Remy is leaning on the passenger door with her cheek pressed against the warm glass; her eyes closed letting the sun warm her face. This was happiness, she was going on an adventure with her best friend. She listened to Kara’s cheerful singing, Kara has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. She cracks her eyes open and tilts her head to look at her sister. Twins yet so different, where she favors their native American mother in coloring, her sister favors their Irish father. Weird, because they are identical and look the same except for some reason her sister’s hair is a shade lighter and redder where she is dark brown with auburn highlights her sister is light brown with copper hues. Kara has the same hazel eyes, but Remy thinks they look better on her sister. Kara is the more athletic twin, well she must be she is a cop, and a damn good one.
'I am so proud of her, how she is always thinking of others first and cares about this world so much' Remy thinks as she gazes at her sister.
Kara’s song cuts off as she bursts out laughing. She looks sideways at Remy.
“What are you looking at? creeper”
That comment gets them both laughing, Kara is always teasing Remy. They just have that kind of relationship, they are incredibly close, almost so close that they can feel each other’s moods.
“I am not a creeper; just happy you want me to go with you”
“why wouldn’t I want you with me, you’re my best friend. We’re all the family we got, we have to stick together”
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Remy throws her hand out to stop the incessant beeping coming from her alarm clock. She drapes her arm over her face and keeps her eyes squeezed shut trying to keep the last image of her smiling sister. She rolls over and sighs as a tear makes its way down her cheek and onto the bed sheet
Kara I miss you so much
She looks around the empty room, and pulls herself out of bed. Shuffling over to the bathroom, she tries o push down the sadness as she starts to get ready for the day.
Standing at her closet she looks through her wardrobe.
what to wear.
She mutters to herself as she starts to push clothes aside. It jumps out to her just then, she sees the perfect item to wear on a day like this. Nostalgia ,about her sister, on her mind she pulls out the aquamarine sleeveless pencil skirt dress.
This is perfect. This is Kara’s favorite color.
She dresses and hastily pulls a comb through her hair. She applies a little mascara and stands straight to inspect the final look.
Not bad, if I say so myself.
She grabs her keys and heads out to work.
Walking into the office, she smiles and greets Shirley.
“Good morning, Shirley”.
“Good morning Remy, don’t you look nice today dear”
“Why thank you, my sister loves this color, so I picked it out for her” her face falls slightly as she corrects herself.
“I mean she loved this color.”
Seeing the question in her friend’s eyes, she abruptly turns and walks over to her desk. She is not wanting to go into details right now. She just met these people a few weeks ago and does not want to see the pity faces this early in their friendship. In her experience once they start to pity, they never stop.
A few hours later one of the other office girls, Carmen, walks up to Remy’s desk tentatively. “Hey, I’m Carmen. I wanted to give you some time to get used to the place first, but I am new to the city too and wanted to know if you want have lunch with me some day this week, get to know each other since you probably don’t know many people here either.”
Remy, looking up at Carmen.
“Yes, that would be nice, I actually have my lunch soon if you want to go today.” Remy has noticed that the girl is shy and doesn’t sit and chat with the other girls often.
Walking side by side in silence is a little awkward, and neither woman seems to know what to say. Remy is not accustomed to being the outward person, she always had Kara for that, but Carmen is shy so she has to be the conversation starter. Just as she is about to comment on Carmen’s handbag she sees the cutest little coffee shop on the corner. She stares in the window as they walk by and her breath hitches as she can clearly imagine her sister sitting in this very shop. Kara loved little cozy coffee shops, it was a weekly tradition for them to meet up for coffee, and chat for hours. They lived together but they were both so busy with their jobs that they had to set time aside for quality time. Remy makes a mental note to come back to this little shop and have a café au lait for her sister.
They reached the little café and found a booth. Perusing the menu, Remy was not sure what she wanted to order.
“You have been here before, right?”
“Yes, many times. The food is really good and not all that expensive.” Carmen seemed to be coming out of her shell a little and relaxing around Remy.
“What do you recommend?” Remy had not been here, but she was willing to try anything.
“Hmmm, well depends on what you like. I like the breakfast food. Anything except Mexican. I get Mexican all the time at home.” Carmen replies letting a little laugh escape. “They have amazing Reuben sandwiches, and the fries are to die for.”
After ordering exactly that and a pancake breakfast for Carmen they sat and talked while waiting for their food.
***
She tells how her sister was offered a position at the police department, so they moved here from their quaint town. She learns Carmen is first generation American and Hispanic. She decided that her and Carmen could become great friends. The lunch hour was too short. Carmen agreed and suggested they make this a regular thing. They returned to the office much better friends and with plans to go out dancing that weekend.She decided that her and Carmen could become great friends. After Carmen let go of her shyness they discovered that they had a lot in common. Both were avid readers and loved the fantasy fiction genre. Carmen admits to loving the love stories, while Remy just likes being taken out of this world and into another completely fictional world. They both love action movies and superhero TV shows. They were so into talking, they barely ate and had to take their leftovers to go. Remy decided the lunch hour was too short. Carmen agreed and suggested they make this a regular thing. They returned to the office much better friends and with plans to go out dancing that weekend.
***
Leaving work that day she felt light and happy for the first time since she lost her sister. She had a new friend, new job, and life seemed to be looking up.
Just as Remy started walking towards the parking lot the hair in her arms stood up and she got a tingle down her spine. She never felt anything like it, but she felt like somebody was watching her. she turned her head both ways, looking for anything out of the ordinary. There were a few office suits walking to their cars, but none of them seemed to be paying any attention to her. she slid her keys out if her purse and hastened to her car. She locked the doors as soon as she got in and took off. She relaxed a little when she neared her apartment, but she still had that feeling. She only knew one person to call. She called Paul.
“Um, hi Remy, I haven’t heard form you since…well in a while. Are you ok?”
“Paul I have a creepy feeling, I feel like somebody is watching me, I know I sound stupid but can you come keep me company for a bit.” Remy bit her lip, she knew this was awkward and she shouldn’t be bothering him.
“OK, yea. I am finishing up at work but i can drop by after. Maybe an hour.” He sounded apprehensive.
Maybe he thinks this is too awkward.
“Are you sure, I know this is weird without Kara. You don’t have to if you are too uncomfortable.” Remy did the nice thing and gave him an out just in case he didn’t want to come.
“No, its fine. I want to make sure you’re okay. Just make sure to lock the doors and windows until I get there.” Paul replied with concern.
Remy nodded, but then felt stupid of course he can’t hear me nod.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
An hour later there was two quick raps on the door followed by a pause and a third rap. That was paul’s knock. Remy opened the door and let Paul in.
“OK, tell me what’s going on Remy.” That’s Paul straight to the point.
Remy locked the door and followed Paul into the living room.
“I was leaving work and I just got this strange feeling that somebody was watching me. I looked around and I didn’t see anything weird, but you know I just got freaked out.” Remy could still feel the chill from the unknown watcher.
“Do you still feel like somebody Is watching you?” Paul asked slipping slightly into his cop interrogation persona.
“No, um Yes, Kind of. I don’t know, I’ve never been so freaked out before. I really felt like somebody was standing right there.” She started to shake slightly, part from embarrassment of having him come all the way over here and part from the lingering chills.
“That’s OK Remy, I don’t mind keeping you company. I can also ask one of the guys to drive by a couple times tonight if that makes you feel better.”
“That would make me feel better. Thank you Paul, for everything.” She meant to convey more than just what he’s doing for her tonight.
He seemed to understand she meant all he did for her sister also.
They watched a movie after she made them dinner, and actually had a nice time catching up before Paul left to go home.