“I can’t keep doing this,” says Yulia’s voice, filtered through the noise.

I sound magic up a curved remote listener to the hut they’re talking in. That’s new, by the way. Practice with audiomancy has cool tricks.

I’m worried about her, so I listen in. Well, it's a good excuse, anyhow.

“The agreement was never forever,” says Al.

Rick responds, “We need him more than ever, with the new influx of monsters. How the hell are we going to be safe against hydras, rocs and gryphons when we all sleep most of our day away.”

Yulia says, “I can’t keep it up. I need time to be alone. My friend died. Fuck. All my friends died. And then I made a new friend in this new fucked up world. And she died too. I can’t be a sugar baby right now. I’m a mess.”

Rick pushes, “We need him to stay, Yulia.”

I keep drumming. Letting them know I’m listening would tell me less.

Al defends her, “Rick, man, back off. Her best friend just died. This place is a mess. The lady says she can’t put out now, she can’t put out.”

Rick continues, “I get it. I’ve had friends die. Even before all this shit. But do you have to break up? Maybe you can string him along for a bit.”

Al curses, “Jesus, Rick. Let it rest. She’s going through some shit. She’s going to back off for at least a while, maybe forever.”

Rick sighs, “Okay, fine. Yulia, do what you need. Who was next on the fuck-list. Is Gemma there? That would be really easy to set up. She’s built like a brick shithouse, and a natural redhead. It should only take a couple accidental brushes, and a little shake of her ass.”

Al replies, “You’re one heartless bastard, Nick. Gemma was not on the list at all. She’s not that kind of girl.”

“Can we get Gemma to reconsider? She knows him better now. Maybe she likes him.”

“No. No. No. Give it up, Rick.”

Rick tries again, “What about Tay? Is she old enough?”

“Were you a pimp back in Vegas? You are a mess, man. No, goddammit! She turned seventeen last week. Mary was on the list. Gwynnyth was too, but too expensive."

"Leah said she’d take him for a spin, but she’s not really the girlfriend type. Tanya doesn’t have what it takes. She’s got the assets, but not the mindset.”

Al asks, “Can we stop talking about whoring out our friends?”

“Do you want to survive or not, Al? Al, there’s no time to be sentimental. We need to survive. The world has changed again, and we need to get through it. You can take your ethical concerns and shove them up your big polynesian ass. Snake’s not going for Tanya or Gwynnyth. They’re both taller than him, and he doesn’t stare. He looks but he doesn’t stare. He's not into them.”

“I’m done here, Rick,” says Yulia. “I’m gonna go talk to Snake.”

“Don’t do anything hasty. Give me some time to ‘convince’ Gemma,” says Rick.

Yulia walks out, and starts heading my way. I can hear her walking towards me.

And then I can sear her. My resolution is up enough that I can tell that she’s been crying. Her clothes are rumpled. Her hair is a mess.

We’ve been lovers for a year. She’s one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen. Even with my black and white searing rather than colorful seeing. Even with her hair and face a mess. Maybe more so. She stops to collect herself.

I’m kinda upset. She was lying. Not quite. She was deceiving. She was omitting information. It wasn’t all about my awesomeness.

We’ve been together for a year. We’re at least friends. And she’s a beautiful woman who’s hurt. And I’m stupid around beautiful women.

She should’ve told me. Fuck. Should she have told me? What would’ve happened if she told me? Could I have continued if I’d known?

I had a great year. What would it have been like if she hadn’t come to me? I was sad, depressed, and getting ready to go. I owe her a year of happiness. Fuck it, it doesn’t matter why she was with me. It was a great year. I wouldn’t have gotten to joke with Chaim. I wouldn’t have gotten to teach Gemma the guitar. I wouldn’t have gotten to do a concert in town.

I wouldn’t have had a year in her arms.

Flynn has helped a lot with my fighting. Yulia has helped a lot with my fighting. I’ve learned to record sound well. I’ve gotten to hang out with genuinely cool people. I’m in better shape than I’ve been in my life, and that’s without counting my new speed. The year has honestly been great.

It was great because of Yulia. And that’s ending. It fucking hurts. I haven't hurt like this since Matilda. Shit. I don’t need to remember that too. At least Yulia is still alive. Dammit. She's dealing with some of what I went through with Matilda now. Her friend died. I remember how lost that made me feel. Is it different from being a friend? Probably. Is it kinda the same? Probably. She needs a friend. I think I can do that.

Maybe I can treat this like a groupie thing. I got laid because I’m the drummer. It’s true. Heh. I did get laid because I'm the drummer.

But that doesn’t work. It wasn’t just a fling. I heard that sugar things usually get attached even if it wasn’t that way to start. I did, anyhow.

She’s hurt, and I care about her. I need to take care of her for now.

She turns the corner, and starts walking to me. My god she’s beautiful. One would think you could get used to it. I don't know. "It’s been a year, and I haven’t.

She arrives and I stop drumming. I put a sound bubble around us.

“Hey, Snake.” She’s tearing up.

“Hey, gorgeous.” I'm tearing up too.

“We’ve gotta talk.”

“You know," Sniff. "I can hear everything that happens in town.”

“Yeah," She cry-smiles. "I know. You showed me.”

She walks forward and we hug. Then we walk into my hut together, holding hands.