[ Chapter 12 ]

I blush, pulling away from him and stumbling back. What was I doing?
"U-um…" I try to think of something to say, but the words just become jumbled.
He smiles affectionately. "Ah, if only you were a little older, I wouldn't feel so guilty, even if you were my little brother's girlfriend. But that's alright; don't go worrying about this, okay?"
I watch, clasping my hands together and pressing them to my aching chest as he flashes a peace sign and winks. I look away as he continues to walk towards his apartment.
My stomach clenches.
What was I thinking? I just…I just cheating on Dakota and we haven't even been dating for less than a week… What's wrong with me? Why did that just happen?
Suddenly I find myself squatting down, covering my eyes with my hands, attempting to hide myself. Guilt settles into my stomach as I realize that Dakota was probably watching us from the balcony.

I sigh, taking another bite of an apple that I can't taste.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Mom asks, joining me in the kitchen. She grabs an apple from the fruit bowl on the dining table and takes a seat across from me.
I sigh, chewing with my mouth open, half-paying attention. "I'm facing a lot of trouble…"
"What kind?" she asks curiously, yet cheerfully, as if happy to be having one these mother-daughter talks. She takes a bite of her banana.
"Well, there's this one boy at my school—"
"And let me guess – he likes you, but he's dating his twin sister!" she says excitedly, obviously having seen too many of those Normie soap operas.
I sigh, not finding her humor funny. "Never mind…I'll just go and call a friend or something."
"Oh," she looks away. "Fine."
"Bye…" I make an effort to wave as I leaving the room. I jog up the steps with little effort and flop down dramatically on my bed and spread out like I'm about to make a snow angel, dialing Kim's number on my iCoffin. She answers on the second ring.
"Yo, you've reached Kim," her message plays. "Sorry I'm not here right now, but if you leave a message after the beep…and maybe free sugar cubes…then MAYBE I'll call you back! Beep."
I sigh again. "Hey Kim, this is Mia, but I'm sure you knew that…I' having some trouble and-"
"Beep, this is the end of your message, goodbye now!" her voice says cheerfully.
"This is just not a good day for me…" I say, removing the phone from my ear.
"Wait, Mia, it was a joke!" Kim's voice shouts just before I hang up. I put the phone back to my ear.
"That's not funny, I'm having a really bad day…" I pout my bottom lip.
"What's up? Trouble in Paradise?" she asks, genuinely interest.
I listen to the sound of her munching on something that I'm guessing is a sugar cube. "Well…yeah, that's it exactly."
"Oh my sugar cubes!" I hear her stands. "Is he cheating? Do you need me to turn him into horse glue for you? I will you know."
"Um…he's part-wolf…not horse."
"Well…you never know, it can be arranged – I'm the Great Kim after all!" she says energetically, causing me to smile a bit. "Anyway, so, what's up?" she says with a smile in her voice.
"Well…I think we're cheating on each other." I sigh.
"That's complicated…" she thinks. "Well, look Mia, I'm no expert – unless you count the guy who won't expect my sexy goat legs who's my ex from, like, friggin junior high school or whatever – but here's what I'm gunna tell you: relationships are complicated-"
"You just said that."
"Let me finish! Okay, as I was saying, relationships are like magazines subscriptions. WAIT, no, that's not what I wanted to say! What I meant to say was: if your relationship has more issues than a magazine stand, I suggest you cancel that subscription. THERE! That is my advice to you."
"Oh…" I say, still unsure. "Well, the bigger problem here is not the square-triangle…relationship thing, it goes deeper than that."
"That's what he said." Kim coughs.
"I'm trying to be serious!" my face heats, wishing I didn't understand sex jokes.
Stupid three years of sex education classes…
"Okay, okay, explain, explain. What'd you mean?"
"Well…I kissed Dakota's brother, Rocco…" I admit out loud for the first time.
"Rococo, say what now?" Kim asks, serious confused and partly being silly.
"Rocco, like Rock…and oh."
"OH! Rocco, I get it now!"
I shake my head, slightly smiling. "Yeah, Rocco."
"Cool, Mia's getting' all down and dirty with hot stuff." Kim says slyly.
"That's not funny…" I roll my eyes.
"Well, how old is the guy anyway?"
"Um, he's…old…er."
"Meaning? Better explanation? Deeper clarification? More enlightenment on this topic please?"
"He's…well, um, he's actually…um…16." I say quietly, staring my the black ceiling.
"WHAT? That's six years apart, Mia! Are you crazy? Un-accepting goat leg boy – who shall forever remain nameless during our conversations – was, like, a year older than me, but my god, Mia, Rocco is three years ahead of you!"
"I know, I know." Mia lets her arm fall over her eyes. Tiredness washes over her once again. "I'm a horrible girlfriend – and friend too! I know!"
"Well…I wouldn't go that far…" Kim says softly, not wanting to hurt her only other goat legged friend. "You're a great ghoul…"
"Ghouls don't cheat on their boyfriends…it's the honor's code…" Mia mumbled.
"Ugh," Kim complained. "I don't do sad pity parties! Get dressed, we're going for something sugary!"
"Um…okay?" I sit up. "What should I wear?"
"I don't know! Something Mia-like and silly, like you are." Kim giggled, as if remembering my previous wacky outfits.
I smile. "Okay!"

I pose in the mirror, making some odd pose as I look down at my Mia-themed outfit. I giggle at my knitted oversized wine red beanie and comfy army print scarf. They compliment my grey sweater dress with deep pockets and my tall combat boots that go so well with my extra-large swamp colored sweater and multiple string bracelets going up each arm.
My wavy side ponytail wasn't bad either, considering that it flattered my round face.
I attempted to give myself a confident smile. "You look pretty, like yourself…um…that sounded weird, okay, you look nice…um…Mia-themed!"
"Mia," I heard mom call. "Your friend is here!"
"Alright, thanks!" I said, running toward the living room. There Kim greeted me with a joyful smile that was wide and friendly.
"Hey, hey." She posed silly like a ninja.
I giggled. "Hey Kim, ready to go?"
She nods. "Course I am, and I brought – can you guess?"
"Sugar cubes?" I blink.
"Nope! This time I brought lemon flavored corpse cakes – courtesy of my mum. Wana try some?" she asked, holding out a basket that looked like it was out of the Little Red Riding Hood.
I nod, smiling. "Thanks. Hey Ellie!"
"Ellie?" Kim blinks, as if I'd just called my imaginary friend.
Suddenly a baby elephant with a bright yellow with purple stars bow comes running our way. I pet Ellie when she stops at my feet. "Hey there girl, want a piece of your favorite snack?"
She nods, her truck wiggling. I break a piece off from my own piece, offering it to her. She happily takes it, wrapping her trunk around the cream filled snack and sitting it in her mouth.
She chews, delighted by her favorite treat. I pet her head again. "Such a cutie pie. Anyway, bye mom, bye Ellie."
"Goodbye sweetheart, have fun." Mom smiles.
Ellie sounds her goodbye, creating a loud noise from her straightened trunk. I wave goodbye to her as mom closes the door.

I return home, unlocking the door as I try to steady the hand holding my vanilla flavored ice-cream with multiply colored eyeballs, hoping that I don't drop it.
Suddenly the door unlocks and opens. "Yo, I thought I'd pay you a visit."
I blink up at Rocco, confused beyond belief that he's actually standing here in front. For a moment, I don't notice my ice-cream slip from my cone.
"W-why are you here?"
"Just thought I'd stop by for a quick visit and explain a few things." He flashes a half smile.