XIX. 100%

                                    

                                          
"Amari."
                          
"No."
                          
"She will not do anything! She just wants to get to know you! Look at this face!" Viktor cried as he mashed Mishka's face together. "This face wants to be friends!"
                          
"That bark damn sure didn't sound friendly," Amari grumbled as she scooted higher onto the hood of her car. A vile beast took a bite out of the back of her calf years ago. She'd be damned if she let another bite her.
                          
"That is just her saying hello. Ok. Let's try this. If I tie Mishka up in the house will you at least pet her? She is very nice," Viktor tried to reassure. He even used his signature cheery grin. It should have been enough.
                          
"No."
                          
Apparently not.
                          
"Amari," Viktor sighed. "You will never get over your fear if you don't face it."
                          
Of course, Amari knew that was true but it damn sure wasn't going to be that easy. It's been 21 years since Amari even attempted to touch a dog. She didn't need anymore bite marks on her body. Before Amari could make a choice Viktor guided Mishka into his house. He was out within a few seconds.
                          
"Come," He signaled. "She is in the kitchen eating. We are the last thing on her mind. 
                          
Reluctantly, The 25-year-old slid off of the hood of her car. Having been greeted with huge paws and loud barks, Amari found that it was the safest place.
                          
"You are ok?" Viktor asked.
                          
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine." Amari reassured. She lifted an eyebrow at him as he slipped his hand into hers and guided her into his house. The same matching furniture from last time came into view as a strong pleasant scent filled her nostrils. What was it? Axe? Old Spice? It didn't really matter. It all smelled the same to her.
                          
"See? We are not important," Viktor smiled as he pointed to Mishka who was feasting in the kitchen. Amari took a small glance at the beast, but not a long one. She refused to find out what would happen if they made eye contact.
                          
"Make yourself at home. I have to get Mishka's bed ready."
                          
Before Amari could question the Russian man, he vanished down the dark hall. Good. Well, she thought the man was nice but she needed some time to think. Almost instantly, topics appeared in her head.
                          
Her emotions
                          
Her ex
                          
Her mother
                          
Mamu
                          
Her gun
                          
"Shit! Amari. Stop it. There are people in the world who have it worse," She scolded herself. The violent thoughts continued to plague her mind. It seemed like no amount of anger management could suppress the thoughts.
                          
"I'm going crazy. I know it... I'm talking to myself. That's the first stage of fuckedupness. I need to- Aahh!" Amari screamed when she felt a large paw on her knee. Her loud thoughts were interrupted by a furry beast trying to climb up on the sofa.
                          
"Dear God dear God dear God!" Amari panicked as Mishka continued to hoist herself up. Without thinking Amari quickly leaped onto the arm of the sofa. She was not going to try and fight the damn dog for her seat. The beast could have it. With one last pull, Mishka was sitting in Amari's seat. The wide-eyed black woman didn't know what to do. A wall and a dog were blocking her escape. All she could do was stand her guard on the arm of the sofa.
                          
"Mishka!" Viktor called. Instantly the large Alaskan Malamute ran down the dark hall to greet her master. Amari's heart was still beating rapidly from the close encounter. There was no way in hell Amari would ever attempt to come in contact with a dog. They were the greatest fear and nothing could ever change that.
_______________________
                          
"Damn. This-This is- " She paused to let out a painful cough. "Strong."
                          
"Maybe you shouldn't be doing this. You need lungs made of steel, not paper," Viktor mocked before inhaling the thick white smoke. Amari raised an eyebrow when he erupted into a fit of coughs.
                          
"...Mhm," She mocked. As a child, Amari was always told drugs were bad. Hard drugs? Of course. She witnessed that at 16. But weed? This fucking plant was a gift. After all this shit that went down, Amari couldn't be more relaxed. Of course, she knew she couldn't smoke all the time and that this couldn't be the answer to all her stupid ass problems. Amari knew she would eventually have to figure out the right way face her problems head-on but as of right now-
                          
"Fuck it."
                          
"Hm?"
                          
"...I-I said that out loud didn't I? God damn, I need to stop doing that!" Amari sighed. With a concerned look, Viktor scooted closer to the distraught woman.
                          
"Stop beating yourself up. I talk to myself every once in a while. It is a  normal thing," Viktor reassured.
                          
"My mom used to get mad at me whenever I did it. I tried to stop but-" She paused to fill her lungs with the drug. "I just couldn't."
                          
Viktor wasted no time in capturing the young woman's lips. Amari's hands quickly moved to his chest to push him away but she couldn't find the strength. 
                          
Good God She was enjoying this.
                          
"Look at me," He demanded. His once annoying accent had the young black woman hypnotized.
                          
"I don't know how life was for you before we met but stop it. Do not worry about the past. I have you now," Viktor reassured. His well-groomed beard brushed against her neck as decorated her slightly ajar lips with kisses.
                          
It was official. She wouldn't let her family get in the way of her happiness anymore. Her ways of dealing with the stress were stupid anyways. Cigarettes, Marijuana, and painkillers. She didn't need any of that right now. She needed a friend...
                          
With benefits?
                          
"You got me?" Amari asked. She fought to keep her half-lidded eyes open.
                          
"Yes. I'm not letting go. I promise," Viktor responded as he kissed down her now exposed shoulder.
                          
"100%?"
                          
"100%."