#finestkind

“I figured I’d let you sleep in; guess I won’t make that mistake again.” You smiled to yourself knowing what was coming next.

“You better not wake me up,” Mabel mumbled again but didn’t remove her face that was pressed into your back. You chuckled and turned around in her grasp.

“Morning,” you whispered again, this time looking into her big brown eyes.

“Morning,” she smiled and leaned forward and captured your lips in her own.

When you broke the kiss Mabel buried her head in your chest again. You spent so many mornings exactly like this, you didn’t see yourself ever getting tired of it. “Are we there yet?”

“Really? Are we there yet?” You teased.

“Shut up,” she whined but she made no move to get away from you.

“We’re not too far away, actually…” you couldn’t help but smile. “We can finally see land,” you pointed across the sea to the little bit of land that could finally be seen on the horizon.

Mabel whipped around so fast; you had never seen her eyes so wide as she stared across the ocean. You couldn’t help the small smile on your face as you watched Mabel slowly walk forward, trying to get a better visual of the horizon. Her eyes were on land, but your eyes were only on her.

You followed her, draping your arms over her shoulders as she leaned back into you. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

You couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah,” you whispered back. You couldn’t make out any details, but it was enough, the sun still rising made it even more beautiful. This was what you had always dreamed of, as much as you wanted this, you never actually thought it was possible. You definitely never imagined having the girl you were madly in love with right by your side.

You stood there, appreciating the moment until you had to run back to the wheel. It wouldn’t be good for you to get all this way and then never actually make it. While you continued to drive the boat, Mabel went to cook something up for breakfast. You had plenty of food stocked up, but you couldn’t wait until your feet got on land and you could find a restaurant or a café or some sort to take Mabel to.

Mabel came up from under the boat, showing you a bowl of oatmeal. “Take the wheel?” You asked, already holding out your hand to take the bowl and switch positions.

Mabel shook her head and before you could even pout, she scooped up some oatmeal and held the spoon out for you. You rolled your eyes but happily ate it off the spoon. Mabel took classes, she knew very well how to take over for you. She had done it several times, she mostly did it when you needed a nap, but if you were awake then you were in charge of driving the boat, Mabel would do anything to not have to do it, including feeding you.

After a few bites you stole the bowl from her. You appreciate when she’d feed you like that but sometimes, she just didn’t move fast enough for your liking. You shoved three quick spoonfuls in your mouth and handed her back the bowl so you could grab the wheel again.

After a few more hours you finally reached land and docked the boat. Mabel came up from below deck with each of your passports and everything else you’d need to be allowed to officially enter Greece.

By the time you went through everything and were officially standing on dry land again it was early afternoon. The two of you decided to take it easy and just walk around, see the sights and enter a few shops. You were going to be there for almost a month, so you had time to see everything, you just needed a day to regain your land legs after being on the ocean for so long.

After some shopping, mostly done by Mabel, the two of you took a break at a small café. You each got a pastry to snack on and some coffees. Mabel’s eyes were wide as she watched the people pass, a mix of tourists and locals. Your eyes stayed on her though. You were the one who had always wanted to go to Greece, but you couldn’t stop staring and Mabel as she took everything in for the first time.

“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?” Mabel asked before taking a sip of her coffee. “Exploring old ruins and pretending you’re a Greek hero?” She tried to hide her smirk behind the cup.

You chuckled with a shake of your head. She could joke all she wanted; she was still the one who not only chose to date you, but also travel the world with you.

“That is definitely on the agenda,” you said seriously.

Mabel sat the cup down and her smirk completely disappeared. She opened her mouth but eventually let out a sigh. She clearly knew when it was a losing battle.

Your mind started to wander, you went through a lot of shops, all with amazing stuff. You hadn’t bought anything, but you could probably go back and buy stuff to dress up, maybe even find a place that sold swords. You started nodding to yourself, it would be an epic photo shoot, but there was a chance Mable would break up with you. You shrugged; some risks were worth taking.

You mentally patted yourself on the back at the image of the Greek hero you created in your head. You’re sure you could come up with something amazing. Your eyes widened, the sword was a priority, but you definitely wouldn’t walk away from a shield as well.

You would work on buying all the stuff, see the sights and scope out good locations, and then once you had everything and your locations picked out you would force Mable to help with the photoshoot.

With a game plan set you looked up to see Mable narrowing her eyes at you. You quickly shifted your eyes away and brought your own coffee to your lips. You would wait to tell her; she couldn’t try and stop you if you already had everything bought after all.

You cleared your throat and sat up a bit straighter. “Just want to take it easy today, maybe turn in early,” you finally continued, letting out a yawn as if to prove your point.

“We can come up with a plan tonight?” You suggested. “We’re here for a bit but there’s a lot to see,” a smile slowly started to spread across your face. “And I want to take the boat to some islands nearby, explore a bit, maybe have a picnic.”

Mabel’s eyes softened at that, no longer seeming suspicious about what you were planning. She gave a small smile as she nodded in agreement to the plan.

The two of you finished up your coffees and went on your way again. You hit up multiple shops as you made your way back to the boat. Once again Mabel seemed to buy from almost every single store. You didn’t purchase anything but made note of a few places to come back to.

Before getting back on the boat the two of you stopped by a nearby restaurant. You had an early dinner, filled with discussions about what you both wanted to do. A lot of your interests overlapped, and you were going to be there for a while, so you had time.

When you got back to the boat the sun was just beginning to set. Mabel forced you to take a picture, the two of you together with the sunset behind you. You didn’t put up much of a fight and were quick to pull her into a kiss before she could make sure the picture was satisfactory.

While you went down to get the few things settled for the night, Mabel made a post with the picture. It was only a moment later when you could hear her walking around up top, talking to what was probably Charlie, and the other guys, if you knew them as well as you thought you did.

You laid down in bed and started scrolling through your phone when Mabel came down. You tilted your head, looking past your phone as she made her way over to you, gracelessly jumping onto the bed beside you.

“How’s everything back home?” You asked.

“Good,” Mabel mumbled sleepily. With half closed eyes she slipped under the covers and cuddled into your side.

“They miss you,” Mabel said. “Asked that we bring them presents.”

You let out a silent chuckle. You clicked off your phone and plugged it in for the night above your head. You got comfortable and wrapped an arm around Mabel so you could pull her closer. It was much earlier than either of you usually went to sleep but it had been a long day and a long journey, as soon as you closed your eyes it was as if sleep took you.

You slept soundly through the night, the ease of the boat gently rocking back and forth at the dock bringing you a familiar comfort. Even the various noises around the port and from other boats coming and going didn’t seem to bother you.

When you woke up, you sleepily opened your eyes, quickly noticing the lack of warmth beside you. You sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes to clear your vision. Mabel was nowhere to be found and based on how cold that side of the bed felt she hadn’t just woken up.

When your vision cleared you flung your legs over the side, stretching as best as you could as you stood up. You looked around, still not finding any sign of Mabel. You grabbed your phone and saw a text from her saying she got up early to go for a morning walk and get breakfast at a café, but she would make sure to bring you something back.

You smiled and shook your head. For someone who practically hated sunlight and would black out her windows so she could sleep the afternoon away, she sure didn’t seem to have an issue rising early when on vacation.

You decided to get ready for the day as you waited for Mabel to return. You grabbed something small to eat, unsure as to what Mabel would be bringing you back.

You furrowed your brow at a noise up top. You tossed your trash away and ran up the steps. When you got up top, you raised a hand to shade your eyes but saw nothing.

You dropped your hand and glanced around the boat. You found nothing and Mabel clearly wasn’t back yet. You intended to forget it and head back down into the cabin when what sounded like a bucket scraped against the dock.

You hopped off the boat and began taking a look around the dock. There were several other boats docked, most owners weren’t out and the few that were clearly didn’t seem to be concerned about the noise.

When checking around the dock you heard a small whimper and whipped around. Your gaze softened and you crouched down as your eyes landed on a puppy.

“Hey, buddy,” you whispered, holding out your hand.

The puppy leaned forward, giving a sniff in your direction but didn’t move. You kept your movements slow as you got closer, managing to maneuver the puppy out of the space it had managed to squeeze itself into between a couple crates.

The puppy wiggled as you got it in your arms but seemed to calm down when it realized you weren’t a threat. You could still feel its little heart beating against its chest as you ran your hand over its fur, trying to calm it.

You gave the puppy a once over, taking note of the lack of collar and the dirty fur that was beginning to get matted. You looked up and down the dock, seeing no signs of someone who might have dumped it. In your check of the puppy to make sure it was otherwise okay, you took note that it was definitely a boy.

“Come on,” you whispered.

You held onto the puppy as you hopped back on the boat and grabbed your phone. You looked up the nearest vet’s office and went on your way, making sure to send Mabel a quick text that you were running an errand but would hopefully be back soon.

The vet’s office was half an hour away by foot, but you couldn’t complain. The walk was nice and getting the puppy checked out was the most important thing. You then had to wait an hour before the doctor could get you in since you were a walk in and they had other clients.

The puppy didn’t wiggle too much throughout the walk and once the two of you were inside the vet’s office he seemed content to stay in your lap. He had just begun to close his eyes when the doctor walked out.

You followed him to the backroom and gave him all the information you could, which wasn’t much.

When you set the puppy up on the table he backed away from the doctor and back into your arms. You couldn’t help but smile with how easily you gained his trust.

You finally managed to get him to relax enough that the doctor could look him over. You weren’t a vet, so you had no idea what was going on but the doctor didn’t seem concerned about much. The only comment he made was that the dog looked healthy all things considered, but needed a bath before his fur got so bad that he would need to get shaved.

The vet sent the puppy to another room with a woman and when he came back, he was all cleaned and smelling fresh. He happily ran over to you and began kissing your face when you picked him up.

“Do you know what breed he is?” You asked.

“Labrador,” the doctor said.

“Chipped?”

The doctor shook his head, making you frown.

“I can recommend you some good shelters,” the doctor said. “If you don’t want to keep him.”

You opened your mouth, but when your eyes fell back onto the little guy on your lap you hesitated.

