“Do you have a name?” the strange girl asked, her words sounding blurry and her lips moving like molasses. She shook her head, trying to clear it. She couldn’t remember anything, no name, no memories, nothing.

“What is a ‘name’?” she asked, confused as the other girl looked her over from head to toe. She watched as the taller girl worked her jaw to form a sentence.

“Your name,” the girl repeated. “Your name.. you don’t know your own name?” she asked, eyebrow raised. She shook her head at the girl and glanced down at the warm blanket.

“Well, I guess that doesn’t matter,” the girl said, closing the gap between the two. “My name is Misha,” Misha said, cocking her head sideways and let her brown hair fall over half of her face. The girl nodded again and her eyes glanced sideways.

“Well, we need to think of something to call you..” Misha trailed off, tapping her narrow chin and getting lost in thought. “Hmm.. How about..” Misha trailed off again. The girl’s blond hair and blue eyes seemed to set her apart and normal names didn’t work well for her. Misha let out a frustrated breath and paced, her own eyes fluttering back and forth.

“It’s okay,” the girl said, “I don’t need a name.”

“Yes, you do need a name. You don’t need to be called ‘girl’ while you’re here,” Misha snapped, her head snapping up. “What about Riley?” Misha asked, an eyebrow raised. The girl, Riley, nodded. She wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, giving her a new name.

“Now,” Misha trailed on, bouncing into the living room. “I have another room, which is currently being used for storage, so you’re gonna have to deal with sleeping on the couch for now.” Riley nodded, unsure what to say really.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Misha jerked her head up a centimeter and then smiled widely. Riley’s heart fluttered at the sight.

“You’re welcome.. Oh, and Merry Christmas!” Misha gushed.

-the New Year-

It had been a couple weeks or so since Riley came to Misha’s apartment. Things were still shaky and Misha was unsure how to deal with things. Misha called her parents late three nights after Riley came and said she wouldn’t be coming home for the new year.

“Why not?” Riley heard herself asking. They were eating a small dinner, salad greens and a small steak split between the two. Riley barely touched the meat, and picked at the salad. Misha swallowed and looked up.

“Because my parents are extremely religious and they’re dumb,” she gave a middle school excuse but Riley sensed it was because of her. Misha had gone out of her way only a day or so ago and took her to a doctor’s office. The doctor couldn’t do much, since she didn’t know anything about herself. She had been given some pills for her sleeping problems, and something to do with her heart.

“Are you ok?” Misha asked, leaning across the table. Riley’s eyes slid past the collar of Misha’s shirt and she could see the perk two lush breasts. Riley could feel her face heat up. Pale, but pink as the bra covered them halfway.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Riley stuttered, ripping her eyes away from the pair. She poked at the lettuce a bit more before putting a small mouthful between her lips. Riley’s eyes flickered up and she watched as Misha forked a piece of meat between her teeth and chewed slowly.

The phone rang in the distance and Misha rushed to answer it. Riley barely looked up as the table was jarred from the sudden movement and she cocked her head sideways to listen to Misha’s feet slapping against the hardwood floor. Five minutes must’ve passed before Riley was aware of Misha coming back into the room.

“How you feel ‘bout moving?” Misha asked, hands resting on her hips, feet apart.

oOoOo

Misha took a deep breath of the crisp air before bounding back to Riley. She seemed lighter nowadays with Riley around and for once it felt good. Misha had been offered a house down near Missouri, closer to her old friends and family members. It was a large two bedroom house with a single bathroom and kitchen. The owner of the house knew her family well and she offered her to live there rent free for a year in return for a previous debt to her family. Misha instantly snatched it up, moving herself and Riley across several states in a matter of weeks.

Riley took a deep breath of the cold air and shivered. Lately she had been having even more problems sleeping, even with the pills the doctor gave her. Restless late at night, she would often get up and wonder the streets for an hour or two. She always returned before Misha found out but she always felt like a traitor whenever she did that.

The shock of the new place sent her even deeper into herself. She had been living with Misha for nearly four weeks and this was the first time that she was ever this depressed. She sighed and glanced towards the bubbly Misha. She would try, for her sake, to be happier now that they had moved.

Riley’s mind wandered to the photo that Misha had packed up carefully. It was a picture of Misha and another woman, both smiling and flipping the camera off. Something twisted in Riley’s heart as she grasped the picture once again. They looked so happy, so perfect together, but comparing Misha to the picture showed something different. Like the light in Misha’s eyes disappeared and nothing could bring it back.

She patted the picture before slipping it beneath the heavy coat she wore. Misha had yet to notice she snuck out with the picture and kept gazing at it often. She wondered if it bothered her when she saw her doing that.

“Oh, look at the snow,” Misha said, jumping the last step and landing next to Riley. Riley shrugged her shoulders and thought back to the picture.

“Could we be picture perfect, like your last relationship?” the words flew from Riley’s lips without a second thought. Her head jerked up, watching Misha’s reaction.

---

Author's Notes: Finished to the music of Kat DeLuna's CD, #s4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 Awesome songs, listen to her music.

:D