"Hey. Hey, Oliver." 

 

"Hmm…?" 

 

"Wake up, Oliver." 

 

His eyelids fluttered open, flooded with green. He was lying on a grassy sunlit hilltop, with one large tree a little ways away. 

 

"Where…am I?" 

 

He stood up slowly, taking in his surroundings. It felt like a clear spring day, with a warm sun and cool breeze. It was the perfect nap weather. His eyes stopped on a small girl standing nearby, looking at him. 

 

She had short blue hair, and wore a white dress. He guessed she was maybe 6 years old. Her tawny round eyes rested on him. 

 

"Oh, uh…hey," he said, waving. "Are you lost too?" 

 

She didn't answer. She just stared at him. Her look wasn't demanding or alarming, but strong. Her eyes didn't blink. Oliver took a step in her direction, but as soon as he did, the girl turned around and started running away from him. 

 

"Wait! Hang on!!"

 

They ran down the hill, the breeze whipping Oliver's hair. She ran into a forest of trees. "Wait! Don't go in there!" He yelled, knowing it would be easier to get lost. She didn't acknowledge him—she just kept running. So he kept chasing. 

 

Once in the forest, he immediately lost her. He turned left and right, and looked for what felt like hours, but with no luck. And the worst of it was, he was now lost. 

 

He picked a direction and walked straight in hopes of finding a way out. The sunlight shone through the leaves in an iridescent green light, casting cool shadows along the twin-strewn ground. The breeze still made its way through the trees. 

 

He lost track of how long he had been walking, until he stumbled into a clearing. 

 

The sun shone directly on a solitude park bench in the center of the grass. But as Oliver looked closer, he could see a lady sitting there, alone, facing away from him. 

 

Oliver walked over to her. "H-hello? Do you know where we are?" 

 

Their eyes met. 

 

"May?!" He cried. 

 

"Oliver!" The woman said with a warm smile, "You came! Just like you said you would!" 

 

He puzzled over her intently. She looked just like May—her hair, her face, her eyes—but sounded completely different. She just…didn't seem like May. She wasn't shy or timid; instead, she seemed collected, and calm. More mature. 

 

She looked up at him. "Sit with me?" She asked. 

 

He didn't really have a choice. Awkwardly, he sat down on the bench. 

 

Time passed, and neither of them talked. The only sound was the wind through the trees, or the occasional song of a bird. She simply sat, enjoying the sun. 

 

"It's such a beautiful day, isn't it, Oliver?" 

 

"Oh, um, yeah." He didn't know what to say. 

 

They sat for a moment more. Then the lady rested her head on Oliver's shoulder, to Oliver's shock. Huh?!? Why the he— 

 

"Oliver," she said with her head on his shoulder. "I need you to do me a favor." She seemed to be soaking in his presence, savoring the feel of his touch. 

 

"A…promise?" He said, blushing. 

 

"Yes, a promise. Can you?" 

 

He didn't know what to say. His mind was scattered. "Um, sure…" 

 

She sat up and looked him in the eyes. Her placidity started to melt into attentiveness. She held her pinky up, meeting her golden eyes with his. "Pinky promise?" She said. 

 

He looked from her eyes to her pinky, then wrapped hers with his. "Alright," he said. 

 

Instead of letting go, she held on more firmly, staring into his eyes. "If you break this promise, Oliver, I need you to know that I'm going to die." 

 

"Wait, what?!?" He screamed. 

 

The forest remained silent around them. 

 

The lady started to show a hint of urgency. "I need you to promise me this, Oliver? Okay?" 

 

Oh shit… He thought. 

 

"I promise." 

 

She refused to look away. "Promise me you'll come to the park tomorrow." 

 

"…that's it?" He asked. "How would you die if I didn't go to the park?" 

 

The hint of urgency fully unveiled to reveal pure, whole fear. "I can't explain it, Oliver," she said in a quickening tone, "but I need you to come!" 

 

Oliver didn't know what to say. 

 

"Please!" She grasped his arm, clinging to him. "Promise me you'll come!" She was desperate. Oliver could see her eyes gloss over as tears threatened to stream down her face.

 

"Okay, okay! I'll come to the park tomorrow! I promise." 

 

She stared at him for a moment, speechless. "R-really?" 

