Transition

One of the great mysteries of when Sabrina Washington, Dominika Volkova and Isabella Riberio decided to rent a three bedroom apartment together, why they never purchased any beds? In fact, with the exception of a few small luggage bags in the closets, the rooms have remained empty.

For the most part, the main area of activity is the living room. Currently occupied with three couches, a large and perfectly square coffee table, a big screen television bolted to the wall and various wall decorations, from cheap lithographs to collage banners.

Directly behind there was the kitchen. Everything that was expected was there, fridge, microwave, stove and a few dirty dishes in the sink. No dishwasher.

The lone bathroom was a horror story. Heavily populated with an assortment of  beauty products and cosmetics, there was hardly any room for one person, let alone shared by three. The shower was the crowning touch, just enough pressure to push water out, barley strong enough to be felt by the user.

Dominika was laying on the one couch, a worn brown, cloth like hide-a-bed, on the left side of the living room. She was wearing a set of headphones, chewing bubble gum and holding up a tablet of some sort, straight armed above her head. If one were to sneak a peak, Tetris could be seen on the screen.

Directly across the room, just the other side of the coffee table, Isabella was sitting properly and in the center of the other couch, covered in deep red bonded leather. Her attention was completely captured by the book she was reading, Corazón tan blanco by Javier Marías.

Even with the headphones on, Dominika heard the slamming door first, "Incoming." Isabella slowly put the book down, listening to the heavy footfalls reverberate up the stairs, then echo down the hall towards them. Isabella looked to Dominika, "She isn't happy." Dominika mustered, "No....question."

The two women remained on their respective couches, listening to the key being inserted into the deadbolt, the tumblers agreeing to the cut combination and allowing itself to be unlocked. The door opened quickly, but under control not to slam into the fridge. Sabrina entered, her face was contorted with anger. She turned, closed the door and twisted the deadbolt.

Dominika and Isabella looked at each other as Sabrina approached the horseshoe of couches, not even bothering to take her combat boots off. Her couch was a beige, microfiber recliner, with a stationary center section that could convert to a small platform for foodstuffs, like cup holders and such. Sabrina reached down, grabbed a throw pillow from the spot she was about the sit in, pulled the pillow to her face and screamed like she was about to be run over by a bus. She collapsed into a seated position.

"Rough....day?" Dominika asked, sitting up, taking her headphones off and putting the tablet on the coffee table. Isabella bookmarked her novel and put it down, leaning in for what was coming next. Sabrina took an extra second or two for composure reclamation. "That greedy old geezer wants me to pay for wrecking his museum piece!" Sabrina exclaimed.

The curiosity got the best of Isabella, "How much did he want for it?" Sabrina replied with the ridiculous figure, "640k." Dominika spit her gum out, "For....real?" Sabrina nodded. Isabella sat in temporary shock. Sabrina broke the new found silence, "Hey, the heartless codger even offered a payment plan, if I just couldn't pull the full amount on my bank card!" Isabella said, "Now, that is a very considerate, generous offer." All three broke out into laughter.

After a few moments of that, it was Dominika who brought the reality of it all back, "Now....what?" Sabrina took a few seconds and answered, "I 'm done. I tore up the paperwork and walked." The other two women sat there in silence. Once again, it would be Dominika who would make the first move, by getting up off her couch and walking over to Sabrina. She place her right hand on her shoulder and said, "My....comrade," she paused, smiled, thought for a second and finished off with, "I....follow." Isabella chimed in, "I am not staying behind, just to break in a new commander alone." Sabrina smiled, her eyes were starting to moisten up. All three hugged each other, for friendship and support.

Sabrina opened the air with a question, "Now, who is going to hire a recently self dismissed, combat vehicle crew?" Despite the inquiry being somewhat rhetorical, Dominika and Isabella looked to each other for a silent answer.

Meanwhile, far out of town and tucked away in the forest, ears were listening to a certain conversation, about an uncertain future. Inside the dimly lit vehicle, a set of blue eyes turned to met a set of brown eyes. "I told you, if she walked, they would follow." Brown responded back, "What's the next move?" 

"Allow them a little time to cool off, then we'll deliver the invite package," answered Blue.