Stop waiting for permission to be who you want to be

 Holly couldn't help but sulk. Sure Carrie spent the night (early morning) in Holly's room in her bed. After all, it was the only bed, and they both slept like rocks until the late afternoon.

Of course, Carrie was up before her and the laundry was already done and the livingroom was quite tidy. Holly wasn't used to this kind of neatness. Maybe she could get used to it, but she shook the thought.

"You have to call your brother," Holly informed her when she sat down to the late lunch of finger sandwiches and cut veg. She crunched on a carrot while Carrie went to get her some pink lemonade. "What is wrong with you two?"

"Oh, it's just Devon," she shrugged as if he was her hateful brother. Always. "He doesn't like me. Never has."

"Why wouldn't he? Don't you think he'd miss all this?" Holly winced a face and moved her hands about that this was a good thing. "You do all the chores don't you?"

"Maybe," but she was really closed mouth about it. She wouldn't even pick up a cucumber sandwich, but Holly gave her one anyway. 

"What is his deal?" Holly took another sandwich. What in the world did Carrie put in these little things? Cream cheese and a spice Holly couldn't even imagine. Maybe it was chives.

"He wants the house to himself." Carrie nodded.

"And he's making shit up about us too. What the hell does that have to do with him?" Holly stood up in a tizzy but she put another sandwich in her mouth and she gave it a thought as she ate another. "Will give him hell!" She was in a stomp.

"No." Carrie jumped up and did her best to soothe Holly's tense shoulders. "Give him a couple of days. He'll cool down."

"You, just don't like confrontation, do you?" Holly gave her the eye. Carrie managed a nod. She went to clean up.

"Girl, you need a backbone," Holly went to chase after her but didn't pick up a dish. Carrie said nothing as she washed the dishes and had everything cleaned up in five minutes.

"God, your fast," Holly watched her.

Carrie looked over at her and said nothing. She was on the brink of tears.

"And another thing, you are no beauty school dropout!" Holly was serious. "You are so talented. You have to go back. You have to."

Carrie only sighed.

"Did he make you quit?" Holly was back to Devon again.

"Let's not talk about this," Carrie sighed. "You'll just be upset. I've upset you enough."

"I'm not upset," Holly shook her head, no, and hugged herself. "I just don't know how you've lived so long with that brat of a brother of yours." She pressed a frown, thinking she should hug her about now, but then she didn't want Carrie to get the wrong idea.

"It's only the two of us," Carrie couldn't say anymore. Evidently, it was a fresh wound that might never heal. Honestly, Holly had never lived through something like that. Her Dad was in Fresno and her mom took care of a bunch of foster kids. Holly couldn't wait to be on her own. Maybe that was why she didn't want Carrie here, but maybe Carrie was just who she needed. Someone who would actually keep up the place.