It was much later that night when I walked back. I had a few grocery bags as I headed up to the doors of the lodge when they opened for me. I must have jumped slightly. Dante stood out of the way holding open the door for me. I paused a moment in confusion before continuing with a nod, “Thank you.”
Dante nodded in return and closed the door behind me. I headed in and set the bags on the counter. From the living room we could hear Wendell’s muffled yelling as he ranted at someone. Dante followed behind me with a curious look, “You are aware that I prepare food here for the residents right? I wouldn’t dare exclude you from it just because you’re new here.”
I responded calmly. My voice was no longer as shook up and sporadic as it was, “No I didn’t know that, but I wasn’t hungry either. It wasn’t food on my mind.”
Dante immediately furrows his brow at me and blinks. I start taking a few boxes out of the bags and begin opening them on the counter.
Dante steps into my view beside me and stares still. I glanced at him, “Is there a problem?”
Dante squints at me, “Pardon me but you sound vastly different?”
I roll my eyes a bit while grabbing a kitchen knife to cut some tape, “I tend to get a bit chaotic when I haven’t had any time to myself. I apologise, consider it boiling in the heat.”
Dante scoffs, “So everything wasn’t alright then. You lied to me.”
I grab the new coffee grinder from the box and set it on the counter infront of him, “I did because if I had told you the truth then I could have gotten a bit out of hand. Now where do you guys keep the coffee makers?”
Dante’s eyes quickly snap to the coffee grinder as his mouth opens slightly. He tries to hide the excitement with no luck, “A coffee grinder? You know we can all use the same one right? You mustn't waste your money like that.”
I gently set a hand on the coffee grinder, “This is version ten of its series and renowned for the finest cups of coffee in the whole country.”
He rapidly nods, “I know I know, I know this brand like the back of my hand. But that doesn’t explain why you brought one here!”
I start grabbing the trash from unpackaging it and throwing it away, “You looked pretty happy getting on Wendell’s nerves so I got you the loudest one money can buy. And don’t worry about any gravel in my ears either. ” I then take out a pair of noise canceling earplugs. Unknowingly I didn’t even smile. I stayed plain faced the entire conversation, “I’ve got myself covered.”
He scoffs again, “Well thank you.” He gave another polite nod though this time with his upper torso as well, borderlining a bow.
The words slipped my mouth before I could even filter them. I mumbled a bit, “Don’t bow to me like that.”
“I apologise? I was simply showing my gratitude!” Dante stands upright with perfect posture.
At this point it was best to just follow through with honesty, “You already look like a butler, I don’t want to see you acting like one. It doesn’t suit you at all.” I started to head towards my room before pausing, “I liked the sassy ragebait better.” Dante was a bit stunned by the comment. My ear however caught onto Wendell’s yelling again as I looked in the direction of the livingroom, “What’s got him in such a tizzy?”
Dante clears his throat, “A new resident. She showed up while you were at work. She will be staying in room 3. So as of now we are out of rooms for the time being.”
My eyes narrowed, “And what about Wendell?”
Dante continues, “I’m afraid they’re a match up made in heaven. Someone just as nosey as he is irritable… just glad she clung to him first.”
The hairs start to stand on my arms as I asked, still keeping monotone, “Does she wear pink?” My hear started to race again. This had to be a coincidence. Surely if there was a God for this world it wouldn’t hate me so much to do this?
Dante nods, “Yes. Has a thing for glitter as well it seems.”
My heart sank in my chest. A feeling of dread overtook me. But not a single ounce of it showed. All Dante saw was me going quiet for just a hint too long.
Dante speaks up, “Uhm… Michael?”
I looked back at him like a desperate cry for help but not a single one of those thoughts came through. Why here? Why now? I had gone this far and somehow she found me before anyone else? Was she insane? What kind of crime does she have to commit before I can get a restraining order on her?!? If there was any crimes to be commited it was going to be becuase of her. All the words I could muster out came out bland and empty. Just as devoid of soul as that witches soulless voice I could now hear from the other room. The only words I spoke were, “...That’s my ex. Rosey.”
Turning the corner was HER. She wore a bubble gum pink sweater, a black and white pleated skirt with white leggings and black combat boots. She whipped her long pony tail behind her, scattering a few stray bits of rainbow glitter from her makeup. Her spotty freckles, blue eyes, and oversized sleeves were unmistakable. This gigglefuck was here to raise Hell on Earth.