CHAPTER 6

"What's that?" Emma asked Jemi who had a hard-covered book on her legs close to the sitting room window

Jemi turned

"I got it from the shelf, I think it's Wills" she was back on the book.

It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon and they were both in the Sitting room. it was weird for Jemi to be at home at that time, She had lots of questions to ask

"What's it about?"

"The Monalisa"

"An Art piece?"

"Yeah"

She was trying to spark up a two-way discussion this time, but Jemi was just being Jemi.

"You're home today, it's a Wednesday"

"I think so"

She wasn't going to be frustrated.

"Why?"

"Nothing really" she was sounding strangled.

Prolly getting irritated, Emma thought.

Emma went into the kitchen bringing out the last honey-flavoured twist, she opened its red pack with so much. reverence, it had been her favourite snack since the day she found it in a snack store, and right there she had always had it supplied to her kitchen cabinet.

She snapped it open, crunching and moving to the sitting room, still bent on making that conversation with Jemi.

With just the table between them, Emma breathed out about to start another round of conversation, when Jemi yelped "what the heck smells like that"

Emma was surprised and sniffed, it all was okay.

She returned her focus to Jemi who was now on her feet staring at the snacks with full disgust "get that away from me"

The Anger surged through her, with so much force she didn't know when she snapped "what the hell is wrong with you?"

Jemi picked up the book from the floor, and began moving away "I'll leave you then"

Emma stomped after her "you're crazy if you think your brattiness is for everyone to contain"

Jemi stopped, Emma on her tail blinded by rage had almost knocked herself off Jemi's shoulder

Jemi turned, eyes flashing and voice still calm, "you're annoying, and it's annoying you are annoying"

Emma winced, OK it had stung

"Least I'm not so spoiled that I practically fixed 'No human allowed' on the door of my room"

"I didn't do no such thing and even if I did, wouldn't stop you from still ransacking like you kept something there"

Emma spluttered "wasn't in my best interest doing that"

Jemi closed her eyes her fingers on her temple, for a second she looked frail. She opened them again, 'I feel dizzy just standing close to you"

She walked to the room.

"Yeah, run back to your arrogant hole" Emma called at her, intent on having the last word.

She heard her chuckle.

★★★★★

When Emma left it was all she needed a little quietness to herself. Away from the crazy's presence, frequent screaming and *momma calls*. Acting like a seven-year-old.

Bet she never had a moment of worry in her life, always got provided for, physically and -Jemi shivered- yeah emotionally. She wondered how that life felt like, knowing there was someone you could actually lean on, whatever shit you did....that annoyed her further in a jealous kinda way.

Buh she was cute, in her own kinda way, brave, that courage was attractive, made her wanna ....."jeez Jemi" she hit her forehead with her palms. Her phone rang, the name that showed on the screen had her smile...

"Ray"

"Hey dummy"

" Look who missed me" she could hear the smiles behind his voice, a hoarse voice that had had her whenever she was on a low, they've become friends by mistake,

She had gone to a bar, got drunk and complimented his nose sarcastically, he had told her later that she tried twerking and hitting on him later... but she always denied it. And it had always been their little secret.

"We talking about you here rii?"

"I'd rather get pegged man" she feigned dryness

"Your wishes" he laughed "I'm around, your corner, open the window bellē"

" you effing kidding me aren't you "

" I swear by your ass"

"Still don't believe you"

"I know, like I can't swear by sumn that isn't there, ehn ehn "

She waited for him to finish giggling. "Alright I'm at the door"

She literally ran, looked into the peephole, well that was him alright, she pulled back the lock and grabbed him in a hug "I swear I didn't miss you "

" until I tell you I brought tacos" he shook the bag he held at hand.

" what the fuck" she pulled back grabbing the bag "I fricking love you man"

" I know"

"Naa that was for the tacos "

"Ouch," he laughed again. deep throaty sound, his brown eyes twinkling , full lips stretched, brown skin blending with the light shade of the room, and that fro he always had carved clean and full...

She hugged him tighter this time "I didn't miss you I swear"

" doesn't give you a valid reason to crush me to bits" he looked at her forehead " and I'm still taller ..."

She was the one laughing this time CU's he was only inches taller but always brought that up.

