Day 38

Tripoli was alone in Kyle's room when I opened the door the next day. She didn't look very happy either.

"Yesterday I saw Polk leave but you weren't with him," I said as Kyle shook his head.

"Well, I don't always have to be attached to the hip with him do I, Renata?" Tripoli asked me in a dangerously calm voice. "It's not like Polk won't survive without me. In fact, he seems pretty capable of taking care of himself."

Kyle sighs as he whispered, "I told you it's a misunderstanding, Tripoli...."

"A MISUNDERSTANDING?!" she shrieked, making me jump near the open door. I saw one of the nurses approached with a concerned look on her face. I just gave her a thumbs up and she walked away, apparently convinced it was alright.

I closed Kyle's door and leaned against it. "Tripoli, what's going on?"

"What's going on is that Polk.... Polk.....POLK!" Everytime Tripoli hesitated, she sniffed. It was then that I realized she was crying. "Polk made out with another girl!"

Kyle scoffed as he said, "I'm surprised it took him this long to show his true nature. I've told you he's a dog, Tripoli."

"SHADDUP!" she shrieked again. "I don't care what you say. I still love him, Kyle."

"Did you tell him that?" I asked Tripoli softly as I approached her.

She blinked a few times before saying, "No. I didn't tell him because I don't want to see him right now..."

Kyle's door opened again and there was Polk. He looked devastated as he took in Tripoli and her tears. "She meant nothing to me, Tree. We just made out, it wasn't a hook up...."

"Say it to somebody who cares!" Tripoli spat out as she sobbed some more.

Polk slammed Kyle's door shut and walked towards his girlfriend. "I don't know if you care, but I do. I've never felt for anyone like I've felt for you. Tree, you'll never be my first fuck but you'll be my first love forever."

"That was the most romantic shit I ever heard you say," replied Kyle with a smirk.

"SHADDUP!" said Tripoli and Polk at the same time. They locked eyes with each other and the moment they started chuckling, the tension in the room seeped away.

"I also have another thing I want!" said Kyle.

"What? Your virginity back?" asked Polk. Kyle's cheeks got red as he glanced at me for a moment.

"No. I want the both of you to be together till I die." Tripoli's eyes widened at Kyle's words while Polk smirked. "Just because you two seem right to me but if you want to break up after I'm gone then that's okay. Then I don't have to see Tripoli ugly cry again."

"You're an asshole!" exclaimed Tripoli.

"Yeah? Well you're a bitch," Kyle deadpanned back.

Tripoli turned her back on Kyle as she said to Polk, "Wanna get out of here and make me sing?"

"I thought you'd never ask," said Polk as he pulled Tripoli up from the chair she was in and they left straight away.

"Finally, we're alone!" said Kyle in exasperation. "Now, where's my card?"

I hand it to him to sit down and process the whirlwind of emotions that just occurred. "You're 38 and feeling great as you watch Harley kick the winning score for the team."

Kyle showed me the picture I drew on the inside of the card of a foot kicking a soccer ball. "So my kid is an athlete. That's weak!"

"What? Why do you say that!" I replied.

"Just kidding. I just wanted to snap you out of your daze from Tropical system Tripoli and Hurricane Polk."

I laughed as I said, "They are a handful sometimes huh?"

"They are, but they're alright for the most part."