 

"Yes, really," he said. 

 

Her shock turned into a relieved smile, and even though her eyes were still wet, she wrapped her slender arms around Oliver tightly. It shocked him, making him blush furiously. But she held on tightly, burying her face into his shoulder. 

 

"I love you, Oliver." 

 

"W-what?!" 

 

Without giving him time to think, she pulled away, hands on his shoulders. She was beautiful. She was May. She looked exactly like May. But at the same time, she wasn't. 

 

They stared at each other; an adoring, sultry look in the lady's eyes. Without warning, she leant in slowly, placing her lips on Oliver's. 

 

WHAT THE FU—?! 

 

Oliver shot up in bed, sweating and panting heavily in the moonlit dark. He sat for a few seconds as he waited for his heart to slow down. What the hell is up with all these crazy-ass dreams?!

 

The incoherent thoughts flickered through his head until he realized he was being touched. He looked down to see two bare arms wrapped around his neck. Following them, he saw Marilyn’s sleeping body. 

 

"MARILYN!!!" 

 

She stirred. "Shut up, Oliver, I'm trying to sleep!" 

 

"BUT WHY ARE YOU IN MY BED?!?? AND WHY ARE YOU HUGGING ME!??" 

 

She readjusted, her eyes still closed. "Because," she said, "I like to hold something when I sleep. It's just the most comfortable that way." 

 

He closed his eyes. "This is WEIRD, MARILYN!!!" He yelled. He tried to get away from her, but her grasp was tighter than it should've been. 

 

"Stop, Oliver—it's cold!!!" 

 

"NO, IT'S NOT!" He screamed back, trying to pull her arms off of him. He kept trying to pull her off and crawl away. 

 

"It's no use, Oliver—I'm not gonna give up." 

 

He stopped. "Errr, FINE! THEN YOU LEAVE ME NO CHOICE!!" He turned and started to tickle Marilyn.  

 

She screamed, kicking widely and laughing. "W-WAIT OLIVER, STOP—THAT'S CHEATING!!! O-OLIVER!!!" She let go after it got too unbearable, and he darted from the bed. Then he got a good look at her. 

 

"M-MARILYN, WHY ARE YOU NAKED?!!" He screamed. "YOU DON’T HAVE THE EXCUSE OF YOUR HEAVY CLOTHES!!"

 

She caught her breath. "It's just more comfortable that way." 

 

He tripped over his words. "THEN WHY ARE YOU IN MY BED?!???" 

 

"There's no other bed in your house," she said. 

 

"Marilyn, you HAVE YOUR OWN—" 

 

He froze. Suddenly, Oliver heard a voice in his head. You promised you'd go to the park.

He couldn't move. 

 

"Oliver?" Marilyn asked, puzzled at his sudden stop. "Are you ok?"

 

Oliver, you have to go to the park. Please. 

 

Oliver spaced out. 

 

Please, Oliver! You need to go now!!! 

 

"Oliver! Oliver!" Marilyn screamed. 

 

"H-huh?" He said, snapping back to reality. 

 

"What's wrong?" she asked, worry in her voice. "You look troubled." 

 

Oliver didn't know what was going on. Wasn't it just a dream?? Who's voice is in my head? I can't really remember, but…it sounds just like her. 

 

"Oliver!" 

 

"Oh! Uh, n-nothing…" He said. 

 

She scanned him. He looked alert and on edge. He shook slightly, and his eyes were wide. "Are…are you sure?" She asked. 

 

He hardly heard her. "Uh, yeah…I-I think I'm gonna go for a jog…" 

 

"WHAT?!" 

 

He looked at her. "W-what?" 

 

She furrowed her eyebrows. "IT'S SO DAMN COLD, OLIVER!!! NOW COME BACK TO BED LIKE A GOOD LITTLE DEMON." 

 

"No!" He said, "AND GET OUT OF MY BED!!" He stormed out of the room, leaving Marilyn in the dark. 

 

"NO I WILL NOT, AND YOU BETTER GET BACK HERE—IT'S STILL NIGHT TIME, OLIVER!!!" 

 

But he couldn't even hear her. As he struggled to pull on his shoes, a voice was repeating in his head, Go to the park! Go to the park! Go to the park! Go to the park! 

