Mal exited the alley and began to walk down the sidewalk. If you looked behind him, you'd see a man laying there, unconscious. He had made the poor decision to try and mug the lonely teen walking in the darkness. As Mal walked and whistled his favorite ominous tune, he thought of Alex. It had been a few days since he had seen her and he missed her immensely. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her eyes sparkling back at him like two lovely emeralds. But he wasn't ready to see her again. Hell, he hadn't so much as talked to her since before the fight. The fight. Alex punching that girls face in filled his thoughts and he smiled briefly before he forced his scowl back on. He shook his head to clear it, causing his dark bangs to bounce around. He wouldn't think of her. He had to forget her. Looking around to make sure no one could hear him, he began to speak to himself.
"Why the fuck can't I stop thinking about her?! She's just a dumb girl. I need to tell her to leave me alone. I can't feel. I can't lo-" he stopped himself from saying that horrible word. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Mike was the one who lov- had these feelings. Not me. I shouldn't even want to be her fucking friend. Ah hell. What do I do?" He paused in his walking and stared down at his reflection in a puddle on the street. Suddenly, the image of him blurred and instead of a malevolent teen with a black Papa Roach T-shirt and bangs that hung over his eyes, he saw a familiar stranger. His hair stuck up and he had a warm smile on his face. His shirt was teal colored.
"Mike?" Mal sputtered.
"Hello, Mal." Mike said back, as if he was speaking to an old friend.
"But...I killed you...you shouldn't be here."
"You know you'll never get rid of me for good. I'll always be here." He said calmly. Mals eyes hardened.
"Leave me alone." He snapped. Mike looked at him with pity.
"Doesn't it get lonely? Hating everyone?" He asked. Mals eyes widened and he looked like he was going to explode with rage, but he just sighed and his eyes got sad. He nodded.
"I know you care about her. You care about her as much as I did Zoey. How is she by the way?" He asked sadly.
"She seems to be doing okay, I guess. I stay away from her. She still has hope that you'll come back. She really loves you, you know. It's disgusting. I'll never know what she sees in you. You're so boring." He croaked. Mike chuckled.
"I see. Nice is boring. In that case, you've been very boring as of late." He raised an eyebrow. Mal scoffed.
"Oh please. I destroy anyone in my way. I. Am. Not. Nice." He glared. Mikes eyebrow remained raised.
"Really? What about Alex?"
"What about her?! She's just a stupid girl. I'm not gonna get all worked up over a pathetic idiot like her."
"Same head remember? I know how much you like her. Why not tell her?"
"I do not! And even if I did, which I don't," he said very clearly and angrily, "she would just laugh at me. I'm a fucking monster, Mike. I know it. You know it. She knows it. I don't love. I don't feel anything but hatred for everyone around me." His throat stung and for the first time in his entire existence, he had tears in his eyes. Mike smiled sadly at him before the image of him blurred and Mal saw Alex walking. He recognized the dark alley and clothes she was wearing. This was her on the night they met. This was a memory.
"You do. You might be different from everyone else, but you have a soul. You have emotion. You're as human as the rest of us. Don't you let anyone tell you different." Her lovely voice seemed to echo in the memory. Mals eyes widened. He had forgotten that she said that. He smiled, just like he had that night. A tear slid down his cheek. Mikes image returned in the puddle. He was smiling.
"She cares about you, Mal." He said softly. Mal nodded and his little smile was replaced with a full grin that showed off the gap in between his front teeth.
"Yeah...what the hell is wrong with her?" He asked with a humorous tone. Mike laughed.
"I don't know. Why don't you go ask her?" He suggested. Mals eyes widened.
"I think I will actually. Thanks, Mike. I- I really appreciate it." He was never good with thank yous, but Mike knew he was being sincere.
"No problem. Tell Zoey and Cam that I said...that I said that I miss them." He choked out. Mal shook his head.
"You can tell them yourself when I'm done talking to Alex. Just don't get comfortable." He warned. Mikes eyes lit up and he nodded happily.
"Bye." Mal waved. Mike waved back before disappearing. Mal wiped the tear from his face and sped down the sidewalk. He knew it was true...
Mal was in love.