“I don’t know,” you sighed. “We’re here for a bit but we’re sailing around the world.”

The doctor let out a knowing hum. He was rather close to the docks, so he probably saw plenty of people come in with their pets. It wasn’t crazy to sail with pets, especially dogs, it just required a lot of work. The dog needed all its shots, and you would need to make sure to have all the paperwork before you left the country and for you to enter the next one. It was an entire process, nothing you weren’t willing to do, but it was quite tedious.

“I’ll need to talk to my girlfriend,” you said.

The doctor nodded. You looked down at the puppy on your lap, when he lifted his head, looking at you with his big brown eyes, you knew your decision was already made.

You thanked the doctor for everything before you exited the room. As you handed the receptionist your card to the pay for the visit you asked about setting up another appointment for shots. She happily made an appointment and was able to get you in only a few days from now.

You tucked the puppy under your arm and pulled out your phone to find the nearest pet store. As you looked down at him you knew you would have to convince Mabel. You were lucky she loved you enough to put up with your antics, you just hoped she loved dogs even more.

You had been gone half the morning already when you walked into the pet store. You hadn’t heard from Mabel, so you hoped that meant she had decided to take her time and wasn’t sitting back at the boat alone.

You grabbed a small bag of puppy food, a leash, a collar, a couple bowls, and you couldn’t help but let the little guy pick out a toy. The toy he was determined to get was a plush duck that was practically the same size as him. You were going to wait on making a tag, figuring you and Mabel could decide on a name together, though you already had a couple thoughts.

You got the collar and leash around the puppy, paid for the items, threw the bag of food up onto your shoulder, and the two of you were on your way. The puppy trotted alongside you, carrying his duck in his mouth, the neck flopping with each moment as its head brushed against the ground. There was no doubt in your mind that Mabel wouldn’t fall in love with him.

When you finally made it back to the boat it was about midday. You were surprised to see Mabel still wasn’t back. You couldn’t complain though, it gave you time to get the puppy comfortable and come up with an argument so good she wouldn’t be able to say no to the dog.

 You poured some food into one of the bowls and filled the other with water before setting them down under the kitchen table. There wasn’t a lot of space on the boat, but you would make it work.

While the puppy scarfed down the food you got a text from Mabel saying she was on her way back. You messaged her saying you were back on the boat, and she replied saying she was still bringing you something from the café.

After the puppy licked the bowl cleaned, he ran over and jumped on his duck. He rolled around as if he were trying to tackle the duck. He chewed on the bill, whipping his head back and forth, letting out adorable little grunts.

Not even five minutes later did the puppy’s head flop to the side. He let out a yawn and buried his head against the duck; one paw tucked under the toy while the other was draped over the top like he was hugging it. You couldn’t believe that he crashed mid play session. Not that you could blame him, he had quite an eventful day.

You pulled out your phone and snapped a picture. It was sure to be only one of many you’d end up taking of the little guy.

There was shuffling around up top. You glanced at the puppy, but he didn’t seem bothered, only letting out another yawn. As quietly as you could you ran up top to greet Mabel.

“Hey,” she said, her face brightening as soon as she saw you. “I brought you something from a little bakery I passed.” She showed off a white paper bag and began unrolling the top. “I don’t remember the name, but I think you might like it.”

“Thanks!” You smiled, taking the bag from her. You took a peek inside and your eyebrows shot up; it did look delicious.

“What have you been up to?” Mabel tossed her things on one of the seats. “I didn’t realize you had errands today, I would have waited.”

You opened your mouth but didn’t even know where to start. “They were unintentional errands,” you said vaguely.

Mabel turned back to you, furrowing her brow. She narrowed her eyes as you suddenly found anything but her interesting.

“What aren’t you telling me?” She asked, taking a step closer.

You opened your mouth, your eyes darting from her to any other part of the boat.

She took another step closer, wrapping her arms around your center. She tilted her head, making her eyes seem bigger as she blinked at you. You knew that look well, you could never say no to that look, and she knew it.

It wasn’t like you were trying to keep a secret from her. The only reason you didn’t tell her about the puppy before was because it seemed like too big of a conversation to have on the phone. You wanted to keep the little guy and were trying to think of a solid argument but hadn’t decided on the best course by the time she got back.

You opened your mouth but before you could get anything out, a small thud came from the cabin below.

“What was that?” Mabel asked.

You sighed and dropped your head in defeat. She had already turned away from you and was making her way down the stairs.

You followed behind, stopping on the steps as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the puppy. The little guy seemed to have woken from his nap and was jumping around.

“I can explain,” you said.

Mabel turned around, raising and eyebrow. She crossed her arms as she moved away from the stairs, allowing you to step down and go to the dog.

“I woke up, you were gone,” you started recounting your morning. “And then I heard a noise and it turned out to be,” you gestured to the little guy.

“Then of course I couldn’t leave him,” you said, gesturing with your hands. “I had to make sure he was okay, so I had to find a vet.”

Mabel just stared down at you, her arms crossed, clearly unimpressed with your story. You wrapped your arms around the puppy and looked up at her, trying to make her see how adorable the two of you were.

“The vet said he’d get me a list of shelters,” you added. “So, in the meantime I picked up a few things but…” you looked down at the little guy and then back up at Mabel.

Mabel sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat for an argument she didn’t even try and have.

“He is pretty cute,” she said, unable to fight off a smile.

She crouched down and the puppy ran over her to her, doing awkward hops as he wasn’t used to the floor yet. Mabel laughed and wrapped him up in her arms.

“Aren’t dogs like a lot of work?” She asked. “I know they are without being on a boat, so I can’t imagine-”

“You’re right,” you cut her off. “I’ve already started looking into it. He’ll need shots for different countries, paperwork, and we’ll need certain things for the boat, like a place for him to go potty. But…” you looked down at the puppy in her arms, clearly already attached to the little guy.

Mabel sighed and ran her fingers through the puppy’s fur. She looked down at him for a second before looking back up at you with a soft smile, telling you she was already going to relent.

“What’s his name?” She asked, clearly knowing you already had an idea.

“I was thinking Ody,” you said, trying to keep your voice neutral.

“Hi, Ody,” Mabel smiled as she started to play with him. “I like it.”

You smiled to yourself. It seemed you wouldn’t have to fight her on his name either.

“Wait,” Mabel’s fingers paused mid pet.

Her head snapped up to you, her eyes narrowing once again. You put your hands behind your back and shuffled back and forth on your feet. Your eyes suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.

“Ody,” she repeated.

“Ody,” she whispered as if the name held a secret.

“Ody!” She said, shooting you a glare. “Like, Odysseus?”

She crossed her arms. Her glare lost any heat it might have had as Ody jumped up, attempting to lick her on the face.

“I mean…” you said with a small shrug. “We could go with Argos?”

“Why does that name sound familiar?” Mabel asked, furrowing her brow.

You glanced at her before quickly looking away.

“Wait,” she stood up. “Wasn’t that Odysseus’s dogs name?” She crossed her arms.

Your eyes darted to her and away again. “Maybe…”

You suddenly bent down and scooped up the puppy. You held him out in front of you, directly in Mabel’s face.

“Come on,” you said. “Doesn’t he just look like an Ody!”

Mabel tried to seem unimpressed for a few seconds before her shoulders relaxed and a smile broke out onto her face. You broke out into a grin and pulled her into a hug, squishing the puppy between the two of you.

After that you showed Mabel everything you had gotten for Ody so far. She seemed satisfied but commented that he needed much more. You tried to hide a smile, you knew she’d spoil the little guy.

Despite just getting home she leashed up Ody, grabbed your hand dragged the two of you off the boat. All three of you walked down the dock, Ody running between your feet, trying to trip you, when he wasn’t trying to get into everything.

The two of you went on a small walk through the streets, stopping to allow Ody to sniff anything and everything. The three of you slowly made your way back to the pet store you had stopped at to buy what you assumed would be more than you would be able to carry back to the boat.

On the walk you made sure to search more about everything you’d need to get done and all the different shots Ody would need. You started to make a list. You knew it would be a lot, and everything would need to be in order before you left Greece.

You hadn’t even been in the country a week, you were only in your second day. It was actually your true first day there, since the day before you made port, though it was early.

-First you need (That's what you get for falling in love) Then you bleed (You get a little and it's never enough) And then you're on your knees (That's what you get for falling in love)-

You sat at the table, tugging at your collar for what felt like tenth time since morning, looking at the landline phone in front of you. Seriously? What was this? Last century. You sighed, figuring you should have gotten used to it by now as you dialed a familiar number. Every week, at the same time, the same number, the only number you still had the right to call and expect a friendly voice on the other side of the line.

Mabel picked up immediately, just like she always did these past eight weeks. “Y/N!” she exclaimed your name, and even the weak smile that was previously on your face vanished, it almost hurt to hear her voice. It sounded so much different than it did a few months ago, the excitement and flirty tone were replaced by longing and relief, but it was worth it.

It had to be worth it.

"Hey,” you smiled, forcing the negative thoughts out of your mind for a moment, hoping that Mabel would take this all a bit easier if you didn’t show how this was affecting you. You’d handle the silence, the endless loneliness on your own, finding solace in these weekly calls. “Is everything okay there?" you hoped you'd be able to notice if she was hiding anything from you.

And Mabel was doing the same thing, focusing on the positives. "Mhm," there it was, that casual got-everything-under-control response that made you relax. "Me and Charlie are just fine. He's still a bit cautious and jumpy, but he's getting used to the new apartment," an unreasonable rage filled you.

"Charlie? Mabel, you know I love you, but quit trying to rename Charcoal," you whisper-shouted at her, ignoring the warning looks people around you gave you. It was worth it, especially since Mabel laughed, actually it was more of a semi-evil cackle.

"By the time you come back he'll only respond to Charlie!" she promised, and you could just see the smirk on her face that infuriating smirk you came to love so quickly.

And despite the awful future she promised, you still smiled, wishing that future would come soon. At least your cat, Charcoal, would be happy with Mabel and not left to fend for himself. That cat wouldn’t last a day on the streets.

