Root Beer Float (Kaito x Meiko)

Twenty-Five

I was beginning to feel worse with each passing day.

For one thing, my stress levels were at an all-time high. Yohioloid was driving me crazier every time I saw him, and his jabs and insults at my already low self-esteem were not appreciated. Haku had asked me why I couldn't go out to the bar with her lately, and I lied and said that I had been too busy. Why, oh, why couldn't I just tell her the truth?

I was worried, that's why. I didn't want the option to be gone altogether, especially since these days her offer was looking more and more appealing.

I was sprawled out on the couch one afternoon, just thinking through it all. It wouldn't be that bad, right? To go with her for just one night to have one drink? Was what so terrible about it in the first place, again? I had fun when I was out with Haku. We had some good times. I missed hanging out with her, we were friends.

"Meiko? Meiko..." Luka waved her hand in front of my face, trying to bring my focus back to reality.

I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. "Sorry, did you need something?"

"Well..." she seemed shy all of a sudden, avoiding my gaze. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you, and I feel bad because I haven't done it yet." Yohioloid was out on the town with the kids, so we were alone.

I sat up, crossing one leg over the other. "Well, at least you're being honest. What happened?"

"Remember that date I was on with Hio the other day?"

I sighed. "I thought it wasn't a date."

"His words, not mine," Luka stated. "After the restaurant, he said he would drive me straight home, but he lied."

I raised an eyebrow.

She continued slowly. "He took me to the hotel he's staying at and he said he had something for me inside his room... I told him I would just wait in the car, but he wanted me to come in."

"I don't like where this is going," I commented in a serious tone.

Luka hung her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "He... pushed me onto the bed and touched some things and kissed some things and undressed some things-"

I sighed deeply.

She kept going anyway. "He wasn't listening to me at first, the only reason I finally got him to stop was because I told him I was on my period and he immediately backed off. I don't think I can get that lucky next time."

"Next time?" I asked incredulously. "Luka, he assaulted you. There's absolutely no reason that there ever needs to be a 'next time'."

She seemed almost confused. "But he used to do that to me all the time when we were younger. It wasn't a big deal then."

"Until you got pregnant! He did it against your will then, too! And if I would've known that at the time, I would've stopped it before it even happened," I said with concern.

"...But he did stop this time," Luka was still looking at the ground, as if she was putting it all together in her head. "If I tell him how I felt when he did that, he'll stop. I'm being optimistic and believing that he's a different person now."

He is not, I thought. "Okay, but don't let him treat you like this again. If he tries to, kick him where it counts."

Things got worse when not too long after that, I noticed a dark bruise forming on Miku's arm. "How did that happen? Did you get into a fight at school or something?"

"Huh?" She looked down at her arm, her gaze lingering for a bit too long. She smiled. "No, nothing like that. I just... ran into something and fell over."