(Untitled)

[turns_to_fire]

WHO: Roberto and Amara
WHAT: Roberto has been going off somewhere for the past week or so. Amara is suspect and confronts him
WHERE: Seattle; Roberto's place
WHEN: 11/13, evening
WARNINGS: Angst, mentions of substance abuse, things going on fire

Comments

[dacosta_pi]

It was another night and another meeting; yesterday had been Narcotics Anonymous and tonight was Alcoholics--and yet all the faces were starting to blur together. Similar stories told by different people of different genders, races, and creeds. And yet the varied storytellers made things easier. There were so many people like him.

The meetings were helping him cope very slowly, but surely. However, it still didn't help much with the trauma and self-loathing he got from being a victim. That was the one thing that set Bobby apart from the other addicts, and that was that he never made the choice to abuse his substance. He was tricked into it--forced, in a sense. It made the whole ordeal all the more violating and shameful.

Like every other night after his meeting, he grabbed himself a newspaper at the corner store, and tucked it under his arm as he entered his room. What he didn't expect to see was his girlfriend sitting on his bed. It would have been a pleasant surprise if she didn't look so angry, though. Mãe do deus, what did he do

[turns_to_fire]

Amara had been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even noticed him come in. The angry look gave way to a surprised one and she forced herself to remain calm. It was very tempting to just stand up and grab him by the shirt, shaking him until he gave up where he was. That would only lead to a fight and maybe she was wrong. Maybe he had gotten a job. Maybe there was some legitimate reason why he was keeping quiet about his whereabouts. Innocent until proven guilty, right?

She uncrossed her arms, leaning back on them, not getting off the bed. Amara looked up at him evenly, one hand reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear absently. Her body looked a lot more relaxed than before, more warm and welcoming and less “STAY BACK IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU.”

"I was waiting for you to come back."

She was clearly asking, Well? Where have you been? with her look alone. If he was smart, he would give up the information before she had to force it out of him. It wasn't that Amara didn't trust him but if they were actually dating, he

[dacosta_pi]

"Oh. Well, hi."

He chuckled a little bit and tossed the paper onto one of the dressers before hanging up his jacket. Since he'd had nothing else planned besides continuing his search for work and more anonymous meetings, it was probably better to place the paper off to the side for now so that she wouldn't get suspicious about it. Roberto wasn't really ready to share the news about his meetings yet; he wanted to try and help himself on his own and in private for now. Maybe once he got his six month or one year award he'd be ready to share.

As for her subtle hinting for answers, it wasn't going to come that easy. And since she didn't ask outright, Roberto saw no need to scramble for a cover up answer. Casual conversation was what he was sticking with!

"It's too bad you hadn't come over earlier, menina. I finally peeled off that t-shirt you got me to wash it," he told her with a smirk. "It'll be plenty worked-in in no time, now."

[turns_to_fire]

"Well, actually, I've been waiting here for more than an hour," Amara wasn't going to let him get away with changing the subject. Not this time. "Where were you?"

That was a legitimate question, wasn't it? She sounded curious, not accusing-- for now. Amara noticed the newspaper and she felt a little relieved. Maybe he really was job hunting. She hoped. She was still lounging on the bed, just watching him carefully. He wouldn't lie right to her face.