“He misses you, a lot, you know?” Mabel said softly, and you could just hum, knowing this affected Charcoal as well, after all, you and Mabel could be reasoned with, he just suddenly had to learn to live without you.

“It’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” Mabel suddenly asked, the light-hearted tone was gone, and though you could hear Charcoal hopping onto the table and purring as Mabel pet him it did little to ease your pain.

“Yeah, it all ends tomorrow,” your smile was just sad as you sank back into the chair as much as the phone cable allowed. You couldn’t even have that without tugging at the technology from a past era.

Mabel paused, but you knew what she would say before she even began speaking. “I should come,” she kept insisting, even if you argued against it.

“It’s not safe. Besides, you know what I want you to do,” you reminded her of the promise she vowed to break, even if you made her say the words. In her own words it wouldn’t be the first lie she had to utter.

“And you know I won’t do it,” she reminded you, but then she sighed and you could hear her burying her face in her hands, and you could picture her sitting at her new table, in a new apartment she was still getting used to even after three months, away from everything happening here, her hair tied and messy, and her lower lip trembling slightly due to the emotions she tried to bottle up. “Did this have to happen?” she asked, and even though it was a rhetorical question you still answered.

“If I could do this all over again, I'd still make the same decisions,” those decisions led you to Mabel, led you to turning your life around, and to her finally finding a way out of the life she had before. You’d pay the price for her second chance, and maybe eventually you’d get your own second chance as well.

~X~ Eight months ago ~X~

Whoever decided that morning was the right time to start a day needed to be held responsible. And whoever decided that your cat needed to be fed at six in the morning also needed to be held responsible. “Come on Charcoal, I fed you last night, let me sleep a little longer,” you pleaded, seriously considering just never getting up again.

An ashtray hitting the floor made you groan, which only prompted the black menace that snuck into your life to knock something else off the table. Judging by the heavy thud it was probably your notebook. “I’ll buy a table with raised edges, just to spite you,” you muttered under your breath and sat up like you were pulling the weight of the whole continent up with you.

You rubbed your eyes, trying to wake up as your body ached. Charcoal jumped from the table onto your lap and sat there, just looking at you with his sharp, alert eyes. “You’re too awake buddy,” you scratched his head with a tired smile, once again promising you would never sleep on the couch again. You were just too tired to reach your bedroom last night.

Stupid deals.

Stupid crimes you couldn’t pull out of anymore.

Charcoal purred and you figured, what the hell, he was comfortable on your lap, so surely, he wasn’t that hungry. You fell back on the couch and closed your eyes, hoping to go back to sleep, only for the damn black cat to hop from your lap onto your chest and tap you right on the chin.

Damn little menace.

You should have left him on the street. Oh, who were you trying to fool, there was no way you’d leave him, all soaked from the rain and hungry.

You opened your eyes and looked at the ceiling. “Fuck,” you accepted your fate, picking the cat up and dragging yourself off the couch so you could go and feed the ungrateful, impatient, adorable, lovely cat that happened to be the boss of your life. “I’ll sue you, you know. Don’t know which court can find you guilty when you’re that cute, but I’ll find one,” you leaned back against the kitchen counter and watched as your one-year-old cat devoured his food.

Little glutton.

“Get up or go to sleep?” you wondered, glancing at the drawer where you kept your laptop, safely tucked away from your cat, because nothing in your apartment was safe from Charcoal unless it was under lock and key. Glasses? Plates? Anything breakable? Locked! Decorations? Almost nonexistent, aside from plastic ones that either didn’t break easily, or were easily replaceable. Other decorations? They were proven to be unable to resist Charcoal’s need to push them off whatever they were placed on, thus they had no place in your home. The number of TVs you had to either fix or replace because he’d scratched the screen was so high you no longer had the will to count.

You may be rich, but new TVs were not something you wanted to keep spending money on.

The thought of all those TVs drained you of what little energy you had this early in the morning, and you headed toward your bedroom, with Charcoal, now fed, running after you. Work could wait, you needed sleep, and as you slipped under the covers with your cat choosing to spread on the bottom of the bed you figured that was the smartest decision you made in a while.

The heavy feeling that always came with big jobs made it difficult to sleep well, but Charcoal near you helped with that.

You still felt like you were missing something.

~X~

Around noon you walked into an almost empty bar near the edge of the city. Away from prying eyes, with just enough privacy to be acceptable for your job, but casual enough to pass it off as regular meeting between two law-abiding citizens. You came in early, about fifteen minutes before the scheduled meeting time. It was a habit you picked up along the way, wanting to be more careful of your surrounding and notice any potential problems before they could even happen.

Yet twenty-five minutes later you were annoyed and getting impatient. The woman you were supposed to meet with was nowhere to be found, hell, the only person that was on their own was a beautiful girl sitting in the corner. Despite her beauty you dismissed the girl, not really willing to get involved with anyone right now. Your life was a bit too messy for your liking, too tangled up in all the crime going on in the city to risk pulling an innocent woman into all of this.

You noticed her right away, though, she couldn’t blend in even if she tried, she just stood out too much, drawing attention with her beauty and calm demeanor.

You glanced toward the girl again, noticing she was annoyed, frustrated even. As if she was waiting for someone.

‘No fucking way,’ you thought, nearly spilling your drink when the thought that she could be the person you were supposed to meet crossed your mind. She was too young! Well, that was rich coming from you, but your circumstances were different!

You approached her, a bit too hastily to your liking and she looked at you, cautious right from the start. And your heart sank, that cautiousness probably meant you were right. This was Mabel. But her eyes, there was just something in her eyes, serious, intense, dark eyes drawing you in, threatening to drown you in a sea of black. “Mabel?” you asked, and those dark eyes widened slightly before she regained her composure.

“Y/N?” she was just as surprised as you were, definitely not expecting this. The two of you, close to same age, maybe even the same age. In this situation.

You nodded and then tilted your head toward the chair across from her. “May I?”

Mabel raised an eyebrow, as if she didn’t expect the question. She probably didn’t. She was here to meet with you, it was business; asking if you may sit was actually quite stupid, it was a given that you may sit, that this meeting would happen.

Yet you asked, maybe out of some obligation, maybe subconsciously giving her a way out. “Not a question I expected from the daughter of one of the bosses, let alone the biggest crime boss around,” she pointed out and you shrugged, suppressing your feelings regarding your family, silently waiting for her to allow you to sit down.

When she remained silent you smirked slightly. “I’m a vampire, you need to tell me I can sit before I can do it,” you joked, and she snorted at that.

“Not how it works,” but she waved dismissively at the chair. “But sure, go ahead,” you couldn’t tell if she was amused or not, but you sat down.

“I come from a long line of vampires, I make my own rules,” you joked, making her roll her eyes, but there was definitely a hint of amusement in her dark eyes.

That amusement quickly faded away though. “You come from a long line of criminals,” she huffed, suspicious, not trusting you one bit, which was fair, if you were being honest. You heard of a new girl, efficient, quick, bringing in money, even if she was still a small-time drug dealer mostly working with Weeks. You also heard she was dragged into this either by or because of her family, which would explain her disdain toward you. Born into privilege, choosing to continue the family tradition because it brought you money. You couldn’t blame her for thinking that.

“We suck people dry. Whether it’s blood or money we’re sucking hardly matters,” yet you kept joking. Though people do tend to believe there’s some truth in each joke.

Mabel raised her glass of wine, probably cheap, considering where the two of you were. “To vampires then,” you accepted, raising your own glass, filled with the first non-alcoholic drink you saw on the menu, happened to be some juice that you were yet to try.

“To vampires,” you agreed, not knowing this meeting would change the course of your life. You took a sip of the juice and immediately winced at how sweet it was. “I’m sorry it took me a bit to approach you,” you ignored the sweetness and regret over not getting literally anything else. “I didn’t think you were, well, you,” you admitted. “How old are you again?” you couldn’t stop yourself from asking.

She gave you a flat look, as if she was already tired of your bullshit. “Twenty-two,” she still answered, so she was the same age as you. “I didn’t figure out I was supposed to meet with you either, you look like you went for a run, not to talk about deals,” she pointed out, even if she herself was dressed rather casually.

You grinned a bit as you looked down at your choice of clothing, you really did look like you went for a run and stopped by to grab a drink on your way back home. “Better to look like I’m going for a run, than to catch someone’s attention and be on a run instead,” you pointed out, finally making Mabel crack a tiny smile.

“True,” she agreed, her smile spreading even as she tried to suppress it. Guarded and not willing to show even a hint of weakness or vulnerability in any way. Your parents would be proud if you had this kind of composure instead of making everything a joke. Well, jokes had their own advantages. Most of the time you seemed like you were so in control you could afford to mess around.

Yet her smile made your heart beat faster and you realized just how dangerous she could be if you didn’t play this right. “So, is everything going according to plan?” you asked, getting serious mostly out of some barely developed sense of self-preservation. Mabel nodded, confident, sure of herself, and you could physically feel the power balance shifting as she gained control.

That could not be allowed, not in this line of business where everything was a constant struggle for power. But, somehow, you didn’t mind, you didn’t resist yet.

She drank wine with smooth elegance, practiced ease, and with the glass still covering her lips she made her offer, all the while looking right into your eyes. “I can get it to you a week in advance if you pay extra,” her voice was smooth, confident.

“I can pay you double if you deliver it tonight,” you countered, matching her gaze.

Mabel whistled. “Deal,” she agreed.

“Liar,” but you weren’t that naïve, or green, you’ve been dragged to these meeting for years before your parents made them your problem to deal with.

Mabel leaned back a bit, shrugging. “Worth a shot,” she figured and yeah, you supposed it was.

“Was it really? Staining our relationship with a lie right from the start is a bold move, Mabel,” yet she didn’t flinch even when you raised an eyebrow, even as the power dynamic shifted in your favor.

“Expecting honor among thieves, Y/N?” she challenged you, not backing down for a single moment, and damn did you like that.

