Leah's hysterical squawking woke him up with a start. Rick gasped for air as the shock wore off. Leah hadn't started off like this in awhile. He knew why. She was gone. Rick stared at his hands in his lap. He wasn't even sure what he had done wrong. He struck a nerve, but he did not know which one.
Tossing the covers to the side, he got out of bed. He walked with some regret as his feet scuffled against the carpet. His eyes wandered over to the little table.
On the table sat a bowl of cereal, a spoon, a muffin and a note. Hurriedly, Rick grabbed up the note.
"Milk is in the fridge in a glass. Help yourself. Back later." Read the note. Scrawled beside the words was a little heart.
Rick smiled at the note and went to the fridge. A blue glass of milk sat on the shelf. He took it and poured it into his Lucky Charms. He ate it slowly. Leah was running up and down the counter squawking her head off.
"Oh shut up. She'll be back." Rick muttered at the frantic bird. He was glad she hadn't left altogether. Eyeing the muffin, he noticed it was fresh, which he hadn't had in while. Rick enjoyed it carefully. Gigi knew what he liked. He wished he knew what she liked.
Faint singing brought Rick out of his daze. Leah stopped on the sink and started bobbing her head. Gigi appeared by the couch. She sang softly to herself, in her arms was a bundle of wildflowers. She stood there arranging them in a strange vase. He walked up to her slowly. He froze mid-step when he saw a faint bruise on her neck.
"Gigi..." he said slowly, an edge creeped into his voice.
"Mmmm, what is it Ricky?"
The bruise disappeared in front of his eyes. He blinked several times and concentrated on that spot. For a brief moment he wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but it occurred to him who he was talking to.
"I've been..." Rick shook his head. "I think you've been messing with my head more than I know." He finished bluntly.