 

Still in a shocked state of sleep, he opened his door and stumbled outside into the 3 am cold. Promise me, Oliver! The voice said. "I'm going!" He replied, starting to jog. It was freezing and deathly silent. His eyes were half closed as he ran. 

 

Once he got to the park, he realized it was too dark to really see anything. "What the hell am I supposed to be looking for?" He asked. He half expected the voice to answer. Instead, his question trailed off into eerie silence. 

 

Standing in the park alone, without a single sound, stranded in the moonlight…he felt like he was the only person on the planet. 

 

He started to walk. 

 

He felt like someone was guiding his footsteps. In the midst of his weariness and the otherworldly silence, it all felt like a dream. 

 

As he walked, he spotted a lone bench. Oliver was overcome by the strong desire to sit down. He walked over, treading softly on the grass, until he reached the bench. But that's when he noticed a body sleeping there.

 

Oh shit, I think it's a hobo… 

 

He was going to walk past, until something caught his eye. Turning around, he saw the dress, and realized it was a girl. He was worried, realizing the danger of a woman sleeping alone in the park. 

 

As he went to wake her, that's when he saw it. 

 

"M-May?!" 

 

It was May, laying on the bench. She wasn't sleeping, so much as she just looked unconscious. 

 

"May!" He said, shaking her. "May, are you okay?!" 

 

She started to stir, opening her eyes. She hardly noticed, but she was feeling much better. Her headache and chills were gone, and there wasn't much pain left in her body. What she did notice, however, was Oliver's face in front of hers, illuminated by the pale moonlight. 

 

Staring into his eyes, everything blurred like a dream—all she could think of was how breathtakingly handsome he looked with his face inches from hers.

 

"O-Oliver?" 

 

"May!!" He shook her. "Are you okay? What happened?!" 

 

He shook the sleep out of her. "Oh! U-um… yeah, I-I’m fine. I was just, uh…" She scrambled for the words to say…anything but the truth…

 

Tell him your parents kicked you out. 

 

I can't do that! May said to the voice, I don't want to lie to him. But she couldn't just stay silent either…

 

She looked up. He was holding her shoulders, searching for a sign of harm in her eyes. 

 

"My…m-my parents kicked me out," she said. She half expected him to scoff, or even walk away on the spot. When all he did was stare at her, she started to worry that he could tell it was a lie. 

 

Oliver, meanwhile, felt like someone just pulled at his heart. 

 

I want to ask, he thought, but then I'd just look hella rude…

 

"I'm sorry that happened, May," he said. "Do you have anywhere else to stay? Any friends, or anyone you know?" 

 

"Um, no…" she said, honestly. 

 

He sighed. "I know how it feels, May. I do. Please, let me help you." May didn't know what to say. He continued. "If you want, you can stay at my house until things get sorted out." 

 

Her eyes widened. "S-stay i-in your h-house…?" 

 

"Yeah, as long as you're okay with it. I don't have an extra bed, so you'd probably have to sleep on the couch, if that's okay." 

 

May's entire body burned bright red at the thought of living in the same place…as Oliver…

 

Stuttering too intensely, all she could do was nod in affirmation. 

 

He smiled. "Okay, then. Let's get you out of the cold." 

 

May sat up, and Oliver turned in the direction of his apartment building. She still half wondered if she was dreaming. She started to get up. Her legs instantly ached, shooting up pain through her bones as she fell, screaming. 

 

Oliver spun around to see her sprawled on the floor, and ran over. "Shit! May?! May, what happened?!?" 

 

She tried propping herself up on her scraped hands. "I-I don't know…I just tried g-g-getting up, but my legs, they…" she trailed off. 

 

"Here," he said, "let me help you up." He took her hands and lifted her to her feet, where she wobbled uneasily. He noticed her wince before nearly toppling over again with another yelp. This time he caught her, though. 

 

"I-I-I can't feel m-my legs!" She cried. 

 

"Hey, it's okay," he said, "I can carry you." 

 

"WH-WHAT?!!???" 

 

He picked her up, sweeping her off her feet before she could even protest. "You can't even get up, May. Trust me, it's no problem." 

