sliding hands in the back pockets of her jeans in search of the cold metal that would lead to the clattering keys was a ritual that took place every evening and began with a ring caught on the stitchings of the pockets, all frayed for a reason, and ended with a cigarette crushed against the ashtray on the kitchen table, the flow of water to wash the last pile of glasses ( yet there were always some scattered throughout the house perhaps placed on purpose like treasures to find or modern pieces of furniture that not everyone would've appreciated: one on the fridge, one on the cabinet next to the tv, one on the floor precisely in line with the edge of the bed that she promised to pick up every morning but never did ), and the sound of a freshly opened beer. but, fingers never reached what they should've been bound to, and instead of an alleviated sigh came irritation disguised as profanity popping right between her lips. " you've got to be fucking kidding me, " she said, almost choking on a splenetic laugh. the rest came as raw consequence; kicking, pushing, shouldering against the back door before moving in front of the shutter that she had closed only a few minutes before, oblivious of the keys forgotten behind the counter, and starting over with a widely used chain of pulls and pushes against the barrier; all vain if not to increase her exasperation. it was a pause used to light up a cigarette that snapped her aware of the eyes burned in her back, " it's fucking rude to stare, dickhead --- " came out rather indistinct, more intent on sparking the white than actually enunciating every syllable. " --- never seen someone locking their ass out? " she turned around, finally meeting the other's gaze with the hint of a threat hurtling through her eyes. she leaned her head against the surface behind her and took a drag, slowly, like she would do if smoking her last cigarette, taking the time to eye the other up and down; someone she couldn't identify because of the dim light playing at her disadvantage. " listen --- " she began softening her demeanor as she grew aware of her set back position, " i'm kind of in a really awkward situation and i'm this fucking close to grabbing the first thing i can put my hands on and just --- bash these windows open, " a glance as if considering, " don't happen to have a bobby pin, or anything of that kind, do ya? i could offer you a shot inside to pay you back for the favor. "
