The next morning. I woke up on Mila and Herny's couch. I forgot what happened the night before. I sat up with a painful headache. I then remembered that Bradley and I got into an argument last night, and I stayed there. I got up from the couch and heard Mila and Herny talking in the back bedroom. I walked past their room and went to use the bathroom.

When I finished using the bathroom, I came out, and Mila stood there. "Morning," She said with a not-too-happy look on her face. "What's wrong?" I asked her. She completely ignored my question and walked up to me, putting a hand on my left hand on my shoulder. "Did he hurt you?" She asked. "No," I replied quickly. 

"I have bad feelings about this guy, Heather. The way he acted like that last night was not normal." She explained. I walked past her and back into the living room. I was looking for my stuff so that way I could leave. I then remembered that I didn't bring anything other than my phone and keys.

"You didn't bring anything," I heard Mila's voice say behind me. I turned around, and she was standing in the doorway. "Yeah, I know," I replied, looking at the floor. "What are you going to do? I don't want you in a situation like this, Heather." She said. "I don't know," I replied. 

"Please don't continue with this relationship. I'm trying to help you as a friend. Why won't you listen? He made you leave your apartment. Your apartment!" She yelled. She wiped her tears and started walking toward me. "You were the one acting crazy last night! That's why he acted like this!" I yelled at her. "You're blaming this on me? I acted that way because this guy Is not right! There's something wrong with him!" She yelled. 

I wiped my tears and sat on the couch. "I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help! All you and Herny are doing are getting in the way. You are both trying to ruin everything!" I yelled. "Don't bring Henry in this! He has nothing to do with this!" She yelled. 

"This isn't normal behavior, Heather! He ran you out of your apartment!" She yelled, wiping her tears. "Maybe it's my fault! Maybe It's my fault for pressuring you to date!" She yelled. "Let us help you! Please! Let me help you!" She yelled. "What if he doesn't leave?" I asked her. "We will make him leave! I'll make him leave! I'll do anything! I'll bring the cops! I'll take him to court!" She explained. 

"I don't need your help!" I yelled. I grabbed my phone and keys and walked to the door. Mila stepped in front of the door, blocking me in. "Let me come with you," She said. Henry walked into the living room to see what the noise was. "I'll be back, babe," She smiled. 

She opened the door, and we both walked outside to the car. She took the keys from me and got in the driver's seat. I didn't question it. I didn't feel like driving I was tired and had to go to work. She started up the car and started driving. "Were you drunk last night?" I asked her, "No, why are blaming this on me? I already told you I acted like that because he's not right in the head!" She explained to me. 

"Excuses, excuses!" I yelled, "Wow, are you defining your crazy boyfriend?" She said. I felt mad when she said that. "My crazy boyfriend? That you set me up with?" I said, "I didn't set you up! I told you to download Tinder! You matched with him!" She yelled. "I bet you were drinking and lied!" I yelled back. "What the fuck? I told you I'm trying to stop because Henry and I want a family! Don't you accuse me of lying!" She explained. I rolled my eyes and stopped talking. 

I loved Bradley and knew we could make this work. He was mad at Mila and Herny, not me. They started it, which is why he got mad.  "What are you going to do when we get there?" She asked. "We're getting to sort things out, and I'm going to work," I told her. We soon got to our apartment. We both walked up the steps and tried the door before using the key. It was already unlocked, and we walked inside. Bradley was asleep on the couch. 

"Bradley!" I yelled loudly. He popped out of his sleep and looked at the doorway where we were standing. "Baby?" He asked me. I walked over to him slowly. I then sat across from him on the other couch. "Look, I'm sorry for everything." He apologized. Mila stood there staring at us. "You can leave now," I said. "Okay, If you need anything, I'm here." She explained. 

She walked through the door. I realized that she didn't have a way home. We drove my car to our apartment. "Mila, wait!" I yelled. She didn't respond. I ran to the door, but she opened it before I could. "I have the car," I said. "Yeah, I know. I was about to tell you," She laughed. 

After this big fight between us all, she laughed. Why? "I'll call Henry to pick me up," She said, pulling out her phone. "You can wait in here," I replied. "No, thanks. I'll give you both alone time," She said, walking out the door. 

Once she was gone, I walked over to Bradley and sat beside him. "I'm sorry, baby! Please forgive me!" He yelled. He sat on knelled on the floor as if were to purpose. He grabbed my hands and started kissing them, asking for my forgiveness. "Bradley," I said, "Please forgive me, Heather! I'll never do it again, and you can have your friends over as much as you want!" He explained. 

