Chapter 8
Ariel Smith
It was two in the morning and I was in the guest room, in Giovana and Noah's apartment, they were sleeping. I was sitting in front of the bedroom window, admiring the view that was afforded me: the coast of Los Angeles. This view, somehow, with the help of the big starry sky, calmed my sad and dazed heart. After I calmed down about what happened with my father, I managed to tell my friends what had happened, who of course understood my sudden arrival perfectly. But I still couldn't believe that all that had actually happened. The person who attacked me carried the same blood in his veins as me. It was my own father.
But, he was no longer the same man who once taught me to sing his favorite songs when I was a child or who put me to sleep and let me watch my cartoons for another hour. He changed and I recognized that. Still, I couldn't believe he had become so bitter, an executioner personified. I missed Mom. When she was alive, everything was different, she took care of me and took care of us. My father lived for her, he idolized her, and I completed them. However, when cancer took her, it made him a complete stranger, an unknown.
At the time I decided to get in the car and go to my friends' apartment, refusing the help he asked for, the feeling was one of complete relief, but I still insisted on worrying about him, on thinking about what could happen since I would never go back to that house. But, I had to stand my ground, it didn't matter anymore. I no longer had any duty to my father, much less to the man who treated me as if I were anything but a daughter. Again, the tears insisted on sliding down my cheeks. It would take a while for me to recover and forget him for good. My heart was shattered and I couldn't believe what happened. This left me distressed and made it impossible for me to sleep. Looking at my condition, the only positive point, after all, was that I wouldn't have to drive for almost an hour to get to work in the morning, I could wake up without worrying about being late, which was comforting.
Giovana was sleeping in her room and Noah was in the next room, I could hear his loud and horrible snoring without difficulty, which made me smile. Giovana invited me to live in the apartment and Noah insisted on this offer, so I accepted. Although I was tempted to agree, I couldn't. I couldn't take advantage of the situation I found myself in and abuse their hospitality. Now that I was free of a hindrance, I had the opportunity to find my corner, a place to call home and that would make me start from scratch, away from that man.
For years, to pay for college in the future, and on the weekends, instead of resting, I ended up working at the mall, as a temporary attendant. I stopped buying good clothes or accessories and saved money, a lot of money, and I could easily rent a simple, small apartment for myself. As I work all day, I only have an hour off, at lunch, and work ends at seven in the evening, I wouldn't be able to go out looking for a place to live, but I just had to ask Giovana or Noah to help me, after all they knew Los Angeles very well.
At six in the morning, I was awakened by the warm sunrise illuminating my face. I stretched and, still drowsy, sat on the bed. My eyes felt heavy, asking me to go back to sleep and my body begged me to lie down again and snuggle into the soft, silky sheets, to rest and remove the accumulation of sleep that, all these years, I had been keeping. If I did that, even Sleeping Beauty would worry. When I got up from the mattress, I went towards the huge window and pulled back the curtains so that as much sunlight could enter the room. I took a deep breath as I slid down the window and inhaled the fresh morning air. I look at the beautiful view of Los Angeles and smile. It was the first time in a long time that I woke up feeling alive. I went to the suitcase and took out the objects and utensils that I would use for my hygiene and went to the bedroom bathroom. Inside the room, I got rid of the tight clothes from the night before, which surprised me, I didn't have the courage or the ability to take them off to sleep.
I did my morning needs and soon after went into the stall. When I turned the dial, the water fell like a glove on my body, at the exact temperature, causing me to wake up once and for all. It was still early to go to work, which made it possible to take advantage of the shower. I left the bathroom with the towel wrapped around my body and went to the edge of the bed, where the clothes I would wear were. I dried my damp skin and got dressed. After cleaning up the mess and organizing the bed, I took the bag I usually took to the hospital and left the room.
It was the first time in a long time that I woke up without being awakened by screams and rain.
you at the door, but rather by the sun breaking through the gaps in the curtain. Nothing compared to waking up to that man's hateful screams and it seemed like a dream to me. Arriving close to the kitchen I heard music, accompanied by Giovana's voice, and I smiled slightly, with a disgusted expression. She was definitely not cut out to be a singer. When I entered the kitchen I saw Giovana facing the stove, frying eggs and bacon and Noah sitting in a chair, eating cereal, straight from the box, still looking sleepy.
“Good morning,” I greeted.
“Good morning, redhead.” Gio replied.
“How did you spend the night? Slept well?” Noah asked me.
”Very well, what about you?“
“Terrible! I'm still not used to Giovana's snoring.”
”How it is?“ She said, with an offended look.
“If I were you, I would look for a doctor! Thank God I don't have problems with that.“
“Oh really?“ I asked, with traces of irony.
“Ignore him, Ariel. Sit down, I made this especially for you.“
Gio handed me a cup of coffee dripping over the edges and then placed a plate next to it, with scrambled eggs and bacon. But, before I could find the courage to start eating the dish that didn't look appetizing, Noah grabbed my arm, stopping my movements. He questioned, with a warning look:
“Are you really going to take the risk?“
“Noah!“ Gio scolded him.
“What?” You're a bad cook!
“I think you're exaggerating.“ I said, trying to defend my friend and look on the positive side of Giovana, as she made me a simple coffee. Noah smiled, sneakily.
“Then go ahead, but don't say I didn't warn you“.
“She made an effort, so it must be delicious!“ I exalted.
“That's it, redhead!“
I held the fork with my right hand and added the scrambled eggs, the bacon also went with it. As soon as the food came into contact with my tongue I tasted everything but the food. I looked horrified as I imagined that I would need to chew and swallow it. Noah was already amused by my situation. I swallowed, seeing all the colors of the rainbow, as the egg and bacon slowly went down my throat. To speed up the process, I held the cup and brought the coffee to my mouth, but as soon as I drank it, to my complete misfortune, it was weak and salty, she had replaced the sugar with salt. I couldn't stand it with all that sodium in my mouth and ran to the nearest sink. Behind me, I heard Noah's hysterical smiles and the annoyance on Giovana's face.
“Is it serious? Is it really so bad?“ She asked.
“You put salt instead of sugar in the coffee, and the eggs, the bacon...“
“It's nothing personal, blondie, but you are a danger in the kitchen.“ Noah said, stopping to smile.
“I tried! The maid is running late.“
“It's her day off.“ Noah warned.
“And how would I remember? I'm starving.“ Gio said, with an angry expression.
I decided to take control of the situation and started to prepare a new coffee for the three of us, while Giovana and Noah went to their rooms to get ready for work. As I was ready and had time left, I put on my apron and started preparing the first meal of the day. A while later, the two returned, smelling the coffee.
“Judging by the smell, it must be wonderful!“ Gio said, sitting at the table.
“I hope you like it.“
Noah also joined us, holding my hands and bringing them to his lips, placing kisses.
“These hands are precious, if you could give a little of your gift to Giovana, it would be fantastic!“
“Oh! Shut up, you idiot.“ Gio asked angrily, throwing a purple grape towards her.
I had made pancakes and baked the eggs and bacon correctly. I washed some fruit that I found in the fridge and placed it on the table. We started eating and, amidst the silence, I remembered my sudden decision and the new experience of wanting to live alone.
“I need to talk to you.“ I said and they looked at me with interest and worry.
“You don't think about going back to your father's house, do you?“ Noah asked me, setting down the cutlery.
“What?” Do not!
“So, what is this about?“ Gio asked me.
“I need you to help me find an apartment for myself. I've decided to live on my own.“
When I finished my words, they looked at me in surprise.
“ What?!“ They spoke together.