It's all part of the deal

She was cute. Winston could not deny the fact. A cute little sister who could bring color to his dull, grey world. The awkwardness was way behind them now. For a passing stranger, they would seem like siblings, waiting there for the sun to rise.

Winston could feel a weird connection to her. Just a few minutes ago, they were about to commit the grave sin of suicide. Just a few minutes ago, they were complete strangers meeting at the most horrible timing. But it was different now.

"This view is to die for." Mia said while giggling. These little jokes was the exact reason why they weren't awkward anymore. Winston laughed looking at the view. He was willing to sit there till sunrise with her. But he was the adult. Now that he was not going to do that, he felt the responsibility of being one.

Winston lit a smoke and got up on his feet. "let's go back now. I'll call you a cab."

Mia's smiling face suddenly froze. She looked at him with a depressed face. "shall we not? Just keep my company till morning and then I'll walk to school."

Winston looked at her face sternly. He wanted to refuse her. He wanted to be the responsible adult. But seeing the bruise under her eye, he just couldn't. He sighed, lending her a hand. "sure thing. Let's go have something to eat then. My treat of course."

A big smile appeared on her face. She accepted his hand and got up. After wiping the dust off her school uniform, she pointed at his cigarette. "and can I have another one of those?" she said while grinning.

Winston looked at her and remembered his shameful past. Just a few minutes ago, he offered an underaged girl a smoke. And even taught her how to do it. He hid his face behind his palm, sighing. "Don't remind me of that. That was wrong and won't happen again. It's not something a cute little one like you should even think of."

Winston saw her blushing. She mumbled something under her breath and then looked at him seriously. "I'm not that young you know. I may seem too small for that, but I'm actually a senior high school girl."

Winston studied her. He didn't believe even a silver of those words. She was just too small. As small as a little chicken, maybe at most a junior high school girl.

She snapped. "Hey. I can see right through your mind. I'm for real. Look. This is my student ID."

Winston did really check the ID and yet, he still couldn't believe it. Mia was seriously 17. The picture, though with no trace of any abuse in it, was definitely her.

Still shocked he faced the reality of the matter. "Well, 17 or not, i still can't offer a smoke to an underage girl. Now let's go. I know a small place nearby.

Mia nodded and followed his steps down the building. The old drunk guard was still snoring. They walked down the street towards a small deli right down the street. Winston knew it was not a nice place. "It's not that good a place. But the food can fill our stomachs." he said looking back at the girl following him silently.

They reached the deli and stepped inside. The place was one of the few 24/7 restaurants in the area, and although it was not packed, it still had its fair share of customers, even at such hour.

They sat at a table further from all the others. He gave her the menu asking. "So, what do you want?"

"Some pancake is enough." Mia said rather embarrassed.

Winston studied her again. He noticed he had done that a lot. Before he could say anything, a waitress approached them. "Have you decided on anything?"

Winston looked at her over the menu. She was a blond tall girl who would look beautiful if she didn't seem so sleep-deprived and bored. "I'll have a hamburger." he then looked back at Mia again. She was almost hiding behind her menu, noy saying a word. So she is actually a shy girl, he thought. Then he pointed at her. "and for her, please bring what teens would eat these days. And of course we'll have some fries."

The waitress looked at Mia. A little smile appeared on her face. "two hamburger it is then. Gor that order, you should take this little one someplace nicer." she said, then walked back towards the kitchen, chewing her gum.

"I believe i ordered some pancakes?"

I showed her my best devilish grin. "you did? I don't recall hearing that." The pancake was the cheapest thing on the menu and he believed she was trying to be considerate.

She hid behind her menu again and mumbled in spit. "if that was an attempt for a devilish grin, i should tell you this Win. It was an utter defeat."

Winston raised an eyebrow. Utter defeat? That was a nice comeback. "anyways. Don't try to be considerate. I'm not rich but i can afford a hamburger or two."

A few minutes later, the food was served. They ate the food silently. Winston sometimes took a peek at her and how she ate the food with a smile on her face. Her smiling face was nice. She should smile more often.

They walked back towards the river. The sun was rising and as they had nothing else to do, they sat by the river to watch it.

Mia was smiling all along and winston as bad as he was at doing it, was trying his best to make her do so.

Out of nowhere, she turned towards him and said. "We should hang out lots during this month. I mean... That's basically part of the deal. How can we change our minds during a mere month if we don't?" she looked at him with anticipation.

"Sure. It's fun hanging out with you anyway. Haven't had this much fun for a long while."

"Me neither. Hehe." Then she paused, thinking of saying something. "can i have your phone number then? I mean.... How can we hang out if I can't contact you?!"

Winston gave her his number without hesitation. It didn't feel wrong. She was a little kid in need of a friend and he didn't have that big a social circle either. "just call me whenever. I work at home so I can always make some time."

She laughed nonchalantly. "Yes exactly. You should always answer my calls, you should help me with anything, you should buy me food sometimes and of course, you should hang out with me... Like lots."

Winston studied her expression again. She seemed pretty nonchalant and joking. But he felt something trying to surface. A deep need maybe to hear the positive answer, or maybe a casual retort prepared if he refused. Mia was so good at hiding her expression, but somehow, Winston could feel he can somehow see through it. Not completely, but he could take a glimpse. "Sure. I will make some time."

A deep smile appeared on her face. After a short second, she covered it with a serious face, reached her han out for a shake and said. "Of course you should. I mean... It's all part of the deal!"