>You are Anon
>You are currently trying to make sense of the situation
>So, your old family friend/principal appeared this morning into your kitchen, asking for a place to stay
>You also almost blew her brains out
>Oops
>Accompanied by soft humming from indoors you mentally draw a list of pros and cons
>Pros:
>First off, she can do the dishes, maybe even clean
>You hate to admit it, but the house looks like shit
>Unwashed dishes, dirty laundry, dust and everything from empty Zig-Zag packets to empty beer cans combine to leave it looking almost like a crack den
>Second, she won't be here that long
>Meaning, if anything big comes up during her stay you can see to it afterwards
>Third, she's a family friend, and pretty hot
>Which is pretty self-explanatory
>Besides, you owe her for getting you out of some tight spots during your school years
>Cons:
>First, she's your old principal, and you don't know how she'll react if she finds out what you do for a living
>If she'd somehow find out, you're pretty sure that she'd either call the cops or, at the very least, contact your family
>You want neither
>If word got out to anyone in your family, being disowned would be the least of your problems
>You swore to yourself that you'd never see that look of disappointment on your father's face again
>It was almost soul-crushing, in a way
>And that was just from you telling him what you were going to study in college
>Him finding out that your worthless major has left you unemployed and slinging drugs in a dead-end part of town would break him
>Second, she is going to break your routines (or rather, your lack of them)
>You can't get drunk at 2 PM just because you feel like it
>You can't invite friends over and just blaze, chat and listen to music
>If you go to the bar and manage to pull a chick, you can't bring her home
>You can't host any parties this weekend
>Etc.
>She has to go
>You put your cigarette out in a convenient beer can and head inside, simultaneously trying to come up with a good argument
>Hey Celestia, I know I've known you since childhood, but I want to drink at 2 PM, so please go
>Hey Celestia, I'm a drug dealer and I don't want you calling the cops, so bounce
>Hey Celestia, I'd really love for you to be here, but I like doing coke and wrecking the house naked, so leave for your own safety
>Fuck
>You're not a particularly good liar either, so you'll just have to roll with the punches
>This is going to be hell
>Stepping over the piles of dirty laundry in your living room, you hear the hum of a vacuum
>You are greeted by the sight of her in an apron, somehow simultaneously vacuuming the floor and wiping the countertop with a smile on her face
>The kitchen hasn't been this clean since you moved here, and she seems really happy
>She sees you and turns off the vacuum
>''Hi Anon! Hope I'm not disturbing you, but I found the vacuum and thought the kitchen could use some cleaning. Hope you don't mind.''
>She flashes a warm smile your way
''No Celestia, I don't mind. But we kinda, uh, need to talk.''
>You say trying to not sound as guilty as you feel
>You fail
>''Sure! I'll just finish up here, if you don't mind.''
>She looks at you with a hint of worry
>''I'm not intruding too much, am I?''
''No, no, nothing like that.''
>You try to give her a comforting smile
>It turns into more of an awkward lopsided grin
>You turn around and take off towards the living room table
>After sitting down on the couch, you try to come up with something, anything, to say to her
>She joins you a minute later, still smiling
>''Oh, by the way, I just can't thank you enough for this Anon.''
>She looks wistfully out of the window for a moment
>''I don't know if anyone else would take me in.''
>She looks back at you with a smile, her beautiful eyes glinting in the morning sun
''Oh yeah, uh, about that…''
>''Hmm?''
>You can clearly see that she's happy
>Happy for you taking her in, even if just for a while
>Fuck it
''So, uh…''
>''Hmm?''
>She scoots closer with a smile
>Fuck it
''Uhh…''
>She leans towards you
>Her perfume reminds you of a summer day, a floral, warm fragrance
>''Yeah?''
>God fucking damnit
''Uh, where do you wanna sleep? Is the couch fine?''
>You mentally facepalm
>That's not how you envisioned the conversation
>She gives something between a snort and a soft giggle
>''Yes Anon, the couch is just fine, thank you very much.''
>She replies in a warm, almost motherly tone
>''Now Anon, do you mind if I ask you something?''
>Her tone grows slightly more serious
''Depends on the question.''
>''Just what do you do with that gun of yours?''
>You scratch your neck and look out of the window
>You don't want to lie, but you can't tell her the whole truth either
''I just have it in case someone breaks in, self defense, that kind of stuff.''
>''Have you had to use it then?''
>She looks incredibly calculating
>She's got the Teacher's Stare
''Not until today.''
>You give her a half-hearted grin
>She snorts and gives a short giggle again, followed by an apologetic smile
>''Sorry for breaking into your house. I don't know what I was thinking.''
''No problem. Just don't make it a habit, okay? People over here are a bit trigger happy from what I've heard.''
>''Oh no, wouldn't dream of it. And thanks for not shooting me.''
>She smiles again
>You stand up and grab a cigarette from your pocket
>Two left
''Shit.''
>''Hmm?''
''Need to go to the store. You need anything?''
>''Do you need company?''
''Sure, why not. Mind drawing up a shopping list?''
>''It's the least I can do.''
>She smiles reassuringly as you step out into the cold November air
>You curse mentally and take a deep drag of your cigarette
>That's not how the conversation was meant to go
>But, honestly, you'd probably feel like a total scumbag for throwing her out on the streets this time of year
>Besides, it doesn't hurt to have someone to talk to once in a while
>When you aren't delivering something to a buyer, eating or sleeping you're mostly glued to your computer
>And, the place does need a woman's touch
>And she looks great
>Maybe having her around won't be that bad
>And maybe you could even tap that-
>Your thoughts are broken by the sound of a door opening
>''So, you need milk, eggs, rice and almost a thousand other things. Your kitchen's severely lacking.''
>She smiles despite her businesslike tone
''Come on, it can't be that bad. I've always had it like that.''
>''What?''
>She looks surprised for a moment
''Man, it's not like I have to eat fillet every day. Eggs and ramen is cheap and good.''
>''Eggs and ramen? Really?''
>You nod at her amazed expression
>''You can't live like that, you know. You're not in college anymore.''
''I kn-''
>''Or are you? I'm sorry, we haven't had much time to catch up.''
''Well-''
>''Sorry for interrupting.''
>You glare at her, emanating murder from your eyes
>She looks sheepish and gives an embarrassed blush
>''Sorry…''
''No problem. Just don't make it a habit.''
>'You give a sigh and flick the ash from your cigarette over the balcony rail
''Anyway, as I was going to say, as soon as I get a job I'll change my eating habits.''
>You clear your throat and spit over the railing, doing your best to ignore her slightly disgusted expression
''Until then, fat chance. I'm not exactly swimming in money for the time being.''
>You take another drag and put out the cigarette in another handy beer can
>You give a small sheepish laugh
''Sorry if I sounded mean, it's just, well…''
>You trail off, not sure of what to say
>''Times are rough.''
>She continues quietly
''Yeah. I think we both know that.''
>You stand in silence for a minute, looking at the skyline spread before you
''Anyway, I still need smokes and, according to somebody, about a thousand other things.''
>She smiles at your jab
''Let's go.''