Chapter Nine:

“You good, Francine?” Krystal, one of the early morning groomers stooped to retrieve a brush I dropped before I had the chance to look around for it. She stood up and offered to hand it over.

“Yeah. Just tired....thanks.” I mumbled, not even bothering to take it back. I grabbed another one from my drawer and began gingerly brushing out knots in my Yorkshire terrier client, Lolly.

“If you say so. I’m here if you wanna talk, girl.” Krystal nodded at me, and stashed the brush next to my station before disappearing behind the heavy plastic doors to get started on one of her appointments. I didn’t, but that wasn’t unusual. I don't talk much around here out of my own preference.

Luckily for me, I’d only agreed to work a mere four hours today. My head was swimming, and I’d almost accidentally hit a dog’s quick while clipping his nails, mouthed off to Priscilla after she made a comment about my hair being pinned back with Bobby pins (unlike most days, I didn’t feel like styling my hair, and it tended to poof when I first woke up. Especially now in late September, when the weather in Arizona was finally starting to cool off.) and the icing on the cake was tripping over my own two feet and almost busting my face on a grooming table. Quitting time couldn’t come soon enough, and when it did, I left without saying anything to my colleagues. Which I don’t think bothered anyone. We’d been working together for almost a year since I’d transferred to this store from the Texas location I started at, but I kept everyone at arms length. Covering shifts meant more money for me, it had nothing to do with helping out the team. Sounds fucked up, but I can live with it.

What I couldn’t live with was the idea of Vasha still sitting in jail. I’d tried googling info on the Russian prison system to see if I could at least access her mugshot, but I couldn’t find anything. Imagining little Vasha, who probably stood 5’2 and weighed 115 pounds at the very most, getting into a brawl with some dude made me smile. It seemed silly, but being quite small myself, I can attest that we’re the type to watch out for when we get pissed off.

I didn’t have to think about it much longer.

“Hey dude, your phone is going off in the living room?” Char called from the kitchen twenty minutes after I'd gotten home. I'm not used to her being back from work so early, but it'd been nice not having to be completely alone with my thoughts. I snapped back to reality and dashed to answer it. My heart raced as I answered without checking the screen first.

"Hello?" I breathed.

“CEEN! What’s going on?? I haven’t heard from you in weeks. Are you alive over there?”

I sighed, it was only Liza. Sounding playfully incredulous.

Fuck. Weeks? Had it really been that long? Some best friend I was. I started walking to the kitchen for a water bottle, and attempted to explain myself along the way.

“I’m sorry dude. I’ve been working so much...and spending time with Vash-“

“Yeah yeah, I know. But you still gotta make some time for your bestie, you just gotta!”

I closed my eyes and smiled, despite my mild disappointment. She was right, I had to be better about reaching out going forward. I'd gotten so used to living with Liza, when time got away from me I realized how important it was to keep in contact now that I couldn't see her everyday.

“You’re right. What are you doing later on? Sushi?” Sushi was our thing. Max hated it, which was a plus for me. I always despised when she dragged that dirtbag to our outings. I’d rather stick my tongue in a beehive than pretend to be nice to that prick now that I moved out.

“Duh! I’ll pick you up at seven. Be ready!” She sounded so excited, it began rubbing off on me. Thinking of what sushi I was going to get, I hurriedly said my goodbyes so I could take a hot shower. No way was I going out with fourteen bobby pins plastering my hair to my head.

No way in hell.

********************

Two hours later, I was all set and ready to go. Tiger Jaw’s “Cool” was playing on one of my Spotify playlists as I readjusted my small black hoop earrings. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the stress from moving and fighting with Vasha had me dropping weight. My ripped skinny jeans were getting a little loose around the thighs, and the thin stripped grey sweater that always fit like a glove hung loosely on my body, like a clothes hanger. I really needed to start eating again, or I wouldn't have anything to wear soon. My belt was at it's second to last notch as it was. Just as I was applying a thin coat of coral lipstick, I heard the front door open with a greeting.

“....it’s a crrrrruuuEL world, but it’s cewwwwwwwl....”

“Nice to meet you! Francine’s room is across the hall.” I heard Livvy directing someone. Probably Liza.

“You ready yet!?” There was a soft knock at my door. Yep, Liza.

“Just get in here.” I opened my bedroom door and strategically finished applying moose to my now almost collar bone lengthed hair.

