Coyotes and Wolves, Milo Manheim Original Story

Lay Off of My Dr. Pepper

Delilah opened the door, when Milo rang the bell. She was wearing a black tank top under a pale pink, eyelet mesh sweater, paired with black yoga pants. Her dark brown hair was down and wavy. She looked like she was just vegging out.

"Hey." Greeted Delilah, in a soft tone.

"Hey." Milo sighed, his eyes and head down.

"Well, come on in. You know the drill. Take what you want, just lay off my Dr. Pepper." She quipped to lighten the mood.

"Sorry to have to bug you and everything." Milo muttered.

"Dude, chill. You know it's no problem. I'm just hanging out anyway." Delilah replied encouragingly, as she walked over to the couch and picked up the remote.

"What are we watching?" Milo asked, in a low voice.

"True Blood?" She said, questioningly.

"Cool." He agreed, unemotionally.

"You wanna talk about it?" Delilah asked, carefully.

"What's to talk about? Same shit different day." Milo grumbled, plopping down next to her on the small couch.

"Well, at least your mom's home once in a while. But, I'm sorry you're still going through all that shit." Said Deliah, sincerely.

"Pizza coming?" Milo asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah. Pepperoni, half with garlic and jalapenos." Delilah clarified.

"Girl! You're a Goddess." Milo expressed, appreciatively.

"I don't know how you can eat all those weird toppings, your breath is gonna smell like evil." She quipped.

"Eh, who cares. It's not like I'm going anywhere." He shrugged.

"I care! I'm the one who has to smell that shit." She laughed.

"Well damn, Cupcake. I guess this means we're not gonna make out later." Milo clapped back, sarcastically.

"You wish." She drawled, with a smirk.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"So, how's everything going with emo girl?" Delilah asked.

Milo lowered his brows.
"Fine. Do you not like her or something?" He asked, suspiciously.

"I don't know her like that, yet. But, I just get a vibe. Not like a bad vibe. Just like, that she's got a lot of baggage." She expressed.

"Yeah? Who doesn't?" Milo challenged, calmly.

"True. It's just, do you really need more drama in your life, Mi?" Delilah countered.

"What are you trying to say, Del?" Milo demanded. "She's not just some chick. She's my girlfriend."

"Whoa! Girlfriend?" Delilah exclaimed. "When did this happen?"

"A few days ago." Milo muttered.

"But...you don't have girlfriends. You just date and move on." She reminded him.

"Things change." Said Milo. "I don't know, she's different. It's like, she didn't want me like the others. But somehow, she needs me. And I need her."

"You need her?" Delilah challenged, incredulously. "In what way?"

"What do you care?" Milo clapped back.

"Just answer me, Milo!" She pressed.

"I don't know!" He exclaimed, before calming his tone. "Like, she's funny and smart. She makes me feel better when I'm going through it. She's supportive. She isn't afraid to call me on my bullshit. I can just be myself with her." Milo explained.

"Wow." Delilah mouthed, before getting up and walking away.

"Del? What's wrong?" Milo called to her as she left the room.

Delilah looked beyond reproach, and was pacing around, mumbling frustrations to herself. She went to the kitchen and poured a glass of wine, shaking her head in exasperation.

Milo followed her into the kitchen.

"Delilah?" He asked, carefully. "What did I say?"

"So, this girl just shows up, she dismisses you, and makes fun of you, but you suddenly just have to have her? And now you say that you need her because she's supportive and smart and funny, and there for you?" Delilah demanded.

"Yeah..." Milo confirmed, in confusion.

"Does that sound like anyone else you know?" She challenged, in frustration.

"Yeah...She's actually a lot like you." He replied.

"Exactly!" She snapped, pointedly.

"Yeah but, you're different. We're friends, Del. It's not the same." Milo expressed, with confusion.

"You're never going to see me clearly are you?" She asked, biting her lower lip to keep the tears at bay.

"What do you mean?" Milo questioned. "I don't understand."

Delilah looked up into Milo's eyes, her own begining to well up. He looked down at her questioningly. Raising herself to her tiptoes she learned in and pressed a soft kiss onto Milo's lips just for a brief moment. He closed his eyes and accepted it, before they both pulled away.

Milo shut his eyes slowly and sighed, before looking back at his friend,
"Del..." He voiced lowly, and apologetically.

"Yeah. I know, Mi." Delilah cut him off, in a calm tone.

"I didn't know..." Milo uttered, genuinely.

"It's okay. It's an interesting feeling, though. Being the only girl in school that you're not into." She expressed, in a dismissive tone. Although, the hurt was evident in her voice.

"Delilah, it's not like that. You're awesome. But Miguel liked you, and I don't go after girls my friends like." He defended.

"Yeah. You're a Prince." She clapped back, throwing back her glass of wine.

"You really want to keep going down this road?" He challenged. "I understand that you're probably feeling...I don't pretend to know, okay? But, we've been friends too long for this shit."

"Yeah, friends. I know." Delilah voiced sadly. "You're right. Okay? You're right."

"I'm sorry, Delilah." Milo stated, sincerely.

"Eh. Don't be." She dismissed, changing her tone from despondent to optimistic. "I was just fucking with you, anyway."

"Del, you don't have to do that..." He began, supportively, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She snickered through her tears, quickly wiping them away.

"Milo, you're so gullible. Such a drama Queen." She quipped, dismissing her heartbreak.

Milo shook his head and sighed. The door bell rang, interrupting the pair's uncomfortable conversation.

"Pizza!" She chirped, in a fake happy voice.

"Del..." Milo pressed.

"I got this. You get the next one." She cut him off again.

"Yeah. No problem." He sighed, looking down and shoving his hands into his pockets.

The two spent the rest of the night eating pizza and watching vampires on television. Neither said another word about the awkwardness of their earlier encounter.

"Hey, Del?" Milo asked.
"You don't have to help Estella tomorrow. She'll be fine. I'll figure something out."

"What? Why?" She argued, as if nothing had happened. "C'mon, Mi. We're friends, remember? That's what friends do." She stated with resolve, giving him a wink.

I will never understand anything, ever.
Milo groaned internally.

Soon after, Milo sauntered off to their guest room, finally passing out, desperately in need of uninterrupted sleep.