Chapter 7: Making Adjustments
"Cee." Tatiyana placed her palm against her sister's cheek trying to wake her.
Celeste moaned and turned over on her side away from her sister.
"Cee Cee I potty." She pulled on a strand of Celeste's hair.
"What Tati?" Celeste opened her eyes and looked at her sister.
"I gotta potty."
Groaning again, Celeste slipped out of bed and grabbed her hand to walk her to the bathroom.
Celeste inspected the bathroom. Not fully satisfied she found a damp soapy cloth to wipe the residue from the toilet seat before placing Tatiyana atop it.
"Go ahead."
"I'm done now." Tatiyana slid off the toilet and readjusted her pull-ups.
Celeste grabbed her small hand intent on going back to bed, but she noticed Tatiyana was a little resistant
"What now?" She turned to her with her hands on her hips.
"No more sleepy. I wanna play now." Tatiyana poked out her bottom lip begging her sister to do what she asked.
Celeste looked toward the clock, which read 10:00 a.m. She had not gotten more than four and half-hours of sleep, but at least Tatiyana got her full night's sleep.
"Alright let's wash you up then you can go play." Was there even anywhere to play around here? Celeste pondered leading the way to the bathroom.
Half an hour later they emerged from the bathroom freshly cleaned. Looking around the small apartment, Celeste thought that Justin's apartment could really use some work. After making use of the less than average utilities in the bathroom she realized that it had been a long time since Justin actually took a look around his place.
An idea suddenly struck her. She could fix up his apartment in exchange for the favors he had done for her. Yesthat was a brilliant idea. Celeste smiled and walked into the living room.
Justin was slouched over the couch with his limbs hanging off. He did not even have the decency to remove his jacket or shoes throughout his sleep.
"He look funny Cee." Tatiyana giggled placing her hand over her mouth when Celeste pushed at her.
"No Tati." Celeste grabbed at her hand as Tatiyana ran over to Justin.
"Tati no. Get off him now." Tatiyana was trying to climb up on the couch to peek over at his face.
"Wakeup." The toddler patted his face lightly.
Justin moaned annoyingly when he felt a little foot contact with his pelvis. What the? He turned on his side and opened his eyes to see Tatiyana hovering above him with her thumb in her mouth.
"Hiya." She smiled brightly.
"I'm so sorry Justin she woke me up too." Celeste walked over to them lifting the toddler off him and placing her on the floor.
Justin sat up "It's quite alright. What time is it anyway?" He wiped his hand over his face to clear the remaining signs of sleepiness.
"It is a little after ten...I know we only got about four hours of sleep." Celeste quickly added when he grumbled.
"You can go back to sleep. I'll wake you in an hour." She suggested, but Justin waved his hand as if to dismiss her suggestion.
"I have to make some calls anyway. I'm going outside." Justin grabbed the telephone off the hook and walked out the door.
Celeste watched him sluggishly walk out the door. She couldn't help but smile a little at his obvious attempt to stay awake.
Turning to the toddler with her hands on her hips, Celeste reprimanded Tatiyana for her actions. "That was wrong Tati, he was sleeping and you woke him up. After all that he has done for us now go apologize."
Tatiyana gave a toothy smirk and stomped out the door her sister held open for her.
"And stop stomping." Celeste called after her and walked to the kitchen as the two pets swarmed around her feet.
"Ya hungry? I know I am. Let's see what Justin has to eat." Opening the refrigerator, she saw a bottle of milk, water, bread, eggs, and a package of frozen ground beef.
Celeste slammed the door closed. "What the hell are we supposed to eat?" Her previous assumptions had proven to be true. Justin definitely needed to adjust not only the appearance of his house, but also his eating habits.
Maybe a little femininity will help to change his lifestyle for the better.
Justin ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke into the receiver, "No I can't come in today a little situation has arisen that I have to take care of." He sat down on his stoop bringing the cigarette to his lips.
Justin moved the telephone away from his ear as his boss was yelling loudly. "Why the hell can't you come in today! Look Justin I know about your little obsession with boxing or whatever you do, but if you keep fucking up I'm going have to fire you." His boss hissed.
Justin rolled his eyes and took another puff of his cigarette. Work at small retail shop was just a side job for him and if he didn't acquire new responsibilities he would have quit. However, Justin knew that he needed all the money that he could get if he was planning to take care of Celeste and her sister. He also knew that people of her class were not used to living as he did, stretching every little dollar he had just to survive.
"Well you see it was this woman-"
"I knew it! A woman Justin. You are losing your focus again. Who is this time Kelly, Lisa, Brenda-" His boss groaned.
"No Celeste is her name damnit. And it's not even like that anyway. She and her little sister are staying with me. I found her screaming out of her mind running down my block. She was running from something as if her life was in danger." Justin explained remembering the night when she had collided into his life literally.
His boss sucked his teeth as he pondered the decision he was about to make. "Okay Justin this is your last warning. I find it hard to believe what you've just told me, but your ass better be in tomorrow." With that, he ended the call.