 

Her face grew as red as a tomato. "Um…okay…" Oliver started off in the direction of his apartment, walking across the park path. As she rested in his arms and tried to avoid looking at his face, his pace formed a comfortable rhythm for her. She was too embarrassed to indulge in it, though. 

 

"Um…" she said, "so, am I…heavy?" 

 

He laughed. "Oh, not at all. You're actually really light!" 

 

"Oh…" She turned away and smiled. 

 

As Oliver carried her through the park, his eyes got heavier, and his legs slower. Shit, he thought, I'm so freaking tired… 

 

"A-are you okay?" May asked timidly. 

 

He was thrown off by her question, but chuckled internally. That's so cute, he thought to himself. "Y-yeah," he said, attempting to look less tired. 

 

"...you sure?" She asked. 

 

"Yeah! I'm fine!" 

 

She settled contentedly as they continued walking. They walked in silence for a while, before being interrupted by a gurgled growl. 

 

"What was that?" Oliver whispered, looking around alertly. 

 

"Um…n-n-nothing," May mumbled, looking down. 

 

"Shit, it sounded like some kind of animal…we've gotta be careful…who knows what the hell is out here at night"  

 

"Um…Oliver?" 

 

He looked down. "Yes?" 

 

"...i-it was my stomach…" 

 

It was too dark for him to notice her blushing. 

 

"Oh! Are you hungry?" He asked. 

 

"N-no." 

 

Her stomach growled again. 

 

"That's not what your stomach's saying!" Oliver laughed. "Let's go get some food!" 

 

"N-no!" She excused, "It's okay!" Her stomach growled again in protest. It was louder than before. She lowered her head to her gut. "Shh! Be quiet!" She whispered, putting her finger to her lips. 

 

Oliver couldn't help but laugh. This girl is sooo cute. "It's fine, I'll pay for it," he said. 

 

"No, no, it's fi—"

 

"It's fine, Marilyn, I'm kinda hungry too, anyway," he smiled. "Where should we eat?" 

 

Knowing she couldn't fight it anymore, she caved. "Um…let's just go somewhere cheap." 

 

"Hm…well, let's just go get burgers, then." 

 

"...o-kay…" May hadn't the slightest idea what a burger was, but she was already embarrassed enough. They walked for about another half an hour until Oliver spotted the restaurant. 

 

"We're here," he said. 

 

May looked up. A giant metal burger stood at the top of the building. "Oliver?" She asked, pointing up. "What is that?" 

 

"Oh, that's a burger," he said. 

 

"I-I’m gonna have to eat that?!" She stared worriedly at it. 

 

"No," he smiled, "that's way too big to eat. And it's made out of metal. The real burgers are inside. Now c'mon, let's go in—"

 

BZZZZZ. BZZZZZ. BZZZZZ.

 

"Oh shit, my phone." He maneuvered to hold May with one arm while answering the phone with his other.  

 

"Hello?" He asked. 

 

"OLIVER, WHERE ARE YOU?!?" 

 

"Marilyn! I, uh, I'm—"

 

"You're at burger planet, aren't you!?!" He had no possible idea how she could know that. "Oliver?! How could you go without me?!?" 

 

"Shit, Marilyn, I forgot that you like—" 

 

"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU FORGET, OLIVER?!?!? I LOVE BURGERS, OLIVER—I LOVE THEM MORE THAN ICE CREAM!!!!" 

 

Meanwhile, May could hear the tiny shrieks from the phone. "Um, Oliver, who's that?" She asked. 

 

"No one," Oliver said. 

 

"NO ONE—?!?"

 

Oliver hung up the phone. He knew Marilyn was mad, but didn't have time to explain everything to her right then. He figured he'd bring her home a burger, and she'd calm down. 

 

Oliver walked inside, set May down at a table, and ordered for the two of them. May sat, looking around the empty restaurant. Through a window, she saw a homeless man staring back at her. He cracked a smile and waved, making May blush and turn away. She was unsettled by the dirty, disheveled look he had. 

 

When Oliver came back, she asked him, "Oliver? Is that your friend?"

 

Oliver looked out the window. "Hell no." 

 

"Then why is he looking at us?" 

 

Oliver turned coldly. "Don't worry about it," he said. "Just ignore him." 

 

They sat in relative silence while waiting for their food. Eventually, Oliver came back with 4 small boxes, handing 2 to May. She looked at them curiously. The heat and smell coming from the boxes was tantalizing, but she didn't do anything but stare. 

