Again, she chuckled at him. [b]"I don't think it's rude."[/b] She told him, brushing it off like it was nothing. To most folks in town, it would seem like she was simply ordering him around. She didn't want to be cruel to him, but she also didn't... She felt her heart sink. She didn't want to be seen as... What didn't she want to be seen as? A 'Nigger'-lover? God, how she hated that term. She had to commend the colored folk for putting up with it for so long. If she were called that she'd likely lock herself and cry herself to sleep every night. She didn't see anything particularly wrong with the term, it was just the way people used it. 

[b]"It's nice to have a sibling..."[/b] She told him as they walked across the street, people looking at 'em. [b]"I'm an only child, you see. I imagine it's a relief to have someone with you, someone that cares."[/b] She continued, smiling. Well, what was Rita? She might have been like a sister to Robin... If only... [b]"Well, I guess I could have had a sister, but she was more like a mother to me than anything else."[/b] She told him, smiling. 

[b]"Oh, and if you need extra ingredients, I won't mind getting them for you. In fact, you're even welcome to use my kitchen. I'm no good at cooking at it's been so long since I've had a home cooked meal. Though... if you're nervous about coming into a white neighbor, I understand... I'm..."[/b] She trailed off as they got closer to the shop, her brows furrowed and her heart heavy.

 [b]"I'm sorry..."[/b] She told him, looking into his face, not wanting to say why. She shook her head and pushed open the door for him. [b]"I know you're the gentleman, but I can't help but open it for you. I'm not some weak female that can't even open the door for herself."[/b] She told him, sending him a reassuring smile. 

She could feel the conflicting emotions inside of her. Part of her said, let him open the door. Keep up the pretense. They'll think you're just ordering him around. And another part of her told her to be kind, like she would for anyone else and then... A separate part of her told her to open the door for herself just because she could. That was what she'd always hated. Like colored folk, women were treated as if they couldn't do any better. As if they only had so much to offer and any more than that was asking too much... It made her angry.