Wildfire

“Oh no, not that series again.” Elie said as she walked into the corridor of my small apartment. “Just shut up and let me enjoy the nice things in life.” I laughed and took her bag. “The lunch is ready.” I said, watching my best friend to take off her shoes and grab the box with two kitties. Chiara and Cassie, those little sweet kitties. I closed the door behind her and followed her inside.  The apartment was small, but for me it was enough. It had just one big room with little kitchen. It had a big terrace though. I liked it and took it because of the terrace. It had nice view over this big city. On the right side was little kitchen stand with stove, little sink and fridge. There was a white bar table with just two bar stools that matched perfectly the table. In the middle was a simple desk with computer and two monitors… and BIG pile of paper. I should have put them in place… and I’m gonna make it before we leave again, I made a note to myself as I watched Elie to open the box with cats. On the right side of the room was a quite big white bed with white bedside table and on the food of the bed was a white dressed. On top of that little TV. It was small, but it was enough. I could hear the joyful whines of Ashi and Milky. Mine and Elie’s dogs found each other after one week of separation. Milky, my big white rescue dog practically grew up with Ashi, so she was always very happy to see her. Ashi was a rescue dog too, on the other hand she was mid-weighed and dark. We always laughed that they are like devil and angel, but the angel had quite a lot of a devil and the devil was actually pretty good girl. “It’s because she is still young, Elie, don’t worry, Ashi would never let Milky to hurt her and Milky would never do that intentionally.” I used to comfort Elie, who was often little concerned about the size of my dog compared to hers.  “So, what is going on in the life of Mr. Dreamy?” She asked, looking on my phone where was the i********: page of… him. “You can see for yourself.” I rolled my eyes as I went to pet her cats and make sure my cat would remember them. I was worried for nothing. Jack could remember his girls and he made sure they were welcomed to our house. The same as the dogs, they run out to the terrace so they could play a little. “Oh, went for a run with a dog… gosh, why do you always have this thing for big English man with dogs?” She looked me and my face turned red.  “Well, guess why, genius, look at the terrace.” I tried to laugh it off, but Elie was hooked on the topic. “Just leave it, Elie… we both know it is better this way.” “You always dreamed of big love, so why do you keep hanging on these types? Well, I understand somehow… but still.” She looked worried for me, her voice was full of concern.  “The same why you keep reject all the guys that comes around. I… still feel like I want to be in love with somebody, but… the real guys just… they… they’re just disappointing. And I’m scared to be hurt again.” I lowered my head for what was like a split of second. I walk to the stove and start to put the food on the plates. Just some vegetables and meat I made on the grill this morning. “Al… you are a beautiful girl with a golden heart, don’t close yourself to the real ones.” She came to me. She knew what happened not long ago. I tried to be brave and strong enough to put myself out on the market again. But I just couldn’t. I ignored the observation about my appearance and set the plates with food on the table. We both sat down at the same time.  “And that’s the problem… everybody just keep using my good will. As I said, I like the feeling of being in love and I’m quite fine with it being just one–sided. I can’t handle another broken heart.” I start to chew on my chicken steak. I sighed, it was good but… “Long reign to the diet.“ I laughed and with that we left the topic of my love life. For now. ***** “I see you have your make up and wig ready.” She pointed to my jet black hair wig and quite heavy make up. After the lunch we just sit on the terrace, drink some coffee and just relax. “Yeah, after all I got used to wake up early, so I packed my stuff already yesterday in the evening and woke up early. All ready for the stream!” I laughed. I couldn’t wait to switch on the console and go online for the stream again. I liked to put on my cosplay costume and Elie did the same because that was our ‘trade mark’. “I still need to change into the costume.” “Will you make my make up?” She asked with a smirk on her face. “And when I haven’t done that?” I returned the smirk, put out the cigarette I was smoking and got up to get my make up case. I have one special for me and one for Elie since we have different skin types. That was our ritual. We meet up five days a week, after the work, at my house or her house, I did the make up for us and we went online for a game stream. It was the safe place for me, just far away from reality that sometimes wasn’t that good for both of us. Sometimes we would get some donations from the people who were watching us. Or some subs, bits or just simple follows. I was good because like that we had some income while we had tons of fun. “So, Celeste again, today?” She stated as I concentrated to make her eyeliner.  “Shush, I need to make this nice and thin.” I shut her, I will just try to avoid this topic… at all costs. I just don’t feel like talking about it again. I get the fact that at my age I should be… real, that I shouldn’t be lost in fairytales. But it was my whole life like this and it was just my comfort zone. It’s not like I’m stalking someone, I’m just being a silent fan of an incredibly hot man. Mr. Dreamy. Still when I finished her look for the day I felt like I need to give her an answer. “You know I like my man to be as my tea. Strong, sweet and English.” I laughed. “It’s just that after Eric, I lost so much confidence. And you know, I’m no more confident as I was. I feel the years kicking in, I feel like my body is not what is used to be. I just don’t want to meet new people because I’m scared. I have nothing to offer, just my broken self who is not ready to socialize. I like to watch his movies and series he has been in. I like to know what is happening in his life, just to know he is fine and happy. I like to hear his voice and his accent. I mean… look at him!” I smiled. “Those black curly hair and blue eyes. Like mine but more deep, more warm, like the ocean. Just to drown in them. His chest… look at him!” I laughed and Elie did as well. “It all just for my comfort. Just so I don’t feel empty. He is calming and exiting at the same time. It’s comforting and I promise I won’t fall deep as I did the last time, I promise.” I gave her long exhausting answer. She was my best friend and she was just looking out for me. “Plus, it’s not like you have been dating somebody in the last… five years.” I pointed out. “Yea, you know with all the traveling.” I knew what she meant. I understood her completely, because it was my life too. Elie on the other hand wasn’t fancying anybody. She, exactly like I did, gave up on love. “So, todays stream? What it will be about? Just chatting or what are we gonna play?” “Do I need to tell you?” I winked at her and immediately she knew, what was todays stream about. She got up, gave me a little friendly kiss on my forehead and went inside.  I smoked one more cigarette and Elie in the mean time was setting up the screens and got everything ready for the stream. She set up the countdown and we both quickly changed into our costumes. Got the water ready. When the countdown reached zero we both appeared on the screen and smiled.  “Hey guys! Welcome back and to who is new here, I’m Allie…” I said and my best friend continued for me. “And I’m Elie! We appreciate you coming in and hope you’ll all have a blast!” We said our usual ‘welcome speech’ and went on with the game. ***** “So, the next stream will be?” I looked in the calendar. “Today is Friday, I’m sorry we are gonna let you down this weekend guys, but we will make it up during the week.” I said after watching the schedule for the next few days. “We will be seeing you guys on Monday, at the same time, as some of you may know, we are heading back to Germany, our holiday is over, tomorrow we will be driving a long way and we will need to settle down a bit and get ready for the work again. So we hope you’ll understand that, but as Allie said we will make it up! We appreciate all the donations, bits and subs, we appreciate all the newcomers! Just be safe and we will look forward to Monday! Bye guuuuuyyys!” “Bye, we appreciate you!” I said and we went off. “Whoa, that was nice! I enjoyed it as ever!” I smiled. “Yea, like you always do.” I got a punch in the shoulder. “Don’t say it like you didn’t. We got another five hundred euros.” I massaged my punched shoulder. “Well, we better go to do our evening routine and head to bed. Tomorrow we have a big journey ahead.” “Right, I go first in the bathroom.” She said, got up. Quickly gather her cosmetic purse and PJ’s and head right into the bathroom. I got up as well, got off of my cosplay coat and fold it with attention not to ruin it. I put it into my suitcase and closed it. I love it here, I though, I just can’t live here full time. Just for one more year, then it will be all right again. Just one more year to go. The thing I didn’t know was that all was about to change pretty fast. And it was the nicest, craziest and scariest thing I wouldn’t ever imagine to happen.