It was never you

Carol was on the phone with her mom while she was clipping her nails with the nail clipper. “I have already told you I'm fine mom. You worry too much and it's beginning to be a concern to me. I am no longer a child of yesterday. Okay fine, I am still your child but no longer a baby”. “Fairs.The last we talked you mentioned not needing money from me anymore so it got me worried” her mom questioned from her end. She went further to give her reasons for not needing money from her any longer “Oh yeah, my bad I forgot to tell you I got a better job with Bella's help, and the pay is three times more than my previous job, plus I get to work less too” “Now I see why you said I shouldn't worry about you. You know, ever since your father..” before her mom could finish, Carol cut in and tries to let her know she understands how she feels so she doesn't press further. She reassures her she shouldn't worry too much about the situation because of her health since it's now a reality they have to face. She never liked her mom bringing up her father's situation not because she hates her father for it, but because it weighs her down just like her mom. But that's one of the last place she wants to visit and she has never mentioned that part to her mom or to anyone else. “Okay my darling I understand better now. Bye and take care of yourself” “You too mom” A few minutes after Carol ended the call with her mom,Bella walked into their apartment looking tired from school activity. she immediately dropped her school bag filled with assignments on the reading table before she asked Carol if she had seen the guy sitting at the stairways with a big rose flower in his hand. “Don't tell me he is still sitting there like a lost sheep even after I dismissed him” Carol answered looking surprised. She dropped the nail clipper on the table and set her legs down from the sized stool to focus her attention on Bella while folding her arms with a straight face. “looks like you found yourself a new admirer” Bella said jokingly with a grin on her face. “New admirer you say? Last time I checked, admirers don't breathe down on one's neck like a p*****t” Carol rolled her eyes before taking a deep breath. “I can't even deal with him. So I gave this guy I thought was cool and good looking my number last week and he wouldn't stop buzzing me. I stopped taking his calls because he kinda pissed me off while we were on a phone call. Now he sent a junior frat member to deliver some flower and notes to me. But that doesn't cut it. I'm just tired of him already” Carol explained to Bella. Bella's eye widened after Carol was done explaining. She was in dismay and couldn't believe what she had just heard. A guy being ignored and he still won't stop but rather sent someone else to deliver a flower as a sign of what exactly. That was what was going on in Bella's head as she gulped the glass of chilled water in her hand trying to make sense of the whole situation. On the other hand, she questioned whether Carol was omitting something really important that could have made this said guy to pull such move. Because obviously, she hasn't seen such in her entire existence. How more intentional could this guy be, she searched herself for answers she couldn't provide before letting the matter not stress her more than her lectures had already. “So what do plan on doing with your guy at the stairways?” Bella asked. Carol gave her a wicked and evil look, sizing her up from head to toe before she answered which made Bella throw her hands up in defense. “His now our guy because we both are talking about him which makes him our problem”. “So now, what do you suggest we do?” Bella bursted into laughter knowing that was one of Carol's out of the blue sarcastic answer as usual. “Really? Our guy? Well I don't remember giving out my number for that to be our problem, but rather it’s a you problem” she answered folding her arms looking dead into Carol's eyes. Carol cleared her throat before she gave her another sarcastic answer. “Well, if I remember correctly, you are the one who would advice me like a mother to her dear child that I should be more jovial with people and try and go out more on dates and hangouts so that I can have a life outside my studies and YouTube.Isn't it?” she concluded. Bella shook her head and said nothing. Carol had a long laugh and went straight to hug her because she knew her answer had her dumbfounded and speechless. “I'm so hungry, did you cook anything while I was out for lectures?” tired Bella asked. “I made pasta with sauce. I hope you like it” Bella's eyes became widened at Carol's statement because obviously it sounds more sarcastic than she had imagined. “I hope you like it you say?, Who wouldn't give you a five star rating after having a taste of your pasta and sauce?” Bella jumps out of the bed in excitement. “Of course I do. Who does not like Carol's pasta and sauce? Except they have a damaged taste bud” Bella continued. Her replies had Carol laughing as she shook her head afterwards. Bella went straight to the kitchen to dish out a good portion to stop her rumbling stomach. As soon she had the first bite, she closed her eyes and chewed slowly because of her tasty it was in her mouth. Carol observed her expression in silence and said nothing before Bella came out of her fantasy world. “Have you ever thought about starting a food business, some sort of a restaurant that deals only on pasta and sauce?” She questions Carol. Carol went into laughter again as she was enjoying the current state Bella was having. She couldn't tell if it was the school stress, the hunger or the food itself. But all the way, she was having a good time with it. “No I haven't thought about that” “Then what are you still waiting for? We should start hunting for a great spot within the campus before printing fliers” “You heap praise on my pasta and sauce like it's made in heaven or something. You should wait till you taste my mom's version” Bella paused for a few seconds with some food in her mouth on hearing Carol blurt about her mom's pasta and sauce being better than her's that she would kill for. “When are we visiting your mom?” Bella questioned. “When the time is right” The food conversation went on for a while before Bella switched the topic. Carol's mood had been down lately and she thought of a ways to lift her up since it was Friday. maybe a little fun would help, perhaps to a strip club she thought. Even though Carol wouldn't completely agree to the idea of a strip club. Finally she came to a conclusion. "I think I have an idea of how to help you wind up and add some spark to your life again young lady. You have been getting too many lectures and less fun" Bella spat. "Top many lectures and less fun you know” Bella continued. "Yes my darling" Carol said in amusement. “So what do you have in mind” Carol asked her. "You know what my darling? Get in your sexy dress because I have somewhere to take you, and please no questions thi s time around" “where are you taking me to?” Carol asked as she smiled sheepishly. “The strip club!”