II. Week Ten: The Bright Side

  Coughing up the last bit of water in his lungs, Mikey’s breathes were shallow. Holding onto his arm was Dröfn. Looking out at the ocean, Mikey collapsed into her grasp and she laughed.

  “Tired already?” Dröfn smiled giving him a warm kiss that lit up Mikey’s insides. If only the kisses didn’t come with blackouts and practically drowning, Mikey would be okay with them.

  “Am I going to have to pass out every time I go fight one of your ex’s?” Mikey groaned.

  “It means you’ll get stronger!” She said cuddling up with him. “Now let’s get back to your room before your parents get mad about missing dinner.” She said with a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll hide.”

  Hobbling into the shower, Mikey’s mother knocked on his door. “Mikey, Dinner’s ready! Please come down here and eat with us. If you want I’ll bring the food to you.”

  Too tired to yell back, Mikey suddenly awoke to an icy cold on his back. Crossing her arms, was Dröfn.

  “You’re dinner’s going to get cold. You’re clean get going!” She exclaimed.

  “Fin…?” Mikey replied groggily. Flushing a red he cleared his throat. “Could you at least?”

  Rolling her eyes, Dröfn disappeared and Mikey stepped out of the shower. Drying his hair he quickly grabbed the first pair of clothes he saw and headed downstairs with his hair still damp.

  Toying with her food, his mother looked up from the table. With a small smile she got up to fix him a plate.

  “Long day, son?” Mikey’s father gestured to him, seeing the clear tiresome look.

  “Yea.” Mikey said. “School might get the best of me.” He sighed.

  Mikey’s father nodded. “Ah, it’s all those pretty ladies out there isn’t it? You’ve finally reached that stage.”

  Mikey looked at his father confused for a moment and then aggravated. “Dad! What? No.” He replied in annoyance.

  Mikey’s father smiled. “Oh don’t worry son, it happens to all of us.”

  Sighing, Mikey took the plate from his mother and picked up a fork, dropping iy clumsily.

  “I’ll get you a new one.” Mikey’s mother smiled and got up to do so.

  Mikey rolled his eyes at this father. “Thanks, mom.” He said as she handed him another fork, this time he held it tighter in his grasp.

  “It’s not girls dad.” Mikey sighed. “In fact, I don’t want another girlfriend ever if I can help it.”

  “Another?” Mikey’s father asked in amazement. Mikey’s mom looked at Mikey anxiously.

  “No.!” Mikey sighed. “I meant I don’t want one. I don’t have one.” Mikey groaned. “Attracted to any of the girls at my school? As if!” He replied.

  “There’s that girl you walked home today.” His father pointed out.

  Mikey rolled his eyes. “She’d be the last ‘girlfriend’ choice on my list.

  Mikey’s father laughed. ”Oh! Don’t say that, lad. Or else she’ll be your first!”

  Mikey stared at his father in amusement. “Is that how it works?”

  Mikey’s father smiled. “The first isn’t always the best son! Know that much at least.” He smiled again, nudging his wife.

  Mikey’s mother paid no attention to the gesture. “You know you can tell us if you’re having trouble with your grades or anything as such, Mikey. Tutoring isn’t always bad but if you need it you need it.”

  A sigh left Mikey’s lips. At least his mother took the school work approach to this. Whereas his father was completely right but Mikey didn’t want to admit it. At least his mother tried to think of the other possibility.

  “Okay so if I say it is her.” Mikey sighed. “Then what do you say? How do I get rid of her dad? She thinks we’re together and we’re not. I’m only nice to her because…” Mikey shrugged. “She can help me with some of my classes.”

  “Ah, is that it?”! Mikey’s father laughed louder than he intended. “You’ll have to tell the girl your true feelings at some point, son.” He warned. “Never use a woman. Men don’t like it either.” He points out. “It only makes the relationship crash and those are the worst I hear.”

  Understanding, Mikey gave a nod. “What about you, mom?” He said turning to her, she was playing with her food again. Even though he was the son sometimes he wondered if his mother really knew what she was doing at times like this.

  Looking up, started, Mikey’s mother blinked in confusion and then plastered a smile on her face. “What is it ,son?”

  “How do I get rid of a girl that I don’t want to be around but have to be around…” Mikey shrugged. “If that makes sense.”

  “Well, you can play your part.” Mikey’s mother shrugged. “And then next year when you don’t have classes with her you can ignore her.”

  Mikey frowned. ‘Next year when he didn’t have any classes with her’ he’d end up with another one of her sisters. Mikey groaned. “I don’t think it works that way mom…” He sighed taking a bite of his food for the first time. Amazed, looked down to check what it was. On the plate was a small proportion of mother’s homemade English Cuisine. It already tasted amazing to Mikey’s taste buds without him having to me in such a mess.

  Grinning, Mikey ate all that was on his plate and scooted the plate towards his mother. “If it’s not too much to ask. Could I have more, I’m sort of beat up from today’s adventure.” He smiled. “And you’re English Cuisine is always the best, mom” He smiled. “Why would I eat any less of that?”!

  Thanking his mom for the second helping and feeling better about the smile on her face, Mikey gobbled down the second helping and grinned. “You haven’t made this for Xeq and Vile yet!” Mikey said excited. “We can try to plan a day for them to come!” Mikey exclaimed in excitement. “Could we?”!

  Mikey’s mom smiled, seeing the light in her eyes, Mikey smiled back too. “Of course we can honey, but first you have to pull though that trouble you’re going through, okay?” She said with a half-smile.

  Mikey nodded. “If that’s what it takes.” He grinned and asked to be excused from the table. His father nodded and Mikey headed up to his room. Laying on his bed trying to figure out how to work his phone was Dröfn.

  Closing the door behind him, he turned off the light and made sure the window was close before he cuddled up next to her. Engrossed in trying to access the phone Mikey gawked. “Stop!” He exclaimed as he took the phone away from her.

  “What?” She asked innocently, looking at the phone in his hand. “You’ll make it lock forever if you keep getting the password wrong.” He sighed.

  “You don’t trust me?” Dröfn questioned getting closer to him.

  “In all honestly?” Mikey said looking into her eyes. “I don’t see why you’d need access to my cell phone is all. I’m right here.” He smirked and leaned in to kiss her.

  Dröfn pulled away after a moment in surprise. “D-do...” She paused in amusement. “Actually like kissing me?”

  Mikey put his head on her shoulder. “It’s the only thing we do that I don’t mind.” Mikey smirked.

  Kissing him again, sending butterflies to his stomach Mikey held Dröfn in his arms. She would make him fight again tomorrow. And the next day. And probably until the last day but the least he could do was try to have feelings for her and he had to admit. She was a good kisser.