I noticed that he started crying. "Fine, don't ever do it again. I have to be ready for work soon," I explained. I got up, leaving him to wipe his tears on the floor. I got ready for work. I walked out of the bedroom and started walking toward the front door. "Wait! Don't forget breakfast!" I heard Bradley yell from the kitchen. I turned around, and he was standing there with a cup of coffee and a plate of food.

"Thank you," I said with a soft smile. "I'll have to eat and drink on the go," I told him. He poured the coffee into a to-go cup, then wrapped the breakfast sandwich in a paper towel and handed it to me. I thanked him and walked out the door, and drove to work. 

After work, I went home Mila and Henry checked up on me to see how I was doing. We talked for a little bit over the phone. 

Two Weeks Later                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Everything about Bradley and my relationship was great. Bradley became a better boyfriend and a better friend. He never became like that afterward. 

About two weeks later, I came home from work. I walked inside, and It was dark. Bradley wasn't there yet. I switched the light on, and nothing came on. I then realized that the power was out. I thought it was the whole complex. I went outside, where it was already dark. I noticed light coming from the other apartment windows. I went back inside and tried to call the electricity company. I realized that my phone wasn't working. 

I drove to Mila and Herny's and knocked on their door. I noticed that their lights were on as though they lived about 20 minutes away. Henry opened the door and looked surprised to see me. "Hey, is Mila home?" I asked. "Yeah, she's in the shower, come in," He said. He opened the door wider and moved away to the side so I can walk in. I walked and sat on the couch, waiting for Mila.

Henry sat in the chair across from me. We started having a small conversation. We both heard the bathroom door open. We both turned around to face the bathroom door, which was right behind us. Mila walked out of the bathroom, wearing a short towel around her body. She grabbed a hand towel from inside the bathroom and dried her hair with it. 

There was a small awkward silence between us three. "Heather? When did you get here? Wait, why are you here?" She asked with a confused look on her face. I got up from the couch and walked toward her. "My power is turned off," I told her. "Wait, what? Let me get dressed, then I'll be back." She said. She went to their room and came out a few minutes later wearing a see-through white nightgown.  

"What do you mean your power is out?" She asked, sitting on the couch. I sat beside her. "I came home, and the lights wouldn't cut on. I tried calling Bradley, but my phone wouldn't cut on. I looked outside, and all the other lights were on," I explained. "Maybe you forgot to pay the bill," She said. 

"No, Bradley said he paid it. I asked him to start paying bills, and he said he paid the phone bill and the electricity bill." I explained. "Maybe he didn't," She said. "He did. I know he did. I saw him do it." I said. "I don't know. That's why I'm over here to borrow somebody's phone because mine isn't working." I explained. "Could I use somebody's phone?" I asked. Mila handed me her phone. 

I walked out of the living room, leaving them behind. I walked outside to their back balcony to call the companies. I called the phone company first, then the electricity company. After calling both companies, I went back inside. 

"What did they say?" I heard Henry's voice ask. I handed Mila her phone back. "They said that somebody only paid the bills for two weeks, which I'm guessing was Bradley," I explained. "Wait, what? That's a red flag, Heather," She said. "Oh, Mila," I laughed. "I guess I'll go home and talk to him. I'll see you both later. Thank you for having me and letting me use your phone." I told them. 

I walked out the door, closing and locking it behind me. I then drove home the 20 minutes. When I got some, it was dark outside. I could still see that our power was the only one turned off in the complex. I used the key and walked inside. When I was inside, I used my flashlight and started making my way toward the back bedroom.

I opened the door, and Bradley was laying asleep in the bed. "Bradley!" I yelled once loudly. He got startled and hopped up from the bed on his feet. "Heather, what the fuck? You scared me." He said with a groggy voice. "Why is the power out?! Why is my phone not working?" I asked him. He stared at me with a blankly stare. "Bradley!" I yelled. 

I felt mad. Why did he lie to me? Mila was right, he was giving red flags. "Okay, chill, I 'l explain," He hands taking in a deep breath. "I only paid it halfway because I was low on money." He explained. "Then why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "I was embarrassed, I didn't want you to think I was a loser." He explained. "You're not a loser. You could have told me, Bradley." I smiled. We then went to bed.

The following day before I had to go to work. I called both companies and paid the fee. The power was cut back on, and so was my phone. I was now able to contact Mila, Henry, and Bradley. I then got ready for work. 

A/n

Hello, this chapter took me over four days to write. This was the longest chapter I've ever written. I have some good news. I have a few more stories on the way. Probably coming out next year. I'm very excited to write them. My goal is to finish this story by December 31, 2022, 11:59 pm,

I believe I can do it, anyway that's it, Manae Joey. 

Word count: 2,051

Published on November 1, 2022