Page 63 of The Breaking Pointe
makesallthisseemlikenothing.”Shelaughssoftly.
I smile. “I wouldn’t think that at all. Having roommates— sharing? It’s nice. My condo? Pretty lonely.”
She purses her lips before smiling and rolling her eyes. “Listen, just gimme a few minutes to change.Hang out, take your shoes off, maybe?” she suggests, picking bobby pins from her bun.
I nod as she smiles before going into what seems to be a walk-in closet.Doing as told, I shove my shoes off each foot, neatly pushing them to the side before walking to the bed and sitting on the edge.I begin to rub my hands together softly, looking around more.Gazing to my side, I see her nightstand.It’s occupied by jewelry, a candle, and some change. There’s also a framed picture, but it’s facing down. I’m normally pretty great at minding my business. You kind of learn it by default when you are the prime target for being picked on.
Butwiththis,I’mgenuinelycurious.It’sfacingdown, so maybe it’s supposed to stay like that?Or maybe it accidentally fell. Who’s in the picture?
I turn my head to glance at the closet, seeing that she is still in there, hearing her shuffling around with drawers.
Alittlepeekwouldn’thurt,right?
Quickly, I lift the frame, taking a look at what is beneath it. Once I can make it out, I wish I would’ve let myself stay curious.
In the picture is Noelle and Daniel, hugged up in what looks to be a black-and-white studio kind of thing. To add insult to injury, they are kissing.
“Okay, I think I’m good!”I hear Noelle call out, her footsteps making their way to me.
Softly, yet abruptly, I drop the frame back down, turning my body toward her.
“Ready?”she asks, now standing in the doorway of the closet, grinning.
“Uh—yeah.Yeah, let’s go,” I say, now standing up.
My stomach is in my ass at this point, but I’m still gonna pretend that I didn’t see that.A million questions are running through my brain, yet it really could just be nothing at all. After all, that is her ex.
But even still, after she told me all those things earlier, I can’t seem to fathom how someone like him could have been with someone like her.Or even equate to her level.From the sounds of it, the relationship wasn’t something to look up to.Instead, it’s doomed.Hence me being here with her, I would assume.
We go back to the dining room where Lauren has plated everyone’s meal and paired it with champagne. Everything looks delicious but tastes even more so. I even found it kind of nice how she gave Tony and me the big portions, while she and Noelle had regular-sized ones.
And of course, Noelle has her variation of chicken that isn’t actually chicken at all. It looks pretty questionable in my opinion, but she didn’t bat an eye. She even tried to give me a few bites—to which I immediately declined—but the gesture was so cute that I almost regret not doing so.
After dinner, while all of us clean the table and ready ourselves for a nice movie, conversation is ongoing and almost similar to a debate.I mostly listen, but it’s interesting to see Lauren be such an openly opinionated person. Noelle doesn’t agree with everything, yet it remains a civil, genuine adult conversation.They go back and forth with each other
with elegance and respect—questioning each other, but not in a filthy, intolerant way.
Tony brings up the fact that the prices of things are too much. Or how he doesn’t like that certain people could live in such nice areas and be allowed to ruin them. Not holding back, just fully going in, even with Lauren disagreeing.With the political topics, Noelle seems to be more passionate. Shesoundslikeshemeanswhatshesayswhenitcomes to poverty or businesses going into the ground because of the economy, or anything related to the matter.
Ithriveoffthatpassion,andshehasnoidea.
Lauren, on the other hand, isn’t holding back when she speaks to Tony.It’s making for mild entertainment after our brief cleaning intermission.
“That’s because you’re a child of money,” she comments, or, “You could never last a day in poverty.”
And he responds with a hand wave or by saying, “Yeah, yeah.We get it.”It’s almost hard not to tense up by listening to his odd disinterest in the significance of it all.
They are relentless with each other. Like an old married couple.A vibe you could envy—if you are looking for competition with a partner, I guess.
Noelle chimes in here and there, agreeing with Lauren or adding on. She says, “They’re all money machines. Taxes are just a cash grab at this point.We have had potholes in front of the house for almost two years.”
I have to laugh.
They are conversing with one another in the way that sisters do.Honest.I feel normal, for once in a long time. Nobody is too high on their horse to accept how you feel around them.That, and it’s pretty attractive to see Noelle
speak her mind.It could be the champagne, but it doesn’t matter. It’s nothing short of appealing.
She talks more and more as the mingling ensues.Everyone kind of does.Lauren tells me about her job as a vet technician. She relentlessly expresses her interest in that. Then Tony, who’s a statistical analyst. That would explain his sense of sarcasm and lackluster personality.
