Arlie came to my house and rang the doorbell, which I found weird because she had a key. Mila... I'm gonna kick your ass for cheating. I'm done being nice! She thought as she stood there. As soon as I opened the door, a fist hit me, and I fell to the ground. "SO YOU LIKE CHEATING HUH?!" Arlie yelled as she got on top of me and continued punching me. "I ONLY LEFT BEFORE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT LOSE MY COMPOSURE IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT NOW I DON'T CARE. I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS MILA!!"
She got up, lifted me, and threw me to the wall. "You're lucky I love you. It'd be a lot worse if I didn't. I'm done with this good and nice girl façade. Screw it. This is how I really am. Like it or not?"
I... kind of like it. I thought, which showed on my face because she showed a disgusted look. "Freakin' masochist." She said as she let me go and went to take a seat. "So... what are we gonna do about Dune? We've got to take him out somehow."
"I'm thinking about that."
"Better not challenge him again alone."
"I ONLY LOST CAUSE I GOT ANGRY!"
"OH REALLY?! NOT LIKE IT MATTERS? YOU STILL LOST!"
"SHUT UP! I WAS SCARED."
"...What...?! You... you were scared?! Oh, my!" She said as she laughed.
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" I yelled.
"Fine, fine! Calm down, princess. I know how difficult facing the past could be. That's why we're facing it together. We're not alone in this either, Naila and Shula are with us too! So there's no need to be scared, we've got your back! Come on! Let's go have some long awaited fun, shall we?"
I... realized that night, as she said those words and reached out her hand, that... she is truly one of a kind! She picked me up when I was down, and brought me back to my senses. I really don't know what I'd do without her.
We walked out the door and she dragged me to an arcade that I had no idea existed. "Huh? An arcade?!"
"Yeah! Video games take your mind off things sometimes. Let's play!" She said as she brought me to a shooting game.
"Let's start with this! Shooting games are known for relieving stress."
"O-okay," I said.
Woah! This really is fun! I thought.
We stayed in the arcade for hours, and to be honest, it felt like minutes. I haven't had fun like that in a long time.
We left as it closed and she grabbed my hand. "Well? Was it fun?" She asked.
"It was really fun!!!! I can't remember when I had that much fun! Thank you, Arlie! You truly are the best!" I said.
That I am! She thought.
We got to my house and she kissed me. "Um... can I stay over tonight? Please?"
Whaaaaatttt???? I thought. "Make yourself at home!" I said without hesitation.
Oh? No hesitation huh? She thought.
We went inside and I was tired so I got changed.
"Welp. I'm kinda tired so I'll be heading to sleep now. Good night!" I said as I got in my bed.
"Oh? Well... so am I! Good night!" She said as she got in bed with me.
OI, OI, OI!!! AM I SUPPOSED TO CONTROL MYSELF?! I thought to myself... I couldn't.
She purposely rubbed against me. If he grabs me, I win! She thought.
She continued to rub against me, I lost my patience and ended up wrapping my arms around her. Oh? I won! She thought. I got on top of her and stared at her.
"You know... I'm not gonna control myself anymore. There's no need for me to hold back right?" I said as I kissed her.
"Nope! Do whatever you want." She said while kissing me back.
"OH?! THEN BON APPETITE!"
"WOAH!"
We stayed up till late in the morning. Arlie was still clinging on to me and I had new found scratches on my back.
Wow! That was something!! She thought as she finally let go and got up. She took a shower and decided to cook for some reason.
"Hey! Mila! Get up! It's a day off, let's go somewhere!" She said as she woke me up. I had a huge grin on my face.
"Um... you're grinning way too much. It's scaring me." She said as she handed me a plate.
"I can't help it! Last night was too much fun." I said as I got a fork.
"Haha! It was fun for me too."
"So... what's the plan for today?" I asked.
"Hittin' the town! Going shopping!!" She answered.
"Oh? Nice! I needed a new laptop."
"We're not shopping for you, we're shopping for me. Get that on your own time."
"...Wait... huh? What do you mean 'my time'? What time is this?"
"This is our time! Well... it's more my time than our time, but yeah. It's our time."
We went to the mall and it feels like we went to every store. Either way, it was kind of fun, but you know what they say "you can't have too much fun?" Well... I did, and it seems like whenever I am having fun, Dune ruins it. He and a woman saw me with Arlie and decided to come up to us.
"Well... look who we have here! It's Millie!"
"Millie?!" We both questioned.
"Yeah. Mila and Arlie, Millie."
We looked at each other and looked back at him. "What do you want?!" I asked.
"Huh. Nothing right now. I just thought I'd tell you that you have two months to live. Yep. You've got two months till I make my move."
"Oh? Two months? Why not next week?" I asked.
"Hm? Are you... not afraid anymore?"
"No... I don't need to be. I've got her with me."
"Oh. Arlie! How's about you leave him and come with me? I could guarantee your safety."
