𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔢𝑣𝔢𝔯 ꨄ︎

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

After going back to my room and changing, I waited a full whole 10 minutes with the front desk lady, whose name I learned to be Natalia. She wanted to be a teacher or an assistant but she got this job insead. I just told her what Arlo and mainly I did to get here. She told me it wasn't half as bad as what most of the kids did to get here. I was terrified after that.

          Arlo finally walked in with his head down and a security guard behind him. 

"Why did you leave? I told you to stay here." Natalia questioned, crossing her arms.

"She told me to leave.." Arlo mumbled.

I felt guilty after he said that. I didn't know he would be so hurt. Proves how much we need each other.

Natalia leaves us to go talk to the both of them to explain what happened. Me being left alone for a minute, tries to decide what to say to him. Since last time wasn't too pretty.

Natalia and Arlo came back and Arlo grabbed his uniform and headed to the bathroom that was merged with our room. I tried to grab his arm to ask if he was okay but he just shooed me away.

"He's- He's going to need a moment to cool off. I think he took that argument to heart. Was it your guy's first one?" She asks, sitting on the bottom bunk with me.

"We've had small disagreements, but never like this. I didn't know he would leave. All I asked was for space when I got upset. I wasn't even upset." I mumble, on the verge of tears, again. 

"Aww it's okay, friends will argue. Real friends will stay by your side no matter what happens. They can regret it later, but you know they'll always do anything they can for you. Just like what Arlo has been doing all along." She comforted me, slinging her arm around my shoulder and rubbing it.

"Thanks Natalia, you sure know how to work out problems." I siffed a laugh.

"Well I do work with kids, and I majored in teaching." She joked back, "Also, you guys can call me Nat." She smiles at me and then at Arlo. Who I didn't even know finished changing. 

"Okay, Nat. Is there anything we need to know?" I ask. It is called a Minors Correctional Facility so I'm guessing there are ways to 'fix us'.

"Not for today. On Mondays you just prepare for the week. Tomorrow will be your first active day and you will get your information during breakfast. Right now it's free time but it will be over in ten minutes because then it's room, head count, then lights out. So if you guys just want to stay in here to stay out of the other kids path right now, that would be best. Other than that, I'll see you guys tomorrow for announcements." She informs the both of us, smiling at me on the bed and Arlo behind me leaning against the bed frame.

"Okay. Thanks for the info." I thank, smiling back.

"No problem. Have a good night guys!" Nat says, walking out the door.

"Night!" I shout back as she closes the door.

I sigh and lay back into bed. 

"Well, today was a hard day." I conclude.

"Yeah? Which part?" Arlo questions.

"Hmm where should i start?" I hit back, sarcastically.

"You're not even mad about being here?!" He blurted, turning to me with a blanket he was getting for his bed, in hand.

 "Oh believe me, I am. I was completely worried about being here! Away from my dad. My home. Kate. But it's not like it could be better at home! Where I would constantly wait for my dad to come home. I had to eat leftovers or anything my neighbor didn't want. The place where I'd beg you to come over because I had no one else to be with. The place where my mom couldn't even come back to?" I rant, sitting back up, "At least here I have you. Whether you like it or not, I'm all you have right now too. That's all we need is each other right now. And all this arguing needs to stop. I can't lose the one thread I'm holding onto or I fall too." I confronted. 

Arlo just stood still. The look on his face showed it all. Full of guilt and anger. Who knew if he was mad at himself or me. Heck, no matter how much we cared for each other, our decisions still hurt like hell. 

“I'm sorry.” Arlo whispered, a single tear dropping down his face. 

It hurt me to see him hurt. This is what I caused. Destruction in friendship, destruction in persona. Even destruction in permanent records. Not just for me. But for the boy crying in front of me. The boy who I knew cared for me just as much as I cared for him. The boy who stood by my side even when I pushed him away.

I stood up and walked slowly towards him. He backed up but I grabbed his arm. We looked at each other for the first time without anger towards the other in a few hours. We stood there for a second before I pulled his other hand and engulfed him into a big hug.

“I'm so sorry.” I sobbed, “I didn't mean to hurt you or put you here.”

“It's okay, Liv,” he hugs back, “I didn't meant to hurt you either, i do and say dumb stuff, you know this. And you and I both know that we can't be without one another. It's just not possible!” he laughs, pulling away to look at me to cheer me up.

I couldn't help but laugh too. I wasn't happy to be at MCF, but I knew that with Arlo by my side, I could make it through.

“It really isn't. You just can't get enough of me!” I joke.

We both share a heartfelt laugh before heading to our beds, Alro on top, me on bottom.

It was probably only 20 minutes until someone knocked on the door.

"Lights out!" I recognized the voice from earlier as it belonged to Natalia. 

I smile, remembering the talk we had just an hour ago. At least I'm trying to make this somewhat of a good time. Even though we all know it's not a good place to be at. 

I try to settle into my bed while also trying not to move the bed so much for Arlos' comfort. I'm guessing he got the harder bed and I got the soft one. Coincidentally, we love the kind of mattress that the other person is already sleeping on. Doesn't matter anymore. I'm gonna have to get used to this. Just like I have to get used to being in a freaking Minors Correctional Facility.

           I heard what sounded like sniffles coming from above me where Arlo is. I wanted to ask if he was okay but he's probably just thinking about what went down today. I'd be crying too if i wasn't out of tears.

"Arlo?" I spoke, trying not to scare him.

"What is it, Liv?" He responded.

"Promise we have each other in here and out this place? Wherever it may be?" i question.

"Promise." he let out a couple more sniffles before saying goodnight and what i'm guessing was turning around as i felt sudden rocking on the bed from movement.

I felt many emotions today, worried, scared, guilty, happy and excited. Although i felt all of those, I was best when I knew I was safe with my best friend.
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1293 words