“I’m no ordinary thief,” you leaned forward. “I’m the thief in charge, and I don’t like being lied to,” her confidence wavered for a split second, before it returned with a smirk as she leaned in, almost too close, so close you could feel her breath tickling your skin and she stood up to close the distance further, putting her lips right next to your ear.

“True. You’re not in charge of me, though,” she whispered, and you felt a shiver run down your spine, but then she pulled away, taking a few steps away from the table. “We’ll fulfill our end of the deal, make sure you and your thieves pay on time.”

You heard her, but what really caught your attention was your drink that was now in her hand as she drank it, winked at you and left you with her wine and the bill.

“The fuck just happened,” you blinked a few times and then noticed the bill. “How the fuck do these guys have this wine?!” you exclaimed and could hear Mabel cackling in your head. How did you even figure she would cackle? Not that it mattered, what was this overpriced bullshit?! Did she order the most expensive wine the place had? “Damn, she’s good,” you leaned back against the chair, chuckling slightly to yourself, she got you good.

~X~

You entered your apartment, feeling tricked but somehow satisfied. Mabel’s actions were stuck in your head like an annoying song you couldn’t get rid of no matter how much you tried. “She really got me good,” you muttered to yourself as Charcoal hopped into your arms. “Hey there buddy! Did you make a mess while I was gone?” you asked, scratching the cat’s chin as he meowed and purred in your arms, and sure enough, there was quite a number of things knocked over. Pretty much anything that wasn’t locked up was on the floor. It wasn’t that many things, you learnt your lesson a long time ago, but it was still annoyingly endearing to see.

Some small plastic figures, a couple of notebooks, university guide you picked up a few years back, before your life’s path was decided for you. How did Charcoal even get it? Why wasn’t it stuck in the back of some drawer, never to be seen again until you had to clean it? Maybe Mark left it in your line of sight when he conducted a search of your apartment the last time? That was probably it.

Good old Mark, always trying to get you to turn your life around. “A life worth living,” he would often tell you while he and his partner questioned you at the station, trying to get you to crack under the pressure and the good cop bad cop dynamic because they had nothing definitive to prove your involvement.

“You’re awful, you know that?” you scolded the unbothered cat and figured you could clean the mess up tomorrow morning, after good night’s sleep. Perhaps morning would make your thoughts more coherent.

~X~

Out. She wanted, no. needed out, out of this dinner party Weeks dragged her to because her mother messed up again, out of this business, out of her own skin if somehow that could be achieved. This was ridiculous, a dinner party used as a front for shady business deals, drug deals included, and Weeks wanted her to get some contacts for him.

Why was this world so difficult to get out of? Oh, she knew the answer, it still stung that she was dragged into it by her own family.

How could her own mother drag her into the world in which being killed meant nothing, in which being killed wouldn’t even be investigated, her dead body either never to be found or unrecognizable? It hurt, it made something in her guts twist and coil and it fucking hurt.

The clothes she was wearing were classier than anything she owned. Some damn business suit that smelled like cheap imitation, but was required for a place as ‘classy’ as this one. Everyone was dressed in expensive looking suits, drinking their stupidly overpriced alcohol, mingling like they were attending some royal event from centuries ago, just adjusted for this period.

Mabel needed to get some air, desperately, so, she went toward the balcony the moment she was out of Weeks’ sight and, in her haste, bumped into someone, a woman, dressed in casual clothes, a T-shirt and jeans, and she so desperately wished she could be wearing something like that right now. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” she apologized, not wanting to get into any trouble in a place like this.

“Mabel?” she blinked a few times, not expecting the woman she bumped into to know her, and then she remembered the voice and looked at the woman she met several weeks ago, at you. Right, you were the daughter of the biggest criminal in this building. Of course you’d be here, allowed to dress however you liked because who’d dare to say a single word about it.

“Oh. The vampire,” she joked half-heartedly and stepped to the side, leaning on the balcony railing while you leaned back next to her. Frankly, she bitterly expected you to leave by now, not wanting to mingle with petty criminals like her.

Yet you stayed, almost infuriatingly relaxed as you stood next to her. “The one you left with that ridiculous bill,” you complained, but she heard the light-hearted joking in your voice, and it made her feel at ease, well, as much at ease as she could be, given the circumstances and the clothes she was wearing.

Oh, that was the highlight of her week, and she still cackled to herself when she imagined what your reaction was. “Oh? Too pricy for the thief in charge?” she challenged and glanced at you just it time to see you turning toward her.

“Nope, just not worth its price,” you grinned, and just for a moment she caught you checking her out before stopping just as abruptly, as if you put in conscious effort not to do it. She didn’t really mind though, you were good-looking too, and she probably would have flirted a bit if the circumstances were any different, as it was you were simply too much of a trouble, one bound to drag her deeper into this world of crime if she tried anything.

“Same could be said about most things here,” she pointed out, causing you to nod.

Silence fell over the balcony, and for a moment Mabel thought that your situations weren’t all that different. You looked like you didn’t want to be here, looked like you didn’t want to be a part of any of this, but had to, because there weren’t any other paths available to you. She heard you were an only child, and the empire your family built over the generations had to be maintained.

Maybe she misjudged you.

“You don’t look comfortable,” you suddenly pointed out when she subconsciously tugged at the collar of her shirt.

“I’d rather be anywhere but here, to be honest,” she wasn’t sure where this honesty was coming from, sure, she was blunt, but even she knew not to be this blunt in places like these. Something about you made it feel okay though.

You were like a flame drawing her in, a sense of safe warmth in this cold, money-driven criminal world. Maybe it was the casual clothing you wore.

You hummed, a bit taken aback by her honestly, and then offered her your hand. “You know what, how about you let me take you home? You can tell Weeks you got a big deal with L/Ns that required a more private setting,” you offered a way out and an excuse for Weeks.

“What’s in it for you?” she asked, curious, cautious, it was almost too good to be true.

You shrugged, that confident, easy grin on your face annoyed her ever so slightly. “I get to leave this snoozefest,” you answered honesty with honesty, it seemed.

She got a bit closer to you, brushing her hand along your forearm, taking note of a couple of thin scratches. A cat? There was something electric between you when she touched you, something feeling like a very bad idea, but maybe, just maybe, fooling around wouldn’t hurt too much. Even if you definitely should be on the list of people she shouldn’t ‘fool around with’. “You sure that’s all you want?” this time you didn’t stop yourself, you looked her over, capturing every detail with your eyes. “Hm, Y/N?” her voice was quieter, sultry even, as if tempting you, testing you.

And then you paused and smiled, more amused than anything, and she found that rather interesting. “Well, your number might be somewhere on my wish list,” you whispered, a lot softer than she thought you would.

“I’ll consider it if you can get me home within an hour,” just enough time to get to her place, but it would still be close.

“Your chauffer, at your service, madam,” you bowed slightly and once more offered her your hand, and this time she took it, leaving the dinner party with you by her side.

~X~

You drove toward one of the less safe parts of the city, the sound of your car engine and the music on the radio filling the silence instead of you or Mabel, but you didn’t mind, in fact being like this with her felt comfortable. You both knew just enough about one another not to tackle serious conversations in a car ride to her place, and small talk didn’t seem to be on either of your minds.

And then a police officer pulled you over and you groaned, recognizing Mark immediately. Someone must have tipped the police off that there was a dinner going on. “Don’t worry, I know him,” you sighed, pulling your wallet out of your pocket and getting your license and registration ready,

“Oh, I thought you’d bribe him,” Mabel commented, making you laugh.

“Yeah? Not that guy. Definitely not the type you want to try to bribe,” if there was one thing you could say about Mark, it was that he was unrelenting, and firm in his beliefs. Most of the other cops could be bought, but not him. Not ever.

“Lovely night, Y/N,” he said as you rolled down you window and gave him your documents mostly out of habit.

“It’ll be even lovelier if you let me go, I’m on a bit of a clock here,” you tried, putting on your usual grin as he gave you back the documents.

“No can do, Y/N, we’re looking for a dangerous criminal,” he wasn’t even serious as he searched the back of your car with his flashlight.

“Sure, you are,” you sat back, knowing you wouldn’t make it to Mabel’s place in an hour now.

“Did you have anything to drink?” he asked.

“Not a single drop,” which was actually true, you didn’t really see much appeal in drinking in places like the one you just left.

“Anything you’d like to report?” you knew exactly what he was hoping for, a sudden change of heart where you’d spill all the family secrets, making the empire collapse on itself. Take the chance at a better life, but you wouldn’t, even though it was getting more and more tempting with each passing day.

“Nope,” you shrugged and a few brief sentences later you were free to leave, as you always were. You could feel Mabel’s eyes on you, studying you, making you grip the wheel a bit tighter, a hint of that anxiety you sometimes struggled with creeping its way out of the dark corners of your mind.

Would she tell someone? No, probably not, she seemed as uncomfortable in that damn place as you were. You relaxed again, refusing to step on the gas, you were too proud to do that, and thus, you arrived exactly two minutes late. Curse you Mark.

“Well, looks like you’re not getting my number tonight,” she patted you on the shoulder as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

“Come on, it’s only two minutes,” you had a feeling she was too stubborn to give in once she decided something, especially since she seemed to really be enjoying herself.

“Exactly, at least you know where I live now,” she got out and walked over to your side of the car. You weren’t getting out, you didn’t even stop the engine.

“So, I’ll have to camp out here if I want to ask you out on a date?” you joked, and she leaned in through the open window and kissed your cheek.

It felt like lightning went through your body. “Mhm,” she whispered into your ear. “You’ll have to really work for it. It’ll be good for you.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Challenge accepted,” well, she was definitely an intriguing woman. “Sweet dreams, Mabel,” you told her, and she waved at you as she walked into the building. Seeing she went in safely you drove back home, not sure how you were going to explain a new deal with Weeks to your father.

~X~

You made it through most of the day without considering going to Mabel’s apartment, without considering the idea of working for it, as she so eloquently put it. But by the time you were done with your tasks for the day you found yourself looking toward Mabel’s part of the town.

“Fuck it,” you said, getting into your car and driving there. You parked in the same spot you left Mabel in last night and suddenly felt a sense of dread. What were you doing? Parking in front of a building of a girl you’ve only seen twice?

