The microwave is set at a minute and thirty seconds as Jessica pours another cup of pink lemonade.Richard gets the chair from the living room and places it back at the table.He sits with a smile as he looks at Jessica, in love almost.She finishes pouring as she puts the pitcher back in the fridge.
"Can you go get your cup please…." He asks her as she stands still then focuses back on the living room.She goes to get her cup and walks back into the kitchen.
"Listen I've told you about me, so tell me about you …." He says as she breaths in and then out and says "well, my names Jessica, Jessica Welsh and I'm 24 years old, I work at as a painter and have been doing very well since you see where I live and oh, I think I'm going to die today…." She says with a smile as Richard laughs.
"Well you never know, you might kill me ." He says jokingly as they both laugh.It's silent for a second as Richard take a sip of the lemonade as the microwave dings.Jessica jumps and quickly goes to get the fried chicken out of the microwave, she places it on the table for Richard as she goes to get a fork and knife.
Richard just digs in with his hands, as it's still hot he blows on it then gets to eating.She turns back with the fork and knife as she sees him eating, in disgust she lays them next to him on the table.
"Oh I won't be needing them, well I grew up eating like this, just never got used to it you know …" he says as Jessica silently puts the fork back but keeps the knife hidden in her pockets.Richard not noticing, continues to eat like a dog.Munching on the chicken leg, leaving nothing but the bone.She stands there in disgust as she leans against the counter and drinks her lemonade.She laughs a bit, catching his attention as he asks "What's so funny ?"
She straightens up and says "nothing it's just you eat like a pig….hehe…" she says laughingly as he laughs and says "well it's how I was raised you know, Mother always had us eat anything without forks or spoons or knifes, just our hands...like god intended...she always said " he says as he pours himself another cup of lemonade.Jessica wonders off into space but then asks "where'd you grow up…." She ask lightly as he respond, "Pennsylvania….In Lancaster…..they'd say that's Amish town….it's known for its farmland but it's a very beautiful place...Yea I grew with some friends but you know how it is, you grow distant as yo I grow older…." He says as she nods and says "yep, I know that …." She says as she goes to pour another cup of lemonade.She pours it as he now eats a chicken breast, devouring it.She rethinks after pouring the cup and leans again the counter again and ask "wait if you're from Pennsylvania, what the hell are you doing in Nashville ?" She ask as he expresses, "well you see, That first Victim I mentioned, as I stalked her she ended up moving here and so here I am…..I'm telling you Jessica my goals are simple yet quiet frightening to the modern eye…" he says as he gets back to eating.She stands there as she puts her cup on the counter and goes slowly walks to get the chair holding the door.He notices quickly and gets up and gets the gun out. "The hell you doing ?" He yells as she explains softly, "calm down….please I just didn't want to keep standing …." She said as she takes off the chair and slowly walks back into the kitchen with it.She places it back at its spot, she gets her cup back form the counter and sits back down.He stands there angered but then breaths in to calm down, he stops aiming the gun and puts it away in his jacket.He sits back down as he still has about three pieces left on his plate.He gets his piece he was eating off the plate and puts it on the table.He slides over the three pieces to Jessica and says "here, go ahead and eat it while it's still hot…" he says as she looks at it oddly and then looks at him, "thank-thank you …" she says as she gets up to get the fork and knife.She keeps the one she has still hidden as she sits back down.He looks at her eating it with silverware as he eat his like it's a heart in his hand.
"What is this ?" He asks as she replies "it's store bought, I just had it because last night I had guest over…" she says as she eats with elegance.He is at awe and says "oh….a lover I suppose ?" He asks curiously as she giggle and says "no….god no he's just a friend of mine…." She says as she smiles.They continue eating as he finishes up, he gets up and puts the bones he had left, into the trash can it went as he goes to wash his hands in the sink.
By now Jessica has stopped eating and realized how far she's come.From being afraid of, to eating with a serial killer.She snaps outta of it and tries a plan to stop him but she thinks carefully about it as he goes to the hallways as he finished washing his hands.He sees the painting at the end and says
"Is that the real one ?" He asks as she by now has gotten up and put the left over chicken away and washes the silverware she used.
"No it's a knock-off I got for Two hundred dollars…." She says as he is at awe and says "Oh not bad, it's a nice piece but you know I like his "Pierrot Clown " piece he did in 1918 was it ?" He ask as to her surprise she says "yes-yes he did, it was his Rose Period….." she says as she puts away the pitcher and puts the two cups in the sink.He goes and turns back to the couch and sits down, "Yea it only lasted about two years but it really shows his impact on modern art do you think ?" He ask as she finished cleaning the dishes.She washes her hands then drys them off and stands against the hallway, still in the kitchen.
"Yea….I do…..you know I didn't pick you for an art-snob …." She says jokingly as he turn on the tv and replies, "meh….I just dabble in the perspectives it gives….like the different cultures of art, Monet or Valentin Serov….so much talent in this world that many underestimate it for posh Renaissance…." He says as she stands there stunned to his wording.He now laughs as he's watching Cartoons.She stands there back to her plan and pulls out the knife and holds it firm as she stares at him in fear still.He laughingly turns to her as he notices the knife as she shivers.He turns back to the tv annoyed and demands, "Put it back Jessica..." he says once as she still stands there with knife shaking in her hand.
He turns again and says it louder, "Put it back god damn it ! " he yells as she jumps, she sheds a tear as she back away slowly and puts the knife in the sink.He hears this and says "good job, now come watch this with me…." He says as she slowly walks towards him and sits aside him on the couch.She sheds tears but doesn't sob, he sees this and says "the hell you crying for, I'm the victim here…" he says stubbornly as she puts the volume up on the tv. She continues to cry now as she sobs, he feels guilt and puts his arm around her as she lays her head on his chest.
"It's alright, let it out, it's good to cry you know…" he says as she cries even more into his arms.
The most bizarre encounter of this all, as she falls prey to her abuser.He reaches in his jacket pocket and gets out a napkin, he gives it to her as she accepts it. "thank you …" she says as he pats her head.