Simple Needs

$12

My joints all hurt profusely during the few steps to the alleyway Theo led me to. Every step felt capable of being my last. It was as though my body was grudgingly giving me this victory in a way that was more of a threat against ever having another one.

But I had successfully let go of a little part of my dragon hoard! Not willingly, but that couldn't be helped.

Theo's face was grave.

He turned around suddenly. "Rose, are you sure you need to be here? We can just go home an call it a day. You paid for the cabbie. We can celebrate that. Safely. At home."

"We're doing this," I said, my existence refusing to let me consider the fact that I was feeling too weak for anything other than a ginger walk.

I forced myself to scuttle forwards so I could push him forwards. It hurt so bad, but it got my point across.

He nodded, moving forward.

"You're late," a voice, Leah's voice, rang out from the shadows.

Theo didn't say anything, his hand clamped around mine. I guess his fear must have replaced his guilt, but there was only one thought running through my head.

"Theo?" she said, sounding uncertain in the silence.

"I'm here," he said, his voice gruff and strange.

Leah was confident again. "What took you so long?"

Theo took a deep breath, and I stepped forwards, so we were both in the full light.

I heard a gasp from the alley. Leah stepped out from an indent in the wall I hadn't noticed before, her hair was a lot shorter than I remembered it, barely brushing her chin. She wore all black, giving the impression of the vigilante people in a dystopian society.

She gave Theo a weird look.

"Rosella, how nice to see you again."

I nodded. "Congratulations on your fiance. How's he?"

"He's fine."

She looked at Theo darkly, shifting so she was smiling at me again. "How come you decided to come," then she made a big show of pronouncing all the syllables, "Rosella?"

"Oh," I replied, a fake smile plastered on my face to mirror hers, "I just wanted to tag along. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Oh, hardly."

Theo's hand was still around mine, but it seemed like he didn't want to stand too close to me. Just like he couldn't look at me in the coffee shop.

No one quite seemed like they knew how to proceed.

Leah looked between the two of us. She wanted me gone. I could see that plainly.

"Leah, Rose can tag along tonight," he moved slightly in front of me, "right?"

She stared at me, slightly uncomfortable. "How much does she know?"

Theo was quiet. "Everything that I could bring myself to tell her."

She looked at me, almost sweetly, other than how it sent shivers up my spine.

"Why?"

He drew himself up, and I could feel his breath starting to get angry. "Because I wanted to. She needed someone to tell her and I didn't want it to be anyone else."

"Why now?"

He squeezed my hand. "Because she already knew some things. I don't know how."

Leah stood stiffly. "Well, then. We're behind schedule. I think it's your turn tonight."