“Interesting people. They seem nice enough, good for you.” Liza hooked a thumb toward the door. I shrugged and finished tying my black converse.

“It’s stability.” I replied evenly. We weren’t about to do this here. If Liza had steam to blow off, she could do it on our way to dinner. “Shall we?” I looped my arm over her neck and she laughed, pushing me off teasingly.

“I’ve been DREAMING of California rolls! You know Max would never take me.” She didn't have to tell me, I already knew.

“That’d require him to NOT be selfish for once.” I smirked as we headed toward the front door.

“See ya’ll later!” Charlotte waved from the couch without taking her eyes off the program she and Olivia were tuned into. They lived for different streaming services like Netlfix and Hulu, and had at least five shows going right now. It's a good thing I'm not much for television, otherwise I wouldn't be able to start anything without one of my friends blurting out random spoilers.

“Yep!” I gave them a two finger salute and chased Liza down the street toward her car, giggling like a couple of kids the whole way. Sometimes it felt like my troubles didn’t exist...but I knew they were always waiting to resurface the second I came crashing back to the present.

For now though, it felt nice to be a little carefree.

********************

Pei Wei was packed by the time we arrived. Children running rampant like we were at a fucking Chuck E. Cheese pizzeria. It was crazy insane to me how often parents failed to watch their own spawns while out in public. You want your house to be some sort of jungle gym, cool. At least have some respect for the other people forced to share the same space as your screeching, out of control children and stop ignoring their horrendous behavior.

“You pick the worst places, Liz.” I hissed in her ear and she slapped my arm. I gestured to a snotty nosed brat who bumped into me, and didn’t even apologize before scurrying off to get into something else he probably wasn’t supposed to. "Did you see that? Where are his fucking parents!?" I scowled, glaring in the direction he was headed.

Liza just laughed, letting it linger in the back of her throat as she scanned the menu critically. As if she didn't get the same thing every single time. “Have some patience. YOU were a kid once.”

I rolled my eyes, but didn’t fight back. I wasn’t in the mood. I was about to ask Liza to order some spicy tuna rolls when my phone started vibrating in my back pocket. Hoping it was Vasha, I excused myself and stepped outside into the cool air.

“Detka...” It was her, and she sounded emotionally exhausted and distraught. Even in these circumstances, it felt wonderful to hear Vasilisa's small voice.

“What happened to you!? Four days, Vasha....Olya told me you were arrested last night....are you alright!?” I plugged my left ear so I could hear her quiet response over the busy Phoenix nightlife.

Her soft whimpers turned into gasps of anguish, and then she burst into tears. “...Can we talk in an hour? I just got home. I need a shower...but....detka I’m so sorry...forgive me. Please forgive me for how I treated you.” She was begging through her sobs and I felt my heart pang.

“Of course I forgive you,” I started gently, trying to soothe her as best I could. “You sound exhausted. Take your shower, and get some sleep Detka. Promise to call me as soon as you wake up.”

“No,” she sniffed and I could hear her trying to compose herself with a deep breath “I shower, then call you. It’s important. I’ll lose my nerve if I wait.”

My stomach dropped, and a million possibilities plagued my mind. I wasn’t going to push, because then Vasha would never tell me. So instead of overreacting, I forced myself to smile so she'd think nothing was wrong.

“Call me when you’re ready. I'll be here, no matter what.” I agreed. My dinner date with Liza would have to be cut short, but I'd been waiting to talk to my girl for four days. She might be mad at first, but I also knew once I explained the situation she'd understand. "Thank God you're safe. I love you, Vasha." My throat seized, and I had to swallow hard to keep from crying.

“Remember that I love you too.” Vasha muttered softly, and then hung up. I couldn't imagine how she must've felt, and hoped she could relax long enough to enjoy her hot shower before our Skype call.

“Ceen! You gonna make me eat all this food by myself?” Liza hollered from a seat she’d saved us on the patio. I quickly shoved my iPhone back in my pocket and forced myself to act like nothing happened. I hated lying, but I didn't even really know how to wrap my head around this whole situation. Lizas the type to ask tons of questions, so I figured I should at least be prepared to answer them before letting her on to the fact that I was worried about something.

“Nah. Half that foods’ got my name written all over it so step aside.” I grinned and made my way over to join my best friend. The different array of delectable sauces and ginger made my mouth water as I tore into my chopsticks and attempted to hold them the right way.

Whatever was bothering Vasha, I had to put it out of my mind until I heard from her again.