Everybody Wants to Rule the World

61

Trigger Warning(s): none

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

~ Emira's Point of View ~

9:32 PM, MONDAY, MAY 27, 2030 (1 ½ YEARS LATER). ICARIA ISLAND, GREECE.

"'I shifted one knee onto the hospital bed to press a kiss against her forehead. I lingered there for a few moments when she held my arm to make me stay. 'Yeah, we'll be okay.''" Arlie looked up, grinning. "The end."

I clapped politely while Jimin groaned. While I sat at the kitchen table opposite Arlie, fully immersed in her writing, Jimin was sprawled across the couch with his forearm resting over his eyes. I'd had a sneaking suspicion he was sleeping until he groaned.

"What, you don't appreciate a cliché ending?" Despite the harshness of Arlie's tone, she looked happier than I had ever seen her.

"I didn't say that," he grumbled.

"Good, because your entire life is cliché as hell, enemies-to-lovers'-trope-double-booked-hotel-room male OC."

"Okay, bruh-girl-best-friend-sidekick. It just feels ridiculous that I'm the only one concerned here. Neither of you are worried about sharing our life stories? Not even a little bit?"

"No one's going to think it's real," Arlie scoffed. "I'm going to print this 300-page beast, so say goodbye to the printer while you can."

"You didn't even include the trial, where you and Kira single-handedly broke me out. So really, it's not even accurate."

"I'm willing to sacrifice some of my badass moments for a sick ending quote."

"Or the run-in with the Japanese police a year ago! What's up with that?"

"Okay, it wasn't that interesting."

"The readers are going to have no idea how we got here."

"Well, in case I made it unclear, the story has an open ending, so they aren't going to know we're here anyway." She stood up, cradling her computer like a child. The screen's glow eerily illuminated her grin in the darkness. "I've never been happier to be a fugitive from the law and a bestseller at the same time."

"You're publishing it under a pen name, right?"

"Of course! How stupid do you think I am?"

"Very stupid."

"...okay, I walked right into that one. But yeah, maybe I'll do a Vine reference. Something like... beyonce-shalissa, or something."

"Oh, my God. Please no. I refuse to have my story published under a stupid name like that."

"Alright, fine. Picky, much?" She continued mumbling names under her breath, and her voice faded into silence as she rounded the corner. Jimin and I glanced at each other, and a smile broke through his façade of annoyance. After sitting for hours, my legs felt numb when I stood, and I had to shake them out before approaching Jimin.

"'Everybody Wants to Rule the World,'" he muttered, reaching up to hold my waist and assist me in laying down beside him. "Ain't that the truth? The readers are going to think I'm crazy. And they'll never even know I got treatment. They'll think I'm forever doomed."

I chuckled, snuggling into him and resting my head on his shoulder. "It's a really good story, though. Don't you agree?"

"...yeah. But don't tell her I said that."