"What the hell did you do to me?" exclaimed Carine sitting up on the couch.
Azell paced up and down the floor from the coffee table to the front door.
"I unintentionally, sorta, suffocated you a little and you passed out." said Azell grimacing.
Carine stared at Azell in disbelief as she slowly stood up.
Azell continued awkwardly, "You started screaming and I panicked! I only meant to calm you down when Nate was playing around with you."
"Nate? Nate was playing around with me? The sum bitch who chased us and robbed that store? You're friends with him, for real? Jesus! He just threatened me!" cried Carine
Azell cleared her throat. "Nate didnt threaten you. He scared you because he can be a jerk but he saved me and hasn't done any harm nor thankfully broke into my apartment by some miracle. He's okay." reasoned Azell.
Eyes narrowing in on Azell, Carine's voice sliced through the air like a butterknife.
"Are you obtuse? No, you're insane! 'He's okay?' And you said it like you liked him or something!"
"I don't like him! I'm considering him as a friend! He came here to invite me to fight at Monté Stadium!" replied Azell.
"Wait.....What? Are y'all friends or not? Because right now other than you trying to kill me, I'm possibly delusional by what is going on." said Carine anxiously
Sighing Azell sank into her armchair.
"I don't know if we're friends or if we ever could be. He wants to help train me. He believes he can help me strengthen my leg and sign up for the championships. A-and his reasoning is because he l-likes me." blushed Azell.
Carine sarcastically smacked her lips.
"Great I was wrong. Lesbians AND theives likes you. Dang it, he robbed and chased us! His friend punched you in case you forgot that! The cops are still looking for him by that pitiful description and he knows where you live! Plus, invited you to a fight just because he likes you! Is there anything else I should know about you? Maybe your time of the month?"
Azell shrugged and replied, "He defended me and the only reason he knows where I live is because he was my Uber driver from that day."
Carine's mouth dropped.
"I don't know who's more nuts. Him or you. But remind me to never take an Uber again. Might meet the next Robbin Hood like you did. A thief who does good, ya know?"
Carine sat down on the floor letting her legs go under the emerald, marbled coffee table.
She continued,"You both obviously like one another. But can he be trusted? Hmm, Azell? I'm still confused by why he came to just invite you to a wrestling match."
Azell looked out onto the patio as she replied, "In my opinion, I think it gave way for an opportunity to see me again. Or maybe someone like him does see something about my disability that I don't. He wants to resurrect a dream I let go of."
Rolling her eyes, Carine said, "Dear Lord. Are you always this emo? Okay, so there's two thing's we need to address. One, are you going to do this training and championship crap? And two, if you do, I'm going to need your help with my husband."
Azell's eyebrows shot up. "What can we do? He beats you!"
"Yeah, but he also works a lot for Incell Corp a lot of over nights. It's getting around him when...."
"Stay here!" Azell said quickly.
"I can't! If I'm gone more than two days at a time, he'll strangle me!" came Carine's solemn response.
"No. No, he won't. He works a lot you said. We'll grab your belongings and he doesn't know me. So, he wont know where you went. Plus, you told the detective about him, right?"
Wringing her hands together Carine carefully replied, "There's camera's in the house for security and to watch me."
"No shit? Okay, can you take thing's little by little out of the house so he wont notice?" asked Azell.
Carine crossed her arms and said, "The detective has name and his personal clean record. And of course, what I said he's done to me. I'm too afraid to press charges. I can take my thing's out. But if he find's out, Azell he'll do more than beat me." Tears washed down her face and she looked at her folded arms. Azell pulled herself up from the armchair and sat by Carine. Taking her right hand Azell said, "You gave me inspiration for this."
Confused, Carine asked, "What are you talking about now?"
"I am going to let Nate train me. I want to get stronger. If the time comes I can protect us or anyone! Hell, we may even teach you a few thing's for self defense. Like learning to punch your husband's head in! That'll be awesome!" said Azell cheerfully
A half smile crept its way onto Carine's face. Shaking her head she replied, "And you honestly thought I was the idiot? Hmph! Okay, I'm in! I'm afraid but I'm in! But the questions remain."
Biting her lower lip Azell asked, "What?"
"How will you get in touch with Robbin Hood and most importantly, where will I sleep?" laughed Carine pulling her hand away from Azell.
"We'll get you an air mattress tomorrow. For now there's the couch. And as for the other question we'll do a Batman signal light."
"Tell me how you'll get a hold of him," said Carine leaning forward.
"Uber." said Azell giggling.
A couch pillow flew into Azell's face as they both laughed.
"I knew you liked him! Signal Robbin Hood for our carriage in a few hours and let's have dinner at the new Mexican restaurant on East Sixth." said Carine smiling
"Tonight?" yelped Azell.
"Do you own any make-up and a hairbrush?" said Carine pointing at Azell's static hair.
Astonished, Azell quickly replied with laughter, "Oh no you're not!"
Carine's smile widened.
"Oh hell yes! Here's to our new frienemy!"