Renewed

She was like broken glass the first time I saw her.  And when I saw her, I couldn’t stop seeing her. Not anywhere.  Suddenly she was everywhere.  Suddenly she was at my favourite bakery and then at the magazine stand and again at the bank. She was everywhere and everywhere...she was like broken glass.  Anyone who saw her took purposeful steps to avoid touching her, like her edges were sharp to the touch and in truth, I think they were. I think she was dangerous. I don’t think she knew she was, but she was.  She was broken glass and at any moment, she could cut you.   “Check it out, my left n****e is higher up than my right.” And almost on instinct my eyes averted exactly where Mila was gesturing and sure enough, her left n****e seemed to be slightly more elevated than her right. And as instantly as I agreed with her, I shot my eyes away and fell back on my bed.  I knew it would be too much to ask my housemate to leave me be, she was in constant need of both attention and affection, hence her constant invasion of my privacy.  “Put your shirt back on.” I threw my arms over my face and released a heavy groan that was muffled but I figured it released enough of my frustrations for the day.  “What? My titties aren’t up to your standard? I think they’re neat.” I heard her huff and moments later, I felt the bed dip beside me. “Work’s turned you into a grump.” “I’m not a grump.” “That’s exactly what a grump would say.” I felt a light jab at my arm and shot a glare to my side where I knew her eyes were watching me intently and sure enough, there they were, those swirling blue mischievous orbs. “Given any thought about quitting yet?” “Sure,” I scoffed, dropping my arms and shifting my body to face her so she could have a clear view of the amusement swimming in my eyes. “And then who’ll be paying the rent? You?” “Mrs. Ginger ought to start pulling her weight around here if you ask me.” Mila smirked playfully, there was never a moment the girl could take life seriously. “Mrs. Ginger is a three-legged cat with an attitude that could give a viper a run for its money.” I reminded her before sitting up to look around for said animal but as usual, she was nowhere to be found. “We could start her some kind of fundraiser, you know, exploit her a little.” I looked back to see Mila biting back her signature giggle. “I’m just saying,” She shrugged, sitting up as well. “We have options.” “You’re insane,” I stood up and felt joints pop that I knew I wasn’t nearly old enough to warrant. “Work hasn’t got me in a mood.” Because in truth, my job was actually the last thing on my mind. It wasn’t something I particularly looked forward to but it also wasn’t the worst firm I’ve worked at. In fact, compared to some of the other places, this one reigned superior. The bar, however, wasn’t set very high in that respect.   “Still hung up on that girl from the park?” “The park, the cafe, the news stand, I swear, she’ll be carpooling with me soon at this rate. She’s following me, she has to be.” “Or she too lives in the area, that’s a very likely possibility as well.” Another glare sent her way had Mila backtracking instantly. “Or she’s following you. But honestly, Win, you’re really putting yourself on a pedestal there. I mean, are you really worth following? I mean, yeah, you’re cute, but you’re moody as hell and have awful taste in food.” “Pringles dipped in ice cream is amazing.” “It really isn’t but live your dream, my love.” She jabbed me in the side before bumping her hip to my own and leading us both out of my room. “You could just...ask her what the deal is?” “That would mean acknowledging to her that I’ve noticed her presence and that’s just opening a door I’d rather keep sealed shut.” “Is she cute?” “She has this massive scar that cuts across her face.” “That wasn’t my question.” And of course, that led me to think about her. The broken glass. The girl that shouldn’t ever be touched because she posed a threat I’d yet to understand to what extent. Her tinted skin, her eyes always so focused on the path ahead of her, a book always clutched firmly in one hand and her phone in the other with wires for her earphones running up. Her lips silently mumbling the words to the song she would be listening to in that moment.  Was she cute? Cute was the wrong word. She was...interesting. Her outward appearance screamed...fascinating.  “So she is.” Mila decided after I refused to reply and I would not give her the pleasure of my approval or denial of her statement. “She’s annoying.” “She hasn’t spoken a word to you.” “Doesn’t make her any less annoying.”  “Or you’re just too invested in something no one else would really care about.” Mila spotted Mrs. Ginger lazing on the couch in the only patch of sun that happened to be streaming through the window, and of course she had to go disturb the cat’s peace, scooping our moody pet up into her arms and burying her face in her plush fur. “What do you think, Mrs. Ginger?” Mila held the cat up in the air as she squirmed to be released from the brunette’s hold. “Is Winter reading too much into it? I think she is.” I watched as the tabby released a meow that sounded like death itself and swiped at my housemate and only then did she place her back on her previous spot on the couch. “She’s so f*****g rude.” Mila rubbed at her arm. “She gets it from you.” “And for some reason you’re still here, how very masochistic of you.” “You make me question my devotion to you daily.” My brunette housemate feigned a pout that elicited the smallest of smiles from me but that was enough of a victory for her. “I made the ice queen show emotion, damn, you must really like me. Be honest,” She waggled her brows before biting her lip slightly. “Are you secretly in love with me?” “You want that? Because you know I’ve got a reputation for being...well, the worst, I guess.” “You’re right,” Another feigned pout settled on her lips. “Besides, you’re too interested in your annoying park girl.” “She’s not my anything.” “Fine, then I’m walking you to work tomorrow because I am too curious to see your little stalker in action.” “Everyone on my floor already thinks we’re dating.” “As if you’d be so lucky.” Mila winked. “It was you who thought they were in love with me when we first met, remember?” I arched a brow challengingly and watched as the cogs turned in her head as she thought of a retort only for me to be met with a huff of annoyance. She picked up her phone and typed away frantically for a moment before looking back up to me. “What pizza do you want?” “I want Chinese.” “It’s pizza or you’re paying.” “You suck. Pepperoni.” “God, you’re basic. Remind me to remind park girl that on your wedding day.” “You do realise that not all girls that happen to cross my path are inherently queer, right?” She gave me a once over, arched her brow for a moment then scoffed and averted her attention back to her phone again.  Surprisingly, Mrs. Ginger made her way over to me and rubbed the length of her body against my leg. Mrs. Ginger and I had an agreeable relationship. I barely bothered her and in return, I was gifted small portions of her affection. It was always brief, never lasting for longer than five minutes but it was enough and it peeved Mila off enough to arouse amusement in me, so I accepted it gratefully.  Mila insisted it was a toxic relationship that didn’t really benefit myself or the cat but I thought otherwise. It was the exact relationship I could handle, I would probably lose my mind if she clung to me for more than the time she’d give me.  The night passed with relative normality. I bickered with Mila, Mila bickered with the cat and somewhere between that we’d tune into what was happening on the TV only to tune back out moments later.  The next morning brought about frustrations on my part again because I knew the moment I stepped out of the house, I’d be met with the possibility of, or in my opinion, the certainty that I would run into ‘Park Girl’.  Mila was always out of the house early for her run and would make her way back in halfway through my morning routine to linger in the background and make little side comments about my choice of make-up for the day. She had a job but it wasn’t exactly stable. More often than not, she’d be cancelled.  She worked at a kids amusement centre as a fairy for birthday parties. A fitting job for her and she loved it, but she relied on bookings heavily. Recently she’d even delved into the Frozen looks in hopes of acquiring more bookings and it’d been working, but again, it wasn’t the most reliable occupation. But she loved it, never once has she made it home and complained about her day. Mila loved kids, I knew in the future she’d have a house full of them. In every way, she was my exact opposite.  Like clockwork; as I started my make-up, I heard the front door open and close.  “You’re already stinking up the house.” I called out in hopes of stirring a reaction from her.  My eyes caught her just as she slipped past the bathroom, flipping me off as she did so. A smirk settled comfortably upon my lips and I turned back to my task at hand. “You know, lighter colours would really complement you a lot more.” She slipped into the bathroom after shedding most of her clothes, leaving her solely in her underwear. The thing with Mila was; if she had the choice, she’d roam the streets naked every day. “It’d give people the wrong impression. They’ll think I’m approachable.”  “Your job is to be approachable.” “Only for my clients and they don’t wanna see some pink, glittery fairy working their case.” I put the finishing touches to my make-up before giving myself a once over of approval and turning to my housemate. “Really though, please shower, you stink.” “Do I? Or do you just want an excuse to see me naked?” That was enough to prompt me to make my exit because with the smirk that curled onto her lips and the devious glint in her eyes, I knew she’d keep the witty remarks coming if I stayed. “Clean Mrs. Ginger’s litter! I’ll see you later.”  “I love you, behave yourself!” She called back with more enthusiasm than necessary.  I slipped out of the front door, trying with all my might to push the smile away from my lips but in the privacy of my own solitude, I allowed a small one to linger for only a moment.  It was why Mila and I got along so well, we were polar opposites and that’s why we knew exactly what the other needed. She was the high to my low most days and vice versa, though her lows were rare and far between. Where I was calculated and purposeful, she was spontaneous and reckless in the best of ways. It was a balancing act in our friendship, we never quite tipped the scales either way when we were together. Making myself down the street, my eyes were instantly on high alert. I knew I’d see her, she never failed to disappoint in that respect. Park Girl was nothing if not consistent.  