5 Minute Reads | Anthology

Complications by ThursdayEnds

Complications

by w. greene ( ThursdayEnds ) 

Mikey knew she'd love them.

          It took three people to snuggle topnotch make up from a big store like Sephora. But nothing was ever too good for Lola. 

          She beams at the paper bag overflowing with random expensive beauty items; she was sure Mikey just grabbed what he can, as quick as he could. And she loves that. She loves him.

          He smiles when he sees her light up. His hand reaches out to brush a stand of hair from her face and she looks at him, adjusting her plastic crown. "See if your cop can do that for you." 

          Lola gives him a look. "Pretty sure he'd actually buy them with money. Not like he could afford them, anyway." She blushes, sure to talk like she wasn't attached to her lover. "Love" being an objective term. 

     She was so beautiful, even without the things covering her face. Her pale skin white and violet. But he knew she masked up like she breathed, it was her mechanism; ever since Mikey saw the marks on her seven-year old face. Her mother's make up professionally laid on her face to cover her father's anger.

     That's when he took her away.

     She ran like she was finally free that day. They've been running for sixteen years.

     "Does this color like good on me?" 

     Mikey looks at her and scrutinizes, "I can't tell, Lady Lola."

     "Come closer, then." She laughs.

     And he does. He could smell white carnations on her scent. His eyes flutter to meet hers. He almost didn't notice how he almost tasted her breath on his lips. Closing the distance could be so easy.

     So he quickly stands up and leaves. 

___________

"No! Lola! You know what my answer is! What my answer always will be: No!"

          Lola almost claws her face off, exposing part of her bare skin. "I can do it this time! I'm not as fragile as you think, Mikey!" 

          "I don't want you tangled up in this, Lola! How many times do—is that a fucking bruise?" In a flash, he's right in front of her, holding up her face. "That bastard cop did this to you again?"

          She looks away, trying to hide in her thick dark hair. 

          Mikey holds her firmer. "Fucking look at me! Your boyfriend did this?!" He realizes that she began shaking and his voice grows softer. He sighs. "I swear to Christ one day I'll murder that fucker."

          Lola meets his gaze and there it is again; this static they have. The air around them begins getting heavy and it's there, it was always there. No matter how much Mikey tries to deny it. 

          He pushes her away. "I have to go." He calls out to two people across the beaten-down studio room. "Denna! Ashe! Keep her here. Not a fucking scratch on her. Keep her safe. Keep her happy." 

He comes back later that night and she's asleep on their mattress, snuggled up in one of his jackets. 

          Mikey sets down the duffel bag full of food and cash. He makes sure that his gun is as far and hidden away from her as possible. His hands rip off his blood stained shirt and he lays down right beside her. Almost instantly, he finds himself stroking her hair, tracing patterns on her skin with the lightest touch.