“You look like a very conflicted stalker,” Mabel’s voice made you jump in your seat and she began cackling, holding her sides and leaning on the side of your car.

You glared, or rather tried to glare and found yourself unable to do it. “Wouldn’t have to look like that if you gave me your number,” you complained but she just stuck her tongue out. You breath hitched, and for a moment you got caught up looking into her eyes.

“Tempting, but you’ll have to work harder for it,” she teased you, gently tilting your chin up a bit. “Thief in charge,” she definitely liked that nickname.

“Or you could tell me to get lost, I can take it,” you replied, smiling slightly.

“Where’s fun in that?” she grinned and stepped away from the car, leaving you sitting there, though not before she winked at you just as she went back into the apartment building.

~X~ Two weeks later ~X~

It took two weeks of back and forth, a sort of cat and mouse game, but Mabel finally said yes to a date, and even promised to give you her number by the end of the night, but, it was worth it in the end. She was just… something else, a breath of fresh air you didn’t even know you needed.

You parked in front of her apartment and stepped out, a bouquet of roses in your hands as you walked into the building and up the stairs, calm, collected, like you were raised to be, yet somehow nervous about the date. You still knocked on her doors the moment you were in front of them, relying on the old habits that made you a lot more confident in yourself than you probably would or should have been.

About half a minute later the doors opened, and you saw her, dressed in simple, casual clothes, a hoodie and jeans, similar to your own clothes for the date. She whistled when she noticed the roses and you offered them to her. “Cliché, I know,” you grinned, but she smiled.

“I’ve never gotten flowers before,” she said, and her eyes widened, making it clear she didn’t intend to reveal that much.

The fuck were the people she dated before doing? “Shame on your dates then,” and you truly believed that. She cleared her throat, a tiny blush dusting her cheeks as she went inside to leave the flowers and quickly came out once more.

“Well, let’s see what you had in mind,” she told you, boldly taking your hand and leading you down the stairs. There was no rush, you weren’t in a hurry, you simply walked over to your car and you began driving. “So, wanna tell me where we’re going?”

You grinned like a little kid, actually excited. “A zoo,” you figured one cliché was enough for the date, and besides, you could grab a bite there as well.

“There isn’t one here,” Mabel looked confused, but there was a hint of excitement in her eyes.

“I know, so we better hit the road,” it was actually in another city. “I figured we could both use some privacy, away from this place,” she nodded when you said that, appreciating the thought.

“You can say that again. I’ve never been to a zoo before, either,” now that she was no longer confused she actually sounded excited, not quite like a kid, no, almost like a kid that was never allowed to be a kid.

“Well, I hope you’ll like it,” and you really did. It took you an hour and a half to get to the zoo, an hour and a half spent talking and joking, with Mabel still refusing to hand over her phone number. You got the tickets and let her take the lead, let her decide where she wanted to go first.

“I want to see the giraffes,” she said, taking your hand once more and following the map handed to you at the entrance.

“Yeah?” you definitely liked that choice, though you probably would have liked any choice, you were at a Zoo, and Mabel was with you.

“I want to see how tall they really are,” you had to chuckle at that. So, she was a bit bothered by her height, judging by the jealous pout she had on her face when she said that. “What?!” she demanded, annoyed and embarrassed by your reaction.

“Sorry, sorry, that was just adorable,” you assured her, patting her on the back, though it was clear she wasn’t quite buying it. “I’m serious, you’re adorable!” you defended yourself.

“I’m not adorable, I’m an independent woman that happens to want to see giraffes, now come on,” she seemed so adorably annoyed as she pulled you along, and it actually warmed your heart that she wouldn’t let go, even as annoyed with you as she was at the moment. You were not about to argue that those two things weren’t mutually exclusive, not when she was holding your hand like she was right now.

As the day continued Mabel was slowly but surely getting more comfortable, excitedly leading you from one animal to another, from giraffes, to lions, to gorillas, you got to see all the different animals the zoo had to offer. And by the end of the day you both went back to your car, exhausted, but definitely satisfied, you even went and got hot dogs and ice cream halfway through your visit.

Mabel got inside your car with a large grin on her face. “I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun,” she confessed happily as she put on her seatbelt. She didn’t look even one bit tired from the day.

“Me neither, thanks for coming here with me,” you told her, not even caring if she’d give you her number at the moment, though you’d very much appreciate getting it. All that mattered was that the two of you had fun today, and that there was a high chance she’d like to go on another date with you. And at that moment a realization struck you, the one you’ve been avoiding all day.

Initially you thought this was going to be an escape for both of you, an escape from the tension and uncertainty of the lives you were forced into. Now you realized you were wrong. This was already a lot more than an escape, this was already something deeper, more meaningful and freeing at least for you, and from the look on Mabel’s face, she thought the same.

“Guess you earned my number,” she yielded, though she couldn’t even try to sound annoyed, and you felt your phone buzzing in your pocket, making you stare at her incredulously.

“You had my number the whole time?” you asked incredulously, and she nodded, smiling innocently.

“I have my ways,” this girl… was certified, one of a kind, trouble.

“All the while I’ve been pretty much camping near your building to get a chance to talk to you?” she nodded, looking very satisfied with herself. “I’m pretty sure your neighbors think I’m some stalker,” you huffed, not nearly as annoyed as you probably should have been.

“Mhm, and now playing ‘Criminal’ by Britney Spears,” she laughed, playing the song on her phone and then began cackling when your eyes widened and blood rushed to your cheeks when you heard the lyrics.

“Now that’s just, I’ve got no words,” and you really didn’t have anything smart, or dumb for that matter, to say.

“And even I know this ain’t smart,” she sang softly as you put the car in reverse and got out of the parking spot.

“I’m not getting your name tattooed on my arm,” you grumbled, driving off with an obviously fake scowl on your face, making Mabel laugh as the song began nearing its end.

You ended up driving to your place, seeing as it was already quite late and you’d need to drive for another hour if you wanted to take Mabel to her apartment. You parked in an apartment complex, completely ordinary and from the look on Mabel’s face clearly not what she expected from you. While she was looking around, getting over her surprise, you stepped out of your car and went to open the doors for her. “May I take your hand, m’lady?” you teased, and she nodded, offering you her hand and for the first time today letting you guide her toward the building and up the stairs to your apartment.

You unlocked the doors and opened them, and were immediately assaulted by a cat jumping into your arms, making you let go of Mabel. “There, there, I’m home,” you scratched Charcoal’s chin gently as he rubbed his head against you. “Sorry about that, he’s been on his own all day,” you apologized as you led Mabel inside.

“No, it’s okay, he’s adorable,” she tentatively reached out and much to your surprise Charcoal didn’t complain when she pet him, hell, he even purred. “What’s his name?”

“Charcoal,” now that you thought about it, it probably wasn’t the most imaginative name for a black cat.

“I’ll just call him Charlie then,” she had that evil, teasing grin on her face as you stared at her blankly.

“No,” you refused to accept it.

“Can’t change my mind,” she even stuck her tongue out at you.

“Behave,” you warned, vehemently refusing to accept her committing crimes against your cat.

“Ooh, that’ll work. Look at me all obedient,” she mocked you and the two of you got into a staring contest, which was an awful idea on your part because this girl clearly didn’t need to blink!

You huffed, losing the staring contest without even giving Mabel a challenge. With a satisfied grin she sat down at the table, and Charcoal ran toward her like a little traitor, but you had to admit you were curious. He rarely liked strangers, and this was the first time Mabel was here. “I can’t say I expected this,” she admitted as she looked around your apartment.

“My parents’ place makes me feel like I’m suffocating, this feels enough for just me,” you explained surprisingly easily, and Mabel nodded, noticing, despite the ease of your answer, that this wasn’t something you liked to talk about.

“Sorry, I should have been more considerate,” she apologized sincerely and for a moment the only one making any kind of noise was Charcoal as he purred on her lap.

“He actually likes you,” you chuckled, making Mabel smirk.

“Of course he does,” there was that confidence that caught your attention right from the start.

“Well, hope you won’t mind sleeping in my bed, because I don’t have a spare bedroom,” you said and made your way to the bedroom to change the sheets and all that.

“Yeah? Should I expect wandering hands?” she came up to you silent as a ghost and nearly startled you as she whispered that in your ear.

This girl was going to be the death of you. 100%, she was trouble through and through, and you weren’t even resisting one bit. “Nope, I’ll be sleeping on the couch,” you tried your damned best to keep your composure with Mabel this close to you. You could smell her perfume, a soft, fresh scent, reminding you of winer, feel her warm breath against the skin of your neck, feel her hand on your shoulder, and the look in her eyes was the cherry on top of the cake you were trying not to eat. “Besides, you can’t handle me,” the truth was there was a good chance it was the other way around, but you wouldn’t admit that so easily.

Mabel raised an eyebrow, slipping between you and the bed, sitting down and running her fingers along the collar of your shirt. “That a promise, Y/N?” she had no right to sound so seductive, yet here you were, whipped without even kissing her.

You swallowed the lump in your throat, nodding.

“And you keep your promises? Thief in charge?” she asked, boldly pulling you closer until you had to put your hands on the bed to keep yourself up.

“Every single one,” she was intoxicating, and you were willingly getting drunk on her. “Including the one about sleeping on the couch, so be patient,” you abruptly separated from Mabel, making her laugh as she lay down on your bed.

“You’re really something else, you know,” she told you softly and you rolled your eyes as you went to the wardrobe and got the blanket for her.

“Look who’s talking,” but you had to admit this was the most fun you had in a long, long time, and you couldn’t remember the last time you were this comfortable with someone.

“You know you like it,” she teased and she was right; you did, you absolutely did like it.

A ripple of laughter draws your attention back to the group, and your eyes settling on a short girl, bangs close to covering her eyes. From where you're standing, you can see the freckles on her cheeks, around her eyes. The sun is doing a great job of shining on them. The group comes to a stop at the edge of the deck, and she sets her bag down on the railing, carefully, flipping her hair back as she leans into the conversation. The way the light caught her face, the easy smile on her lips—something about her made your pulse quicken.

