Viola stepped into the dimly lit jail like a beast out of hell, cast in silhouette by the fluorescent office lights behind her. Hands on her hips, sneer plastered on her face, she waited for the warden to release Antonio.
She was late, or later than usual. The warden called Viola while she was in the bath, and it took Viola extra time to tie her hair back and make herself look more than presentable. Then there was traffic coming into the city–unprecedented for this time of day, mind you. And after that, Viola had trouble finding parking, and had to walk, and it was so warm so she walked slow, and she stopped a few times to gossip with friends when she passed them, and once she arrived she had to find the right room and haggle with the warden, and there were many, many reasons as to why it took Viola so long to arrive at the station. It absolutely did not have to do with any thoughts Viola had about punishing Antonio for needing another bail out. Oh, no, why would anyone assume that?
“You have to stay for the next week,” she said, “while you wait for your hearing. Until then, I own you, you got it?”
Ordinarily he would have tried smooth talking the warden, given him some of that Spanish charm everyone else so easily fell for, but the frustration of the language barrier proved to annoy both of them even more so, therefore Antonio settled for slumping in the bench, his signature smile replaced with a moody frown. To make matters worse, the rumbling in his stomach grew more deafening as he tried to occupy the time with thoughts of his next meal, courtesy of Viola, of course.
Time just seemed to drag on and on, and a small part of him began worrying if Viola would ever come pick him up. She wouldn’t really abandon him here, would she? Would they hold him here forever? It was just a silly bus ticket! Why was it such a big deal?
When he was ready to give up almost all hope, the sound of leisurely strolling footsteps pulled him back into reality. Please be Viola, please be Viola, and it seems like God has heard his prayers, sending an angel to his rescue! Though, it seemed like his divine savior was more of an undertaker... Straightening up, he made an empty promise to himself to be on his best behavior, but even he knew that would be short-lived.
Before he could greet her, she was already chastising him.
“A week?! But I have a date at the discotheque on Saturday back home...”, but it didn’t matter, he was determined end up at a discotheque with a pretty woman one way or another this Saturday, even if it meant dragging Viola there as his date.
His rumbling stomach, much louder than before, commanded all of the attention in the room. “Okay, okay, you own me, so it’s your responsibility to feed me!” Giving her a cheeky smile, he was almost positive that Viola was all bark and no bite. After all, how could she possibly be cruel to a man with this face? Draping an arm on her shoulder, he tried to pull her close for an affectionate kiss on her cheek.
