009

The coming days were slow-paced and uneventful for one certain robber, lazing about and wishing to go outside but not wanting to see the librarian's annoying face.

Georgina didn't want to risk looking at those dangerous green orbs when she can stay in the comforts of her four walls.

Unfortunately, Oscar had run out of cat food which prompted his human to unwillingly leave her apartment to buy the domestic animal food and some other things. She could only hide away for so long anyway.

After paying and hefting a very large pack of Oscar's favorite, she passed by a local park where families were walking around hand in hand.

Georgina even spotted a few couples having their dates and had an inconceivable urge to burn the whole place down, just so she wouldn't have to see their smiling faces.

Too caught up was she in murderous thoughts that she stumbled and nearly fell on her face if it wasn't for a force on her arm to yank her back to a standing position, her glasses going askew in the process.

The huge kitty bag fell on a heap on the ground but luckily nothing was damaged.

Fixing her spectacles, she turned toward her unknown savior with a smile, but scowled instead once she was met with green eyes.

Curse you, Oscar. She loves him but it made her meet this guy again.

Why do they keep bumping into each other? She didn't understand.

His hand was occupied with a long blue leash and when she saw the end it was to be met with the sight of a small dog with well-groomed hair, its fur shiny and curly and its pink tongue hanging out of a small jaw as it sat down obediently beside its master.

Georgina rose a brow. How... cute.

Aaron followed her gaze and smiled.

"This is Chip, a Yorkshire terrier," he introduced. "Isn't he cute?"

The small dog yipped as if in reply, and Georgina couldn't help the smile that bloomed across her face.

"My cat's better," she said with a smirk and bent down to grab the large bag of cat food again. "Thanks anyway."

She walked a couple steps before his voice was calling out to her.

"I'm not sorry at all for the things I said, Georgina. I encourage you to rethink your life before it's too late."

A spark lit up within her and she whipped back to yell, "Mind your own business, Miller! I don't need a babysitter or some shit! I'm twenty-three, for God's sake!"

"You yell like a fifteen-year-old, though," he chuckled, and Georgina stuck out her tongue at him before trying to leave the area as fast as possible with a large and heavy bag of cat food.

Why was he always where Georgina is? She didn't think he was some kind of stalker but it was odd to see the same person almost everywhere you go.

There are seven billion people living in this planet. So why do they always bump into each other?

Weird.

"Oscar, I'm home," she called out to her pet, which comes running toward her and the food.

Georgina waited with a wide smile and open arms but became affronted when the Bengal zipped directly toward the bag. She frowned.

"I bought that, you little shit. How could you be so cold to me?"

The cat merely stared at her with wide eyes, the woman standing to grab a cigarette and light it.

She wasn't much of a smoker, but when she's stressed the urge to light something and puff takes over her, the smoke she releases a haven of sorts for her troubled mind.

The city was cloaked in darkness and twinkling stars as evening settled in, brown eyes behind rims looking over the lighted houses and bright establishments.

The cigarette dangled between her chapped lips, smoke continuing to emit from her mouth as she breathes.

Her mind drifted as she thought over a situation over and over, weighing the pros and cons and attempting to visualize multiple scenarios that were possible to play out if she chooses to call.

Call who exactly?

No one else but her best friend.

To hell with it.

She reached out a hand to grab the receiver of the phone, dialing in a memorized number and waiting for anyone to answer.

Three rings passed by before another feminine voice answered sweetly, "Hello?"

A suppressed choke escaped Georgina's lips, suddenly overwhelmed by the fact she had separated herself from this helpful woman. Just hearing her voice was enough to make tears spring to her eyes, her other hand working to wipe at her eyeballs.

"Hello?" Veronica's voice came again, concern etched into it.

"Nica," she sighed out at last after regaining her bearings, soft smile on her lips.

A gasp rang through the other line before her voice speaks again, softer and lower this time.

"Gina? Is that you?"

"The one and only."

"Oh my gosh are you okay? Have you been eating well? What about Oscar, is he okay?"

A laugh slipped out Georgina's mouth, pleased by the positive reaction and amused at Veronica's motherly doting.

"Relax I'm okay," she assured, leaning on the wall. A slight frown marred her lips at the thought of a certain someone and she sighed heavily, head bowing and glasses slipping from its perch on her nose. "Though I do want to talk to you."

"Oh you can drop by tomorrow any time!" Veronica chirped happily. "So long as it isn't midnight," she added cheekily, prompting another laugh from Georgina.

"Okay okay." The smile slid off her lips as she cleared her throat for something serious. "I'm sorry I cut ties with you. You were just worried about me, and I pushed you away. You don't deserve—"

"Ahh save your apologies to the grave," tutted the other woman. "Don't give me that, Gina. We'll talk anyway tomorrow so we'll sort things out by then. For now, get some rest okay?"

Her lips pursed together before she answered a breathy, "Okay" and ended the call.

At least she had something to look forward to for the following day.

Her attention turned to a rather small silhouette, revealing itself as Oscar in the dark. Something dangled from the side of its closed jaw, and as the cat reached her Georgina could see a dead mouse clamped between its jaw.

The woman's face crumpled as he placed the small animal down on the floor, peering up at his human.

"Oscar I told you I didn't want any more of that," she whined, but crouched down to pet him and scratch the spot between his ears. "You little kitty."

Outside, the crescent moon shone bright, Georgina's heart lighter as a smile unknowingly made its way to her lips, its usual choppy appearance looking red because of the moon's glow.