The Girl From Spain (girlxgirl)

Day 47/182: Sally

Mila broke the eye contact eventually and stood up. "Let's go."

"I thought you wanted a drink?"

"I lied."

Sally nodded slowly. She asked for the bill and paid, grimacing at the high price due to the number of alcoholic beverages Emily had ordered. The women walked out in silence. "I know you're mad," she said reluctantly.

Mila shook her head, taking her by surprise. "Not anymore. I'm confused."

With a gentleness Sally neither expected nor deserved, Mila reached for her arm, stopping her in her steps. Carefully, she asked, "Why did you do that? Why do you care so much about Jake's love life that you set him up without his consent and why did you ask me to come along, knowing how much I would disapprove?"

Sally shrugged. "I think he would be happier in a relationship, that is if he finds someone right for him. He won't find anyone if his daily routine only consists of working and sleeping."

She ignored the second part of Mila's question. Sally didn't know herself why she had this strong desire to see Mila so often.

"But it's his decision when and if he starts dating. I'm not pestering you to date, how would you like that?"

"That's different," Sally tried to explain. "He deserves to be happy."

"You deserve that too."

Sally groaned and drove her fingers through her hair. "It's not what I meant."

Mila crooked her head. "Maybe not what you meant to say. But I'm beginning to think this could be what you mean."

Sally ignored that too. As uncomfortable as she was, she had to acknowledge that she hadn't faced the question or genuinely thought about why she was being that intrusive. With a sigh, she confessed to both Mila and herself, "Jake just hasn't been himself lately, I'm worried."

"A lot of things changed in both of your lives lately. Phases like these are normal. It's sweet that you care but maybe you should talk to him about it instead of going behind his back."

"Maybe," Sally admitted quietly. "I just need him to be happy."

"Why do you care so much?" Mila asked softly.

"He did it for me."

Realizing they were still standing in front of the restaurant and needing a reason not to look Mila in the eyes, she began to walk.

Mila, following her, said nothing but waited for her to continue. "I was... I wasn't in the best place when we became friends. He has been there for me for so long and I never had the chance to do the same for him. Now I do but I don't know how."

She kicked a pebble from the pavement. "I suck at that."

"Ask him." Mila's answer was so simple and so mature, Sally would have never considered it. "Ask him what he needs."

She nodded slowly. "Thank you."

Mila smiled at her. "Deep question of the day," she announced then. Sally groaned, feeling so open and vulnerable already from the talk before. "Why do you hate relationships so much?"

Sally laughed drily. "That again?"

"I just can't make sense of you sometimes," Mila replied earnestly.

Sally focussed on the street ahead of her when she began to speak. She had been asked that question often in her life and had never given the entire truth but she knew Mila wouldn't let go of it until she told her exactly that.