Page 44 of Strings

“Remember to control yourself,” I say out loud as I spray my hair. I take one last look in the mirror before I head to the living room to breathe on Stella.

“Hhhhhave a gooood daaaaay, Steeeeellaaaaa.” I make sure to annunciate the sounds with expelled breath. I read that carbon dioxide helps her grow.

I open my apartment door and remember I forgot my planner on the floor by my bed. I leave the door ajar as I rush back to get it. Grabbing it from the floor, I fly around the corner and scream. “Aggghhh!” Sebastian is standing in the doorway.

He lifts his hands defensively. “Whoa!”

“You scared the shit out of me!”

“Do you always leave your door wide open for people to walk inside?”

“Do you always walk inside people’s open doors?”

“I was waiting for you to tell me to fuck off when I saw the little bubbles after my text. They started and stopped several times before they disappeared altogether. I figured you’d been abducted by aliens, so I came to rescue you.”

I groan theatrically. “Abducted by aliens? What in the hell are you talking about?”

“It was the most logical thing I could come up with as to why I didn’t get your typical snarky comeback.”

“Now, Bash… did you ever consider the idea that maybe I said nothing because I appreciated the ride?”

“Hmm…” He lifts his eyes toward the ceiling as he thinks for a moment. “Nope.”

“Aww, isn’t this sweet? Am I interrupting a morning tryst?” Bella leans against my doorframe and folds her arms.

“What in the hell are you doing here?” I question.

“Here? Like in the hall, or here like talking to you?”

“Either. Are you stalking me?”

She laughs. “I believe it’s you who’s stalking me. I’ve had a place here for the last two years, new girl.”

My breath hitches. “Where do you live?”

“3A, Ms. Smartypants.” She smirks. “You mean you didn’t know we were neighbors? That’s so… cute.”

“You live there?” I ask, pointing through my wall in the direction of her apartment.

Sebastian looks pale. Is he about to pass out? Bella must see the concern on my face because she follows my gaze to Sebastian.

“Are you alright?” she asks, reaching out and touching his arm. “Are you ill? Do you need some water?”

She snaps her fingers at me. “Get him some water.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

She huffs loudly. “Oh my God, get over yourself. Sebastian, do you need to sit down?”

Realizing some water might be good for him, I rush toward the kitchen, grab my only clean mug, fill it with water, and bring it to him.

He stares at me, then Bella, then back to me before he takes the cup and chugs it. Bella takes the cup away from him as he wipes his mouth. I reach out to reclaim it and she yanks it back with a grin.

“What grabby little hands you have. Why so worried? Is this mug important to you or something?” She reads it aloud. “You’re ugly until after my third cup and maybe even then too.” She huffs, fake smiles, and holds it out to me. “Of course it is.”

As I reach to take it from her, she lets it slip out of her fingers. I catch it right before it hits the floor.

“Oops! It’s so slippery. Good thing it didn’t break. We wouldn’t want you to not be able to have your morning coffee. You might be a bigger bitch.”