Vivian's POV:
I tap my foot rigorously against the hard floor as my eyes screen against Amoli. After my lovely day, I went home and waited for her so we can discuss the bad breaking news together.
Sometime around evening she storms through the door screaming: "Cut me off than pita!" then she threw the phone across the living room. At that moment, I realize that someone may have had a worse day then me and that someone happened to be my roommate.
"Your dad is cutting you off if you don't go back to India?" I question.
She nods, further pressing her face against her hands. "He wants me to go back and marry this guy," she scoffed, rushing her fingers through her hair.
I lick my lips feeling the hardcore beating inside my chest.
"I'm so happy you got this great paying internship, Behana." She embraces me tightly, "Or else, I wouldn't be able to tell paapa off."
I sat there, wrapping my arms around her and chuckle along with her. Unlike Amoli, I was laughing with a different type of emotion.
She leans back and wipes off the tears from her cheeks, "You message me earlier about something from your company?"
I sat there, unable to flush down the tight smile on my face. I want to tell Amoli, but it seems that she has enough problems on her plate. If her father is cutting her off, it means she will have a harder time paying rent, college tuition, and a list of other stress will accumulate.
Amoli is basically taking care of me, and the two lives I decided to bring in.
"I...I got cake today," I said.
Her brows furrow and she pushed me lightly on the shoulder. "Geez! You scared me! I thought something serious happened!"
Compare to her situation, my working-with-my-ex-husband doesn't seem as dire.
"Okay. Even if my parents are cutting me off. I can still help around. I have a part-time dancing job. I just need to somehow increase my h-"
I place my hands on top of hers, and she stops talking, "Go to school and graduate. Do not worry about the bills," I said. "I got this." I puff out my chest.
She smiles before sighing, "At least I can stop going to business school and focus on dancing. One less bill to pay," she clasps her hands together before bouncing out of her seat, "I am going to drop all my classes right now!"
At that moment, I couldn't speak any further as she bounces towards her laptop. For someone who cried for nearly two hours about her parents, she never looks so happy. So free.
I release a deep breath as Amoli rigorously click on the laptop. "No more failing tests for me," she sang.
Resting my feet against the chair, I glance around, rolling a strand of hair on my fingertip, "Where is Lisa?"
Amoli shrug, "Probably a late night shift."
"Didn't she leave early this morning?"
She glances up at the ceiling, attempting to recall the memories, "Probably a double shift."
Steadily, I nod before lifting Marisa into my arms. I placed her on my lap and bounced her. Marisa giggle loudly, fluttering her tiny fingers on her cheeks, "Real mommy isn't here, but fake mommy is okay right?" I said, in a baby voice.
Marisa giggled then blow out spit bubbles.
Amoli grabbed some fresh clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Once I heard the water running, I held Marisa closer to my heart, feeling a bit better, "You and me. We can get through this together Marisa," I whisper, feeling her saliva on top of my shirt.
"Remember when we were going through a hard time," I know she wasn't there, but it makes me feel better pretending she was, "and Amoli rescued us? She told us; you can stay as long as you need. You can use as many tissues as you want. If you want ice cream; call me. If you need someone to talk to; call me. She was there for us. Now, it is time for us-" I held her by the waist and pushed her above me, allowing us to face to face, "It is time for us to be there for her."
I decided to push my drama with Liam aside.
"Don't you agree?"
She smiles, drools dripping on my face.
"I'll take that as a yes," I said, settling her on the carpet so I can wipe my face.
Once, I wipe off the saliva; I laid back down on the carpet, "Want to sleep with me tonight?" I open my arms, and she crawled towards me. Marisa slips onto my chest, and I laughed, holding her into me. She cuddled between my breasts, "Yes. I know." I tangle my finger around her hair, slightly afraid that it may fall off. "I do have a nice pair of boobs." Even if I don't have an ass.
***
I wobble towards the restroom, but before I can hit the toilet, my body settles on someone else. "I'm soweii." I slur, feeling ripe biceps between my fingers. I glance upward, seeing a blurred figure. "The alcohol and lack of good judgment made me unable to see properly."
He chuckles lightly, a deep chronic laugh, "Should you be here?"
"Why can't I be here?" I respond, attempting to stand up only to stumble back into his arms.
He grasps my waist, grip tightening on the side, preventing me from escaping. "Aren't you getting married soon?"
Quickly, I hush him by planting my hands around his mouth to shush him, "D-Don't say it too loud. Liam wouldn't like it if someone heard you say that."
He removes my fingers before twirling me towards the wall. My back against the cold surface as his arm lace against my waist. "He doesn't? Does he?"
I shook my head, "He doesn't care about me." I continue tripping on my own feet. Even though I can't feel the pain on my ankles, I know I'll feel it tomorrow. "He doesn't care at all" I sniff, knowing there is pout on my face. "Well fuck him!" I scream towards the stairs. "I don't give two damn shit about him either! He can continue flirting with that slut downstairs!"
I took a few blinks, feeling the water rushing into my eyes, "I don't want to love him."
I moved back and forth in the stranger's arms, "I don't want to love him," I repeated, as I grip tightly onto his shirt.
My back press against the wall as the intense music thump into the air. The chant of: "Chug! Chug! Chug!" roar into our ears from downstairs.
He pressed himself against me, and I tremble in his arms. The scent twisting around his body somehow devour all others in the hallway. His hand motion towards my curves, and I suck in a deep breath feeling his lip grazing against the lobe of my ear, "Love who?"
"Love...I don't want to love...Liam Everhart."
The guy held me closer, "I think you should go home. You drank a bit too much."
I shook my head, "I'm not going to lose. No siree." I glare at the stairs, "If he is going home with someone, by God dammit I'll go home with someone too."
Quickly, I glance around, searching for a potential mate. The guy grasp my wrist. "Where are you going?"
"Finding a mating partner," I said. I tilt my head towards him. "Hey! You're part of the male species!" I grin widely, "Want to re-produce tonight?" I giggle, grasping his shirt and pulling him towards me.
He grasps my wrist and thrust it back, "I don't think that's a good idea. You're getting married."
The water inside my eyes only escalated. "I don't care if you don't like me. I'm used to guys not liking me," I sniffed, feeling my nose running, "You can even take me on this wall if you want."
***
The next morning, I didn't know how, but I was able to roll out of bed. I thrust my hand against my head a few times; unable to recall the bizarre dream. I mean I know it was from some party, but I can't remember anyone faces. "You should stop consuming chocolate before bedtime," I mumbled.
After I got ready and ate breakfast, I prepare for the day. Placing Marisa in the stroller, I buckle her in. "Li?" I call for Amoli.
She pops her head out from the restroom. I like to brush my teeth before breakfast, but she likes to clean it after, "Yeah?" The toothbrush was still inside her mouth.
"Did Lisa came home last night?"