DO NOT STEAL MY STUFF AND BE NICE

*mention of sensitive topics*

Matteo

I was so scared when I got a call from Millie's friend. My blood was on fire pumping adrenalin through my veins as I grabbed some clothes, rushed out of the house, and sped to the hospital. I put my seatbelt on because I didn't want to be roommates with her at the hospital, and because she always tells me to.

I tell my parents what happened as I'm clearing plates, Millie had gone upstairs. Millie's plate is the last one I get to. "Hey ma, I'm worried for Millie. Do you know how she fainted? The doctors told me it was because she wasn't eating or drinking much, and she overheated during her run. And now she barely ate anything tonight, at dinner. Should I ask her about it?" My ma pauses before speaking.

"I know her mother puts a lot of pressure on her and being the captain of her team she probably is trying to make everyone happy. When I was in high school I had a friend who always compared herself to all the other girls. You are describing to me the same warning signs with Millie as I saw with her. My friend either had body dysmorphia or an eating disorder, I can't remember which, and it really took a toll on her. Above all we want to make sure Millie is alright but first, we have to be sure she does need our help. If we ask her too soon she will start to hide things from us. And I don't want that. So I think you should hold off on talking to her, but encourage her to make the right decisions, like making sure she is eating and drinking."

"That makes sense, thanks ma. I love you." I kiss her head before heading to Millie. I will keep her safe and healthy.

Dashing up the stairs I see her moving pillows and blankets to the couch. Hell no, she will not be sleeping on the couch. "What are you doing?"

"Making my bed for the next few nights." I don't think so.

"No, you just got out of the hospital. I won't let you sleep on my couch. You will sleep in my bed for the next few nights." I grab the blanket and jerk it towards me with Millie lurching towards the bed. I know exactly how to get her to stay in my bed. I trip her and pick her up bridal style.

"No, no, no, no. DON'T THROW ME!" Yes, throw you. She lands in the middle of the bed and I pounce on her, so my body is covering hers.

"I got you now." Mission successful, now I just need to make myself clear about the bed rules. I flip her over so I straddling her back as her face is smushed into my bed sheets. Just the way I like her, under me. "Did you forget that I wrestle?" I don't mind if she forgets 'cause I can remind her over and over again.

"Yes, now get off of me." She takes a deep breath as I get off of her.

"Ugh fine." I wine like a little kid, "I will sleep on the couch."

She looks up at me with those stormy eyes, "But it is your bed, I can handle the couch. I only fainted once." I better tell her.

"Not really, you actually fainted twice. If you don't want me on the couch I won't mind sharing my bed with you. If that's okay." He shoots...

"Your house, your rules. Whatever is good with me." HE SCORES! "Let's play a game." Oh, do I have a game in mind?

Millie

"I've got a good one, you sit there while I clear a spot." He proceeds to MOVE THE WHOLE COUCH.

"I can help. What needs to be moved?" I might as well make myself useful, even though he told me not to move.

"No no, you stay right there." He moved the couch, table, and basket of blankets to make an open space in the middle of the room. He didn't move the plush rug that covers most of the space though. What is he planning?

"Tell me about this game."

"Okay then, what socks do you have on right now?" What do my socks have to do with this?

"Uhm, my normal ones." Like what crazy person doesn't wear socks in someone else's home? I won't be walking around barefoot.

"Go grab the fuzzy socks, one pair for you and me." I walk into his closet and go to "my drawer" to get a pair of my fuzzy socks I left one time. And then get a pair from his sock drawer.

"I got them. Should I put them on?"

"Yes, okay the goal of the game is to get the socks off the other person. Whoever gets both socks off wins." Oh great.

"You'll have the advantage Mr. 'I can wrestle'." This is going to be interesting.

He assures me as he puts on his socks, "I'll go easy on you. Come over here. You stand on that side of the carpet and I'll start from this side. On three, one, two, three, GO!" He launches for my feet as I jump away. I'm a bit faster than him, I ACTUALLY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.

"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME I'M THE GINGERBREAD MAN!!!" I yell at him.

"I'M GONNA EAT YOU UP!" That's what he said. Literally. Wait. EAT ME UP?? What is going on with him?

"AHHHHH," Taking advantage of my hesitation, he propels himself at me, his arms wrapping around my arms and sides, caging me in his arms, and bringing me to the ground. He turns at the last second so I land on top of him. Then he flipped us so I'm on the bottom. "TEO, THIS IS NOT FAIR!"

"YES IT IS!" Then he sits up straddling my back with his thighs holding my body down and his hands locking my arms to my sides. He quickly turns his body so he is straddling me but facing my fuzzy sock-clad feet! I will NOT let him win like this. I turn my thrashing mode on and I'm able to free myself but he grabs one of my feet. I trip, then rip my foot out of his hold and scamper to the other side of the carpet. Only one of my socks is halfway down, so I pull it up and while keeping eye contact with Matteo

"You didn't get me this time." We circle each other, he is crouched into his usual wrestling position and I copy his movements. Shuffling my feet as we circle each other. I make the first move grab his hand and pull with all my strength. He falls as I skirt around him and sit on one of his legs. I rip one of his socks off. YES, I GOT ONE. But before I get to the next one he is pulling his leg free from under me. Dang it. I dangle the sock in the air, "Look what I got, hmm, looks like you're missing a sock. How did that happen?"

He answers me with a mischievous face, "Magic, that's how. It's my turn now." All of a sudden he is lunging for my torso. But instead of making me fall, he stands up with me over one of his shoulders! I tried my thrashing method but it failed. "I guess you are stuck here. I might as well take a souvenir for myself." I can feel his fingers working my sock off my foot. One off, one left to go. Since thrashing mode didn't work maybe boneless will. With a "blah" I flop, my legs falling and my arms both fall. One of my hands smacks his butt. I didn't realize he had such a nice butt.

"Oops," I didn't mean to hit his butt.

"If you wanted to touch my butt you could have just asked nicely." We both start laughing and my body slowly starts to slip from his hold. With a quick turn of my body, I am free of his evil clutches. He crumples into a laughing mess. I start to laugh harder, 'cause it's just as funny to see your best friend laugh. I don't know why, but it is so funny!

Now we are both dying of laughter, each with one sock on and the other flung somewhere in the room. My abdomen starts to hurt from laughing, and tears start to fall. When Teo looks up he sees a crying-laughing mess. "Bambina are you okay? We can save the rest of this game for later."

Finally, I got myself in control, "I'm fine! It's tears of laughter. That's a good idea its eleven o'clock now anyways. And I am tired. I'll go change, do you have clothes I could borrow for the night? I also want to shower, is that okay?"

"Yes one second, let me get some clothes." He goes to the closet and comes out with black boxers and a dark green t-shirt. "Does this work?"

"Yes thank you." I go into his bathroom with my toothbrush, paste, brush, and hair ties.

-SK