Chani had offered to ferry me to my date with Arthur, but before the date, we agreed to get a couple of tattoos together. I was thankful to use the money from Arthur on it, to get something fun with the money, even if I should have been saving up to pay off my loans. Each of us got a couple of smaller tattoos, costing less than two hundred each. We left the parlor and headed towards the Brown Palace Hotel, where Arthur told me to meet him. Chani told me she was rather jealous, as she had always wanted to eat there. I told her I’d take her some time.
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“I actually haven’t seen Alice in a few days.” I chewed on my lip in concern. I had texted and called her a few times but to no avail.
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“Are you sure she’s okay?” Chani reached over to turn the music down more.
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“Well, she has been posting stuff on her Instagram with some girls from the college, so assumedly, yes.” I shrugged weakly.
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“You just think she’s ditched you again, huh?”
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“Mostly.” I sighed.
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“Sorry to hear that, Mal.”
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“It’s fine. I guess I should just get used to it. I’m just thankful I’ve found you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
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Chani smiled softly. “I’m glad to have you too, Mali. Well, we’re here.” Chani slowed down to a stop. “Well, as close as I can get you. It’s just down thataway.” She pointed in a direction.
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“Cool. Thank you again, Chani. I appreciate the ride.”
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“Call me if you need me to pick you up.”
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“Will do.” I nodded, before crawling out of the car, making sure I had my purse. I started in the direction she had pointed out, before finding myself outside of the Brown Palace, where Arthur was waiting for me.
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“Hey.” He smiled widely as he saw me. He opened his arms for a hug, which I reciprocated, hugging him back.
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I stepped back to see him in more casual wear this time. He looked just as handsome. “You look great.” I smiled up at him. He was a good half a foot or so taller than me, though I’m pretty short.
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“You do too.” He guided me inside and up the elevator until we got to our reserved spot. “Looks like you’ve got some new tattoos. I noticed the wrap.” He pointed towards my arms.
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“Yeah. Wanna see them?” I held my arms out to him to survey. I had gotten a quote on each one. One was along my forearm, and another on my other wrist.
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“They look nice. They suit you well.”
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“Thanks.” I smiled. “I wanna get a lot more. Like covered in them, but I’m nervous about getting a bigger piece.”
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“It’s not too bad. You’ve already dealt with these ones, so you know the pain.”
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“Do you have tattoos?” I titled my head to the side. “I love tattoos on people.”
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“I have a handful.” He nodded with a small smile. “I’ll show you sometime. I also noticed your bandaged hand. Are you alright?”
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“My friend and I went to an abandoned sugar mill, and I fell down and cut my hand open.” I explained with a smile. “I had to get stitches.”
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“Ouch.” He winced. “I hope you’re alright.”
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“It’s nothing too bad.” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”
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We chatted through the rest of dinner until we finished dessert and tried to decide what to do next. Arthur suggested we could go back to his place and watch a movie. I agreed, and after he paid, we headed out. He had brought a different car this time, a Shelby Cobra. My dad had always been a fan of cars, so I was pretty knowledgeable about them for someone who didn’t drive.
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“I’m still not ready to have sex or anything.” I admitted to him after he crawled into the car.
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“That’s fine, Malia. I don’t expect anything from you. Just having your company is enough.” He paused for a moment. “I told you about my divorce. I’ll admit that I’m just lonely. My ex and I held out for so long, through misery, so I’m just happy to have you around. You’re like a ray of sunshine.”
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“Even though I’m dressed in all black?” I smiled.
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“Even so.” He nodded. He reached over and gently squeezed my hand, before releasing. It was a loving gesture.
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Arthur sat down on the couch next to me, the popcorn bowl in hand. We had settled on a somewhat new action movie neither of us had seen before.
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“Hey, Arthur?” I looked over at him.
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“Huh?” His eyes were still trained on the TV as he stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
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“Why’d you decide to get a sugar…baby, instead of dating like normal?”
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“I wanted to help someone like you, someone who needed financial help.” He shrugged, looking over at me. “Plus, I wanted a breath of fresh air. Someone very different from my ex-wife.”
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“I guess that makes sense.” I nodded. “Sorry, we can watch the movie now. I’ll quiet down.”
