It was around 3 AM when Misty got a call from Natalie.
“Natalie? It’s the middle of the night. Are you okay?”
“Hey, Misty,” a clearly drunk Natalie says into the phone, “can you come pick me up?”
Before Misty can stop herself, she’s in the car driving to the address that Natalie sent her, like she needed her to do that.
She finds Natalie outside of a bar, knuckles bloody.
“Jesus, Natalie, what happened?”
Natalie gets in the car, “Don’t worry about it, just drive.”
Misty drives, but doesn’t give up, “Well I am worried about it, so come on, tell me.”
Natalie sighs, “I got into a fight. I was really drunk, and some bitch recognized me and starting asking me all these fucked up questions, and I hit her…multiple times.”
“Jesus, Nat.”
“I know, I know.”
The two are quiet until Misty pulls into her driveway.
“I thought you were taking me home?”
“With those untreated wounds? I don’t think so. Come on, you’re staying the night with me.”
Natalie knows there’s no arguing with Misty when she’s made up her mind, so she hesitantly follows Misty inside. Misty immediately grabs her first aid kit.
“Sit on the couch, Im gonna clean and bandage those knuckles.”
Natalie looks down at the knuckles that she hadn’t fully registered were bleeding.
“They’re fine.”
“Sit.” Misty demands.
Nat immediately sits down. Misty comes and sits beside her, and Natalie holds out her affected hand.
“Wow, you just have really done a number on that girl.” Misty says, analyzing Nat’s abused knuckles.
“Yeah, well she deserved it.”
“I didn’t say she didn’t, I just wish you cared more about your own personal well-being.”
Natalie shrugs, “I’ll be alright.”
Misty scoffs, but doesn’t reply. Instead, she begins to tenderly clean Nat’s knuckles. Nat winces when the alcohol first touches her open skin.
“Jesus fuck, Misty!” she shouts.
“I’m sorry, but I have to disinfect it.”
Natalie doesn’t argue, and tries her best not to pull away as Misty continues gently cleansing, then wrapping her wounds. Then Misty takes Nat’s hand in hers and gives it a small kiss. Nat, who had been looking at the floor, looks up at Misty’s eyes, which are now filled with tears.
“Nat, you can’t keep living like this.”
Natalie looks away from Misty’s eyes, willing tears not to well up in her own eyes.
“I’m okay, Misty.”
“You’re lying!” Misty yells, “You’re always getting into trouble and I’m always saving your ass, which I don’t mind doing, It’s just you can’t do this anymore! I can’t do this anymore!”
Natalie begins to get up to leave.
“Fine, I won’t call you anymore. I’ll leave you out of it.”
“Natalie that’s not what I mean and you know it. I don’t want there to be a next time. I just want you safe. I care about you!”
Natalie looks to Misty, who is fully crying now.
“I’m sorry I make caring about me so hard, but I never told you to do that in the first place. I’m a mess, you always knew that.”
“Natalie it’s not hard to care about you, it’s just hard watching you throw your life away like this time and time again! I fucking love you and-“ Misty freezes when she realizes what she said.
“You love me?”
Misty starts to lie, then throws her hands in the air, “Yes I fucking love you! Why else would I deal with all this shit? And don’t you dare say that loving you is hard, because loving you is so fucking easy, it’s just keeping you alive that is so difficult!”
Natalie just stares at Misty, taking in the mess she’s made. She decides to make it worse.
“I’m walking home, I can’t deal with this right now”
Natalie’s out the door before Misty can object, and that’s the last time the two see each other for a while.