I spent a few minutes trying to digest the meaning behind that look and concluded that maybe "Bitch Mode" is simply her default expression now. After shaking it off, I buried the thought and continued down the stairs, step by step.

I made my way stealthily to the kitchen. I rummaged through every corner until I found what I needed to prepare something that would actually fill me up: Chinese food.

"I’m going to use everything and tell Tom to restock it tomorrow," I muttered, emptying the pantry.

Since all the food was already portioned, it didn't take long to toss the ingredients together. I was waiting by the stove, watching muted videos, when I heard a slurred voice behind my back.

"Oh… Mine… You can’t do that…" Ruby said, leaning against the cutting table.

"I can't eat?" I asked, turning around.

"You can't cook; it's forbidden." She leaned to one side, wagging a finger. "You might cut, burn, or crush those pretty hands," she listed, letting her hand drop halfway.

After saying this, Ruby let herself fall heavily onto the counter, landing face-up without ever taking her eyes off me.

"I’m going to tell on you," she let out with that malicious smile of hers.

"But you can come home at four in the morning?" I shot back.

"Yes."

"How did you get in with the door locked?"

"I'm not telling you," she said, now with a childish gesture that confused me. "If you run out of fingers, paradise is over, Mia… it makes me sad to have to report you, unless… you can fry a plantain with cheese this very second."

"A banana?"

"They are not the same thing, and I am not ready for this fight with you..." she sighed in frustration. "Do you know how to wrap dough around cheese and fry it?"

"I’m not sure what kind of dough you’re talking about."

"Do you know how to make something like a pastry, but savory… with a little lid and melted cheese inside?"

"Wow, you really like cheese..."

"I’m trying to find a use for you here, Mia… but there’s nothing," she regained her haughty tone. "So, that’s it; you don’t have permission to cook."

"Nor to eat at this hour, either," Rose's voice interrupted from the doorway.

I jumped. Rose was there, impeccable even in the early hours and terrifying as a ghost.

"What are you doing up, Rosie?" Ruby asked, unfazed. "This is no time for a lady."

"The smell reached the top floor; I wanted to know what it was."

"It called to us too," Alice added, appearing behind her along with Luna.

"What smells like that?" Luna asked, sniffing the air.

"Mia decided to load up on calories with Chinese food in the middle of the night," Rose replied.

"She eats sugary cookies all day and no one says anything," I accused, pointing the ladle at Ruby.

"Right," Ruby laughed. "Let's compare a quarter cup of cereal after three hours of training to a pound of buttery chicken."

They couldn’t fool me; the four of them were standing there like scavengers, savoring my dinner after making me believe they were small-stomached ladies. But no—when it came to our stomachs, we were all the same: hungry, anxious, and defeated by the smell of grease.

No class or elegance survives a craving's assault.

"Do you want an early breakfast?" I asked, showing them the pan.

"You can't eat that at this hour," Rose said sharply.

"At any hour," Alice added.

"Do you eat like this often?" Luna asked, stepping closer than the rest.

"Almost all the time."

"You can't do that here," Rose ordered, though she didn't look away from the glisten of my chicken’s glaze either.

"I want some," Luna said, taking a seat next to Alice.

"I’ve already lost count of all the stupid things Rose has banned in a single day," Ruby commented mockingly.

"She banned you from going out today too; was that among the ones you lost track of?" Alice snapped without looking at her.

"You weren't supposed to use that anymore, either," Luna added, nodding toward the door.

There, swaying gently in the shadows, hung a rappelling rope descending from the upper levels of the residence.

Ah... so that’s how she got in, I thought.

Finally, they all sat at the table. Not a word was spoken while they ate; only the sound of silverware could be heard.

"You know… I’ve always thought we should be like cars," Ruby said, leaning back over the table after clearing her plate. "We could go to a service station and have them fill us up with energy through our backsides." She took a long swig from her thermal cup. "That way everyone would leave with their batteries recharged, straight… back to life."

"I see…" Luna said, leaning toward her. "Do you think we should all use the same dispenser for our backsides?"

"One after another…" Alice added, "...with the same tube."

"I didn't think of that detail," Ruby laughed, failing to notice Luna sniffing her cup while exchanging looks with the others. "I just think being hungry is annoying... Wouldn't it be easier to just put something in your body to recharge and that’s it?"

"You’re very bad at planning these things," Luna said, leaning against her with a laugh, though her gaze, fixed on Rose, said something else.

"Good thing you aren't God," Rose said, responding to Luna and Alice with the same silent concern.

Luna wrapped an arm around Ruby, and the latter, overcome by exhaustion or alcohol, let her head fall onto her shoulder. Delicately, Luna tried to snatch the thermal cup from her. However, despite her state, nothing got past Ruby; she watched her with a languid smile, glancing between Luna and the cup.

"Got thirsty?" Ruby asked. "Half an hour before rehearsal?"

"It’s to help you sleep better," Luna replied without letting go.

"Don't get cheeky; you're getting more 'fun' than most of us like."

The acidity of her comment finished ruining my dinner. The tension made me put down my fork, but I never stopped chewing; now everyone was angry again, but at least I wasn't the target.

"If you look after my cup, you can have whatever's left inside, Luna."

Ruby stood up, swaying. Rose stepped forward to steady her, but Ruby jerked away aggressively, muttering under her breath, "Don't touch me, damn it."

Rose did absolutely nothing in response. None of them did. There were no complaints or insults back; it struck me that they were so used to it that they didn't even react anymore.

