Rebellious Spirit

Alexander was already dressed in his usual sharp suit and tie, briefcase in hand, when the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon reached his nostrils. Glancing up from his smartphone, he was surprised to see Nora standing in the doorway to the kitchen, a spatula in one hand and a mischievous smile on her face.

"Breakfast, anyone?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or are you too important to eat with the commoners?"

Alexander arched an eyebrow at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I miss the memo that said we were friends now?" he retorted, his tone laced with amusement.

Nora's smile widened. "No memo needed, Alexander. It's a temporary truce. After all, even bitter rivals need to eat." She gestured to the dining table, which was set with plates and cutlery. "Take a seat. Unless you're too afraid to let me cook for you?"

Alexander hesitated, the image of his last encounter with Nora's cooking still fresh in his mind. But Nora's confident smile and the tantalizing aroma wafting from the kitchen slowly won him over.

"Alright, I'll give it a try," he said, placing his briefcase on the floor. "But don't expect me to sing your praises if it tastes like charcoal."

Nora chuckled. "Don't worry, Alexander.

Nora continued, her smile widening into a grin. "This time, I followed a YouTube tutorial. If it tastes bad, you can blame the internet."

Alexander took a seat at the table, his amusement visible in the upturn of his lips. "Well, if you followed a YouTube tutorial, I suppose it can't be too bad. But just in case, I'm keeping the fire extinguisher handy."

Nora rolled her eyes. "Very funny," she said.

Nora glanced at him, the teasing banter fading from her expression as she brought up the topic that had been on her mind for a while.

"By the way," she said, her tone serious, "you still haven't answered my question from last night. Why are you living in this apartment?"

Alexander took a deep breath, his fingers drumming on the table. "It's just a temporary arrangement," he replied, his voice even. "My house is being renovated."

Nora's eyebrows shot up. Nora's lips parted, her eyes fixated on Alexander as she processed his statement. "So when is your house supposed to be done with renovations?" she inquired, her tone neutral.

Alexander's fingers stilled on the table. "The renovations should be completed in a few weeks," he replied, his voice measured. "But the timing could always change, depending on the contractors."

Nora's expression remained neutral, though her curiosity was evident in her eyes.

"Well," she said, "since we're getting along now, I was wondering if it would be okay for Jane to visit me."

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "Jane?" he repeated, his voice terse. "No, I don't like her."

Nora's expression darkened. "What do you mean, you don't like her?

Nora pressed on, a hint of frustration in her voice. "She's a nice girl. Why don't you like her?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. " I don't trust her."Alexander's gaze bore into Nora's. "She's not welcome here"

Nora's eyes narrowed, her own temper flaring. "I can invite whoever I want."

Alexander rose from the table, his features hardening. "I've made my position on Jane clear," he said, his voice cold. "I suggest you respect it."

Nora jumped to her feet, her hands balled into fists. "Respect it?

Alexander's gaze was sharp, his jaw set. "We were having a peaceful breakfast," he bit out. "And you just had to bring up Jane out of the blue. Can't you just let it go?"

Nora's expression grew even more furious. "You're being unreasonable," she shot back, her voice raising. "She's my friend, and you don't get to dictate who I can and can't invite over."

Alexander's expression turned stony, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Fine, do whatever you want," he snapped, throwing up his hands in surrender. "But don't expect me to be happy about it. You just ruined my perfect morning."

Without another word, he picked up his briefcase and stormed out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Nora let out a breath, her own anger dissipating as she sank back onto the couch, her mind reeling.

As she sat on the couch, Nora's anger slowly melted away, replaced by a gnawing sense of confusion. She had no idea why Alexander had such a strong reaction to Jane, and his sudden departure had left her feeling unsettled.

"What the hell was that all about?" she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair. "He's acting like Jane killed his firstborn."

She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. Whatever was going on, she had no intention of letting it ruin her day.

Just as Nora was about to push the whole situation with Alexander and Jane out of her mind, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller ID.

"Mom?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. It had been months since she'd last spoken to her mother, and the sight of her name on the screen sent a chill down Nora's spine.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "Hello?" she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Where the hell have you been?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been? You think you can just run away from home and never check in with your own family?"

Nora felt a familiar lump form in her throat, a mixture of anger and sadness rising up within her. "I haven't run away from anything, Mom. I just needed some space."

Her mother let out a bitter laugh. "Space? You think this is a joke?"

Nora's voice rose to match her mother's, her tone defiant. "You think my choice of career is a joke, don't you?" she shot back. "You think I'm not serious about this just because it's not what you wanted for me?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Nora could almost picture her mother's expression as she processed the words. "You know we only want what's best for you," she replied, her tone softer but still firm. "So, where are you living, Nora? And are you alone there? You know how you are you're not exactly organized and you're certainly not the tidiest person. If you're living alone, it's not a good idea. You'd be much better off coming home where we can help you stay on top of things."

Nora's jaw clenched at her mother's words, her pride stinging.Without thinking, Nora blurted out, "I'm not alone. I'm living with my boyfriend, and I'm not coming back home until you accept me for who I am."

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line, and Nora could practically feel her mother's shock. "Your… boyfriend?" her mother finally managed to stammer out. "Nora, you know how we feel about this. This isn't the life we want for you.Nora snapped, her patience worn thin. "You know what, Mom? I'm an adult, and I'm going to do whatever the hell I want. I'm tired of you trying to control my life." With that, she slammed the phone down, ending the call.

She sat there for a moment, her chest heaving, anger coursing through her veins. She knew she'd crossed a line, but she was tired of being treated like a child.