Genevieve

"I'm already so bored of this isolation stuff." I say around two hours later, "there's nothing to do!"

And at that moment I heard a bussare, knock, on the front door. "Who the hell is that? We're supposed to be in isolation."

I get out from under my blanket cocoon and fix my hair a bit, as it's all tangled. When I open the gold handle on the door my face fills with surprise.

"Hello! Umm ciao, I am from America, do you understand? Amer-ica?" The girl says like she doesn't know that I understand English.

"Yeah, America, I can speak and understand English ya know?" I say while being a bit condescending.

"Oh, okay, sorry. I'm visiting and I've been staying in a hotel, a really fancy one I'm pretty rich, sorry besides the point, since this whole isolation thingy happened this morning they kicked everyone out. And I was hoping that I could stay with you. You're door was very welcoming and I thought I would try my luck."

"Oh um, wow sorry about that whole ordeal. I'm not sure, my home is very small I'm the only one who lives here." I mumble out of pure shock and a little bit of confusion.

"Please! I have no where else to stay and I can't get any flights out. Everything is shut down, please." She begs me, her face is making me feel so guilty.

"Okay, what was your name again?" I guiltily say.

"Hazelle, thank you so much! I promise I won't be too much of a bother to you." Her shoulders release their built up tension and it looks like she might cry.

"Alright, welcome to my casa, my name is Genevieve." I mumble awkwardly while rubbing my hand against the back of my neck. The other hand is gesturing for her to come in.

"Over here we have the cucina, kitchen and here's the soggiorno, the living room, there's my camera da letto, bedroom, and here's where you'll be staying." My finger points toward a small bedroom, which only has an old bed with boring, grey sheets on it. "Uh, I'll get you a coperta, a blanket. Give me one second." I say nervously, I've never been good at making  amiche, friends.

"Okay! Thanks again for letting me stay here, even in this whole pandemic thingy." Hazelle says, hers eyes dash around my house, trying to figure out her new surroundings.

"Oh, it's really not that big of a deal, I'm just super introverted and I'm not really used to hanging out with people. That sounded really weird sorry." I mumble awkwardly, 'ugh I should've just said that it's fine.' My palm hits my forehead in embarrassment.

Hazelle, however starts to laugh, "wow, you are going to need some serious fixing."

"What? What do you mean fixing?" I say nervously.

"Just like, a little touch up on your social skills. Some small talk here, some laughter there. Ya know, the basics." She says like it's one of those house fixer upper shows.

"Okay?" I say even more nervously.

"But, don't worry about it, we'll get to that later." Her hand waves down, telling me to that it's alright.
________

"Are you hungry? I just went to the marketplace, so I have plenty of cibo, food." I say while picking up the peach I cut up, but hadn't finished earlier.

"Omg yasss! I haven't eaten since like eleven! What do you have?" She calls while slamming her hands down on my white kitchen counter.

"Umm, peaches obviously, mele apples, banane bananas, fragole strawberries, pomodori tomatoes, formaggio cheese, pane bread, and few other things." I say while peeking into my fridge then into the pantry.

"I'll just eat whatever is left of the peach you're eating right now." She says, I can tell she's trying to not be rude.

"Okay, here, you have these pieces and I'll have these." I say while sliding a few pieces to the other side of the plate.

"Thanks." Hazelle says while chowing down on a piece of peach that looks particularly juicy. "Eeek! Where the hell did that come from? Please get it out of here!" She screams, while dropping the peach piece and stumbling back, almost tripping.

"Oh, that's just Ruben my cat. He's really friendly, here pet him." I say, calmly, while picking Ruben up and stroking him. Then, I hold him out to Hazelle to pet.

"Oh my god! Please! Get it away from me! I'm deathly scared cats with their long claws and razor sharp teeth. They're like death animals!" She exclaims while sort of hissing and clawing at Ruben.

"Oh come on! How could you not like this adorable fluff ball?" I yell now rage filled, "like look at him!" Ruben's nose is now pressed against mine, "he's so fluffy!"

"Mhm, ya sure," she says sarcastically. "I wouldn't hold a cat for a million dollars!" She yells back, I assume this is the first fight of many.