"Adria!" Charlotte yelled.
Adria flushed the toilet and washed her hands while Charlotte kept pounding on the door and yelling her name.
"I'm coming!" Adria yelled back.
"Open the fucking door!" Charlotte yelled.
"Go fuck yourself," Adria mumbled.
Adria walked to the front door, unlocked it, and opened it. She put on her best smile. Seeing Charlotte there unannounced made her know something was up. They hadn't spoken for a month since the funeral, and now Charlotte was suddenly standing there. Charlotte looked inside the apartment and wrinkled her nose.
"Ew!" Charlotte said.
"There's nothing wrong with my apartment. It's clean. I cleaned everything yesterday," Adria said.
"It smells weird," Charlotte said.
"It smells of me," Adria said.
Charlotte looked at Adria and clicked her tongue. She broke out in a sinister smile that made Adria know something was up. Something she wouldn't like being part of.
"Put your shoes on. We're going out," Charlotte said.
"Where are we going?" Adria asked.
"To get coffee," Charlotte said.
"I got coffee. I'll be happy to brew you a cup," Adria said.
"Seth's back to his routines which means he'll be at the coffee shop soon," Charlotte said.
Adria's face fell. Of course Charlotte hadn't moved on. She had been a fool for thinking that could ever be the case.
"Do I really have do?" Adria asked.
"Yes, you do," Charlotte answered. "Hurry up. We don't have all day. He's never there for long."
Adria put on her shoes and grabbed her handbag. She could only hope Seth would have nothing to do with her. Charlotte couldn't force him the same way she could force her little sister. They got out in Charlotte's car and drove downtown. They left the car and walked towards the coffee shop.
"He's already there," Charlotte said. "Let me see you."
Charlotte looked at Adria and frowned.
"Makeup's a thing, you know," Charlotte said.
Adria just sighed and shrugged. It was too late for that now. Charlotte reached over and fixed Adria's hair.
"This will have to do. We might have to bleach your hair to make you look better but we'll see what he's into this time around," Charlotte said.
"I'm not bleaching my hair," Adria said.
"We'll see about that," Charlotte said.
Charlotte turned around again. Adria rolled her eyes behind Charlotte's back. They shared the same green eye color but their hair was like night and day. Charlotte was blonde and Adria was a dark brunette. She followed Charlotte into the coffee shop. Seth looked up and smiled when he saw a face he recognized.
"Seth!" Charlotte faked happiness in her voice. "What a surprise running into you here."
"Hi, Charlotte," Seth said.
"How are you doing?" Charlotte asked.
"I'm trying," Seth said. "Good days and bad days. At least I'm getting outside again and I'm back at work."
"That's good," Charlotte said. "Oh, this is my sister Adria. I don't believe you two have ever met."
Adria took a step forward and gave Seth an awkward wave and smile.
"Adria," Seth said. "I believe Becky mentioned you before. How come I've never met you?"
"She's too busy for her big sister," Charlotte lied. "She's a hard worker but now she's finally ready to take things more slow. Right, sis?"
"Yes," Adria said.
"I'll order. You two can talk meanwhile. Sit down and talk to him, Adria," Charlotte said.
Adria sat down at Seth's table and gave him an apologetic look. He gave her a sideways smile that actually looked like he meant it. Charlotte walked up to the counter and ordered for them.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Adria said.
"Thank you. It was hard. I mean, it still is, but it was harder a month ago. I'm slowly moving on," Seth said.
"You gotta do it at your own pace. Therapy can be a good thing too. There's no shame in getting help," she said.
"Already on it," he said. "How refreshing to find someone who understands that. I haven't been able to tell a lot of people that I'm in therapy. For some reason so many people think you're a loser if you need therapy."
"We all need help sometimes," she said. "If people can't handle you getting better this way, cut them out of your life. It's not worth it to have people like that near you. They're the real losers."
"You know," he smirked and pointed at her. "I quite like your way of thinking. You're a good person."
Charlotte walked over to the table and handed one of the to-go cups to Adria. Adria stood up but Charlotte grabbed her arm to make sure she didn't walk out of the coffee shop just yet.
"You know, Adria's birthday is this Saturday," Charlotte said.
"Happy birthday. How old will you be?" Seth asked.
"29," Adria answered.
"She's having a picnic in the park. Lots of cake. You should come. I'm sure she'll buy some doughnuts for you since they're your favorite," Charlotte said.
"I don't know," Seth said.
"We won't take no for an answer," Charlotte said. "2 PM in the park. You better be there or I'm sending some big guys out to drag you there."
"Damn, you're always bossy," Seth chuckled. "Adria?"
"Yes, you should come. I'd like to have you there and I'll buy doughnuts," Adria said.
"I've never been one to turn down doughnuts," Seth said. "Sure, why not? I'll be there."
"Great," Charlotte said. "We gotta go. We'll see you Saturday, Seth."
Charlotte started pushing Adria towards the door. They needed to get out before Seth changed his mind.
"Wait!" Seth said loudly. "Adria, can I get your phone number in case something comes up?"
"If you don't have my number, you can't cancel on me," Adria said.
"Either you got burned or you've played someone like this before," Seth said.
"I'll give you my number Saturday if you still want it then," Adria said.
"I like you," Seth chuckled. "I'll see you Saturday."
The sisters walked outside and got back into Charlotte's car.
"Well played," Charlotte laughed.
"Thanks," Adria said.
Adria felt bad about what she had just been part of but she had liked Seth for the few minutes she had talked to him. He seemed like a really good guy trying to move on with his life. She took a sip of her cup and almost spat it back out.
"Oh my fucking god, what is this shit? It's horrible," Adria said.
"Herbal tea," Charlotte said.
"What happened to coffee?" Adria asked.
"I paid so I bought what I like. Besides, you're not gonna drink that. I'll drink both," Charlotte said.
Adria didn't even want to argue with Charlotte. She just wanted to get back home. She placed the cup down in a cup holder and kept quiet for the rest of the ride back to her apartment complex.
"I'm bringing lots of people Saturday so remember to buy enough cake," Charlotte said.
"I'm paying?" Adria asked.
"Of course. It's your birthday," Charlotte smirked. "And remember doughnuts for Seth. You promised him that."
"It would be so much easier if you made him fall for you instead and kept me out of this whole revenge plan," Adria said.
"He would never fall for me," Charlotte said. "But I saw how cozy you two looked at the table. He liked you. You made him smile. I know that smile. I've seen it plenty of times aimed at Becky."
Adria sighed and opened the car door. Of course she was now stuck spending a lot of money on cake for her birthday. A birthday she hadn't even planned on hosting. She had to find paper plates and other stuff too.
"Will you at least pick me up Saturday?" Adria asked.
"Of course," Charlotte said. "I'll be here at 1 PM."