Therese had been running around her apartment for what felt like hours. She couldn't tell if Carol would step inside or not, but it didn't feel right to be unprepared. For some inexplicable reason, Therese felt an overwhelming urge to impress her. Maybe it was because Carol was older, sophisticated, a vision of pure elegance—someone to be admired, never subjected to anything less than perfection.
Her frantic thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. The sound startled her, making her heart stutter before the world seemed to stop entirely. Blood rushed through her body, heating her face and trembling hands. Her breathing grew shallow, and for a moment, the space around her dimmed. Only the second ring jolted her back to reality.
"I was afraid I had the wrong door," Carol said with a mischievous smile when Therese opened it.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, I was—"
"Oh, don't apologize." Carol waved a dismissive hand, her eyes locked on Therese, glinting with quiet amusement. "Are you going to invite me in?"
"Oh! Yes, of course," Therese stammered, flustered. "Please, come in."
"You and Richard have a lovely home," Carol remarked as she stepped inside, unbuttoning her coat.
Therese flinched slightly at the mention of Richard's name.
"Thank you," she replied, her tone flat. "Would you like some tea or coffee?"
"No, thank you," Carol said, her voice cool but laced with intrigue. She studied Therese intently before continuing, "Where would you like to eat? Actually…" She paused, as if debating. "If it's all right with you, I was thinking—you could come to my place instead and have dinner there?"
"Yes, I'd like that," Therese said, her eyes lighting up like stars. She couldn't shake the feeling that Carol shared her unspoken desire—to know one another better, without the distractions of strangers or the noise of the city. She was excited, but then a thought struck her, and she froze.
"Oh no," she gasped. "I forgot! I have an audition tomorrow. I need to bring these sketches to them." She gestured toward a pile of drawings near the old piano. "I have to be back home before ten. I need to get ready, make sure everything's perfect, and at least try to get a few hours of sleep—"
"Where's your audition?" Carol interrupted, lighting a cigarette.
"Um…in the Village. Well, I'd work there if I get it. But the audition's at some theater café called 'The Act.'"
"I know it," Carol said, exhaling a stream of smoke. "It's near the post office, isn't it?" Therese nodded. "That's not far from my place. If you'd like, you can stay with me tonight, and I'll drive you to the audition in the morning."
"That would be perfect, but I don't want to bet inconvenience to you and I also would need to pack a few things first. It might take me a little while—"
"Go ahead, I'll wait," Carol interrupted again, settling onto the sofa. Her smile lingered, soft but elusive, while her eyes wandered to the light outside. Snowflakes were falling gently, catching in the glow of the streetlamp.