True P.O.V

I look over to Karen, who was sitting at her kitchen table, a cup of still steaming coffee. Karen wasn't working today, which was good since she looked exhausted yesterday when I showed up. I don't want to be a burden to her, considering I was only expecting to be a temporary guest before I work up the nerves to go visit or contact Alister. I had re-thought the situation over and it had been rather impetuous of me to leave without contacting him, or finding out what the situation actually was. As far as I know, it could have been an emergency that required his attention right then and there. Sometimes I seem to forget that Alister is a mafia boss. Sure that wasn't the best of careers but I don't think Alister would be himself without him being a mafia boss. It completed him.

I nod my head at Karen before sitting across from her on the island. She smiled at me, and I was happy to see the black circles that had been under her eyes the night before being less dominant. I sat there, not exactly hungry for anything, more so that I wanted to get out of the bed I slept in. I could pretty much say I had stacked a claim over the bed, as I was the only person that I think has ever slept in it. I think Karen was glad to see me without a ton of abusively received marks on my body. I was glad as well, mine for more obvious reasons. Who would logically wish to be beaten by their family and peers? Not anyone I personally know, thank goodness.

"So," Karen says drawing my attention to her. I blink at her waiting for her to continue to talk, but she took a second to take another sip from her cup of coffee. "How are you on this fine, fine morning?" She asked me, after finishing her sip of coffee, a glint that I didn't like in her eyes. She's up to something.

But what?

"I'm . . .okay," I said looking behind her and out the window, thinking how nice of apartment space Karen had. She had a little balcony that she had turned into a mix of a vegetable garden and a flower garden and if you looked you could see the flowers from the outside of the kitchen. It was a nice mix of colors and it blended very well. It was funny how well Karen was a gardener, while Kyle couldn't garden for the life of him. I got him a plant a couple years ago and he killed it. I had been so upset with him when I found out. Karen tilted her head at me, a look in her eyes said she didn't really believe the words I muttered out of my mouth. I did though. That's why I didn't say 'I'm fine' since when other people say their fine that they don't really mean it, I've said it before. Why would I want to remind myself of those times? I wouldn't. It's borderline PTSD. "I really am," I said looking at Karen, my voice holding much more confidence.

"Okay," Even then she sounded like she didn't believe me. I know she was only caring about my well being but the way she's doing it isn't necessarily helping. I got up, grabbing a banana, ignoring the apples that were also in the bowl, walked over to the cabinet and grabbed a bowl. I also pulled out a knife and did what any logical person would. I cut the banana into bite-sized pieces and put them all in the bowl before putting the knife in the sink since Karen was picky about the way the dishes end up being washed, so picky that she didn't let anyone wash her dishes but herself. I walked back into the room I had been inhabiting and sat down on the bed. I picked up the banana and put a piece of it in my mouth. I looked over at the nightstand that I had put my phone on, I had turned it off. I hadn't touched it since yesterday, and I don't know if I want to touch it again for a while. I knew that by turning on my phone that if I had any messages that they would all appear at the same time, on my lock screen.

I looked up at the ceiling, not really knowing anything else I could possibly do so I reached over and grabbed the phone. I brought it back and hovered my fingers over the power button. My finger was shaking slightly before I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before reopening my eyes and pushing on the power button to restart and activate my phone. I turned my phone down while it restarted, and I put my head into my hands, before slapping my face gently, knowing I shouldn't let this be something that causes me to become an anxious wreak but I was. Once I was sure my phone had turned back on, I flip it over gently, before clicking it on again.

There were many, many text notifications. Over a hundred to be honest. Because there were so many a certain id wouldn't pop up so I entered my device, going into my messaging app and saw where the large majority of my texts had come from. Alister.

I glance at that in shock, in fact, all but seven of the hundred and seventeen of the texts ended up coming from Alister. They, in fact, were still coming in but the first ones were the ones that grabbed a majority of my focus. I looked at them with shock in my eyes. All the texts held concern, panic, and him asking if he had done anything wrong. He even apologized for leaving without telling me or waking me up to tell me he was going to be back.

I looked at the phone, tears brinking my eyes, and I took a deep breath before I looked down at my phone, and start a new text.