a lemon a day

“My trip was really great.” Brie said, feeling the slight awkwardness of the hug. Things had always been so east with Alli, she could just talk to her and be around her and none of it was ever awkward of weird. But she knew she’d messed that up by not calling her like she had promised. 

“It’s okay, I get it... you really should have called though, I was kind of worried about you. But I’m glad you had a good time, and that you were safe while you were away. You were, right? Nothing bad happened at all?" She eyed Brie, trying to make sure that she was completely okay. Alli knew she had had some things to deal with before leaving, and she hoped the trip had only made her feel better. Or that she would tell her if that wasn’t the case.

“Ten years is a long time and a trip all the way to Ireland is not nothing.” he agreed with a soft hum. “I guess I just do not see the harm in it. Look I can’t tell you what to do but just look at it like this, what difference waiting a few months going to make for you. If it’s not worth it, don’t do it but otherwise why would you not give it a shot.” he explained. His own experience on the topic was rather useless but that didn’t mean he could not offer his advice. “But like I said it’s an entire different situation for you so at the end of day it’s your call.”

“Yeah but, like... if something goes wrong, it’s not like either one of us can just leave. That’s kind of scary. Usually when I’ve introduced boyfriends to my parents, it hasn’t been for days at a time. Actually that’s very scary." She wrinkled her nose, not too happy about the thought of it all. She decided to focus on her friends instead, since that probably wouldn’t involve her getting freaked out. “So anyway, are you going to spend the holidays with Camille? Did you talk about that?”

“How exhausting must your life be if you have to whine over every single person that dies, do you not have any hobbies?” a scoff fell from his lips, a clearly unimpressed expression on his face.  “Hm, I think it might have happened once or twice now you mention it.” while it was hard to figure out due to his careless tone of voice, it had actually occured before in his life, If not multiple times. He had never really lived in what one would call the good part of the city and in such a crime riddled neighbourhood it was almost inevitable. “Me being ‘respectful’ which honestly just means pretending I actually care does not change a thing. It surely isn’t going to help Louisa’s case because you know, she’s dead.”

Allison rolled her eyes at him, getting more and more annoyed with his attitude to everything. “I know she’s dead, and that she’s not coming back. That doesn’t make it all magically go away, why is that so difficult for you to understand?” She couldn’t fathom how anyone could be that cynical. Something had to be seriously wrong with him, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to find out what it was. “I hope you’re just pretending not to care about anything, because otherwise I’m pretty sure you’re just dead inside, and I don’t really want to have to feel sorry for you.”

He waved a hand, “You’re very sweet but I think I’ll survive. I arrived here in one piece so that’s really all I can ask for.” Rollant, as an older person, struggled with a lot of things. He was very stubborn and stuck in his ways, about more than just learning english. “Ah! Yes yes, I think I remember now. It is very close to my apartment back home. Walking distance. I believe I’ve even sketched some restaurant scenes there. Those generally make for nice water colors.” He nodded, “It is indeed. So from Ireland, to France, to the US of A. You’ve bounced around quite a bit. Have you moved because of the restaurant? Admittedly this is my first time visiting Florida.”

“That is true. But the flight here is bad enough on its own, so long. It’s not made any better by people being difficult to deal with.” She shrugged, rude people always bothered her, they were such an incovenience. In that way, she felt like even more of a stubborn person than Rollant. “It’s my first time here too, but it’s a lovely place. I don’t work in restaurants anymore, I’m a writer. I write these kinds of articles about food, I guess. And recipes and stuff.” Allison tried to avoid the word ‘blog’ at all cost, figuring Rollant wasn’t too familiar with the concept. “I’ve been cooking with Camille on a few occasions, it’s so nice to have someone around who knows French cuisine the way I do. A lot of places here get it so wrong.“

“Oh please, you couldn’t afford me,” Rosita shot back, grinning. It was an offhand comment, the alcohol allowing her to forget how to restrict herself. As quickly as she’d conjured it up it was gone, and somewhere in her mind sober Rosita was begging Allison to not read into it. She grabbed the cookie, biting down instantly. It was only when she’d swallowed that she spoke. “That’s the hassle with moving, right? Like, you have to spot all the weeds again.” Her eyes were focused on her phone, and with her mind unable to focus on anything but that the words just tumbled out of her mouth. How coherent they were she couldn’t tell.

“Oh I’m sure I couldn’t. I’m not that rich, unfortunately. You seem to have more money than I do, so if anything you should be paying me.” She chuckled, figuring they were just joking around. She munched on her own cookie while Rosita spoke, nodding in agreement. Even though she mostly liked living in Vero Beach, she had definitely met some people who made her uncomfortable, to say the least. “I know, I’m trying to avoid the creeps, but they have a way of finding you, don’t they? It’s pretty frustrating. At least I have people looking out for me. And I’m looking out for you too, promise.”

