Cream.
As we drive down, away from the rehab, me at the back with Mel and Vanilla, who had been surprisingly quiet after what happened back there...
And Coco in front with Ber.
I notice Ber continually check his rearview mirror, to see how Vanilla is while I hold her hand while she uses the other to play with her crucifix, her head on Mel's shoulder.
The whole ride was quiet, and I was glad for the peace, even promising internally I would reward Coco personally for behaving.
Which got wrecked immediately the male said "Hey, Nilla. Why do you make everyone have the urge to kill you?"
The car suddenly jerks to a stop as I sigh, shaking my head, Ber turning to Coco "The fuck you saying?"
Coco shrugs, so unbothered about the whole thing "This is the third attempt on her life. You being the first, that bomb explosion, and of course, Banana"
Ber clenches his teeth and his grip on the steering wheel as he says "That's a fucking inconsiderate thing to say Chocolate"
"Oh?" He says, genuinely surprised as he turns back and says "Nilla, did my words hurt you?"
As she slowly shakes her head, Ber grips Coco's collar rope, yanking the boy closer to him as he winced in pain "She wouldn't even say yes if I pointed a gun at her head"
Coco begins to make whimpering sounds "But... But I thought it'd make her laugh, you know, cause everyone wants to be the first to kill her"
"You psychotic, asshole with a pea sized brain...."
"Let him go Ber" I cut in "We both know he didn't mean harm. He actually thought it was funny"
Coco turns to him "It wasn't?"
I shake my head as Ber tugs him again, but this time pulling the male to his lips.
They kiss for a while, Coco trying to reach for him, and breathe at the same time before Ber pulls away and sighs, ruffling Coco's head and pushing him away "You're so lucky I love you"
Coco smiles then turns back and says "Sorry about that Nilla. Hey, Banana I from Aeira too. That's the language she spoke with you right? Aerian?"
She nods, still quiet, I notice her grip on both her crucifix and I have tightened.
"What's it mean?" He asks.
Everyone is waiting for an answer, and she is quiet for a while before quietly whispering "I don't know"
We all know she does.
But no one pushes.
Coco shakes his head, tsking as he faces me "You're Aerian too. You know what she said?"
Even if I did, as long as Nilla didn't want anyone to know so I shrug as Coco rolls his eyes, falling back in his seat "No one knows anything"
Ber doesn't start the car again and neither does anyone say anything till Vanilla's phone begins to ring.
Wait?
Ring?
Who is calling her?
Cause I don't think it's any of us.
Mistress, maybe?
As she picks it, her voice jitters a bit "Hello?"
The voice is hush like, or maybe it's how she's pressing the phone to her ear as she nods "Oh, um, okay, let me tell them first..... No, I don't think they'd say no this time Ari"
Ari?
The friend?
I sigh.
A small blush comes up on Ari's face, the first time ever since we left the place as she says "Yeah, bye"
As she hangs up, Mel is the one to talk first "He said he loved you, didn't he?"
Her blush increases as she slowly nods as Ber says "What did he want?"
"When we gave her the phone, we should have watched her put Ari in her blacklist" Coco grumbles.
I second.
"He just wants me to come over Ber"
"For a date?" Ber snaps.
I sigh, using my finger to draw out possible frown lines on my face "It can't possibly be a date. She's with us"
Ber turns this time "He doesn't know that"
Oh.
Mel faces her this time "He doesn't?"
"It was just yesterday she agreed. Feels like months, but yesterday, and she was with us all through so I strongly believe the male is not aware" Ber says, then turns to her "Right, Nilla?"
She's looking down now, playing with her jacket zip as she says "He'd... He'd be hurt"
"We are hurter" Coco says, with a pout as Mel sighs.
"Then you're going to tell him right now" Ber says.
Shock registers on her face as she says "What?"
He turns back and says "Call him, and tell him"
Her face makes an emotion that seemingly hurts and feels me with jealousy and pain but I hear Mistress say "Not now, Berry"
Her face lightens up as Ber drops his phone on the dashboard and Mistress's face comes on in a video call on the screen as she says to Vanilla "You can tell him when you go out with him. Try and explain things to him, I understand the reason you don't want to hurt him, but letting his feelings increase isn't helping anyone. Do you understand?"
She slowly nods, but I can see tears at the edges of her eyes and I hold her hand again.
She holds me back.
"You can go" Mistress replies calmly "I just called to ask how you were about the incident at the hospital. I apologize about the fact I wasn't there to stop it Nilla"
"Its... It's okay" She stutters.
Even her hand is shaking.
But Mistress smiles "I love you, all of you"
We usually reply this, Mel mostly, just to tease him because he would blush immensely before eventually saying anything, but this time, we all turned to Nilla, and after a while, she got two message and said "We love you too"
*
Coco pulls Ber inside the house first, Mel and I still trailing behind and kisses him, just possibly for a minute before pulling away and saying "This, was for me turning me on in the car"
As he turns to walk away, Ber pulls him back into his body and says something in his ear that makes Coco giggle.
Mel sighs, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the kitchen "They're so shameless"
I sit on a stool as he gets an apron and wears it, moving to the gas and lighting it, before bending back and my eyes notices his round butt.
Like an apple really.
He turns, pushing back hair behind his ears, his ever innocent baby face so prominent now "I want to make lunch, would you stay with me or...."
"Stay"
He stares for a while and nods, looking away.
I watch him move and add things into the pot that I would never know or be interested in knowing, like it's an art...
The way his slender hands sprinkles things in and the way his face lights up with pride when he tastes it...
I love it.
I love him.
When he's done, he turns "There's some banana split left. Would you eat it with me?"
I raise an eyebrow "Mistress says you shouldn't take sugar"
He blushes but manages to roll his eyes, moving to the fridge and bringing it out "You wouldn't tell"
I would.
But not now.
"Come sit on me, please"
He does so, trying to get himself comfortable before I hold him tight for a hug.
The whole place below is quiet and I suspect that Ber and Coco are possibly upstairs, making out...
"Cream?"
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
Am I?
I don't know.
I really don't.
He grabs one of my hands and begins to play with it "Cause... Cause I can't tell if you're mad, or sad, or hurt... And you never say anything... And I don't want you..."
"Erythrina was ten when she died in the car accident" I say "But she was very close to me. My parents never had time but she did.... I can't... Remember how I was then but I remember her though, just... Just her really. After the accident, she just didn't.... She was just not her... And I wasn't me either"
His fingers were still playing with mine, trailing over my veins as I say "After the accident, I just... I just wanted Erythrina, because it was so hard to believe she was gone. They.. they tried to give me everything... They spoilt me, but it wasn't... I suppose that's why grannie doesn't recognize me. I died along with Erythrina. This is just... Just an empty soul left"
"You're not empty Cream"
"I can't... Feel anything Mel, I can't..."
He turns, his blue eyes sparkling as his hand rests on my chest "Your heart beats"
I put mine on his "Because of you, without all of you, I'm better off dead"
He bites his lower lip "I can't... Imagine not having you"
I raise his hand to my lips and suck on his pinky finger.
He bites harder on his lips, as he always does before he looks at me and I say "Then don't. I can't be sad or mad or in pain when I have you. So don't bother about it anymore, okay?"
He nods and sighs "I must be a horrible counselor. You've already switched the topic to me"
I smile "Because I want to kiss you, can I?"
And when he nods, I pull him for a kiss which he readily takes.