"Hmm? Can you? But I can't guarantee yours. I'd rather be with Mila... he understands me."
"Oh? A feisty one isn't she?" He said as he reached for her face.
"Don't... touch me/her!" We said in unison.
"Wow! Okay. Fine. Stay with him for all I care. Don't be mad when he dies aight?"
"Oh yeah? He's the one that's gonna die? You sure?" Arlie said as she glared at Dune.
"Haha. Yeah... I'm sure. If not him then who? Me?!"
"Yeah... you. If he doesn't kill you... then I will." Arlie said back to Dune.
"Oho. I'll keep that in mind. Well... until next time... I hope you survive the onslaught." Dune said as he walked by us.
Onslaught?! Like last time with the gangsters?! I thought. Arlie grabbed my hand and sat on a nearby bench. Her hand was shaking... or was that mine?
"You're... still scared of him huh?"
I guess it was me. "Yeah. I am. I didn't want to be, but that fear runs deep. It's not only fear I feel though... it's also hatred. I hate that I dragged you into this, I hate myself for letting this drag on for so long, and I hate him for making me this way. I wish I ended this sooner. I'm sorry Arlie. You have to deal with your, and my issues."
"What are you saying? Dealing with your own issues by yourself is hard. That's why I want to help you, and ask that you help me when the time comes. We'll have each other's backs!" Arlie responded.
I stared at Arlie. "How... how can you love a guy like me?"
"A guy like you? You're the only one I could love. It's no wonder why Shula also loves you. We both have mental and physical scars, but you treat us all the same. It's not hard to imagine that even Naila loves you too. You don't look down on us, you hang out with us, you're even dating me... me, who can't show her body in public because of the scars. Me, who's had a near-death experience. Me, with all my flaws. And you... who loves me knowing all that. So yeah, how can I love a guy like you? I love you because you love a girl like me... sincerely... and I sincerely love you Mila. With all my heart."
This... woman... Arlie never ceases to amaze me. As we sat there, I tightened my grip on her hand as to say I'll never hurt you again.
Apparently, she understood because she whispered "thank you" to herself.
With that, the day ended and we went home. Arlie called me to get some things straight that Dune said.
[Mila?]
"Hey, babe!"
[Hey! Um... What are we gonna do about Dune in two months?]
"Hm? Do? Isn't that obvious? I'm gonna destroy him."
[Oh? That's some confidence you've got there.]
"Hell yeah, I'm confident! I'm not afraid anymore."
[That's good then!]
"Yeah. I have nothing to fear now. In the coming months, when I confront Dune, I'll brutally hurt him."
[Ha. Have fun with that!]
"You know I will!"
[Right? Haha! Well... it's getting late... g'night babe!]
"Oh? Hanging up already? Lol. Good night. See you tomorrow."
We fell asleep. The next morning we went to school together and met with Shula and Naila.
"Hey, guys! How's bout we skip school and hit the café?"
"Shula. What is up with you and cafes?" Arlie asked.
"What? I like them!" Shula said.
"Okay then. Let's go!" Arlie said.
We ended up skipping and heading to the café. When we got there, Shula spoke up.
"So... what are we gonna do about Dune?"
"His gang shouldn't be a problem. I could beat them with baji-quan." Arlie said.
"Yeah. You could beat them with... wait... you know baji-quan?!" I said.
"Uhuh! I was taught as a kid." Arlie responded.
"Really?! That's awesome! I should be able to match Dune with my kickboxing." I said.
"Um... didn't you just get beat up by Dune not too long ago?" Arlie said.
"Shut up. I was just scared. Not only that but he tackled me from behind. " I said.
"He scared you? Really?"
"Yes... really. He was the person that nobody tried to mess with... but screw that. He messed with the wrong people... I'll kill him."
After that, we left and Arlie came with me to my place. "I'm staying over again... actually, let me stay over for a bit. Like a few months. Please." She said.
"Huh? For a bit? Sure. I don't mind. Did something happen?"
"Huh? No... it's... it's nothing." Can't tell him I saw someone from the past around my way. He has too much on his plate right now.
With that. We went home. I can't say it won't be interesting, she's spent the night a few times, periodically, but never for long periods of time. All I could say, it that we're due for some nightly fun.
"Hey, Mila. I'm gonna take a shower... do... you want to join me?"
"Wait... what?!"
"You could join me if you want to. Actually... I want you to join me. Come on!"
I was so excited that I couldn't say a word. After the shower, we laid down.
"Two months! Two months and this'll all be over!" Arlie said.
"Yeah. Two months, and I'll finally be done with Dune."
"I've got your back Mila. Through anything." The reassurance I felt from hearing those words sent a tingle down my spine. I felt extremely relieved like a weight was lifted. Yeah, I know it sounds cliché, but that's how it felt. All the anxiety and fear I felt, was suddenly washed away.