That night Stu sat agitated on his bed. His muscles were clenched from the amount of tension he felt after a fucked-up day like this, and it still wasn’t over yet. He sighed. Taking his gsses off and setting them on the side table he continued waiting. Eventually he looked at his phone, but the time looked weird. The numbers were blurry, he looked up yelling, “Alright, come out! I’m here, so let’s have a discussion..”

  Evil Chaos sat next to him asking, “Why the rush? Normally, we have this whole dance before we talk. Don’t tell me you are against tradition? Isn’t that something dear to you humans?”

  Stu looked over at her asking, “What are you, really?”

  She ughed before saying, “Dear boy, I’ve told you a hundred times.. You just don’t listen, I’m Chaos, remember?”

  He looked at her trying to understand but he just couldn’t. “Then why are you different from the other Chaos?”

  She looked baffled asking, “I am? That’s news to me. We both come from the same nothingness, and we both have done the same things. We both look and talk the same; we both also have an eye for the prize. There are a few small differences though, we’re not equal in power..” She turned facing Stu and for the first time he couldn’t see the difference between her and Chaos. This made him nervous as she kept looking into his eyes.

  Turning away from her and avoiding eye contact, he asked, “What was that today? What was it that tried to cw its way out of me?”

  Her hand touched his face and tuned his gaze back to her. She said, “That is what Marrow is hiding from you. That is what you have to find out, and it won’t be easy.”

  He was feeling so confused right now asking, “What is in it for you?”

  She sighed looking at him like he was a sad story. She touched him very gently as she spoke, “I’ve told you a hundred times. Though the specifics and reasons are constantly evolving it seems. If I had to take a guess, it seems like the longer I’m in the presence of the other Chaos, I find myself sharing so many of her thoughts.” She leaned in kissing Stu; he was shocked and unable to move.

  It took him a second, but he managed to pull himself away saying, “Wait. This isn’t right, my heart; it belongs to Chaos..”

  She looked confused saying, “But I am.. Never mind..” Her expression became sad. “Alright, then..” She raised her hand, turning to face away, and spped him.

  He looked up at a worried Chaos asking, “What the fuck was that for?” He held his face gring at her.

  Chaos yelled at him, “You were muttering about Evil Chaos! It sounded like those weird sounds you make in the bathroom! What are you doing with her, really?”

  He looked around, this was the real world, not a dream. He sighed, “What are you doing in my room or even outside my room this te?”

  She froze saying, “I-I told you, t-there was weird n-noises coming from your r-room.. Muttering.. Evil Chaos…” She trailed off wide-eyed and staring.

  Stu heard snickering from outside his door. He said, “What is it Prosperity..?” She came around the corner and to his surprise, so did Miracle. He frowned asking, “Alright what is this all about?”

  Miracle hung her head in shame saying, “We were spying on Chaos..”

  Stu was confused as Prosperity chimed in saying, “She’s been lurking outside your room for the st week, and we wanted to see if she would make a move.. You know, lose her V-card..” She grinned slyly.

  Stu was even more confused asking, “And you were going to watch?”

  Prosperity looked offended, “Not watch.. I was just making sure you guys didn’t need any help. You know, pointers, a sit-in, really whatever might be required.. What? I was a concerned friend..”

  Stu shook his head asking, “Why do I even ask..?” Slowly, he looked at Chaos. He asked, “A week? Have you been outside of my room for a week? Also, did you sp me?”

  Chaos looked like a deer caught in the headlights, “I uh, you know, um, there’s uh, it just, um, uhhh…”

  Stu looked at Chaos while she stood there frozen in pce and he asked, “Do you think Evil Chaos is actually evil?” There was no response as she stood there motionless.

  Miracle said, “This isn’t a battle of good guys and bad guys Stu. These concepts of good and evil, malevolent and benevolent, are strictly human ideas. We are older than words, older than humans, and older than those ideas. There is no simple answer to these questions, especially when like humans, none of us can remember the past. I’m sorry.”

  Stu smiled, the girls looked worried by this. He said, “Thank you for reminding me of that. This actually helps, believe it or not. That was an honest answer, not a clean answer, but honesty is all I ever wanted. I can live with that.”

  Out of nowhere, Chaos muttered in a barely audible tone, “Can I be alone with Stu for a while?”

  The other girls looked at each other before reluctantly making their way out of the room. Stu looked at Chaos and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

  She still hadn’t moved and could still barely speak, she really looked terrified asking, “Do you think.. It would be okay if I slept in here tonight?” She was trembling at this point.

  Stu was completely caught off guard. He asked, “Are you sure? I mean absolutely, but I’m not sure you should.. I want you to don’t get me wrong, but I’m just not sure about your powers, or my powers..”

  She was still terrified and Stu could clearly see it, even as he internally panicked himself. She said, “Your praying again.. I don’t want to do anything, just sleep with you.. If that’s what you’re thinking, I’m sorry.. I think we might both sleep better, if we are together..”

  Stu smiled bashfully, taking her hand while pulling her to the bed and making room for her. She nervously id down next to him and he wrapped his arms around her; she let out a relieved sigh and her trembling slowed. As he spooned with her Stu whispered to her, “You think I was being perverted when I was praying, but this is exactly what I was praying for. Nothing more or less.” He held her tightly as her breathing became more rhythmic. He rested, even if he didn’t sleep. Just holding her there made him feel like everything would be okay, even if the world burned down around them. He breathed in her scent as she slept, making sure to remember the way she felt and marveling at how she seemed like she was made to fit in his arms. Another moment of beauty in this chaotic world, he knew that he would do well to hold on to this.