Let's meet the roommate

The time passes, chatting idly with Sophia. I work extra hard, imagining I'm scrubbing my guilt into the floor and toilets as I clean. Sophia seems in much better spirits, having a plan for how to continue. I get the impression she's planning a private spy mission to figure Rita out.

Eventually I say my goodbye and get ready to head home. I realize, going out the doors, that I forgot to pass my mother's 'hello' since the only time I spoke to Liam was in the confession booth. I head to the back office and give it a knock before entering. The Father is sitting at the computer and jerks his head up sharply when I enter. He hits a couple keys on the keyboard quickly with his left hand, which I recognize as tabbing away from an open window. He looks slightly embarrassed. He really was a good looking man. One of the youngest priests I've ever seen, pulling off a nice light dusting of grey hair on the sides.

"Oh hello, Emilia, what can I do for you?" he asks, folding his hands away from the keyboard.

"I just wanted to stop in and pass a 'hi' from my mother."

"Well 'hello back,'" he smiles. "And how is she doing?"

"She's well. She should be here this evening for mass, of course." I feel a slight urge go through me. An impulse to say something that I maybe shouldn't. "I think seeing you here is always a little extra motivation to make it every week." I smile back. That wasn't too gossipy, right? It's a compliment, and I don't think it's a lie anyway.

His eyebrows raise at my words. "Because I'm such a good priest, of course."

"Of course. But now that my message is passed along, I need to be getting home."

I head out from the cathedral and to my apartment. It isn't far, on purpose. When I get home, I see my roommate on the couch, watching some vapid reality show. She's wearing her most at-home sorts of clothes. The kind that say "if you even suggest going out today I'll be pissed." Her long, black hair is up in a bun, and she has no makeup on.

"Hey Em. Late night with the brat?" she asks. She's the only one that calls me that, and one of few people in a position to call _him_ that. We've been friends for years and in a few of those years James had creeped on her pretty hard. I have to admit, I understand why. She's pretty universally regarded as hot, but of course that behavior is unacceptable.

"Yeah, and then some church work." I join her on the couch. "Why do you watch this crap? Why not a good book or something? I have a few to lend."

She rolls her eyes and doesn't bother responding. I know her answer, I'd badgered her about it plenty. I sit and watch with her until I can't stand it anymore. Seriously, why are all of these shows about who had sex with whom? Society is so focused on sex, it's ridiculous. A glorification of sin.

But still... I maybe get it, a little bit. All of the people they picked for this show are pretty cute.