 

She watched Oliver as he opened his boxes, so she slowly opened her own. Inside one was a burger, and the other fries. It smelled delicious. 

 

"That's a burger," he said. "You can eat that." 

 

She picked it up like Oliver did and looked it over. It was unlike any food she had ever seen before. But she decided to take a small bite. 

 

She grinned as she chewed. "Yummy!!" She took another bite, like a bunny eating a banana. Oliver couldn't help but smile watching her. 

 

LATER 

 

Oliver walked down the walkway to his apartment door. May was nearly asleep in his arms. After the hectic day before and the nice meal, she was sleepy and comfortable enough to doze off on the walk back. He used his right hand to open the door to his dark apartment. 

 

Before he even had a chance to turn the light on, he was faced with an angry Marilyn. 

 

"OLIVER, WHERE WERE YOU?! YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO THE PARK!!!" 

 

"Marilyn, listen, I was at the par—" 

 

"NO. YOU. WERE. NOT. YOU WERE AT—" She stopped, caught off guard by something. "Wait, do I smell a burger?" 

 

"Yeah, I got you one," Oliver said. 

 

"Really??" She chirped. If she even remembered what she was mad about, she showed no sign of it. 

 

I knew it, he thought. "Yeah." He flicked on the light. Marilyn was wrapped up in his comforter.

 

"Where's my—WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!??" She seemed at a loss for words, red in the face with clenched teeth and fists. 

 

"Marilyn, you need to calm down, you're gonna wake up the neighb—" 

 

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!!!" She screamed. "WHAT IS THIS ANGEL DOING HERE?!?" She didn't give him a chance to explain. Her mind raced as she noticed how he was carrying May. "AND WHY THE H-HELL ARE YOU HOLDING HER LIKE THAT?!?" 

 

"She couldn't walk, Marilyn! I had to—"

 

"Is that what she told you? That she couldn't walk??" She rolled her eyes, breathing loudly. "YOU CAN'T TRUST HER, OLIVER. ANGELS ARE DEMONS WORST ENEMIES. SHE'S JUST GOING TO HURT YOU!!" 

 

May was wide awake in Oliver's arms, scared and uncomfortable from the screaming. She could feel Oliver tense up. 

 

"Marilyn, can you give me a damn chance to explain?! I'm telli—" 

 

"Oliver, you don't fucking know like I do—ANGELS. HATE. DEMONS. Now, I swear, YOU BETTER DROP HER. RIGHT. NOW." 

 

"Do you hear yourself?!" He cried. "I'm not gonna drop her!!" 

 

She started breathing more erratically. "DO IT, OLIVER!!!" 

 

"No!" 

 

"ERRR…YOU DO IT, OR I'LL KILL HER MYSELF!!!!!" 

 

"NO!" 

 

Oliver's scream was so harsh sounding, it completely shut Marilyn up. Her eyebrows arched. 

 

"I'M NOT GONNA DROP HER, AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE THAT, YOU CAN GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!" 

 

Marilyn gaped at him, shocked and speechless. 

 

"I'm just trying to help a friend out, Marilyn, but you can't keep your fucking mouth shut. Everyone was fine, but you're over here threatening to kill her. What the hell is wrong with you?!" 

 

She stood there motionless. As Oliver panted quietly, the smell of fast food lingered in the air. 

 

"Move," he said, walking past Marilyn to the couch. May was scared and silent. 

 

Marilyn watched as Oliver laid May on the couch. So many emotions were coursing through her body, and she couldn't recognize a single one. This…this feeling…i-it's horrible! 

 

She turned to see Oliver putting a blanket on May. Everything billed inside of her all at once, spilling over rapidly.

 

"OLIVER, DON'T TRUST HER! SHE'S GOING TO KILL U—" 

 

"SHUT UP, MARILYN! JUST SHUT UP!!!" 

 

It shook the walls. 

 

They met eyes. 

 

Marilyn had never seen Oliver look so enraged. And she was who he was mad at. 

 

Her throat tightened, and her eyes started to burn. 

 

She looked from Oliver, to May, then back to Oliver, before turning and running into Oliver's room, slamming the door behind her. 

