Loose Ends - Book One

Levi - Think Better of Me

Anabel and I sit side-by-side on the couch, our eyes glued to our fighters on the TV screen. When we first began, she'd told me she'd never played Mortal Kombat, but considering how close my health bar is to nothing, I'm having a hard time believing her.

"Are you sure this is your first time?" I glance at her from the side.

"Uh huh." She keeps her eyes on the screen, not even looking at the controller.

"Because you're straight up kicking my ass, here." I peek over at her hands, which are moving at ridiculous gamer-speed. She might be able to fool me into thinking she hasn't done this, but I just sense she's on-edge about something. "You wanna talk about it?"

"About what?" When the game announces to end me, she decides to completely decapitate my fighter. Neither of us could deny that something was ticking her off, after that.

"Is it me?"

"Is what you?" She finally looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

"Did I make you unhappy?"

Her face softens and she gazes at me for a second. Her eyes catch the rays of sun peeking through the blinds behind us. They look like bright, untouched pennies. "No, you didn't make me unhappy."

"Good. So, who did?" I break our gaze and start searching for my bag. The feeling I had when I first saw her is returning; nervousness? Anxiety? Maybe excitement? I still don't know how to describe it, but it intensifies when we make eye contact. I'm usually so composed and unbothered, but the more I look into her eyes, the more out-of-control I feel.

I like it, and I hate it.

"It's stupid," I hear her controller hit the table. "I just found out a little more about my little brother's bully."

"Lay it on me," I say, pulling out the happy grass.

"Well, this little girl has an older sister I used to go to high school with..." Ana's voice trails off, and when I look up at her, I see her jaw clenching. "I fucking hate this girl."

"Oh?" She's piqued my interest. I'm ready to absorb every detail about her if she spills. "What happened?"

She scoffs and shakes her head. "A lot. Believe it or not, she was only one enemy in the fight."

I knew you were a fighter. Her eyes are focused on our paused game, but her mind is taking her back. I take out a lighter and start burning. "What's her name?"

After a beat of silence, Ana finally responds, "Mila. Mila Garcia."

The sound of her name sends me into a violent coughing frenzy, mid-pull. This has to be a joke.

"Are you okay?" Ana jumps at my reaction.

I gather myself and look back at her. "You did not just say Mila Garcia."

She blinks at me. "Yes, that's exactly what I said. Why?"

I stare at the blunt for a few seconds, trying to conjure up an explanation in my head, before handing it her. "Hold that."

She narrows her eyes at me like she's searching for my response before I can say it. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly takes it and brings it up to her face, still looking at me.

"I guess I have to start with yesterday," I begin.

"Yesterday?"

"Remember when I told you I got caught up in some shit?"

"Uh huh?"

"I stole a bike, yesterday."

She blinks at me in confusion. "Like, a motorcycle?"