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“No problem, Malia.” He smiled, putting his arm comfortably behind me. “I don’t mind the questions, and if we’re going to be together, you have a right to know. By the way, thank you again for trusting me with those pictures of you. It means a lot to me.”
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“Of course.” I smiled up at him. “I’m glad you liked them.”
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“You have very good taste.” He squeezed my shoulder gently.
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The movie ended up being alright, but somewhat boring. I ended up falling asleep partway through, with my head on Arthur's lap.
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“Oh shit.” I shot straight up, realizing where I was. Sunlight was streaming through the windows, telling me that I was fucked. I didn’t even know where my phone was, but I had obviously missed my alarm. I quickly got up from the couch that I had fallen asleep on and headed upstairs in search of Arthur. I knocked on his bedroom door, but after no response, I opened it to find he wasn’t there. I jogged back down the stairs and called out.
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“In here.” There was a response from the dining room. I walked in to see Arthur on a laptop, fully dressed.
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“What time is it?”
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He pulled his watch around and surveyed it. “Around ten.”
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“Shit.” I shook my head as I cursed. “I already missed my first class.”
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“Sorry, Malia.” He looked over at me sympathetically. “I figured you needed your sleep.”
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“It’s not your fault.” I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep in the first place. I need a ride back to my dorm. Are you free?”
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“Yeah.” He stood up. “I’m ready when you are.”
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“Do you know where my phone is?”
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“Over here with your purse.” He walked back into the kitchen, motioning to where I had left it on the counter.
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“Thank you.” I grabbed it before realizing I wouldn’t have time to change. “Do I look alright?”
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“You look fine.” He smiled softly. “I can get you a washcloth for your makeup if you’d like.”
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“That’d be nice.” I nodded.
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Arthur left, giving me enough time to check my messages and respond to Chani, who was worried about me. I explained to her what had happened. She responded almost instantly, saying she was glad I was okay, and that it was too bad about me missing class, but not to worry about it too much.
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Arthur returned with a warm washcloth. I removed my makeup the best I could and made amends that I would have to wear my clothes from yesterday to class. We made our way out of the apartment and to where his car was. Thankfully the drive wasn't too far to campus.
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We arrived, and I said my goodbye to him, before leaning in for a kiss. It wasn’t the same as with Chani. Not nearly as passionate, but it was a kiss nonetheless, and I seemed to surprise him.
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“Have a nice day, Malia.” He smiled at me as I moved back.
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“You too.” I smiled back at him, before crawling out of the car. I needed to go back to my room. I didn’t have any of my things. At this point, I might as well change and get some lunch, rather than get to my class late.
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Alice had texted me and asked me to get some dinner with her. We settled on a place a bit off campus, that wasn’t too far of a walk.
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“Hey.” I smiled at her as I sat down.
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“Howdy do.” She smiled widely, watching me as I did. “How are you?”
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“Fine.” I sighed, taking a sip of the water that was already at the table. “I missed two of my classes this morning because I fell asleep at Arthur’s.”
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“Your sugar daddy? Look at you! You really have changed.”
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“Not really…” I rubbed my arm nervously. “He’s a good guy, though. He had to drop me off afterwards.”
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“But did you two have sex? Did you finally lose it?” She bounced in her chair slightly.
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“No, Alice. Not yet. We’re taking things slow.” I rolled my eyes.
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“But are you and your new goth girlfriend?”
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“She’s not my girlfriend. Not yet, at least.” I shook my head.
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We ordered our food and talked about my relationship a while longer until the topic of her missing recently came up.
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“I’ve been hanging out with some girls from a sorority house I’m doing. We’ve been doing pledges.” Alice shrugged causally.
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“That’s…good, I guess.” I wanted to be happy for her, but just couldn’t muster it, feeling like I was being left out once again. “Do you think we can hang out together soon? Like maybe get our nails done or something.”
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“Sure.”
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“Okay. what about next week?”
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“I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll have to see.” I worried that meant she wouldn’t actually get back to me.
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“Oh, okay.” I nodded slowly.
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“Cheer up, Mali.” Alice pouted.
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“Sorry.” I looked down at the table, guilty, not wanting to ruin the mood. I couldn’t help it, though. It made me sad to see her become distant once more. I sighed. I should just enjoy the time with her the best that I can rather than pouting about the time I don’t get the spend with her.
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I looked back up to see food being brought to us, and Alice smiled.
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