Orc Boyfriend: Royal 2 (special preview)

Sunday came around and you met with Mia before you offered to take her out for a girl day. Royal invited you over to his apartment, which was littered with evidence that a little girl lived there. Mia was in the living room, wrapped up in a blanket and watching makeup videos while combing the hair of a large colorful pony.

“Come on in,” Royal set aside a pink sparkly backpack to give you a seat at the table. “She wasn’t feeling too good this morning, so I’ve just let her watch TV and worry about homework later.” He goes into the living room and leans over the sofa to talk to Mia with a hushed tone. Mia’s head pops up over the back of the sofa to look directly at you. She’s cute, she looks rather small to be a ten year old.

“This is the lady I was telling you about, the one I worked with who helped me the other day,” Royal introduces the two of you. “She said it’d be okay if you wanted to talk to her and ask questions.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Mia. How are you?”

Mia looks at you shyly, her big brown eyes the same as Royal’s. She dips her head down to look at her toy then smiles. “I’m okay.”

“Can I sit with you? This is actually one of my favorite videos too.”

Her smile becomes brighter and she moves over to give you some room.

“I’m going to go downstairs to do some laundry,” Royal says to Mia. “I’ll have my phone, so call me if you need me.”

“Okay.” The way she looks at Royal speaks mountains of words. It’s obvious she adores him more than anything. Once he leaves she curls back up and looks to the video.

“I like watching cartoons when I’m not feeling my best,” you tell her, hoping to spark a conversation. “Wrapped up with a heating pad, having sugary cereal, and watching cartoons is my favorite way to pass a crampy morning.”

Mia peers up at you. “You still like cartoons?”

“Well sure! Just because I’m an adult doesn’t mean I have to stop liking things.”

“Somebody said I’m a woman now,” she pouts. “It scared me.”

You sigh heavily. “Very untrue. Getting your period just means you have a period. It doesn’t make you an adult. A long time ago it might have meant that, but not anymore.”

“My friend told me I could have babies now. Do I have to?”

You scowl. “Of course not! You’re still a baby yourself. Nothing has changed about you, Mia. It’s just your body. What makes your personality and all the cool things about you isn’t gonna change because of this. Maybe your mood, but not what your core stuff is made of.”

Her smile returns and she hugs her toy to her chest. “Good,” she whispers.

You return her smile. “Is there anything else you’re worried about?”

“Why does it hurt so bad?”

You try to figure out a way to put it that won’t terrify a ten year old kid. “Well,” you purse up your mouth, continuing to think. “You know when you scrap your knee or something? It’s kind of like that.” You turn to face her better. “Your insides have to get rid of all that old skin inside. So it contracts to make it all fall off.”

The look on Mia’s face is of somehow who has had a question resolved.

You have to laugh for a second. “I’m trying to make it sound not scary, it’s not, but it sounds that way. It’s natural and it’s a pain in the ass, but it’s normal.”

“That’s what Royal said,” Mia sighs.

“He seemed really worried about you. Especially if he asked me to come over,” you chuckle.

Mia frowns. “What do you mean?”