A lonely new country

Anastasia looked up at Alaina as she moved next to her before resting her head against the larger girl. "My family cannot see me at all, Alaina Sanders. They are dead. I am not doing this to be making them smile," her attitude was blunt, but not quite cold, with a sound of honest determination in her voice. "I am doing this so that I may be feeling better. I do not know if to be hurting will help, but I do not know what else to be doing."

Almost as if the entire preceding conversation had not happened, Anastasia pointed to an image of a large hamburger on the menu. "I will be having this one, with the onions."

Alaina nodded, listening intently but very surprised at Anastasia. Her words didn't shock Alaina as much as her demeanor did. Alaina was amazed at the change of focus to the food as well.

"I am going to have a salad I think." Alaina said. "I am glad you are doing something that makes you feel better.... but it seemed like you didn't try hard to fight back during our match. How come?" Alaina was genuinely curious about that. The beating she put Anastasia through still made her feel awful.

Anastasia cocked her head at Alaina's question. "It was not that I was not for fighting back, Alaina Sanders, you are simply too good for me! I am not one for going on offensive until I know what it is I am up against, and you were on very much offensive entire match." She gave Alaina a sincere smile as she contiued, "Do not worry for me. As I was saying, winning is not so important."

Anastasia paused for a moment, her face turning red again as she looked away. "And besides," she mumbled, "it was feeling good to be handled and... helpless..." By the time she finished speaking she was all but inaudible, her face a hot shade of red.

Alaina was shocked at some stuff.....but this really stole the show!

"I... erm, I see." Alaina said, pausing for a moment. "Anastasia, there are some very bad women in AFW who will seriously hurt you. I mean, they love hurting women and will seriously injure you to the point that you may not wre tle again. I mean, you are a cute, sweet kid and I don't want to see anything seriously bad happen to you."

The tone in Alaina's voice was enough to shut Anastasia up completely, her eyes turned bashfully away. She was so caught up in finally being able to talk to someone about this that she must have went too far, and she decided to stop speaking in fear of straining their relationship. Instead, she simply nodded in response, facing Alaina again but not looking her in the eye.

"I just want to help. Being alone is a fear of mine. The only reason I am still here is because a dear friend signed up at the same time. I am lucky enough to have met a great boyfriend, and a few other friends." Alaina said cheerfully. "As long as I am around, you should never feel alone, OK?"

Alaina gently pat Anastasia on the shoulder in a "big sister" kind of way as they waited for food. Alaina commended Anastasia on being alone for so long. Alainas parents were always loving and supportive, she couldn't fathom losing either of them let alone both. "Any time you need me I will be there, even if you just want to talk."

Anastasia turned back to look at Alaina with a look of awe in her eyes. It had been a long time since she had a good, reliable friend, and suddenly, at least for the time being, the cold emptiness that she always felt had faded away.

Unsure of what even to say, she merely pulled Alaina into a tight hug, burying her face deep into the larger girl's jacket. After a few moments, she eased up, looking Alaina in the eyes again with a smile.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You will come to see me in next match?"

Alaina always got a kick out of making others feel better about things. The look on Anastasia's face filled Alaina with a warm joy that was hard to find but very satisfying. She smiled right back at her small friend.

"Anastasia I wouldn't miss your next match for anything. I will be there."