You just wanted to know her name. That's all you can ask for. She seems...magnetic, a bright spot in a world that has felt too dark for too long.

You lean against the deck's railing, clenching your jaw to have some self control. You have bigger things to think about than some girl. You can't go on and fall for the first cute girl who catches your eye, not with everything else hanging over you. The stack of bills at home, the weight of responsibility, and the promises you made to your family all tugged at the back of your mind, reminding you to stay focused.

But then you hear a clatter. The girl's bag—teetering on the edge of the railing—slips, toppling into the water below. The guy standing beside her grimaces, looking over the railing, watching the bag hit the surface of the water.

"Charlie!" she gasps, reaching out too late as her bag falls. She looks helpless, staring after it as if willing it to float back to her.

You watch for a moment as this Charlie apologizes profusely, staring as the bag sinks little by little. He doesn't move and you assume he doesn't have a plan on how to retrieve the bag.

You don't think, the plan in your head is quick and simple. You kick your shoes off and tug your shirt off, having prepared for a swim today anyway. The wetsuit hugs your body nicely, both comfortable and efficient. You're glad the military introduced you to it. You grip the railing and push yourself over it, sucking in a breath in time for you to hit the surface.

Just before you enter the water, you had heard someone shout; "Holy shit, she jumped!"

The water stings your eyes as you look around, but soon you find the bag sinking further and further down. You swim towards it, grateful for your years of training, every stroke powered by determination and urgency. The water surrounds you, a good mixture of cool and warmth, pushing you to move faster. You reach out, your fingers grazing the bag just as it begins to settle on the sandy bottom.

With a final push, you dive deeper, grasping the bag tightly. As you pull it back toward the surface, the weight of it pulls you down slightly, but you kick hard, breaking through the surface and gasping for air. The sunlight glimmers on the water around you as you make your way back to the dock, heart racing from both the swim and the thrill of doing something reckless.

You spit water out of your mouth as you surface, blinking back the drips of water from entering your eyes. On shore, you catch a glimpse of this Charlie guy kicking his shoes off and beginning to unbutton his shorts to enter the water.

You swim to shore, trying your best to avoid the bag from getting in the water anymore. When you reach land, you walk out and wipe the water from your face, shaking your head to get the water out of your ears.

"I was..." Charlie begins as you walk towards him, "gonna get it," he mumbles as you walk past him.

Mabel is down from the pier, friends behind right her; they all come to most likely watch the interaction. You exhale a breath, one you struggle to catch, at first because of the swim, but now, with Mabel up close, her presence makes it even harder to breathe.

You clear your throat and extend her soaked bag to her. She takes it with a laugh, squeezing the water out of it as best as she can.

"Thanks," she mumbles, eyeing her bag for a moment. "I'll see if I can save anything in here later. Mabel," she extends her hand towards you.

You take her hand, shaking it gently. "Y/N." 

There's a moment of just you two holding hands, and you don't think much of it, given that she doesn't really react either. It isn't until Charlie clears his throat when you notice.

You blink out of your stupor, taking a tentative step back. "Anyway, um, steer clear of the deck. Those railings are definitely not sturdy," you point up at the pier, the deck's wooden railings chipping away little by little. "It was nice meeting you, Mabel...Charles–"

"Charlie," he corrects. Mabel's laugh can be heard underneath it.

"And others," you ignore him as you wave at the rest of the group. "Have a good night," you turn on your heels and make your way back up to grab your things.

"Hey, wait up," you hear as you bend down to grab your shoes. You glance over your shoulder and see Mabel jogging toward you. "We're heading to grab a bite to eat, you're welcome to come–as a proper thank you."

You weigh your options. On the one hand, you are very tempted to join them just to see more of her. There's something about Mabel that pulls you in, makes the heaviness of your day-to-day fade, even if only for a little while. But on the other hand, you know you have to keep your distance. You've got things to take care of, and getting too close to people, especially someone like her, could complicate everything.

You sigh, running a hand through your damp hair. "I appreciate the offer, really," you start, standing up and slinging your shirt over your shoulder. "But I've got some stuff to handle tonight." You lie.

Today was just a free day for you. You slept in, made yourself some brunch then came here to walk the beach twice. Now the sun is setting and you have to head home to cook yourself dinner. You may just order out though.

Mabel's expression falters for a second, but she quickly recovers, her smile never quite fading. "No worries, I get it. Maybe another time?"

You hesitate, glancing at the group waiting for her, then back to her expectant eyes. There's something hopeful in the way she looks at you, and for a moment, you almost change your mind.

"Yeah," you nod. "Maybe another time."

She grins, a small, genuine smile that lingers even as she turns to rejoin her friends. You watch her go, the sound of their laughter mixing with the crash of waves against the pier, and you can't help but feel like you've missed out on something. Something good.

Then, you think, you could save yourself some money by joining them. You turn and sigh, hurrying after them. You can't believe just the sound of this girl's laugh made you change your mind.

"Umm," you clear your throat, halting their movements. "I changed my mind. If you don't mind..." you wait for their response–her response.

Mabel nods. "Come on. It's not a far walk," she says with a smile. You smile back and follow, walking beside her and a conversation easily begins between the two of you.

Charlie raises an eyebrow but says nothing as Mabel leads the way. The group starts walking toward the nearby food spot, one you know of since you were a kid. The owner is a friend of the family since your dad made friends with everyone and their mother. You call him uncle.

Once you all enter, the familiar smell of grilled food and old wooden booths hits you, immediately bringing back memories of your father. You try to push them aside as you follow Mabel and the group to a large booth near the back of the restaurant. You hear the sizzling of the burgers and your stomach growls.

Focus on your hunger, not the memories, you think as you slide into the booth.

You settle in beside Mabel, and as the group chats around you, you can't help but feel a strange sense of belonging in this place. Even though you hadn't planned on it, this night is turning out to be more than just another routine evening. You hadn't been here since you came to visit that one time a few years back.

You were on leave and your dad insisted to come because it's practically tradition. It also helped that Rudy, the owner, gave you all free food when you came by. Veteran special, he said.

"So," Mabel turns to you, "you've been here before?"

You nod, glancing around. "Yeah, my dad used to bring me here when I was a kid. The owner, Rudy, is an old family friend." You tell her, taking the menu she offers you. You pretend to look, but you already know what you're going to order.

Hell, the waitress you see coming by knows what your order will be.

"Well, if it isn't our sergeant," Jodie, the waitress, who is also Rudy's wife, greets you. Your cheeks burn as you feel questioning glares on you. "With your own platoon this time–hi, how are you? I'm practically this little vet's Tia." She pinches your cheeks.

You chuckle nervously as Jodie pinches your cheeks, glancing around the table to see Mabel and the rest of the group watching the interaction with amused curiosity. "Hey, Tia Jodie," you mumble, rubbing the back of your neck. "Just, uh, grabbing a bite with some new friends."

Jodie beams at you, her eyes twinkling as she shifts her attention to Mabel. "Well, isn't that sweet! It's nice to see you making friends. Been worried you'd become a hermit with how often you're here solo."

All you can do is hum in response.

"I know your order," Jodie says then looks at the rest of them. "How about you guys? Need more time or are you ready to order?"

They all tell her they need more time, so she excuses herself to take care of the other customers. She sends you a knowing look, one you understand well.

While your family wasn't all that prideful about your military background, Rudy and Jodie were.

Rudy and Jodie had always been like an extra set of parents, beaming with pride over your accomplishments when your own family barely mentioned them. They were the ones who celebrated your milestones, threw you small parties when you came back from deployments, and made you feel seen in ways that sometimes your own parents and sister didn't.

You catch Jodie's knowing look as she walks away, and you can't help but feel a small pang of guilt. She's always looking out for you, and though she means well, the attention sometimes feels heavy. Especially now.

You wish your parents, especially your dad, at least acknowledged your accomplishments. You'd tell them about only in the presence of Rudy and Jodie, simply because you didn't like the awkward silences after you said it.

"So," Charlie speaks up, setting his menu down and looking directly at you. "You're military? I noticed the tattoo—didn't think it was for your dog tag."

You shift uncomfortably, tugging at your sleeve, the damp fabric resisting. "Yeah," you clear your throat, feeling the weight of his gaze. "But this tattoo is actually for my grandfather. He was the one who inspired me to enlist." You shrug, fingers tracing the ink, the colors still vibrant.

"What branch?" Nunes—one of Mabel's friends, as you recently learned—asks, leaning forward with interest.

"Army. Rangers," you reply, instinctively touching the necklace around your neck. The pendant was given to you after finishing training, a rare token of honor from your unit—a reminder of the brotherhood you forged during those years.

"Semper fi," Nunes says, raising a fist in solidarity.

You hum, a slight smile breaking through. "That's the Marines, but I appreciate the spirit."

The whole table bursts into laughter as Nunes frowns, realizing his mistake.

"Impressive," Costa, another friend of Mabel's, nods with newfound respect in his eyes. "Not many can say they've gone through that."

"I would've signed up for the military if I knew they handed out free jewelry," Charlie jokes, his tone oblivious to the weight in the air.

Anne-Marie, Costa's wife, from her husband's side, looks at him. "Have some sense, Char," she shakes her head. "She trained with the Rangers. She could kill you with one hand tied behind her back."

"That's for sure," your aunt returns, smiling at the chuckle that escapes your lips. You don't miss the grimace that crosses Charlie's face, amusing you more. Jodie looks between you all. "So, ready?"

You all place your orders before she disappears, but not before once again, sending you a knowing look. You offer her a smile in return, a little shy. She walks off to put in your orders, leaving you alone with the group.

The group returns to conversation, a different topic at hand now, which you're grateful for. You keep quiet, as always; by nature, and training, to just listen and observe.

You smile to yourself, finding comfort in their banter. There's something refreshing about being in a group where laughter flows so freely. It reminds you of the times you spent with your own friends, sharing dumb stories and letting the world slip away.

