Three reasons why one should have a best friend; they are the people you can rely on to buy you food or you could steal theirs - either way you won't starve, they are the people who listen to your rants without complaining or judging, and lastly, they will always be there to fight for you and protect you, even if they're a thousand miles away.

Laying underneath the stinky Bud, whose weight was crushing her, Ellery's eyes widened with hope at the sight of her best friend who burst through the door like she was in a Hollywood movie.

Mona had angrily thrown the door open, almost removing it off it's hinges. The sound of the door slamming against the wall echoed through the house, causing some wall hangings to rattle. As Mona stepped inside, a gust of wind filled the room, making the curtains flutter and dance.

Ellery felt some air being knocked out of her as Bud quickly shot up, causing her to wince. Mona bit her lower lip in anger, almost drawing out blood.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Bud Carter?" Mona questioned, gritting her teeth. She kicked off her heels, tightening her grip around the iron strap of her purse.

"It's not what you're thinking babe." Bud blurted out, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants.

"Oh..." Mona trailed off, inching closer to him. Then, with the speed of lightning, she swung her purse at him, hitting him square in the eye.

Bud stumbled back, holding his face in pain. "What the hell, Mona!?." he cried out.

Mona kicked him in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain. She then swung her leg around and kicked him in the head, knocking him unconscious.

Mona blew out a breath and ran the back of her hand on her forehead, dissolving the beads of sweat. She whipped her head quickly to the side when she heard Ellery groan.

"Is he dead?"

-

"9-1-1 what's your emergency?."

"Please help us! A thief broke into our house and tried to molest my friend!"

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Can you please provide me with your name and location?"

Mona gulped and tried to calm her ragged breathing, "My name's Mona. We're at 123 Oak Street, apartment 4B. Please hurry!"

30 minutes later, the sound of screeching tires echoed through the quiet street as two police cars came to a sudden stop in front of the apartment.

The flashing blue and red lights illuminated the otherwise quiet street, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding buildings. The neighborhood was a mix of old and new, with some buildings showing signs of wear and tear while others boasted modern architecture.

As the officers quickly jumped out of their vehicles, their badges gleaming in the dim streetlights, the neighbors began to peek out of their windows. Some were curious, while others seemed nervous. A few people stepped out onto their balconies to get a better view of what was happening.

The police officers seemed to be in a hurry, moving quickly towards the entrance of the building. They were talking into their radios, their voices urgent and tense. The neighbors watched as they disappeared inside, wondering what could be happening.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the air grew thicker. Some neighbors began to whisper to each other, speculating about what could be going on. Others retreated back into their apartments, not wanting to get involved.

Inside, Ellery splashed a glass of water on Bud, and he roared back to life, wriggling like a worm.

With a sudden bang, the door burst open. Two bulky determined police officers stormed into the room, their boots thudding against the floor. Their expressions were stern, eyes focused, and adrenaline pumping through their veins.

Bud froze, his face etched with fear and confusion. He was disheveled, his clothes wrinkled and stained, a black eye and busted lips, a testament to the chaos that had consumed his life.

As the officers closed in, their voices authoritative and commanding, Bud's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape that was quickly fading away.

His eyes fell on Ellery who was holding onto Mona's hand, smirking. Bud couldn't help but scoff at her scheme.

"Hands behind your back!" one officer barked, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

Bud's trembling hands slowly moved, obeying the officer's command, as if reluctantly accepting his fate. The metallic click of handcuffs being snapped shut echoed through the room, sealing his destiny.

"Are you girls ok? Was anything broken or stolen?."

"Just his bones." Mona muttered and Ellery stifled a laugh, shaking her head at the officers.

"Nothing. We're glad you came on time."

With a firm grip on Bud's arms, they guided him towards the door, their movements swift and efficient. As they crossed the threshold, Bud's feet stumbled over the stairs, his resistance futile against the collective strength of the officers who had come to apprehend him. The world seemed to blur around him, his mind racing with a mix of anger, fear, and... revenge?

Ellery and Mona slowly followed them, stopping at the door. An officer paused halfway down the stairs and looked back at them. "Are you girls sure you're ok?"

Mona nodded at him with a grateful smile, "Yes. I'll be coming down to the station to file a restraining order against him. But, that would be tomorrow when I have leisure time. Could you detain him for this night? Only God knows what he might do if he's released."

The officer nodded, "You're right. You two take care of yourselves. We'll handle him."

"Thank you." Mona said and the man continued down the stairs. As the police car's doors swung open, awaiting his arrival, Bud glanced back at the girls just in time as Mona muttered a 'fuck you.' Bud glared at her and she gave him a tight smile.

Reluctantly, Bud is pushed forward, and with a final shove, he is forced into the backseat, his body folding awkwardly in the confined space. The door slams shut, the sound echoing through the street, and he is left alone in the car, his face pressed against the window.

The neighbors watched in silence as the car pulled away, the flashing lights disappearing into the night.

Ellery lifted her head and caught sight of Mrs Nickel, staring at her through her lit bedroom window, with a cup of what looked like freshly brewed coffee. The heat had fogged up half of the glass, but she could still see the old woman's annoyed expression.

Mrs Nickel hates noise, a reason why she never bothered to have kids or even adopt a pet. The only thing she does is stay indoors and read her newspapers, while sipping on a cup of coffee, wearing her favorite brown bathrobe.

During Christmas or any other festivities, she would grumble and cuss out the neighbors for being loud and knocking on her door to sing carols.

Ellery raised her hand, ready to wave at the angry old redhead, but she closed the shutters.

"What?" Mona asked, following her friend's line of sight.

"I was just going to say hi to Mrs Nickel, but I guess she's not in the mood. As always."

Mona laughed. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."

"Same. Let's order pizza?" Ellery suggested as they retreated into their apartment, closing the door softly behind them.

Mona fetched her phone from her purse and began scrolling.

"What about cheese burgers or burritos?"

"Can I have two burritos and a diet coke?" Ellery asked.

"Sure. I'll just have a cheese burger with fries."

Ellery's stomach rumbled and Mona burst out laughing, "I better hurry and place this order before you starve to death."

"Oh shut up!"

The apartment fell silent. Ellery stared at her best friend and smiled. "Thank you."

Mona raised her eyes from her phone's screen, and raised a brow at her friend.

"For saving me back there." Ellery continued and Mona waved it off.

"You're my bestfriend. They mess with you, they mess with me. They mess with me, they mess with you. And when they mess with us ..."

"... they're dead." Ellery completed.

TO BE CONTINUED
word count, 1,380.