Milo and Maisie

Chapter Fun and Fancy Free: G.N.O.

"Mrow. Mrow. Mrow!" Milo jumped onto his hind legs and kneaded the apartment's front door. He checked the kitchen clock for the 100th time and got down.

Anxiety swirled like a galaxy in Milo's gut. He returned to his catnip mouse in the common area to calm himself and batted it again. It would have been a lot more fun if his sibling was there.

Milo hoped nothing terrible had happened to Maisie but wasn't sure. She had been gone too long.

He almost sprinted at the sound of the door unlocking but backed up when only Feya and Daisy entered the apartment—not Maisie.

Feya wore a safari-like hat, olive green pants, and an orange shirt with blended-in animal designs. Her dirty blonde braid hung over her right shoulder, and she sported a backpack and lunch box.

"Hey, Milo!" she said, grinning.

"Mrow." Milo passed her and headed for the door.

"Oh, don't worry," Feya continued. "She's right behind me."

Sure enough, Maisie stepped into the apartment soon after her, and Milo's fear vanished. His tail shot up, and he ran in a few circles. "Mrow! Mrow! Mrow!"

"Hey, baby." Maisie set her bundle of blue shirts and shorts down and scooped him up. She kissed Milo's head. "Are you okay?"

Better, now that you're here. Milo gently slapped her cheek.

Maisie hugged him. "I know. I'm sorry, but you'll get used to it."

Used to what? Milo didn't want Maisie to disappear on him every day. As her ESA, he promised to look after her during the DCP and prove he could care for a sibling, too.

"So, Maisie..." Feya took off her backpack and tossed her lunch box onto the couch. "You good to take the animals and have a G.N.O.? Let's get manis and pedis! There's a nail salon in the village."

"Sure, Feya." Maisie set Milo down. "Let me change first."

"Me, too." Feya sniffed her shirt. "I stink, girl!"

Maisie was comfortable around Feya now, but Milo wasn't sure how he felt about it. He was Maisie's ESA—not Feya. She hadn't watched her grieve and almost kill herself in the past two years.

The memory of that day, December of 2021, four months after her brother's death, still haunted him: Maisie pointing a knife at her heart and saying she couldn't do it anymore. Her parents stopped her, thank God, and instantly pulled her out of school for online classes so they could watch her. Milo became Maisie's ESA soon after that incident.

Feya pulled him out of his trance. "We're gonna have so much fun, girl!" She attempted to sprint for her room but tripped and fell. She went down hard, too.

"Feya!" Maisie almost stepped on Milo and hurried to her.

Milo's cheeks puffed out.

"One day at a time, girl," Maisie ordered, helping Feya sit. "You can't run yet. Are you okay?"

Feya shakily stood. "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I got a little overexcited. Oops."

Maisie brushed down her shirt. "It's cool. I merely don't want you getting hurt."

"Even more than I already am?" Feya joked, removing her hat.

Okay, Milo didn't like that smirk Maisie gave her. He pushed his mouse to her and batted her leg.

For the first time, Maisie ignored him. She grasped Feya's shoulder and led her to her room.

Daisy followed, but Milo froze. Was this heartbreak he felt? No, it was jealousy, but he tried not to succumb. Maisie, as sweet as she was, was helping Feya, and Milo was getting underfoot.