The tables have turned

 

 Sammie was happy to see Carmen when she arrived at the apartment, but she was with Justin. She hadn't expected that. Carmen changed her hair too. 

"What's going on?" Sammie stared at her as if Carmen was some new person with Vada's ex.

"Nothing," Carmen was as casual as she ever was, but Sammie noticed something different about her. She then introduced her roommate.

"Oh."

Somehow it felt like Deja Vu to Sammie. But it wasn't. Still, Justin acted as if it was all new to him. 

"He had nothing better to do," Carmen shrugged. Evidently, Carmen couldn't see what Sammie saw when she noticed how smitten Justin was with Carmen. 

She wanted to pull Carmen aside and have a good talk with her about what Justin was capable of. Didn't she remember he used to be with Vada and that didn't end well. 

Soon enough Gabe arrived and Sammie knew Gabe wanted to yell something like, "NOT AGAIN."

But those two made their way in. Carmen brought fresh strawberries and grapes. She wasn't like Vada who expected a meal or at least a drink from the fridge.

"We won't stay long," Carmen promised. But she had to tell her that she and Justin were working at the same place now.

"You like it, don't you?" Carmen looked to Justin.

"Yeah, it's all right," his lopsided grin said he'd go with anything Carmen said. He was already into the fresh fruit, but Carmen swatted his hand as if he was already her own child.

"He's really good with people," Carmen nodded as if she needed to chat him up.

Gabe only chuckled and went to wash up.

"Did you want to stay for a late lunch?" Sammie asked.

"Only, if you let me cook," Carmen told her she knew her Saturdays were busy and she didn't want her slaving at the stove. "I could make burritos if you have some flour tortillas." She mentioned she'd had the Cantina Burritos at Taco Bell and hers were just as tasty.

"Sounds good to me," Gabe grinned as if he liked the idea. 

Carmen sent Justin upstairs to get what was left of the day-old chicken breasts she'd bought and some taco seasoning.

"Do you like him?" Sammie winced after Justin left.

"Well, of course, I do. He's my roommate," Carmen laughed.

"But not..not romantically, right?" Sammie looked at her blankly.

"Oh, he just needs a friend. I don't think he knows what a real friend is," Carmen told her. Sammie looked over her shoulder to see Gabe's reaction. She knew in her gut that he hated Justin. But it looked like they might be in a tug a war with their couple friends. She knew Vada wouldn't like this, and neither would Carmen's ex who moved in across the hall.