𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 - 𝐫𝐢𝐨

𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞

THE CAR was silent. Malinas hands her resting in between her legs, and she awkwardly stared ahead as the man next to her drove.

she heard a noise behind her, causing her to turn her head and see a man sitting in the backseat.

her eyebrows raised, shocked that she hadn't noticed someone else had been in the car the whole time.

and that he could sit that quiet.

the man gave her a bored look as she smiled at him, "hi." she spoke, feeling the man next to her glance at her.

"hi." he spoke, squinting his eyes at the woman staring at him.

"what's your name?" she asked, trying to make small talk to fill the silence.

she waited, tapping her nails on the seat she sat in. "why do y'all not like telling people your names?" she spoke after he only stared at her, making her roll her eyes.

"Mick." he spoke, making a smile come back to her face.

Malina nodded, nudging the man next to her. "look how easy that was."

he shook his head at her, ignoring how she mugged him before turning back to Mick.

"where is your friend taking me, Mick?" she asked, pursing her lips.

he simply shrugged, making her huff.

she turned back around in her seat, glancing at the man driving. "so—"

"i need you to tell me which one of your friends screwed me." he spoke.

she furrowed her eyebrows, "what are you talking about?"

he glanced at her, "you know."

she in fact, did know what he was talking about. but she wasn't going to tell him if her friends weren't.

"i'm not involved with that anymore, remember?" she spoke.

"you tellin me you not apart of your friends book club?" he asked, clicking his tongue.

she tapped her foot on the floorboard of the car, shaking her head. "i don't really read—"

"Malina, don't play stupid with me." he cut her off, his tone harsh as one of his hands moved to grab her arm.

she sighed to herself, feeling pathetic that she felt herself getting nervous.

she slightly moved, making him let go of her arm. "i don't know who it was."

he nodded, licking his lips. "right."

"you made me come with you just to ask me that?"

he shrugged, "thought you could help me out."

"why would i ever help you?" she squinted her eyes.

he ignored her, "where were you goin?"

she pursed her lips, deciding if she should ignore him to be petty, or answer him.

"Beth's."

he didn't give any answer, but she watched as she had a turn, and eventually they were stopped in front of Beth's house.

she slowly got out of the car, turing to Mick who sat with that same bored look. "bye, mick."

he sighed, "bye."

she turned to the man staring at her, "thanks?" she spoke hesitantly, not sure if she should thank him for the ride.

"bye." she spoke, closing the door.

he pursed his lips, "Rio."

she furrowed her eyebrows, "what?"

"my name."

she slowly nodded, watching as she sat back in his seat, "keep an eye out for me, yeah?" he spoke beofre driving off.

"no." she mumbled, rolling her eyes.

"he went to your apartment?" Annie asked, her voice laced in confusion.

"but why.. you're not involved anymore." she asked after Malina nodded her head.

"i told him that." she shook her head, "he wanted to know who it was that 'screwed him.'" she raised her hands to do air quotes.

Beth glanced at her, "you didn't tell him— right?"

"no." she shook her head.

Malina wouldn't tell him if they didn't plan to.

but she also didn't know who it was that did it— so she really couldn't anyways.

Beth let out a sigh of relief, shaking her head as she laid her head against her couch. "we're gonna fix it, it'll be fine."

Malina laid her head on Beth's shoulder, feeling bad for the things her friends were having to go through.

but in a way they made that choice.

"how are things with your mom?" Beth asked.

"awkward." Malina sighed.

"you know, you could just tell her to leave.." Annie suggested, making Beth glance at her.

"she's still my mom." Malina spoke, shaking her head.

as much as she was mad at her mom for leaving her, and practically disappearing for years, she couldn't bring herself to hate her.

part of her wanted that relationship she used to have with her.

but things were just different now. she was older.

and she didn't want to find herself getting hurt when she got her hopes up by believing her mom was going to stay sober, and stay this time.

"you can always stay here." Beth told her, laying her head against Malinas.