Mama’s man dude stuck around after the class, so I made myself scarce. Come to think of it…he’d never been to the house before. Well, more like Mama never invited him while we were there. Be careful what you ask for, huh? Anyway, I chilled in my room and texted Maira since she was the only local sim outside my family who would care to know how my first day went. I sent her a sad face emoji, and would you believe she invited me to her apartment? For dinner?! She thought it would be a celebration, but now she just wanted to cheer me up. Can’t lie…I was very excited and a little nervous. About what? I wasn’t sure. New experience, maybe? Being 100% alone with her for the first time? Because I hadn’t seen her in a while? All of it? Maybe none of it.
She lived in Evergreen Harbor too. As I mounted the stairs to the top floor, I remembered Dad was debating on whether to rent or buy a smaller house. I’d have to follow up with him and ask if he decided and where he was moving. Maybe he and Maira would be neighbors.
The apartment was nice, and she decorated and furnished it in a clean yet homey style. It differed completely from our house, but I liked it. Maybe one day I’d have a place like that.
“Your apartment is amazing,” I said.
“Thank you! It’s not much, but it’s mine.”
“That’s so dope, though. I’ll get there soon.”
Her warm smile was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“You will! Don’t worry. Now tell me what happened! Why sad face?”
I repeated how disappointed I was that no one came except Mama and her sidekick, and how I appreciated it but I was just so tired of seeing him literally everywhere I went, and because I opened my big mouth to make her happy, now I couldn’t escape him even at home. She laughed at me!
“Are you laughing at my misery?”
“Never,” she said, still chuckling. “It’s just that you’re so adorable when you’re upset.”
I’m adorable? She thinks I’m adorable??
“My parents are still married and having babies, so I clearly don’t know what it’s like for you. But… Maybe you overreact? A little?”
Well, that was completely unexpected and knocked me right back into reality.
“What do you mean?”
“Well…”
She shifted her weight on the couch as she hesitated.
“It’s just that you complain about him…a lot.”
“Oh…”
“But it’s not that. It’s natural to feel how you do given what happen, but frankly he hasn’t really done anything to you. I feel like he’s tried to keep his distance out of respect for you and Alessia, really. How’s she doing, anyway?”
“What distance? The guy shows up literally everywhere I go!”
She smiled sweetly.
“You live in the same town not too far away from each other, Luca. What do you expect? I see your dad all the time. You just told me they used to act like they didn’t know each other. You’re the one who gave them permission to go public.”
I let out the heaviest sigh.
“I know. I knew I’d regret it as soon as the words flew out of my mouth, but… Is it possible to be secondhand jealous?”
“I can’t say I’ve ever heard that before. How would that even work?”
“Like…firsthand would be my dad, but I feel it. Like, I see them together, and I say to myself, that should be my dad. It should have been Dad at my class today, not him. I know he’s not trying to replace him or anything. I just…”
It was easier to hold a grudge against him. I wasn’t delusional and was fully aware Mama was the one to blame. But I couldn’t be mad at her. Not how I needed to be.
“You’re still upset about the whole thing,” she said. I think that’s fair.”
“Yeah.”
She watched me for a moment, waiting to see if I had more to say, before going to the kitchen.
“I’m gonna start on dinner.”
“Do you need help?”
“Probably, but you’re my guest. Relax.”
Living with two women, I knew better than to sit down and turn on the TV or something. But when I got up to follow her, all I saw was flames rolling out from the stove around her!
“MAIRA!!!”
The fire got out of control quickly, and like an idiot, I stood there screaming instead of extinguishing the fire. But I’d never been in a situation like that before. And I’d never been to her apartment. Where did she keep the fire extinguisher? Did she even have one?
She screamed and jumped up and down, trying to smother the fire as the smoldering embers spread across her clothes. My heart pounded so hard I thought it’d explode. My mind went blank, and I ran outside and called out for help. Hopefully, some kind-hearted neighbor would know what to do because I didn’t want to lose my friend. Luckily, the apartment building had an integrated alarm system. The firefighters were running up the stairs to her rescue when I reached the stairwell. I’d never felt relief like that.
“Oh, thank the Watcher! She’s down here,” I said and took off running toward her apartment.
But the fire woman grabbed me before I got too far.
“Sir, we’re gonna need you to stay back. Go wait in the parking lot all the way in the back.”
“But she-“
“It’s just a precaution in case things get out of hand. She’ll be fine.”
I nodded and ran downstairs like they said, hoping they made it to her before the danger reached critical levels. Our friendship was so young, but we were already great friends. What if… I abandoned that thought and trusted the professionals saving her would do just that.
A few minutes went by, and the firefighters exited the apartment, so I ran back to see about my friend. I found her rather dazed, but alive.
“Maira!! Thank the Watcher you’re okay!”
I grabbed her and squeezed tight, not really intending to let her go.
“Are you hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital? Come sit! You should sit.”
I wished I knew what to do! They didn’t take her away, so clearly she had no injuries, but… I was just so scared!
“I’m fine, Luca. Really. Don’t worry.”
“I ran. I didn’t know what to do! I left you here! I’m so sorry.”
“They would have sent you away, anyway. It could have gotten really dangerous.”
How was she so calm?? How was she, the one singed and reeking of smoke, the one trying to comfort me, the coward who left her to die? Maybe she was still in shock.
No sooner than those thoughts entered my mind, she lost it.
“Oh Watcher! Luca! I could have…”
An onslaught of tears overcame her, and she crumbled in my arms.
“Everything’s okay, Maira. You’re still with us. And…I’m really glad.”
Her tears dampened my shirt, but I didn’t dare move. She could cry on me as long as she needed to.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, still sobbing.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
awww DANG
YEAH!