Spades and Angels

Wrong Side Of The Tracks, Right Side Of Love?

Lolita

Four Days Later

We've now been here for four days. Maybe five, I'm not sure. The two of us stay out of sight of the windows and only venture out after dark or down shady alleys. Always sticking close to the motel in case someone spotted us. Venturing out only for necessities and always with our heads down, hoods up since we're close enough to both Ayrith and Mountain View that if someone spotted and recognised us the whole plan would fall apart in minutes.

Mads speaks to Riv and a few others of his friends several times the days we've been here but nothing much changes. Not for some time anyway. Leaving us time just to slow down, and get to know one another without worrying people will see. Just being two kids alone and happy for a short period. Doing and asking silly things. Watching old movies all night. Fooling around and having fun.

This is exactly what we're doing the fourth day here, me pacing and Mads sitting on the bed, back against the headboard with an almost lazy grin on his face. "If someone asked you, are you a lover or a fighter Lo?" Oddly his first question in minutes shocks me and I frown, studying him across the room. He does the same. "Come on, it's an easy question. Lover or fighter? One or the other. And a simple gut answer, no thinking just whatever first comes into your head."

I think for a moment and the answer comes but I don't reply with what he expects, instead flipping the spotlight the other way around. "What are you? And no thinking. Immediate gut answer."

Mads just shakes his head, "Nope, asked you first. You answer and I'll do the same. Though a clever trick, flipping it by answering a question with a question Lo. very smart indeed." I smile, glowing from the praise, even if minute, "Come on, I'm genuinely curious. And it's a simple question. Lover or fighter?"

"Fighter and lover, but fighter most of all," I replied after a moment, eyes on his, "What about you?" He frowns, clearly not buying my answer and I smile, "Come on. You promised me an answer after I gave you mine so fess up Reyes. Which one is it? And still no thinking, just a gut answer."

"I'm a lover, not a fighter," He replies instantly, seeming to see how I watch him from where I'm now leaning against the desk. "Always have been, always will be. No matter what." He gives me another look, different than before. "And you can't be both, that's not how the dilemma works. How the question gets answered. It's one or the other. You - sorry a person - can only be one or the other, so your answer is wrong." He looks like he's laughing at me, but the joke will be on him when I explain the reasoning behind my cryptic answer. "Want to be honest."

"I was, I'm both a lover and a fighter. Not my fault you have issues trusting my honesty, or that you don't believe me." I laugh then, still leaning against the desk, only now with my arms crossed over my chest, smirking a little. "I'm still both, and just so you know contrary to popular opinion to truly be one you have to automatically be the other. You can't be one without the other."

"Nope not possible," Mads shakes his head again, "Know how I know?" I shook mine that time, eyes fixed on him. "I know that because when it comes to what you're asking the question about I'm only one. I'm a lover, not a fighter Lo. Always have been, always will be no matter what, and you can be only one. That doesn't make it wrong or less of an opinion. You can be one and not the other. It's always been that way, you can't just change the rules to fit your narrative."

I just smile and shake my head, seeing him frown and laugh as I reply "No, no that can't be true. No way in hell, not if it's real and it counts." I raise him with a challenging look.

He smiles to then, challenging me back when he notices the look. His eyes never left mine. "Why? Why is that Lo?"

I smile wider as the answer comes to me. "Because to be a lover you have to be a fighter. Simple as that Mads. Always has been, and always will be the way. No matter what anyone else says. That's how it always is. Always has been and always will be. Even more so when it's real and counts for those involved."