"There's water in the fridge, drink and shut up"

"Truth burns" he called over his shoulders walking to the fridge. He came back later with a bottle of water. sitting beside her, her mouth full.

"What happened to your face," he touched her cheeks,

She shook her face away from his touch "nothing, I fell off the..." She pushed another handful in her mouth "balcony" she finished off, her face openly scrutinizing what she had just said...

He frowned "don't lie to me" then he touched her right cheek again, this time she winced "she did that to you right?"

Jemi dropped the snacks on the table and nodded "yeah she did."

"When was that "

"Last week I think" she rubbed her collarbone and told him everything.

"Damn" he could only alter.

"She getting worse every day and I'm worried about her but I can't stay there with her"

"Just shut up, I'm worried about you not her"

"Nau I'm fine" she laughed faintly "see"

"Come're dummy " he spread his arms and willingly she went In, sniffing in his warmth and comfort knowing he'd soon be gone, maybe for another year, she sighed.

★★★★★★★

Emma decided to walk to the grocery store, feeling like something was missing, she read her list again, and again, adding a few things she thought she might have forgotten, for contempt she added the honey-flavoured twist twice, then after another bout of anger, she wrote it thrice, almost ruining the paper.

damn her telling her what to do in her own house, their house she corrected herself, but doesn't give her the audacity to tell her she hated the only snack she found comfort in.

"Damn her" she muttered,

Like Emma was sure she never told her how much she hated the way the audacious freak sat out in the background staring into space like she was working voodoo, she never told her she felt it was *lame*

Her coolness was annoying, even when she was being given the worst news, bet she had nothing to get worried about.

"Thinking she better than everybody else" Emma scoffed.

she was in the grocery store.

Frowning she grabbed a cart, pulled out a container of milk, throwing it in, "stupid milk"

She bought everything she wanted and then pushed the cart to the twist section, throwing more and more of it knowing it was going to show on her budget. But she didn't care. as far as it showed the contempt she held for the newbie.

She pushed her stuff to the counter.

"Emma" the man behind the counter smiled widely at her " you passed through and I didn't see you "

He was a tall bulky man whose frame didn't match his countenance, white hair that had once been evenly black. But his eyes, the pair still had that twinkle

"Come on Alejandro, you see me now" she laughed...this was where she and her parents had shopped for groceries since they became a family, it had been there when she was a child. And everything still seemed the same except for her except,

she stared at the picture on the wall behind the old man out of sheer habit.

"Si si I miss her too," the old man said looking at the picture "Mia still here, I feel her here" he placed his hand on his left breast.

"she feels you to Alejandro " Emma touched his arm. Smiling sadly.

"Let's see what you fill in that Lil belly" he started laying everything on the counter " what's with all this " he laughed in surprise raising all the honey lilacs.

"cravings" cravings to watch someone upset. She smiled inwardly.

He added everything up

Then the search for the purse began, ruffling her bag, zipping open every pocket..urrrrrrrgh ...damn. she was sure she put it in her bag or did she? she stopped and looked up... "Fuck" she whispered when it dawned on her that she didn't after the row with Jemi...

"You forgot sumn" Alejandro tinted his brows. his eyes, soft blue twinkling.

" I think I forgot my purse at home"

"Not typical of you" he smiled teasingly

She sighed " there was a lot to fix". A lot of assholes.

"Just bring it over when you got it on you " he held her shoulder "I'll forgive you this one time"

she gave him a sweet smile " thanks Al"

Now outside she hopped on a cab, excited for another row, she smiled to herself, yearning to see how Jemi looked when she finally lost that stupid calmness she had around. Did she ever throw anything to the wall? watch it shatter then throw some more, her mum always told her most calm people break when the pressure hits right...

'' let's find your limit Jemi"

The driver watched her from the rear mirror wondering what lunatic he picked up.

The cab finally stopped, pleading with him to wait a bit, she flew into the house, to the sitting room, and what she saw.

"Jeez " she could only mutter. There was a guy in the house ..hugging Jemi... JEMI !!

Her mouth was half open...Jemi who had quit the embrace when she had barged into the house had this annoyed look on her face. The guy, black and actually..... Darn hot, was looking at the both of them amused.

