We - Ourselves - Us

(2) Mariah

A few days had passed since Mariah had kissed Mirja and they had had an accidental date. But she was still buzzing with energy. She was at home, for once, and it was a Saturday morning. She felt really happy. The redhead scrolled through the pictures on her camera roll of her and her 'soon-to-be girlfriend' . She was ever hopeful. She was really excited about the idea of being in a relationship with her best friend, and this made her happier to be at home. However, she was not going to be typical Mariah and rush straight in, and not even get to know the actual person without dating them, she was going to take it slow, and allow Mirja to have some authority in the situation. She didn't want it to be a one way relationship. Mariah clearly understood that she could sometimes be a bit hard to get to be sincere, and in a relationship she could be very dominant, even if it was only a friendship.

She lay on her back, smiling as she put her phone down. She took a book out and sighed happily, flicking through the pages. She was actually home alone, so she didn't have to worry about her family. She was scared of them. They had been trying to destroy her almost her entire life. Mariah put a hand to the side of her neck, pushing the long red hair away from it. There was one, big, purple bruise, which looked like it hurt. She let her hair tumble over her shoulder again, hiding it away. 

Not even a second later, Mariah's phone buzzed with a text.

MIRJA: Girl! I is going to get coffee~ Does the you want to join me? And you know, spend some time together, if you know what I mean.

MIRJA: WAIT NO NOT IN THAT WAY YOU SINNER! I JUST- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! JUST ANOTHER DATE! THREE DATE RULE!

There was only one thought in Mariah's mind. 'Oh the ever loving fuck is she asking me on another date. She is adorable. She asked me!' These simple words kept going wrong on a never ending loop. She texted quickly back in agreement and got ready.

Mirja was dressed in a brown tunic and purple leggings. This was her usual casual outfit. Sometime plain that got overlooked and something vibrant as fuck that didn't belong. Her long brown hair was tied back into two ladder braids that merged at the back into a regular plait. It looked like it took forever. Mariah sighed happily. She loved Mirja's sense of her style. It was basic but said everything about her.

The two spent the rest of the day together, and Mariah was walking Mirja home. The redhead girl leaned on the gate as her date spoke to her from the other side. After a second, the taller girl, pushed away Mariah's hair from her face, and bent down to kiss her, placing a hand on her cheek. The two stayed like this for a while, until they needed air. That was when Mirja noticed the bruise on Mariah's neck. She seemed shocked, "Mariah-."

"It isn't what you think."

"I know what it is. Do you want to stay over for the night again? You could go get your stuff, it isn't far."

"No. It is fine, Mirja. Please, don't worry. Everything is fine. I will see you on Monday." Mariah smiled warmly and kissed her friends cheek, before waving on walking away. 

Mariah sighed sadly as she arrived back home. She wanted to go with Mirja and be happy and not be scared, but things weren't like that at the moment. And it would be best to let things unfold and not get put off. This would be the year things would get better. She changed into  the cropped vest and shorts that were her pajamas and curled up in bed. Before going to sleep, she took a picture of herself with the caption, 'I am trash lol. Why are we going out?' and sent it to Mirja. As she turned her phone off to charge, Mariah pulled the duvet over her neck, and put on some quiet music on her old ipod. That always helped the redhead calm.