The old man’s face lit up at the sound of his native language, “Ah! Quelle Surprise! Oui, merci- Essayant de communitcate avec l'homme qui m'a conduit ici était un cauchemar! Il était con comme la lune.” He shook his head in slight frustration, before nodding, continuing on in french. “Yes, that’s exactly who. But where are my manners, it is a pleasure to meet you, mademoiselle, Rollant Le Roux.” He bowed his head towards her, “You aren’t from France are you?” He asked, “You speak very well…Excuse me, I just can’t help but feel you look very familiar… ”

“I know it can be difficult. I hope he didn’t give you too much trouble.” Allison smiled brightly at the man, happy that she was able to make him feel a little more comfortable. She knew well enough that a lot of older French people struggled with English, and she always appreciated a chance to talk to a native speaker. “No, I’m Irish. Allison O’Lemon, pleasure to meet you too,“ she gave him a nod in return, figuring that was the best way to go. “Well, I know Camille from a restaurant I used to work at, so perhaps that’s it? I think you look a little familiar too, so that would make sense. Such a small world, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think Batman as ever been evil. Unless you are talking Flashpoint, in which Barry Allen runs so fast that he goes back in time to saves his mother from being kill, to which changes everything so Bruce Wayne ends up dying, and is mum becomes the Joker, while his father becomes Batman and kills people. Yes and yes. How are you not understanding this?”

“... What? What’s a Flashpoint?” Allison barely understood what Amelia was on about, and she wondered if she was just making stuff up to confuse her. This must be how Mico felt when people talked about computers. “Who’s Barry Allen? Was he one of the suicide people?“

“Well, that clearly all depends on when I’d choose to kill him, like how far I’d go back, d’you know? I could easily just go back to a point where he’d had kids already. Or I could even choose a point after I was born.”

“That’s the only reason it matters right? Because she was your friend.” he scoffed. “Loads of people die every day and the world still keeps on turning just fine so let’s not make it into a bigger deal than it should be. Everyone cared for a little while but soon enough that became boring and now no one bats an eye about it anymore, that’s life get used to it.”

“No it’s not just because she was my friend,” Allison stared at him in disbelief. She couldn’t believe this guy, how insensitive he was about everything. “Yes, people die all the time, and I don’t know where you come from, but I’m not used to my neighbours being murdered. Just because people die doesn’t mean you can’t be a little respectful about it.”

“It’s not selfish, don’t say that. You have not seen your family in such a long time of course you want some time to catch up with them without being interrupted. Family time is important for you that’s okay.” he tried to reassure her, he was totally clueless as to what to do to calm the girl down. “Well ehm-” his voice trailed off, what was he supposed to tell her? Definately not the truth. “I think you can’t really compare the two. Your situation is a lot more diificult and complicated than mine. But short answer, yes I would.”

Allison nodded slowly, grateful that he didn’t think she was being too selfish. ”Yeah, it’s been a while... and I haven’t introduced my family to a boyfriend for like, 10 years. So it would be such a big deal.“ She sighed, turning her attention to Sam when she noticed the change in his demeanour, “Really? So soon? I mean... I guess it sort of makes sense in a way, like you wouldn’t have to bring him to another country... but still.”

“I understand that it must be a big step.” except that he didn’t, he had no one to introduce his boyfriend to. “Look really, don’t stress yourself out I’m sorry for bringing it up.” he had never wanted to distress Allison about the topic. “Like you said it’s all very still very new between the two of you, there will be plenty of other occassions for you to introduce him.” he tried to reassure her. “Just talk to him about it when the time is ready so you’re sure you’re on the same line when it comes to this.”

Alli nodded and sighed quietly, trying not to seem to affected by the whole thing. Not that she did a good job at that. “I just want to see my family without the entire time being about Mico being there... that’s kind of selfish, but y’know.” She shrugged and ran her fingers through her long hair. “I mean, would you bring Camille to meet your family so soon?”

“The Landlord is an exception to that rule but fine if it makes you feel better, I won’t wish murder upon him either. I’ll do it myself when it ever comes to that.” he rolled his eyes at her comment. “We can go ahead and cry in a corner over every little bad thing that happens in the world but that’s really fucking pointless because it does not actually change shit.”

Allison groaned and rolled her eyes back at him, “What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s not some ‘little bad thing’, one of my friends was murdered, and probably by someone in the building we live in. It wouldn’t kill you to show a little bit of respect for that situation, would it?”