And sure enough, there she sat. At a bus stop with a new book stealing all her attention practically right across the street from my townhouse.  And it wasn’t like she was going out of her way to catch my attention or even really paying attention to me, but she was there. Like she was every day. Like she has been every day for the past month.  Usually I’d find myself just walking away, putting her in the back of my mind until I could get home and talk to Mila about it, but this morning felt different. I felt different. It was this overwhelming sense of pent up frustration and probably lack of sleep on my part, but without so much as checking for oncoming traffic, I made my way across the street with a few choice words settled on my tongue, ready to be released to this girl who probably didn’t deserve it. But nevertheless, she’d be met with them. She’d be introduced to them in a way I very rarely introduced my choice words to anyone.  As I’ve said, I was usually more calculated than this, but this particular morning seemed to have struck me with the spontaneity and urgency that Mila carried with her daily.  “Do I know you?” I decided these words to be my way of introduction as I loomed over what I now realised was a very petite girl. From afar she held that air of mystery that elevated her height but now standing before her, she was small. I wasn’t much taller than her but she felt smaller.  Looking up at me, her brows furrowed and her scar wrinkled almost painfully. It wasn’t old like I’d assumed it was. I’d assumed it was a childhood injury that sat with permanency as a reminder to never make the same mistake again, but I was wrong. It wasn’t new either, but it was certainly still healing over. It tore through her face savagely starting at the very base of her hairline on the right and ripping through her brow, skipping only her eye and then continuing over her nose until it hit the corner of her jaw on the left.  It was angry, still a burning red that I almost felt upon my own skin simply by looking at it.  And every choice word I’d let simmer in my mind disappeared.  In truth, she was beautiful. Dark-eyed, tinted skin, hair that seemed a bit matted but simply needed a brush. The scar...the scar wanted to rid of that beauty, it wanted to tear it away.  “I-I don’t know, do I?” She had a rasp to her voice, like she’d been a regular smoker for a few years. Not gruff or deep, just...husky. Tired. That’s it, her voice sounded...tired. “Do you live around here?” “That’s a bit invasive.” She was right, it really was. If someone had asked me that question, I’d send them packing instantly. “I just-” What? What could I possibly say to her to make me seem less like a creeper? When in actual fact, I’d come to approach her with the intent of accusing her of being one. “Nevermind.” Spinning around on my heels, I began making my way away from her and hoping to never see her again, sparing myself any further mortification.  “You never answered my question.” She stopped me with her words and I frowned as I turned back to her. “Do I know you?” What kind of a question was that? She’d know if she knew me, I was sure. I’d asked it confrontationally. She, however, seemed genuinely curious for the answer. “Wouldn’t you know that?” “No,” A soft chuckle slipped past her lips and I could appreciate the sound, it held that same husk to it. “My brain doesn’t work as well as it used to.” She gestured to the top of her scar with her finger and I felt my blood run cold with shame for putting her on the spot like that. “Uh, no,” I shook my head slowly, my mouth finding it difficult to form words in that moment. “We don’t know each other.” “Oh,” She seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer. She tilted her head slightly as she studied me further. “Why’d you ask then?” Because you’re following me. Because every turn I take, you seem to be there.  Because you’re literally sitting outside of my house right now. “I see you a lot.” “As in...you’re following me?” “What? No!” I scoffed, I don’t quite know why I was offended considering I’d made the same assumption about her. “I live right over there.” I nodded over to the house, in hindsight, it wasn’t my smartest move.  “Oh,” She looked over to the house, slightly fascinated but not enough to warrant concern on my part. “I go to an appointment.” “Everyday?” “Everyday.” She confirmed with a soft nod.  “Well,” I tucked my hands into my pants pockets and rocked back on my heels. “I guess that settles that.” And because I’d made enough of a fool of myself for the day, I thought it time I left her to her own devices and I made my way to work. And I knew I was most certainly late. I spun around once again and started my walk once more.  “I’m Julissa.” She called out softly, just loud enough for it to travel to me and I couldn’t help but look back to her again. “Now you do know me.” “Oh,” I frowned, more to myself than to her. “Thanks, um, I’m Winter.” “Like the season.” There was almost an excitement to the way she said it, like she’d achieved something by linking the two together. “Yeah,” I chuckled softly, because her smile seemed to be the only thing left spared by the scar and it lit up her face instantly. “Like the season.”