Chapter 3

Cherish Your Freedom

Harlow City Ice Cream Parlor.

While Valerie was in the restroom, DJ and Missy talked.

"Am I dreaming?" DJ asked. "Please tell me the truth."

"No." said Missy. "Why do you ask?"

"I've been chasing a wish for what seems like an eternity." said DJ. "And it seems surreal that it would finally come true after all the anger spread. But I guess that something to look at was that it was those damn entities."

"The thing you brought up about surreal wishes..." said Missy. "That's how I felt when you first married me. It felt too good to be true."

"Do I deserve to be forgiven?" asked DJ.

"I don't wanna hear this." said Missy. "DJ, if Heaven gives you sugar, forgiveness, cherish it. Don't question it. Because when your time comes, who's to blame for unhappiness even when Miller intended for you to be happy? Y-O-U are."

"Can I share a secret with you?" asked DJ.

"Sure." said Missy.

DJ looked around to see if anyone would be listening, then a wolf waitor came up to the table.

"Hi..." said the wolf. "Are you DJ Vae!" she said in excitement.

"Yes..." DJ said in embarrassment.

"I'm Tori Howell!" said the wolf. "I'm your biggest fan!"

"That's nice." said DJ. "Does that mean I get some free food?"

"Nope." said Tori. "I'd get fired. Sorry."

"Oh, really?" asked DJ. "Well, in that case, I would like some free orange juice, a free sundae and free Dr. Pepper!"

"You don't like me, do you?" asked Tori.

"That show's long gone and I'm dealing with things." said DJ. "Come back later."

"Okay." said Tori and walked away.

"Anyways, I didn't want you to become a vampire because of the things that you'd go through." said DJ. "However, I didn't want to upset you. You're just so perfect... I never wanna hurt you or your feelings."

"Well, you're sweet." said Missy. "But I regret my choice. I'm always blood-thirsty. It's awful. So, out of curiosity, why didn't things work out between you and my sister?"

"We just stopped getting along after I remarried her." said DJ. "And I think deep down, she was tore up about breaking up me and Sonya's marriage. I once blamed Miller for taking her, but he's not to blame. He made both of our lives easier."

"When did you meet her?" asked Missy.

"Sophomore year." said DJ. "She was a junior. I had started going to a different school after the flood because of the damage done to ours. Whatever happened to you? I mean, you ran out halfway through freshman year."

"I was pissed off at you and Daisy." said Missy. "I tried to kill myself, then therapy. It all didn't work. Then, that piece of bacon pretended he was real nice and let me be what I thought was his girlfriend. Then, I felt like I was in prison until the day I found out you wanted to marry me."

"I want to die for all the pain I've caused you." said DJ.

"It's alright." said Missy. "I forgive you."

Valerie came out of the bathroom.

"Daddy, can we go home?" she asked. "I'm sleepy."

"Sure we can, sweetheart." said DJ.