As you sit back, you catch Mabel glancing at you every so often, her expression lighting up whenever your eyes meet. There's a warmth in her smile that makes your chest tighten just a bit, a quiet flutter of anticipation stirring in you each time. It's subtle but unmistakable, like the start of something you're not sure you're ready for—but can't seem to ignore either.

The group dives into their meals with gusto, devouring their plates like they haven't eaten in days. You, on the other hand, take your time, savoring each bite like it might be your last. It's not just the food, though. There's something comforting about the familiar atmosphere of Rudy's place, the faint hum of conversation, the smell of the sea in the distance. It all feels like a moment you don't want to rush.

Jodie eventually returns, sliding the bill discreetly in front of you. You don't even need to open it to know what it says. When you do, the words "All covered" are scribbled at the bottom, the price conveniently blacked out. Typical.

You glance up just in time to catch Jodie winking at you before she heads off to tend to another table, and you can't help but roll your eyes with a smile. One of these days, you're going to get her to let you pay for a meal, but tonight is clearly not that night.

As you lean back in your chair, Mabel watches you, curiosity and something else dancing in her gaze. Maybe she senses there's more to you than you let on, or maybe she's just trying to figure you out, but either way, you can feel her drawing closer. And somehow, you don't mind.

You explain to them of the bill situation, and they argue that they should pay something. You tell them to leave a tip, and to hope she accepts it. Jodie can be stubborn.

You watch from a distance as they all sum up some cash to leave for Jodie. As the group pools together cash for the tip, you catch glimpses of their conversation, the light banter as they tease one another over how much to leave. Mabel's laughter rings out above the rest, and you can't help but smile to yourself. It's easy to see why people are drawn to her—there's a natural warmth and kindness that comes with her presence, something that makes you feel welcome, even when you don't expect it.

You stand in the corner, eyeing the frames on the wall; pictures of people with fishes or with wide smiles after a long day at sea. Rudy's place is filled with memories, the kind that tell stories of good days, hard work, and community. You've always admired that about this spot—how it feels like more than just a restaurant. It's a place where people come together, no matter the time or the situation.

Your eyes stop on a particular frame. It's one of your father with your mother, pregnant with you while your older sister is in his arms. It was clear it was after a week of being at sea, your sister's disgusted look on her face says it all. Your mother's eyes crinkle as she laughs while your father pouts.

You stare at the photo for a moment, lost in the nostalgia of a simpler time. It's a rare shot of your father looking carefree, something you don't see often in your memories. Back then, everything felt different. Simpler, maybe. Your sister's scrunched-up face, your mother's laugh—those are the small moments you didn't realize you'd cherish until they became memories.

Mabel's voice cuts through your thoughts. "Is that your family?" She's standing beside you now, her eyes following your gaze to the picture.

You nod. "Yeah. My dad used to take us all out after his fishing trips. That's my mom, and my sister when she was little."

Mabel tilts her head, taking in the scene. "You look a lot like your mom."

You glance at the picture again, and for the first time in a while, you can see the resemblance. "Yeah, I guess I do," you say quietly.

"Faro!"

You turn; the voice is instantly recognizable. Mabel follows your gaze to see an older man with a dirty apron around his neck, arms outstretched.

"Faro?" she asks quietly. You exhale, shaking your head a bit.

"Childhood nickname," you reply simply.

"Is it short for anything?" Mabel asks, curious. From the corner of your eye, you see Charlie, his curiosity even more apparent than hers.

"No, just Faro." You shrug, rubbing the back of your neck, suddenly nervous. Charlie blinks, and with his lack of reaction, you feel the need to explain. "It means 'lighthouse' in Spanish. My dad used to call me that..." Your voice fades as you remember your father saying you always helped him find his way home.

"Were you leaving without saying goodbye?"

A part of you didn’t want to see Rudy, partly because of that nickname he insists on using. To you, it's a reminder of what you’ve lost. But he says it like he doesn’t know what you’ve been up to, like he’s unaware of how far you've fallen from the person your father once saw in you. It’s why you’ve avoided the diner these past few months. You know he knows. You just can’t handle a speech—a reprimand for your choices.

"Hey, Tio," you say, then give Mabel an apologetic look. You realize you haven't had the time to really talk to her. But you excuse yourself anyway, hoping to have this inevitable talk in private.

Mabel watches you go, her curiosity about you only increasing, but she doesn't follow. She wonders how you grew up here, yet she's never seen or heard of you before. In a town like this, everyone tends to know everyone. Secrets rarely stay hidden, and stories travel fast. Hell, everyone got word of Weeks death the second it happened. Her acceptance to college also spread like wildfire, her mother trying to feed off her before she went off to college.

But you? You're an enigma, someone who seems to have roots in the community but remains on the outskirts, just out of reach.

As she listens to the light banter from the rest of the group, Mabel's mind drifts back to the way Rudy greeted you—the familiarity, the warmth, and the concern. There's clearly a deeper connection there, something important that ties you to this place.

Instead, she nods and turns back to join the group, giving you space to handle the situation with Rudy.

You walk over to him, feeling the weight of his gaze as you approach. His arms are still outstretched, but there's a seriousness in his eyes, one that tells you this conversation won't be easy. Rudy wraps you in a tight hug, his apron still smelling faintly of seafood and the sea breeze, and for a moment, you let yourself sink into the comfort of it.

He hugs you tightly, patting your back twice before gently pulling back to look at you. You hope he doesn't see it. The faint outline of a bruise that is healing on your left cheek. A trained eye can see it; and Rudy had a very well trained eye.

If he does see it, he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he smiles and pats your shoulder.

"I'm glad you're here," he says, then glances over your shoulder. "With friends. I always said you needed friends who weren't military," he chuckles.

You glance back, eyes finding Mabel the instant you do. She meets your eyes for a second before you turn back, feeling caught. "I just ran into them. They invited me to join them," you shrug, not making a big deal of it.

Rudy nods, though his smile falters for a brief second, sensing there's more you're not saying. He's always been good at reading between the lines. His hand stays on your shoulder, a silent gesture of support. "Well, I'm still glad you're here," he repeats, his tone softening. "This place... it misses you, you know?"

You look away, avoiding his gaze. "I've been busy, trying to make ends meet," you tell him.

"Right. Busy getting yourself into trouble, huh?" Rudy's voice remains light, but the weight of his words settles between you. He may not say it outright, but he knows more than you want to admit.

You've been back in town for a year and a half now, and he knows of your back and forth of wanting to be with family while helping them pay bills. Your father's death took a toll on you in a way you hadn't expected–his added debt didn't help matters, either. You didn't take time to grieve, you went straight to getting jobs to pay off your father's stupid debts.

You try to laugh it off, but it sounds hollow even to your ears. "Just trying to stay afloat."

Rudy raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying your attempt to downplay it. "Staying afloat shouldn't mean drowning yourself in other people's problems," he says, his voice still kind but firm. "You've got your own life to live, Faro. Don't forget that."

You look down, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settle back on your shoulders. "I can't just ignore it, though. I have to help," you instinctively reach for your necklace, a habit you picked up. "It gets back to my mom–I won't be able to live with myself."

A look of understanding crosses his face. "Okay," he places his hand on your shoulder again, pointing a stern finger at you now. "You come to me if things get bad, entendiste?"

You nod, grateful as always for his support. It feels heavy, but it's nice to know you have it. "Understood," you say, smiling as best as you can.

"Go on," Rudy tells you, nodding. "That girl you've been eyeing sucks at hiding her staring."

You can't help but let out a soft chuckle at Rudy's remark, glancing back toward where Mabel is still with the others. She quickly looks away, pretending to be focused on the conversation, but you catch the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"She's not staring," you say, trying to sound casual, but Rudy just gives you a knowing look.

"Right," he chuckles himself, then crosses his arms. "You always liked competition, so I think you should know the short haired one hasn't stopped staring at her either."

You sigh, the weight of Rudy's words settling in. Charlie's interest in Mabel was obvious, and while Rudy might joke about it being a competition, you didn't see it that way. You weren't interested in chasing after someone like she was a trophy to be won.

Your father's lesson echoed in your mind—a woman is never a prize. He always made sure you and your sister understood that respect came first, especially when it came to relationships. To him, love wasn't about winning; it was about mutual respect, honesty, and a real connection.

"I'm not here to compete, Tio," you say, shaking your head. "If she's interested in him, that's her choice."

Rudy nods, but there's a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "You're right, of course. But sometimes, it's not about competing. Sometimes it's just about letting her see who you really are."

You take in his words as you glance back at Mabel, her laughter ringing out as Charlie says something to the group. She catches your eye once more, and this time, there's no pretending not to notice. Maybe Rudy's right—maybe it's just about being yourself and seeing what happens next.

You shake your head. You are not looking for a relationship. It's the last thing you need right now. You decide not to comment on his words and simply tell him thanks again. He pulls you in for a longer hug than before than orders you to make friends.

You're unable to find words to say back to that so you walk off with a head shake, smiling despite yourself. The group, surprisingly, was waiting on you to leave. You thank them, smiling as you follow behind them.

The question of what's next hovers on the tip of your tongue, but Nunes seems to have the same thought.

"Where we going?" he asks, his eyebrows drawn together as he walks a step ahead while you linger behind.

You’re grateful Nunes voiced it before you had to. The last thing you want is to be pulled into a conversation with Mabel while your mind is still racing with Rudy's words. You already see Charlie making his move, staying close to her, clearly angling to steer the conversation in his favor. The idea of stepping into that dynamic feels uneasy.

"So, what’s the Army Rangers’ motto again?" Nunes asks, catching you off guard as he suddenly appears by your side. He shrugs sheepishly. "Just so I don’t put my foot in my mouth next time."

You chuckle softly, shaking your head. “Rangers lead the way,” you say, feeling a sense of pride in the words that goes deeper than you expected.

Nunes nods, repeating it under his breath like he’s committing it to memory. “Got it. Rangers lead the way.” He picks up his speed and shouts at the others. "Hey, guys! I figured it out!"