"Shit." Justin tossed the phone aside and buried his head in his hands. He lifted his head when he heard a giggle from a distance.
Tatiyana was behind him rocking on the balls of her feet. "Cee say for me to say I sorry for you wakeup." She pouted twisting her fingers in little knots.
Justin chuckled shaking his head. He stood to his feet and led the way back inside the apartment. "That's okay half-pint. I ain't mad. Now were ya sister at?" He pushed the door open and the aroma of a freshly cooked meal invaded his senses.
"Tati did you apologize to Justin. Oh-" Celeste paused when she noticed Justin by Tatiyana's side.
"Yessss I did." Tatiyana rolled her eyes. "He say he no mad." She laughed poking Justin.
Justin smiled, "It's okay." He lifted the cigarette to his mouth to take another small puff.
Celeste smiled then frowned when she took note of the cigarette in his mouth. His smoking was not good for Tatiyana's health condition because it could cause another scare with her chronic bronchitis.
Celeste stalked over to him and snatched the cigarette from his lips. Hating the feel of it, she allowed it to fall to the carpet. "Well stomp it out." She demanded since she was barefoot.
Justin did as she as she asked, but the stunned look on his face told her that he was not happy with her doing that. And God knows he wanted to tell her how he felt about that little stunt she pulled, but she had a sassy look on her face and her hands were planted firmly on her ample hips.
"You little-" He paused smirking at her obvious pleasure in succeeding at pissing him off. You are something Ms. Celeste.
"I hope you know how to get that burn out my carpet little miss." Justin imitated the action she had performed.
"That's not all that needs cleaning in this dump!" Celeste stepped closer to him as he tried to back away from her.
He stopped his mouth hanging open. How dare she insult me! "Oh yeah."
"Yeah. I said it." She challenged back. He was now cornered against the kitchen counter.
"Ooh trouble." Tatiyana jumped up and down on the couch happy for some excitement.
Justin felt around the counter behind him, his fingers came into contact with what felt like scrambled eggs. Gather a small amount in his hand he splattered it on Celeste.
"Oh my god! Ugh." She waved her hands frantically as the sautéed scrambled eggs, which were very hot fell between her breast. The feeling was horrible.
Justin snickered, boasting at her displeasure. "Aww babe. That's for taking my cigarette and burning my carpet."
Celeste glared at him, "I did it because smoking makes Tati start coughing and vomiting okay." She brushed away the residue that she was able to and pushed him aside.
Justin grabbed her wrist before she could make it past him, "Hey. I'm sorry about the mess." He hesitantly reached his hand to the opening in her tank top and brushed the eggs off.
Celeste squirmed under his warm hand. "It's...okay." She moved away from his touch.
"And I'm sorry for smoking too. It won't happen again." Justin appeared sincere in his apology.
Justin looked over her shoulder at Tatiyana who was sleeping peacefully on the couch. He was never one to apologize for his actions, especially not to a woman. No woman was ever worth it since he was used to dealing with a lower class of females, which is why he had never been in a true relationship. And then Celeste came and changed all of that.
Justin did not remember ever being so kind to anyone before like he had been with her. She took his cigarette and burned his carpet, but he did not even fuss about it. He just sort of brushed it off as not being a big deal. Usually, he would have beat the shit out of someone who messed with his cigarettes, but for Tatiyana's health reasons he would not do it around her or Celeste.
"Okay well um let's eat." Justin wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and sat on a stool.
"Alright I made toast, eggs, and ground beef."
Justin was surprised that she was actually able to prepare a meal from the little he had in his fridge. Celeste was just full of surprises.
"I think I'm in love." He smiled dreamily.
Celeste giggled and covered her hand over his face when he started making kissing noises, "You're crazy. You wanna help me give this apartment a makeover too."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's a sty. I mean look at it." Justin looked around at the apartment. He didn't want to admit it, but his apartment was a disgrace.
Celeste smiled knowing that he had been defeated. She sat down beside him, "How's the breakfast?"
Justin picked a piece of egg of her shoulder and licked it from his fingers, "Very good." He winked at her.
Celeste hung her head shyly. She wished he would stop embarrassing her. When she looked up Justin was staring intently at her and after awhile it was becoming unnerving.
Celeste stared into his crystal blue orbs. The look he gave her could melt metal. She didn't realize he had moved closer until it was too late and his lips settled on the corner of her mouth.
Justin moved away afterwards, "You had some food on the side of your mouth. Sorry." He apologized after witnessing the dumb look on her face.
"Yeah." Celeste nodded slowly in response. That was close. She definitely didn't want him kissing her when there was nothing between them except mutual understanding. But she did remember saying that he had soft lips and he most definitely did. That would have been her first kiss. No forget it.
"What?"
"Huh?" Celeste looked at him when she realized he was speaking to her.
"You said something." Justin looked at her inquisitively.
"I didn't say anything." What she didn't know was that she had voiced her last thought aloud and that Justin had heard her.