struggled to set her keys in the teal dish by the door. The metal clinked fervently against the ceramic, making her shaking hands obvious.

"Would you like a drink?" Evangeline offered with a dry tongue. She needed liquid courage. She hadn't spoken to Aurora since she approached her during her break. She had been so stupid, being so blunt, but now that they're here, she tried to applaud herself for being courageous. Trey had to spell it out for her once upon a time, and it worked between the two (the three) of them, so it was worth a shot. Maybe Aurora was worth getting to know. At the very least, it couldn't hurt Evangeline to become more familiar with her.

Aurora shook her head timidly in response to Evangeline's offer. "I don't really drink anymore." She had only accepted the glass of wine last night because it was the polite thing to do; today she felt like she had a say. She wasn't a squatter tonight, Evangeline had invited her over. She was a guest tonight. As a guest, she didn't want to become obnoxious and unfiltered like she had been.

"Oh, no, no, no— I meant water or juice or tea even. I am sorry to make you think that I only have wine. I have other things to pick from." Evangeline cursed herself. Aurora must think she is a raging alcoholic. "Last night I was just— never mind it. I don't drink much either." She shouldn't drink at all.

Aurora smiled. "Water would be great." She was parched. She had drank the bottle of water Trey had given her, and then later in her shift, she finished the bottle of soda he had bought for her. She was still trembling from the caffeine. She hadn't had soda in months. It didn't help that she only had the remnants of the sandwich he offered her.

Evangeline had already gone into the kitchen and her mumbled words fell silent while Aurora lingered in the entry way and living space. Beautiful glass sculptures and old books lined the dark wood shelves. Distracted by the decorations, she called out to Evangeline. "By the way, thank you again for having me over again. I know you've got a lot going on right now, trying to list the back bedroom."

"Please don't thank me. I am just glad you said yes." Evangeline filled two glasses with filtered fridge water and set it across the counter. As Aurora came into the kitchen, she looked around, letting her eyes fall upon all of the artwork and false botanical decor. "Take a seat. Make yourself at home."

Aurora obediently sat on a bar stool and cupped her hands around the glass, pulling it toward her. The glass shrilled against the stone counter. She winced and blushed as Evangeline's surprised look met her eyes. "So, you and Trey...?" Aurora's voice didn't give to her nerves. She spoke strongly with blatant inquisition.

Evangeline scoffed, setting her glass down with a satisfying clammer. "Never insult me like that," she laughed. "Trey is my best friend, practically my brother. He's the closest thing I have to a brother. Nothing is going on there."

"He seems to like you," Aurora said. Trey had even admitted directly to being infatuated with Evangeline. By the way he looked at her at work, it was undeniable that he had feelings for her. If not romantic, at the very least familial feelings. He exudes love for everyone, including Aurora. Maybe one day she'd see him as a brother, too.

"Trey likes anyone who has a pulse." Evangeline shook her head, letting her blonde waves sway. "Besides, I only date women. Handsome as he is, he's just not my type."

Her type? What was her type? Girls with brown hair, for starters. Girls with daddy issues. Alcoholics with nicotine addictions. Girls with conniving tendencies. The last three women she had been interested in were all clones of each other, disturbingly. Their amber eyes and tanned skin. Evangeline thought of their big smiles, big chests, and small hands. Every single one of them was just like the last. They were all just like Chloe.