You let out another chuckle, staying a few steps behind, keeping your distance, hoping to avoid any potential awkwardness. Mabel glances over her shoulder at you, as if she can sense the space you're putting between yourself and the rest of the group. There's a flicker of something in her eyes but she doesn't press you, turning her attention back to Charlie.

Costa turns around, noticing your lingering pace. "You coming, or you planning to walk the whole way back like a ghost?" he jokes, smirking.

You let out a short laugh, shaking off the tension. "Just taking in the scenery, man," you reply, speeding up just enough to not seem distant but still giving yourself enough space.

Truth is, you're not entirely sure what's next. You weren't even supposed to be part of this group in the first place, but here you are, tagging along, wondering where this road will lead you—literally and figuratively.

The scenery is nothing new, one you see everyday on your morning walk to the beach and back. You can't help it, old habits die hard. Your dad got a house walking distance from the piers mostly to avoid driving to work but also because he didn't want to be far if anything were to happen.

It also made it easy for him to just walk home, shower then sleep in his own bed.

What is new, is Mabel. The sound of her laugh, her smile and the way her presence draws you in without even trying. She's unlike anyone you've come across in a long time—bright, carefree, but with a depth you can sense just beneath the surface. She has this...you can't really explain it, but you want to find it what "this" is. You've caught glimpses of it in the way she listens to the people around her, in how her eyes soften when someone mentions something meaningful. She's got a story, just like everyone else and you want to know it.

In a town like this, everyone knows everyone's story. Everyone's background. Yet, the distance you created with this town the moment you discovered your father's dark truth, you stopped listening to the constant chatter and rumors this small town discusses.

You've learned to tune out the noise, the way people gossip and speculate about each other's lives. Especially with the rumors of your father's truths. The once kind and gentle girl-dad now a turned drug runner to pay off his gambling debt? Yeah, you stopped listening the moment you found out the rumors you may hear are more than often true. It's how you've survived, by keeping a low profile and focusing on your own problems. Your father did everything to keep your family's business low profile too. Until he made a deal with the wrong person.

But now, with Mabel, you find yourself wanting to listen again. To understand her story, not because of what others might say, but because you genuinely want to hear it from her.

The mystery surrounding her is different, not the kind that spreads through whispers but the kind that makes you curious—curious about what she's been through, what makes her laugh the way she does, and what's hiding behind those moments when her smile falters, even if only for a second. Her friendships. Her family.

But you remind yourself, as you walk along the familiar streets, that this isn't the time to get wrapped up in someone else. You've got enough on your plate—debts, responsibilities, and the pressure of trying to stay afloat. Still, there's something about her that makes it hard to shake the thought.

As the group continues walking, Charlie makes a joke that has everyone laughing, including Mabel. You think, she's an innocent, kind and beautiful soul. And this is just from a few hours with her.

What will trying to be just her friend do to that innocence, to that kindness and beauty of her soul?

You'll ruin it. Just like your father did with your family. So, you remember your training, and do what you do best.

When Mabel glances over her shoulder to look for you, you're gone. So is the smile she had all night just by simply being in your presence.

~~~~

My neck aches and my arm is burning but I don't stop sanding the small fiberglass patch on the bottom of the boat I've been working on. 

Since starting at the shop, Dan has promoted me from barnacle scraping to managing minor repairs. It's still tedious and the fiberglass dust itches and makes me cough when I take off my mask, but at least it's more mentally demanding and keeps me distracted.

I feel the edge of the repaired spot with my finger again and drop the sandpaper in satisfaction when I no longer feel a ridge.

I get to my feet and brush off my sleeves before taking off my goggles and mask, exhaling sharply. 

No matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't stop thinking about what happened this morning. 

How Tom actually agreed to the drug deal and how Mabel looked at me right before getting out of my truck after I said I wanted to have nothing to do with the deal.

I get that she was only trying to help and that Charlie didn't tell me about it earlier because he wanted to protect me, but I still feel a little betrayed. 

I shake my head in an attempt to get the bitter look on Mabel's face out of my head and kneel back down to gather the scraps of sandpaper I dropped. 

The shop is pretty empty because Dan is out, but Cody, another employee, is in the back. He's organizing inventory, so when I hear footsteps approaching while picking up the sandpaper, I figure it's just him coming to ask something but then I glance back and freeze when it's not Cody at all, but Tom.

“Uh- Hi,” I stammer, getting back to my feet. 

Tom sends me a tight lipped smile, his eyes darting around the shop. “You okay?” he asks quietly, which makes me pause.

“I…” I don’t know what to say. 

Is he mad at me? He doesn’t seem mad. Although he has every right to be because even though I’m technically still a part of the crew, I refuse to take part in the drug deal. Has he come here to tell me I’m out once and for all when they get the boat back? My stomach sinks because if they do get the boat back, and if the drug run is a one-time thing, then I could be missing out on some serious cash when they go back out to fish.

Dan and Karen both pay well, don’t get me wrong, but the fishing paid almost double what both of my current jobs pay combined.

“Look,” Tom mumbles, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I just came down here to tell you not to beat yourself up about… you know. Charlie told me what happened, and your dad–”

“Can we not talk about that?” I cut him off with a pleading look. “My dad–”

“I get it.” Tom smiles sadly and buries his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.  “Your dad. The deal… It was never meant to happen. I just wanted to let you know that it’s okay if you want to sit this one out. Well, as long as you don’t rat us out.”

I sigh, relieved but also the tiniest bit amused. “Of course not.”

“Good.”

I offer a very small, reserved smile. Tom returns it before wordlessly leaving again.

I watch him go before turning back to cleaning up the mess I made. Once I get everything in order, I’ll go home, shower, and then drive into the city to visit my dad.

I kill the engine and wipe the tears off my cheeks. My dad isn’t getting any better. He’s still in a coma and the doctors keep telling me to stay optimistic, but I’m starting to lose hope. 

What’s even worse is that even though my hope is dwindling, there’s this relentless little voice in my head, telling me it would be best for everyone if he simply didn’t make it. 

I’ve tried time and time again to silence it but I’m slowly but surely starting to agree with it. 

It’s true, if he were to die, his life insurance payout would cover the hospital and funeral bills, and I’d finally be free. I’d no longer have to worry about paying for his rehab and I could sell our apartment and finally leave this godforsaken town behind once and for all. 

“No.” I hit the steering wheel and shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. I shouldn’t be thinking like this. He’s alive. He’s alive. And he’ll make it. He has to. 

I yelp when there’s a knock on my window and blink my eyes open in bewilderment. 

“Mabel?”

I take the key out of the ignition and open the door carefully so as to not hit her with it. Then, I get out of the truck and adjust my glasses, hoping my eyes aren’t red from crying. “Wh-What are you doing here?” I stammer.

Mabel, whom I haven’t seen since finding out about the deal two days ago, shivers at a gust of wind and wraps her arms around herself, avoiding my eyes.

“I–Can we talk?”

“Of course.” I reply before I can think better of it. “But not out here.”

I lead her across the street and into the house, up the stairs, and into my dad and I’s shared apartment. 

Since he’s in the hospital, it’s the cleanest it has been in years. There’s no beer bottles, empty takeout containers, or dirty clothes anywhere because I’m kind of a neat freak and because I’ve been using cleaning as a means to keep myself busy when I’m not at the shop or café.

Mabel takes it in with her arms still wrapped around her before I gesture for her to take a seat on the couch.

I offer some tea, too, but she refuses with a timid shake of her head, so I join her, sitting close but not close enough to touch her.

She fumbles with the sleeves of her cardigan and meets my eyes. “I’m sorry… For going behind your back with Charlie and not telling you about the deal.”

I sigh and fight the urge to brush a stray piece of her bangs behind her ear. There’s this weird, unspoken tension between us and I’m not sure if me reaching out would be crossing some sort of line.

I want to say it’s fine, but that would be a lie because it’s not, so I dip my chin in acknowledgement and mumble, “Thank you.”

She shifts and I look away, not knowing what else to say for a few moments when she suddenly stands again with a huff. “That’s it? Thank you?”

I frown and look up. “What?”

She scoffs and crosses her arms defensively. “That’s all you’re going to say?” 

I gape at her incredulously. “What else do you want me to say? You’re the one who wanted to talk.”

“I know, but talking usually involves both parties contributing to the conversation.” 

Irritated, I get up as well and stare her down. The exhaustion and stress from the last couple of days is finally catching up with me and I can feel my patience running thin. “I don’t have anything else to say, Mabel. I mean–What? You want me to thank you for setting up the deal? A fucking drug deal? I know it’s not the same, but my dad is literally in the hospital, clinging to life because of his addiction, so you can’t possibly expect me to be fine with it!”

“I  know that! And I’m not expecting you to be fine with it. I just need you to talk to me.”

“Talk about what?” I snap, throwing my hands up. “This is all so fucked up, and I told you, I don’t want anything to do with it. The deal, the drugs–”

“Me?”

I freeze and meet her gaze. All the fire has left her and now she’s simply staring at me with tears shining in her eyes. 

“I– What? No, Mabel–”

She takes a step back when I reach for her, her chin quivering. “I’m not fucking proud of being involved in all this shit, but guess what, I don’t have a choice at the moment.”

“We always have a choice.” The words are out before I can stop them and I hate myself for it because Mabel flinches as though I just slapped her and takes another step back. “Wait, I didn’t—”

“Save it,” she whispers. Her words have such a finality to them, I don’t dare to say anything else as she turns on her heel and leaves, closing the front door with a quiet click.

I stare at it for a long moment, wondering how things got out of hand so quickly before the reality of the situation sets in.

She’s gone. She thinks I hate her for being involved in everything when in reality, I just hate the circumstances and not her. 

Shit.

I don’t know how to fix it, and I hate to admit that a tiny part of me doesn’t even want to fix it right now because fixing it would mean I’d be looped back into her world and with everything that’s going on, I’m not sure I can handle it without growing to actually resent her over time.

_______________________________________________

Hi guys <3

I know this is pretty short, but I'm too busy to write anything else at the moment. I also figured it might be good to give you guys a little breathing room before the emotional roller coaster of the next chapter I’ve got planned.