 

Everything was quiet. 

 

Shit…no, no I can't kick myself for this…Marilyn was in the wrong here… Still, he wondered if he'd reacted too harshly…

 

"S-sorry, Oliver…" May looked like a frightened child, confused and scared. 

 

"Don't be…you didn't do anything wrong," he said. His mind stayed on Marilyn, repeating her words over and over. "She'll open up to you eventually…trust me." 

 

He stayed motionless for a while. 

 

"You stay here," he said, "I-I’m gonna go talk to her. Try to calm her down." 

 

Oliver walked down the hall and stood outside his bedroom door. Shit… He thought, I've never seen Marilyn like this…she's normally just happy and annoying…

 

He saw that face again, after he yelled at her—her distraught, teary-eyed face. 

 

I feel like a dick…

 

He opened the door slowly. He saw Marilyn laying on his bed, crying. She looked up as soon as the door opened. When she saw Oliver, she turned away, making a mad face to try to make Oliver feel bad. 

 

"Hey Marilyn," he said. She didn't move as he walked over to the bed. He sat. A few minutes of silence passed. Oliver sighed. 

 

"Look, Marilyn…I'm sorry I yelled at you…" 

 

She didn't answer. 

 

Shit, she's really pissed at me… He went to put his hands in the pocket of his hoodie, but felt something warm and crinkly. He pulled out the cheeseburger he got for Marilyn. 

 

He looked at it for a second before setting it next to her. 

 

She smelled it first, then turned her head the slightest degree to see the wrapped food. Without looking at Oliver, she took it, slowly unwrapped it, and held the cheeseburger for a moment before taking a bite. 

 

She ate while they shared the silence. 

 

"Go on, Oliver," she said, mouth full of food. "Go to her. You don't need me anymore." 

 

"I do need you, Marilyn. You're my friend." 

 

She took another sad bite. "No, now you've got that angel out there to be your friend. We both know you're just gonna forget about me…"

 

Oliver couldn't help but laugh, much to Marilyn's surprise. "Marilyn, you're really dumb, huh?" He smiled. "How could I forget about the girl who turned me into a demon? How could I forget the girl who punched my ex and sent her flying? How could I forget about the girl who's just fun to hang out with? How could I forget about Marilyn??" 

 

She smiled shyly, looking away. "I didn't know you liked to hang out with me…" 

 

"Well, I do!" Oliver smiled. Then he thought back to the root of all this. "You know, the 3 of us can be friends," he suggested. 

 

May's smile faded. She gave Oliver a sideways glance. "I don't understand why she's even here." 

 

"Well, I tried to tell you, but you just yelled at me!" Oliver said. "May was kicked out of her house by her parents. So I decided to let her stay here until things get worked out, since she can't stay anywhere else." 

 

Marilyn tried to be fair and listen, but couldn't fight her instincts. "I still don't trust her, Oliver." 

 

"Well I do," he said kindly, "so please just try to be nice. I know she's an angel, but she seems different." 

 

She pouted. Then hesitated. She finally caved, saying, "Fine. But only if you buy me some ice cream tomorrow." 

 

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. But you have to promise to be nice. Now, let's go talk to May. She looked kinda scared from all the screaming, so I want you to apologize." 

 

"WHAT?! ME?!" 

 

"Yes, you, Marilyn—you threatened to kill her." 

 

"She was gonna leave me for dead the other day!" 

 

She had a point. "Well…just apologize, Marilyn!"

 

She crossed her arms. "I think you're asking a little too much from me," she said. 

 

"You better do it, or no ice cream," he threatened. 

 

She weighed her options. "Add a cheeseburger and I'll think about it." 

 

"Ugh, fine. Let's just go." 

 

Oliver got up and stretched. Marilyn started to get up too as Oliver walked to the door, but she hesitated. He was about to turn the knob. "Oliver, wait!" She called. 

 

"What?" He said, turning around. 

 

She looked at the floor, then shuffled over in her comforter. She wrapped her arms around Oliver, enveloping him in a hug. "S-sorry," she said shyly. Oliver was surprised, especially by the comforted way she smiled when he hugged her back. 

 

"I-its okay, no worries," he said. They hugged for a moment. "Wait, shit you're still naked under the blanket," he said. "You can't go out like that…you've gotta put something on." 

