Friends & Neighbors—Part 2
Starring Teresa Alfaro
previously on
The screen door snapped shut, waking Teresa again.
Malliry walked on short legs past the bed, and said, “Oh, you’re back.” She wore white shorts, an orange sleeveless shirt with a tight crew neck, sandals, and carried a yellow cloth shopping bag. She had a blue surgical style mask on.
Teresa said, “It’s Teresa.”
Malliry said, “Oh,” and started unpacking in the kitchen, around the bend from the staircase.
“I love how you’re just fine with some naked rando being in your house,” Teresa said.
She heard no response from Malliry. Then, got up, scratched her bush and walked into the kitchen.
“Get anything good?”
“Just a few essentials.”
Teresa nodded, then peered out the kitchen window. Out there was a balcony with a decent size deck. There was a wall that had clearly been added after the original construction. It was in a sort of rococo style, made of concrete, and painted blue. “What’s with this wall?”
“Ugh,” Malliry said. “I fucking hate it. They put it up earlier this year.”
“Who?”
“The neighbors.”
Teresa scratched her head and struggled to remember their names. “Diana and … Floyd? Is that right?”
“Shit, you have a good memory.”
“Only nice thing mah daddy gave me.”
They laughed.
“I think that’s right, Tee, but I couldn’t swear to it. Diana sounds right. Maybe Diane? Shit, they’re my fucking neighbors and I can’t tell you.”
“Floyd was friendly, as I recall.”
“He’s a goob.”
Again, they laughed.
Teresa picked up a pack of AzzANights and knocked out a cigarette, lit it with a long-nose lighter on the kitchen island. “Cute butt, though.”
“You’re bad.”
Teresa absently scratched at her wedding band with her thumb. “Yeah, I guess so.” She took a drag, blew it down her naked chest, then looked out the window again. “Don’t they have a pool?”
“Oh yeah. It’s nice as fuck, too. Rich fucks.”
“They have kids?”
“No. Or I don’t think so, anyway. Never hear any. Haven’t ever seen any.” Malliry took off her mask, went next to Teresa, started washing fruit in the sink.
“Y’all ever gon have kids?”
Malliry shrugged. “I dunno. Dens says he wants kids, but I don’t think he’ll ever be ready to settle down and commit to that.”
Teresa let the cigarette hang from her lip, tilted her head. “How about you?”
Mailliry shrugged again. “I dunno. Here, open.” She took the smoke from Teresa’s lips, put a strawberry to them, then took a drag of the smoke.
Teresa bit into the strawberry, keeping her eyes on Malliry’s.
The smoke made Malliry wince, but she didn’t break eye contact.
The room was quiet then, except for the sounds of animals and insects outside coming in from the screen door, the running water in the sink, the crackling paper of the cigarette, Teresa’s chewing sounds.
“I want to kiss you now,” Teresa said, mouth full.
Malliry took another drag, her freckled brow furrowing. “So do it, then.”
Teresa nodded again, cupped Malliry’s face with both hands, and tongue kissed her, passing bits of strawberry into her mouth.
They both chewed after the kiss, and smiled at each other.
With the back of her hand, Malliry wiped her mouth. “Tastes good. Nice and fresh. Even with the smoke.”
“I know, right,” Teresa said. “Hey, is it cool if I take a shower?”
“Sure. You can use ours, in the bedroom.”
“You sure Dens won’t mind?”
“Just don’t let him catch you in there.”
“Or what?” Teresa asked with a grin.
They both laughed.
Then Malliry said, “You know what.”
“What if I’m into that?”
“Then that’s between y’all.”
Teresa grabbed her by the hips and pulled their pelvises together. “What if I want it to be between us?”
“Then it’ll be between us,” Malliry said, her breath smelling of strawberry and cigarette.
They kissed again, this time slower, softer, more sweetly, tenderly. Malliry pinched Teresa’s nipple, but not hard. Teresa felt Malliry through her pants with her hand. Then, Malliry smacked Teresa’s bare butt, making a loud sound. “Go wash it.”
to be continued next week
