Between the Trees

Crazy

I walk through my apartment door, setting down my things before grabbing a drink.
"Finally back?"
I almost drop the glass, stopping a scream from coming from me as my sister scares the shit out of me.
"Cara- god you can't do that to me."
I place a hand offer my pounding heart and sit down, wondering why she's here.
"No Mila, you can't leave me a voicemail at 1 am saying you're meeting up with that guy you met in the forest and then be gone for another 3 days."
I know she's only angry because we usually don't stay apart for long but she's acting like my parent.
"I know, I just had to. I'm old enough to make decisions for myself." I tell her
She rolls her eyes at me,
"And the decision is to stay with some dude you barely know?" She scoffs
Since when is she the one to talk about making good decisions?
"He saved me Cara. Over those days I just... I feel safe with him." I admit
She looks at me as if I'm going mad
"Oh yeah, I'd definitely trust some guy you meet in the middle of the woods. I'm surprised he didn't kill you."
I don't know why but I feel defensive of Reid,
"He's a good man." I tell her
"He just wants to use you Mila. You're fucking insane if you think your going to have some relationship with this man. What are you even thinking?" She yells
Tears start to fill my eyes,
"I'm thinking that he makes me feel comforted, and warm. Cara I can barely sleep without him at home." I say quietly
I don't even want to look in her eyes right now.
"Fine, go change your whole life for some random guy you met. Let him break your heart." She says angrily before walking out.

After she leaves tears start to fall down my cheeks. We never fight like that. I know she's just worried and angry with me for leaving but she doesn't understand.
After years of running away and struggling to make ends meet, I still always feel on edge. Reid takes away all that worry. I'm used to being the one responsible, the one to protect and provide for me and Cara. So to go somewhere and feel taken care of and safe felt like a massive weight lifted off me.
I sighed, wiping my tears knowing I was already late for work today.
.
.
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Reid POV:

I didn't know what to do with myself with her not around. I missed her voice, her soft skin, and especially how fucking cute she looked when she got annoyed with me.
I knew it was unfair, unjustified, for me to want her to just be able to leave everything behind. I couldn't ask her to give up her life to stay with me.
I wanted to know if she was alright, and how she was feeling. It was irrational how much I worried about her, keeping me up at night wondering if she's able to fall asleep.
Clearly, she knew how to take care of herself. Especially after everything her and her sister went through, but still.
I felt like I had this need to make sure she's alright.
I knew I would see her again this weekend but that seemed way too far away. I needed to hear her voice and that she's ok.
I had to do something
I left to go to the nearest town to get a few things. I needed to get something I told myself I never would, a phone.
There wasn't any service for miles around my cabin so I knew I needed to install a satellite and a router as well.
Taking everything I needed back, I climbed up onto the roof from the balcony.
I smiled to myself as I imagined if Mila saw me up here.
She would probably scream at me for not being safe, throwing some very angry cruse words my way.
It took me a few hours to set everything up, and get a signal going. I climbed down off the roof, going back inside to figure out how to use this phone.
It had been years since I touched one of these and it felt strange to use one again. I had gotten a phone number while I was at the store, but I didn't have Mila's.
I looked through the different apps, trying to figure out what to do with this thing. I decided to search up her name, hoping it would come up with something.
Shit, I don't even know her last name.
I kept trying different things with no result.
I then tried looking up "Mila, digital marketing". I saw a page for her company pop up, grinning as I see her beautiful photo.
Beneath it is a list of her contact information, and I take down her number, dialing it.
I was worried she wouldn't pick up after a few rings, but then her sweet voice fills my ears.
"Hi, this is Mila Holmes at Landson Broadcasting"
"Holmes, huh?"
I hear a small gasp over the phone and I'm happy she recognizes my voice.
"Bambi, you with me?" I ask
"Reid?"
Fuck I love it when she says my name.
"Yes, gorgeous. It's me."
Her voice turns excited as the long list of questions start to spill out of her mouth.
"You don't have a phone? Where are you calling me from? How are you- wait are you alright?"
I laugh at her frantic rambling,
"I'm fine Bambi, I just wanted to hear your voice"
I tell her
"Oh"
"I wanted to be able to talk to you. I got a phone this morning. Oh, and I got a satellite so that my place has service now. You can talk to your sister when your here so she doesn't have to worry about you."
She's quiet for a few moments before speaking in a shaky voice,
"Reid I- thank you. I miss you"
"I miss you too Bambi, more than I should"