Now and Later

People counted down to zero as the clocks counted towards the inevitability of a new day. This time, the night sky was lit with fireworks as everybody who could greet the new year woke up to admire it

1985 was here and it was time to bid farewell to 1984. There were still repercussions of the last years and the previous years before that but tomorrow was much more appealing than what had happened in the past.

Everyone was more or less expectant of it all as they made their new year's resolutions that may or may not be pulled through.

As the fireworks died down, households went on with their respective traditions and everyone in that household would react differently from that.

From many variables and many happenstances, the world continues to turn and move on.

Many are unaware that this was the new 1985 and everything may have been significantly different from how it should have and would have been.

They are still unknowing and the one person who more or less is the reason for all of it is sleeping comfortably with a semi-noise canceling muffler in his ears.

Alexander had no care for the effects of eye-catching fireworks or the cascading effects of his chaos butterfly status at the moment.

He just wanted to sleep through the post-midnight and New Year frenzy as a growing 'boy' with an early morning schedule to wake up to.

-----

As something that had been assiduously done for many months, a person would form a habit and it becomes a part of biological rhythm when done at a specific time.

Alexander's 4:30 body wake came in time and a jog was sure to be designated at 5:00.

Of course, he wasn't the only one who was in the same state as Milla was set to jog along with him.

Unfortunately, Milla was swept up by the New Year's midnight wake that she still felt groggy when they convened.

"Alex, do you think I can skip today?" Milla yawningly asked. "I'm still a bit sleepy."

"You do you, I guess." Alexander had no better way of getting around her request. The country was all about free will and it's not like it was mandatory to have her jog this early or even jog at all.

Milla would usually be yehey-ing from the nonchalant approval right now but she was still tired and just wanted to go back to bed.

Of course, Miss Galina was by her room to shape her up and the sleepy girl could only follow her running buddy out.

There was no strictness needed from her mother as she was just reminded about how gluttonous she was during the many festivities and how it would not bode well for her star dreams.

The chance of stardom had always been a great motivator for Milla, just as how many other starlets hope to live the enviable life of the actresses they see in TV, newspapers, and magazines.

Alexander really had nothing to say when he saw how she became coffee-d up by some simple starhood pep talk.

----

"Alex, does our morning runs really help with being fit?" Milla asked as they took brisk walks to balance the sprints they would do later.

"It should. We're moving and sweating, so it should burn some of the stuff that should be burned." Alexander wasn't really a fitness expert but he could still give reasonable reasons that come with having common sense.

"Would it work to "burn" off all that I ate so I'll be thin as always?" She was troubled by her mother's reminder and could only blame the delicious food for whatever predicament

"You're still a growing and developing kid like me, so you should worry about the thin stuff when you become the same age as Charlie." Alexander really had no getting around the pre-Internet days and could only be the sagely, substitute adviser at these times.

"Hmm." Milla, of course, took the wise words of her talented friend with the identity of a humble student. For the long time they've been together, Alexander had pretty much become akin trusty and wise "Google".

"Speaking of Charlie, what was your birthday present to me all about?" Milla suddenly became emboldened when she heard the Charlie keyword from him. "Was that how my character would become? Would shotguns and those 'bam bam' bullets even work against Decepticons?"

"I don't know what bam bam bullets are but those shotguns would most likely be loaded by stack pennies and would surely not work against big Cybertronians."

"Besides, wasn't your birthday many weeks ago?" Alexander never really expected for the girl to still be fixated on the Alice toy at this belatedly in time. "I also remember answering you that it would be a secret for later."

"Isn't it later already?" Milla smirked from exploiting a loophole and wanting the bugging curiosity answered "So you should tell me now."

"You said 'now' now so it isn't later anymore." Alex smirked back. How could such a loophole and little girl trump him?

"No fair. Isn't the 'now' my birthday and the 'later' you mentioned is today?" The girl, of course, wasn't accepting of defeat from a time participle and modal battle.

"I'll just say that later isn't today. Just know that it would come eventually." Alexander shrugged her insistence once again, however, it was still amazing to see her progress with wordplay though.

Or maybe she just ate the 'Now and Later' candy from the Phoenix Candy Company. He did remember having those in the Christmas treats pile and the little girl must have been given a British-ly English lesson by old Sullivan.

"When is 'eventually' then?" Milla could only latch on to her last straw and the answer she got from her Alex was. "Eventually is when I say it so."

Little Milica could only stop there with exasperation. She should have known as Alex wasn't exactly someone like her could beat. Perhaps grandpa Sullivan could help her out but it was best to keep that last-ditch tactic a secret against her friendly target.

----

Eventually, their warm-up walk was finished as the jogging duo sprinted the familiar streets and enjoyed the brisk atmosphere from rushed-ly greeting the temperate San Fernando winter.

Their jogging wear with additional winter wear was a weird combo but it still worked out due to their Creed and Jovovich genes. Clothes look good in their little model demeanors and looks after all.

At least, it let them enjoy their morning run while still keeping warm and good-looking.

Eventualities, nows, and laters were out of their minds by then as they started the first 1985 day with the fun runs that they always do together.