Eviternity

-Chapter 14-

"Let's go to the arcade!"

"Hmm, as long as it's your treat." 

"Of course, just for you."

"You always say that, even with the Red Hounds around."

"Because I mean it!" Mike chuckled.

Lyved and Mike went inside the mall and went straight to the arcade. They bought a ton of tokens and played a bunch of games. Lyved saw a cute little duckling stuffed toy as a prize. She stared at it longingly and Mike caught her stare.

"I didn't know you like stuffed toys?"

"I-! I.. I do.." Lyved pouted. It was just a small habit she always had. She really liked collecting small stuffed toys.

"I'll get it for you. Hey sir, how do you get that prize?"

"Oh, we have a speed stacks challenge. If you beat our current time in this branch, you can get any prize we have."

"I'll try that."

It actually took him 2 tries to beat the shortest time they had, which was 10 seconds. He did win just by .58 seconds. It was amazing, really.

"Congratulations, sir!"

"Go ahead, get your prize." Mike grinned triumphantly.

Instead of the small duckling, Lyved picked up the huge rabbit they had. She was extremely content. This would be the big boss of the stuff toy room, she thought.

"I thought you just wanted the duckling?"

"I change my mind."

They both chuckled. It was already Friday, and they kept on hanging out with each other for the previous days. That is, every night, Lyved would always cry with Mike just comforting her. Mike would carry her to her bedroom (which isn't filled with stuffed toys, that's the other room), while Mike would sleep on the couch outside. 

He didn't exactly feel safe to come back to his apartment, nor did he care about Macy. She had only been leeching off him for the past few months. From home-works, to food, to friends. She had been using Red Hounds for her own. She has been bullying the school, and not one single teacher would care.

Mike shook his head and looked at the sleepy Lyved. She had changed so much. 

"Look, I'm sorry for not visiting you in the hospital." Mike suddenly blurted out.

"That's fine! Honestly, that would actually be disadvantageous to me."

"How so?"

"You could take pictures of me, like the pervert you are!"

They both chuckled in laughter and they walked to the park. They both sat down on the bench while Lyved cuddled with the stuffed rabbit. She could only smirk with happiness. Mike quickly took a picture, making Lyved snap and try to reach for the phone.

What happened was an awkward position where Lyved was holding onto Mike's tall figure, trying to make his arm go lower. They were unbelievably close. Their chests were close together.

"I'm sorry, don't kill me please." Mike said, giving his phone to Lyved.

"Das ryte, u bettr belib it." Lyved stuck her tongue out, talking in a semi-understandable accent.

Lyved and Mike sat down again. Lyved wandered in her thoughts until she realized she had to leave tomorrow. She wasn't ready to say goodbye, so maybe this plan can work.

"Hey, I can go home by myself now. You should go back to your apartment." Lyved said.

"Nah, maybe you'll do 'that' again." Mike said, talking about the fact that Lyved would always cry.

"I promise I won't. I'll call you later once I come home." she smiled.

"Okay, I trust you."

Mike worriedly stared at the walking figure of Lyved. She was walking home just to be able to call him and tell him over the phone. She didn't want to see his face. She didn't really plan on seeing his hurt face. She didn't want to see that.

She safely reached her apartment. She went inside and opened the stuff toys room and set the rabbit on the bed. She then walked out the room and closed the door. Lyved ran to her bed and heard shuffling outside her door, but just shrugged it off.

Lyved pressed her speed dial and waited for Mike to pick up the call.

"Are you home yet?"

"Yeah..hey."

"You sound tired. You should sleep early, okay?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm still at the park, I assume you're back home?"

"Yeah."

"I'm going to walk back to my apartment now."

"Wait, just sit down. I need to tell you something."

"Oh.. okay?"

Lyved breathed in and frowned.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Wh-what? Where?"

"I'm going to Canada with my mom."

"I.. I don't believe it. Why tell me now?"

"I didn't want to look at you while I'm saying this."

"Don't you know I was really happy when we finally started hanging out?"

"I was too.."

"Then why leave?"

"I need a fresh new start. I thought about it, and maybe it's in abroad."

"..."

"Hello?"

"Fine, do what you want."

The call ended. Lyved was left star struck and speechless. She didn't really want to hurt her best friend. She pulled her hair mildly and dropped herself on her bed. She had already packed her things in her room without Mike knowing.

---

Somewhere, in an evil dark alley...

"..she's leaving to abroad tomorrow.."

"Good, let's meet up again in the airport. No excuses."

".. yes ma'am.."