Emma swallowed...spotted her purse on the sofa close to her and picked it up " I forgot this " she raised it up

"No one asked" Jemi crowed dryly as she bit into her half-finished tacos

Emma felt her cheeks burn..it was hard to think of a counter back when she was this angry.

The guy walked over to her his hands stretch for a shake." I'm Ray Jemi's friend "

Emma put on a smile and held his hand " Emma here," she looked over at Jemi " never knew anyone could put up with her like are there holes in your body "

He looked confused.

"She's always pointy " Emma finished off.

Ray laughed " I like her" he announced

"You got good taste "Jemis's sarcasm wasn't hidden.

The cab horning outside brought her to her senses,

Running off to the door, she wondered how little she knew about her roommate

★★★★★

" can't believe she said all those stuff " Emma laughed hard.

" well she was on stuff, I had to take her home, I didn't know her you know.. " he smiled reminiscing, they were both in the kitchen. after discovering Jemi had strolled away she decided it was worth the shot to find out about her from Ray. He wasn't so open about it at first but then she had become so juicy a topic to talk about while they both made lunch.

"so what happened " Emma prodded

"she woke the next morning and said nothing except warn me that if she saw what happened between us on my social media pages. She was coming back for me with a gun"

"bet she said that very calmly " Emma rolled her eyes. Kneading the dough.

He chuckled " dead cool more like".

She watched then started carefully "I know it's not my business but are you two a thing?"

He laughed harder. Emma felt stupid "are you serious? "

"Walked in on you two yesterday and you are the closest person I've known her with" she increased the pressure on the dough.

" like you didn't know? " he looked deadbeat serious.

"that you two were a thing?...."

"No no not that" he used his hands as emphasis " that she's into women"

Emma stopped. " say what?"

"Like what do you guys talk about," Ray asked amused

"We don't talk at all" she continued kneading

" that's Jemi for you alright " he stuck his finger in the batter and tasted it " this is good"

"but we keep having rows, sorry but she seems selfish and obnoxious to me"

She told him about the morning and he stayed quiet all through the narrative "she's so spiteful"

He rubbed his forehead "Jemi copes terribly around the smell of honey like she's allergic to it, she could eat the worst buh not anything that has to do with it"

"Oh," the whole stuff was taking a bad turn "for real ?"

" makes her nauseous and green"

"She never told me that"

"Jemis a hard nut to crack but underneath though, she's the kindest person you'd ever meet " he laughed "that's a front"

"But why the front"

He sighed "I'm not supposed to do this, it's her place to tell you if she wants to, but I think it's going to help with the way you relate with her"

"Oookay " she waited expecting

"She has BPD due to past and recent and maybe future abuse she's going through"

Memories came flashing, the drugs spilling.

"From who "

"Now that's not my place to say" he smiled..."She'll tell you the rest when you give her a reason to trust you "

"That's unlikely" she frowned

"You're cool, she'll come around" he licked his fingers again" compliments to the chef"

Emma smiled...so there was a cool jemi....underneath the hard front..wouldn't hurt to know about that person. Right? Her eyes caught the several packets of honey-flavoured twist scattered on the kitchen floor .she grimaced. right?

★★★★★★

Ray had left that evening and didn't get a hug from Jemi, but Emma's hug was enough for two.

Jemi had watched Ray whisper and Emma nod in affirmation then he had driven away. the house was back to the way it was, She couldn't help but feel the sadness crowd again around her.

Emma had retired early, that night and she sat staring at the blank canvas, brain extremely void on what to paint on it.

She felt sick, heart-wrenching illness, Everywhere hurt, mostly deep in her Chest,

She needed something to while away time.

She moved into the kitchen, arranging the groceries Emma had brought back and didn't have time to put in place, pouring the spices into their containers, neatly arranged in order.

About putting the trash in the bin, something caught her eyes, she kept the trash away digging into the bin.

Emma had stacked the bin with packs and packs of honey-flavoured twist,

Jemi winced, the feeling intensified, shutting the bin closes, why had she done that? Jemi pondered, she didn't mean anything she had said that morning, to be truthful she was angry with herself, not Emma, The red-haired had every right getting mad at the psychopath just a room away.

She brought the packs out, putting them in one of the bags.

The guilt didn't stop