Ruby regained her good mood and walked toward the stairs. Seeing her like that was starting to unsettle me; there is no switch you can flip on and off so many times without it eventually burning out.

"See you in a bit—Hey! What happened here!" she shouted, grabbing the handrail. "The floor moved!"

"Someone dropped a box on that stair yesterday," Alice said, playing with her fork. "Avoid it until it's fixed."

"You're the boss," Ruby replied, jumping over it.

I heard the deep sigh of all three in unison with the sound of Ruby's footsteps running to the top floor. Luna poured the contents of the cup into the sink.

"It was almost full," Luna whispered.

"Even with a driver, it's not safe for her to be alone in that state," Alice added, with a worry that bordered on exhaustion.

"Talking to her is talking to the wind." Rose headed for the stairs. "I’m pushing rehearsal back two hours. Goodnight."

"Can I fix that stair tomorrow?" I asked; surprisingly, I was still eating. "I’m worried she’ll forget and kill herself or something…"

"You know the schedule," Rose replied without stopping. "As long as we aren't rehearsing, you can make all the noise you want—away from me."

Alice went up to catch up with Rose; I heard their voices fading in the distance. Luna stayed at the foot of the stairs for a long time, pensive, moving her fingers over the handrail.

I started cleaning up the kitchen, afraid I’d drop a plate if Luna decided to speak to me.

Is she still there? I thought, scrubbing the last thing I’d dirtied. Should I go over? Would it be wrong to ask questions? Maybe... I shouldn't get involved in their lives. I doubt they want me knowing anything.

I dried my hands and left everything as I found it. I got so lost in my thoughts that I forgot she was still behind me, watching me from the same spot.

"Finished?" she asked with a neutral expression, analyzing me.

I walked toward her and nodded.

She had been waiting to walk with me. I didn't know what to say and, luckily, I didn't have to think much; she started talking on her own.

"Thanks for the food," Luna said. "I don't know when the last time was that my stomach felt this full."

"You must have been really hungry, because you ate three plates."

Was it that hard to just say 'no problem'? I scolded myself instantly. I was about to mentally kick myself until I heard her let out a laugh.

"If you're ever hungry… text me," I stammered. "I’ll make sure to cook you something that doesn't reach Rose's nose."

"Does that mean I'll be texting you every day?"

I didn't answer; I just nodded, like an idiot. Luna took a step toward me.

"Or would you prefer I come find you and ask in person?"

She held my gaze until I had to look away. Luna saw right through me—she knew I was easy prey. I’m sure from where she stood, she could hear my heart racing.

We were passing the second floor; she made sure to match my pace, walking beside me without any rush.

"It’s common for Ruby to arrive late at night and find ways to get in..." she commented, looking straight ahead. "I know the back area can be heard from your room. If you ever see her arrive in bad shape again, could you let me know?"

"Can Ruby get in trouble for this?" I asked, slowing down without realizing it.

"Does that worry you?"

"No, it's not that."

"So it doesn't worry you?"

"It’s not that it doesn't!" I couldn't even understand myself. "It's just that I don't want to make things worse for anyone."

A few steps before reaching her floor, she slid her fingers over my wrist with a light touch, firm enough to make me stop and look at her.

"It’s important to me that you tell me when these things happen... Mia."

"Okay," I replied, with an irrational fear of disappointing her. "Today I saw her arrive with several people. One had hair that was half-white, half-black."

"Gabrielle?" Luna said, relieved, grabbing my shoulder. "Thanks for telling me. Seriously, thank you."

She put a hand to her chest, sighing. When had she taken my hand? I felt her fingers searching for mine. Her fingertips slid across my palm gently, as if she were recognizing the texture of my skin before intertwining them.

"Let’s talk tomorrow, Mia. For now, try to get some sleep, okay?"

I felt the weight of her fingers sinking just a millimeter into my skin; it was slight, but possessive. Or at least that’s how it felt because of how submissive I became in that moment with her. Before letting go, she stroked the back of my hand, leaving a trail of heat that burned throughout the time it took to say goodbye.

I didn't understand what was happening to me. Although I accepted my attraction to her, I couldn't understand the control she already had over me.

"Goodnight," she said.

She walked down the hallway, and I stayed there, standing still, rubbing my hand with a stupid look on my face, watching her disappear behind her door.

Before crossing my own threshold, I managed to snap out of the trance. I hesitated in front of Ruby’s room; seeing her curse with that resentment held toward Rose wasn't something that would let her sleep peacefully, no matter how much alcohol she had in her system.

I leaned in and knocked three times. Absolute silence.

"She probably fell asleep," I whispered.

I turned around and entered my dark stretch of stairs.

"I’m ordering a lightbulb tomorrow," I said aloud, just before tripping over something bulky.

I fell flat onto the mass, and my body stung instantly.

"What is this!" I started fumbling blindly. It was something solid, heavy, and warm. "There's someone here!"

I pulled out my phone and shone the light toward the floor. There she was, sprawled out across the way like a sofa.

I shook her by the shoulders, held her face and spoke to her, shouted at her, slapped her, but she wouldn't react to anything. Ruby wrapped her arms and legs around me, trapping me against her with all her strength.

CRA-ACK!

"I think you just dislocated my hip," I said, my voice strangled in my throat.

I gave in and slumped over her. Ruby squeezed me tighter and tighter; I was her pillow in the middle of a nightmare.

"There is no way this... doesn't look bad," I told her, embracing her with resignation. "I have to get you out of here."