Chapter 12: Goodbyes

To FluffleNeCharka: I don't have anything against nerds, and Sasha said nerds were cool. But his roommates were the kind of super-stereotypical nerds who haven't seen the light of day since they were six. I, myself, enjoy the company of nerds. My dad, sister, and boyfriend are nerds. Just, not to that extent. Sorry for the confusion!

"Wake up, darling, and let me in!"

He woke up, suddenly extremely aware of his surroundings. He sat up. Milla was at the window. He remembered that it was Saturday. He looked at his clock. It was 8:06, and he remembered telling Milla that they'd go to breakfast and he'd meet her in her room at 8:00.

He suddenly realized that he had forgotten to set his alarm clock. Since it was winter, he slept in a t-shirt, guy shorts, and socks. He walked over to the window.

"Milla, at least let me get dressed."

"Well, I guess I just naturally assumed that someone who gets up at 5:00 every morning to go to classes at 9:00 could get up in time to be dressed and go out with his girlfriend. Be at my dorm in half an hour."

She flitted off toward her window.

He changed into a decent shirt, a jacket, and jeans, added another pair of socks over the ones he was already wearing, and pulled on his shoes. He shaved, washed his face with icy water, and levitated out of his room. He was, of course, fully awake by now. That faded over the fifteen seconds that it took to get to Milla's window.

"Hello, darling!"

"Hello, Milla." He tried to smile at her, but he just wasn't the "smiling" type.

"So, where do you want to go?"

"I dunno. Somewhere with coffee?"

"You aren't a morning person, are you, darling?"

"No."

She smiled. "Let's go to that new little café over near the thrift shop."

"There's a thrift shop here?"

"Yes, darling. You don't get out much, do you?"

"Not unless I'm going to the store, or if I'm going somewhere with you."

"Okay, darling, then I'll show you the way."

A couple minutes later

It was… a new experience walking the streets of Washington DC in the winter. He was colder than he had ever hoped to be after leaving Germany, and he was shivering by the time they got to the desolate little café. He got coffee and toast, Milla got eggs, and his mind felt sludgy until he'd had his third cup of coffee. Milla was talking quickly the whole time, but she expected it to be a one-sided conversation.

"…So then I decided that it might be interesting to come to the United States, and I became an exchange student through the Psychonauts."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I've had a wonderful time here. Once I even saw Senior Agent Cruller. He was… interesting."

"'Interesting?'"

"Well, he's a bit odd… I guess all psychics are… but he seemed… closed off… From other people, but then… he was so… absorbed… in world events. It was… eerie. He's quite an odd person, darling."

"Oh."

"Are you still feeling sludgy, darling?"

"No. Why?"

"Because… I love you." And she kissed him. It was the best moment of his life. A million feelings all exploded in his mind. He was only mildly aware of her voice as he was getting over the fact that Milla had kissed him.

"Sasha, you have to know… Tomorrow, I'm going to graduate. I'll be a Psychonaut then… I don't think I'll be allowed to stay here much longer. I just… If I never see you again, I want you to know that… I love you, Sasha. I'll be thinking about you for the rest of my life. If you want to come along, I'm going to be working at a summer camp this summer. Maybe you could come, too. It's only for a couple of weeks."

"I… guess." Milla was leaving. He knew she didn't want to, but it still hurt him, thinking of the months when he wouldn't see her.

"It's called Whispering Rock. It's a camp for children in 5th to 7th grade. I'll try to see you as many times as I can before then, but… I don't know how often I can." She smiled weakly.

"I understand, Milla. And you don't have to feel sorry. I'll be busy, too."

"Yeah, but…"

"Seriously, Milla. I'll be fine. Are you ready for the missions?"

"I… think."

"You'll be busy. And Milla?"

Her eyes were full of sadness. "Yes, Sasha?"

"Don't think about me. It could affect your missions. If you got hurt because you were distracted…"

She started to cry in earnest. He settled his arm around her as she hung on to him.

"Oh, Sasha, I don't know what to do! I've already got a partner, and a room, and I know what to do, but… I'll be so alone!"

"It's okay Milla. You'll be fine." He sensed that it wasn't the time for words right then, so he patted her on the back a couple times. He noticed that the people around them were staring at them.

"Let's go back to my room. You can sit down in more comfort there, and people won't be staring at us."

She whimpered once, and nodded her head.

A good while later

They walked in through the door.

Sasha guided her to his room, and Milla sat down on his bed. He followed suit. By this time, of course, Milla had calmed own a bit, but she was by no means happy. She leaned on him, and he slung an arm around her shoulder.

This was so… Un-Milla. It was odd that she should be so unhappy for so long. He hugged her closer, and the minutes dissolved. Suddenly, it was very late in the morning. He released her. She was better able to smile now.

"Sasha?"

"Mm?"

"I will always love you."

"I know."

They both knew that he loved her equally.

Aww…! It's so sweet! It also introduces Whispering Rock, which is gonna come up as Sasha's summer job. In case you were wondering, yes, I do know that Milla's going to become a Psychonaut on a Sunday, and no, I don't know why she didn't tell Sasha on Friday. Sasha is so totally gonna be at the ceremony, though! I'm not going to go into detail though. That would be boring. Oh, and it's going to introduce Milla in a long dress. Most of the time in these stories she's just wearing jeans and a shirt. I can't imagine her levitating that high, that much, and wearing the same kind of dress she wore at Whispering Rock.