Chapter 43: Family Story - 017
The next day.
More specifically, Saturday.
Or perhaps it would be more useful if I just said Christmas Eve.
Yeah, I know you probably forgot that it was right around the corner. I did too, with everything that happened yesterday.
I did remember, however, that me and Tayla were going on a date. Meeting at the mall once again. Our lovey-dovey Christmas Eve date.
Whilst I had said that I would head home, I'd ended up collapsing once we reached AJ's place, and sleeping on her couch. I was exhausted and sore. Sleeping on a couch didn't do much to help that either.
Perhaps that ended up being a good thing overall, because if I'd slept well, I may not have woken up in time to meet up with Tayla. I felt like I could sleep for an eternity at this point.
I left early in the morning. AJ hadn't woken up yet. I still need to explain everything that happened, and how it all went down, to her, but I've got other priorities right now.
On my way to meeting up with Tayla, I stopped by at home, got changed, and had a shower. Like usual, I didn't have any proper food in the house. I had the frozen pizza that was meant to be my dinner last night. I ate the whole thing so fast it almost made me gag. Even after I was done, however, I was still starving. I hadn't eaten in over twenty-four hours, after all. Breakfast yesterday was my last meal. I didn't eat any more than that, because otherwise I wouldn't have dinner tonight.
About a half-hour before midday, I headed out. I'd given myself an extra ten minutes to get to the mall, because I knew I'd be walking slower than usual, but I was still almost late.
Tayla was there before me. Standing right at the entrance. She smiled, looking just as beautiful as always. After everything that happened over the last couple of days, it's a relief just to see her face. No, not a relief. It makes me happy just to see her face.
When I get within a few feet of her, Tayla says, "you look horrible."
"Yeah, I've got quite a story to tell you."
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Hm? Me, I'm fine. Just exhausted. Can we get something to eat first?"
As we ate, I told my story to Tayla. I started with when I overheard AJ and her brother talking on Thursday night, then how AJ talked me into coming along with her to meet the drug dealer. How the drug dealer turned out to be Ray Starcrawler, when he seemed to hypnotise AJ, when I decided to fight Ray only to get beat, and finally how Kiss Duskdancer seemingly saved the day.
Tayla waited patiently for me to finish my story, before she responded.
"I was surprised about Ray being the drug dealer."
"Me too."
"It was a good plot twist; I have to say."
"I'd have to agree with you on that."
"Yeah, I never would've thought someone from the Mother's Order would do anything like that. I guess it isn't the whole order that's corrupt, however, since it was Kiss Duskdancer who came to your rescue."
"As much as I dislike it, yes she did save us."
"You dislike the fact she saved you?" Tayla queried.
"She… doesn't seem trustworthy to me."
"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. Isn't it fine though? It all worked out in the end. Everyone got what they wanted in the end. Well, except for Ray."
"Are you sure about that? AJ and her brother still haven't made up. I'm sure her brother can just find another dealer anyway."
"Really?" Tayla replied, "if I had to guess, they'll make up eventually. Siblings are just like that. On top of that, Kiss got to get rid of a problem within the Order, and you worked out something important too."
"Something important?"
"Yeah. You realised you don't have to be the hero. You just have to do your best."
"Right. It kind of seems stupid thinking back on it now. Like it's so obvious that I should've worked it out ages ago. There's no way I could be a hero."
Tayla leaned in, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, and pulling me tight to her.
"What's that for?"
"I'm sorry," Tayla replied, "it's somewhat my fault, isn't it?"
"No, it's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. I had an idea in my head of who you were supposed to be, and I pushed you to be that kind of person. It's like when you started school and met Arthur. I talked you into helping him."
Is that right? I don't remember it perfectly, but I don't think that's the case. I know I talked about it with Tayla, and she did encourage me to approach Arthur, but I wouldn't say that she talked me into it.
"I would've done it anyway. It wasn't just you, Tayla, I started thinking of myself that way too. I wanted to play the hero; it just took me a little while to realise that that's not quite possible for me. I'm just a kid, after all. There's only so much I can do. At least right now."
"Right now?"
"Yeah. In the future, if I keep striving for it, maybe I can become a hero."
Tayla looked at me, "you know, you're still really strange, Alexander. But I love that about you. If that's what you want to do, keep striving for it. Become a hero."
"I love you too, Tayla."
I lean in, and kiss her. This girl who, without a doubt, is my saviour. And the love of my life.
Maybe I saved Tayla that night that we met, but she's more than repaid me back since then. I've been saved by her, a lot more than I ever saved her.
If we could just stay like this, it would be great. But, can we really stay like this forever?
I have to wonder.
Things will certainly change in the future.
Well, at least for now, we can stay like this for as long as we like.
Weekly Power Status
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