Together We Are Stronger

I Know Nothing. .

School's about to open and I'm spending my last day with my childhood friend, Mikayla.

I'm 16 years old now and yet I know nothing about expressing feelings or love for a person. I would say "I love you" to Mikayla, but I never mean it, I meant it like she's my sister. She's the girl that lives next-door. We have a brother-sister kind of relationship. So we never saw each other romantically.

I know nothing about people, i don't know how to read them.

Mikayla decides to go to the mall. I agreed. Her mom dropped us off, her mother's nice, I like her.

"Kari?" she said in a soft tone. "Hm?" I looked at her in concern. She leaned against me and asked, "which one?". What on earth did she mean, I don't go out much, nor do I look around, if I'm here for something, I'll only do that. So.. What does she mean? "w-which one?" I asked out of confusion, I have no idea what she's talking about. She giggled and tilted her head in an angle she'd know how to get things out of me and said, "movie! Which movie, you dummy!". Of course she meant the movie, I'm so stupid.

"How about this one?" nothing interests me, so I pointed to a safe movie, A Dog's Way Home, I personally like anything animated, from anime, animated softwares, the entire animation process.. But this movie was an exception. "BORINGG!", she yelled, "don't you have a taste in movies?". I don't watch TV, I watch anime, not much people enjoy it like I do, besides Max, my brother from another mother. "I regret coming here with you, it should've been Max", I thought to myself.

"Let's watch this one", she smirked and looked over to me. "Escape room?" I tilted my head. She spoke about the movie to me, not that I was paying attention, I was reading the rating and stuff to this movie. "H-Horror?" I asked as I got shivers up my spine. "yes! Now let's go!" she giggled and shoved me, without even noticing, she already bought the tickets for the movie. People were staring at me, it made me feel uncomfortable in so many ways.

"Is that his girlfriend?"

"Why does he look so sad?"

"Is he okay?"

"No.. I'm fine..she's not my girl... girlfriend.." I whispered to myself.

We watched the movie, it scared the living hell out of me, I couldn't help but be frightened by that movie. It was something else.

"Kari, you're such a baby!" she giggled and smacked me on the back, "Scared of everything! " she cheerfully said. I'm not afraid of anything, I know I'm not. I bluntly said, "I will not watch a movie with you, ever". She just giggled and smiled at me.

"Kari?" she said my name in a concerned manner. I looked at her as I was embarrassed about the movie incident. She asked me a question, that I had no answer to.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

A girlfriend?

. . . What is love..?

. . How does a relationship work..?

. How does it feel?

I'm a useless boy..

That doesn't know these type of things..

"No.. No I don't...", I softly said to her. I know nothing! It breaks me, what is wrong with me!?

"oh, maybe there's a girl waiting for you out there!", she threw herself on me, I almost fell while we were walking. I chuckled and said, "heh.. Maybe.."

We walked by a milkshake bar. I waited for her to beg me for some milkshake, I know how much she loves it. That's when I heard it.

"Kariiii!!", she yelled my name. I knew she'd do it. I giggled

"Yes?" I asked.

"Please!!", she begged me and pointed to the milkshake stand.

"Please, who?" I smirked.

"Bestie!! Please bestie" she gave me that puppy dog eyes, it's cute, she can get anything with the eyes.

I couldn't help it..

I gave in..

"Much better" I smiled and ordered the milkshake of our choices. I sat on a chair, being in my own zone, I got startled as I felt a pat on my shoulder. Mikayla said, "Kari, I'll be right back okay, I'm going to the bathroom", she smiled and waved as she left to the bathroom.

The order was ready, I turned to see if she was here, with me.

......

She wasn't...

It's been 25 minutes...

I took the milkshakes and shyly walked around the mall, trying to remember where the bathroom is, I swear this place changed I can't find anything anywhere. Who's that? Is that her? A smile grown onto my face, "Mikayla! There you ar--", everything turned black and white, I couldn't finish my sentence, I'm too far away, there's no way she can hear me.

. . . . . Wait. . . .

. . . . That's her boyfriend.

. . . This hurts, a lot more than it seems

. . I'm genuinely happy for her but. . .

What is this that I'm feeling? I'm not jealous, I would never be. She's making out with her boyfriend..

But. . .

It's supposed to be our outing. . .

She left me. . .

She should've told me. . . .

I feel like a fool. . . .

I-I know nothing!!

She looked so happy, he made her happier than I did, she forgot about me..