 

"Well, thanks to your little angel friends, all my clothes are burned. So I guess I have to wear one of your hoodies again. 

 

He blushed. "Fine." 

 

He handed her one to put on, and they walked out to see May. The light was still on, and she was laying on the couch wide awake. "Uh, sorry for the wait, May," he said. 

 

May's eyes immediately went to Marilyn, whose arms were wrapped around Oliver's as she came out in his hoodie and nothing else. Sh-she likes him! Th-that's what all of this is about! May felt the urge to yell and cry at the same time, but did neither. 

 

"Marilyn has something she wants to say," Oliver said. 

 

"Oliver!!"

 

"You said you would!" he said. 

 

She writhed. "Fine! But you better not forget that ice cream and cheeseburger!" 

 

She turned slowly to May, who sat trying to conceal her own emotions. Marilyn fought every urge inside her to go fucking ballistic on this weakened, defenseless angel. She wasn't a threat now; it was the ideal time to eliminate the threat. But of course, she only clenched her fists. 

 

"I'm sorry for being mean," she said, avoiding her eyes. 

 

"That's okay," May said. "I know there's a lot of hatred between demons and angels, but I hope we can look past that and try to be friends." 

 

Ugh…shit. I hate that she's an angel!!! But I'll do it—for the ice cream and cheese burger. The thought motivated her to keep going. 

 

"Oh, by the way," Oliver said, "if you don't mind me asking…why did your parents kick you out, anyway?" 

 

"Oh…b-because my wing turned black." The words were out of her mouth before she realized. Marilyn's jaw immediately dropped, and May blushed, realizing what she'd just admitted. She wasn't the best liar in the world. 

 

"What?! You're such a liar," Marilyn said. 

 

"I-I am not!" She protested. Despite what it meant, May didn’t want to lose to Marilyn. She wasn't gonna let her call her a liar. 

 

"Then show us your wings!" 

 

"Um…o-okay…" 

 

Oliver had no idea what a blank wing meant, but both of them watched in suspense as May sat up. Slowly, she unfurled her wings, like a flower opening its petals in the first break of dawn. 

 

"Sh-shit, she wasn't lying. They a-are black." Marilyn was floored. 

 

"Is…that a bad thing?" Oliver asked. 

 

"Well, for her it is," Marilyn said. "It means she fell in love with a demon." The words left an awkward aftertaste in the conversation. May blushed as Oliver thought about it. 

 

"Sooooo May, who is it?" Marilyn prodded. 

 

"U-um…" 

 

"We all know it's not Oliver—who likes him?" 

 

"Hey!" Oliver said.

 

"I'm kidding," she said, "I like you. But still—who is it?" 

 

"Marilyn!"

 

"Is it the Rank One?" 

 

"Marilyn!" Oliver said. "Leave her alone! If she doesn't want to say who it is, then don't make her!" May breathed as the color returned to her face. 

 

"Ugghh, you're such a party pooper!" She rolled her eyes. 

 

Oliver checked his phone. "Shit, it's already past 4, and we've got school tomorrow. We need to go to sleep." He looked at May. "Are you okay on the couch?" 

 

"Oh, u-um…yeah. This is fine." She snuggled in her blanket, laying down and pulling the covers up to her nose. 

 

Oliver cracked a smile. "Okay. Goodnight, May." 

 

"...g-g-good night." 

 

Oliver turned off the light, then turned to Marilyn. "Okay, today—just for today—you can sleep in my room." 

 

"Really??" She gasped. 

 

"Yes." 

 

"Yayyyy!!!!" She cheered. 

 

"But, you're sleeping on the floor," he added. 

 

"WAIT, WHAT?! That's so unfair!!!" She whined. 

 

"Too bad. Now, let's get some damn sleep." 

 

They continued to banter on there way to his room, eventually shutting the door and leaving May in the silent darkness with her thoughts. 

She rested in the unfamiliar sensation that came with sleeping in a new house. Her eyes wandered to various objects of furniture and windows, finding it hard to sleep in such a place, with new smells and feelings. Eventually though, her sleepiness got the better of her. She closed her eyes and began to drift. Oliver's so nice…she thought with a smile before fading into sleep.

end of chapter 14