20 chapter twenty

“You look like shit”

“Thank you for saying that Danny. I needed to hear that” Paps rolled his eyes as he tried to get the soap out of his hair. He failed miserably and just ended up messing his black curls even more. Danny tugged the towel from paps hand and decided to wipe out the soap from his hair herself. It was such a sight to see. Paps was grinning with a tint of pink on his cheeks, like a child who finally won over his crush. He looked up at a towering Danny and smiled at her when she caught him staring. A glow engulfed them both as they gave each other side glances and childish smiles. I could almost see twinkles in their eyes.

“I missed you.” Danny smiled,

“Of course you did. I missed you too” She responded as she playfully punched him. They shared more side glances at each other and shared a laugh when they caught each other staring. “I have a lot to tell you Georgie!” Danny smiled, “so many good things are heading our way!” Danny let out a loud shriek as paps pulled her onto his lap.

“Don’t do that Georgie! You know better than to surprise me.” Paps ended up groaning and complaining as Danny lashed out hard punches at him. She kept hitting his chest till he finally gave up.

“Okay! Okay! No more! You win! Just so you know your punches really hurt.” Paps whined.

“I know it hurts and that’s why I keep hitting you. Let me go!” Paps secured his hands even more tightly around Danny’s waist as she tried to get up. “Okay Georgie what do you want?”

“Just to hold you tight.” He said as he clung to Danny and forced his head in the crook of her neck. “I missed doing this to my bunny. They looked so intimate and it kind of frightened me.

“Bunny?” Peter popped out of nowhere startling all three of us. Instead of defending himself paps got mad at us for ruining the moment and prying. Danny was somewhat at ease as she watched everything unfold. She avoided looking at us often as she was trying to get her flashed self in order. Peter on the other hand was too curious to let anything go.

“Mr G,” Peter called using his nickname for paps, “since when has Danny been your bunny?” You could hear the smirk in his voice.

“How long have you been standing there?” Paps shot back.

“Long enough to ask you what I already did.” Peter replied. He folded his arms and got comfy beside me on the couch. As usual, he was dressed in white. Today his hair was tied into a tight bun on the top of his head. I bet Shannon had something to do with it. Ever since they started dating she made it her duty to take care of him since he took care of her by cooking for them. Despite not having Shannon around at this very moment he too had a similar glow and aura to that of Paps and Danny. Even apart they still had an effect on each other. I too want to love and be loved like that.

“What are you even doing here creep?” Paps sighed as he let go of Danny and laid back onto the welcome bench.

“Dinner preparations. It was you who called me here on my day off, remember? Oh, and Ro heard everything too, in fact she’s the bigger creep.” Peter ended with a wink in my direction before he left to start with the preparations. I turned back to the besties who were already staring at me. uhm? Is there something on my face or it’s the creeping thing? I’d been staring at them since paps ran down the stairs and now is when they notice me? Who am I kidding it’s the creeping thing. I ate popcorn as I watched them from the sofa like they were a reality tv show. Such a creeper! Now they just stared at me for I don’t know how long and I don’t like it.

“Oo-okay, I will leave now. Please continue.” I shouted as I ran upstairs. I immediately decided to change and get ready for the shopping trip. It was quick and easy causing me to have more time to wait for Danny and paps to pause their reunion. I dived onto the bed and let the softness engulf me as the air was knocked out of my lungs. I was getting a little too comfortable and was drifting in and out of sleep. This was until my phone rang. Too drowsy to check the caller ID I just swiped and put the phone by my ear.

“Is this a bad time?” a deep, hoarse and familiar voice forced its way into my ear.

“Micah?” I asked despite knowing who it was. Why was he calling me? I turned over and laid on my back as I waited for his reply. Something about this phone call rubbed me in the wrong way. I couldn’t wait for it to end.

“I see you still know my voice.” He joked shyly as my insides twisted. “I know this is kind of strange but I promise you that my intentions are pure.” I know your intentions are pure. You’ve never ever been horrid to me.

“I know.” I came out as a whisper. I could hear the smile in his voice as he continued.

“Great then! I called to talk to you about the accident. I heard about your accident a while back and I know I’m late and stupid and inconsiderate and I really wanted to see you but-”

“Okay, get to the point.” I laughed a little. His mumblings always made me smile. He’d try to make me feel better or confess something but instead end up mumbling something totally unrelated. It was so cute to watch him embarrass himself like that.

“Oh yeah, you’re right. Sorry for mumbling. I just wanted to check on you. I heard about your accident and I didn’t know how to approach you earlier. I know it sounds like a lame excuse but I just really hope you’re okay.” That’s all it took to get a tear out of my eyes. I tried to be as quiet as possible so Micah couldn’t hear me. How weird would it be for him to hear me cry from just a few words? “Veronica?” Right, I need to say something.

“Thanks for checking up on me.” I manage to say though my voice broke half way through the sentence. I could hear his movements through the phone as he shifted.

“Veronica please don’t cry.” I just laughed at his attempt to sound concerned. “Sorry for not sounding sincere but I really don’t understand why your crying.” he laughed and so did I.

“I don’t know why I’m crying either.” I laugh-cried. this was just embarrassing.

“You’re still messed up, huh?” I nodded at the phone as though he could see me.

“and you’re still a little insensitive I see.” I shot back whilst we continued to laugh.

“But that’s why we work so well together.” That shut me up completely and I know he felt that too. He just had to bring up our past. This killed the fun moment we were just having and made the situation very uncomfortable for me. “I’m sorry, I was out of line.” He sighed as awkward silence and tension connected us through the line. “I really messed up again, didn’t I?” I nodded at the phone again and sighed. A few minutes of listening to our breathing past when Micah talked again, “Can I buy you some ice cream?” That was all it took. Damn it! He knows my weakness. I love ice cream! I love it so much that I can kill for it. Ro you’re stronger than this, just say no and hang up.

“Sure” what?

“Really?” he sounded as shocked as I was. It was like my mouth and my brain disconnected. Again, just say no and it will be all over.

“Yes. I’d love to.” I face palmed hoping that would help me stop being stupid. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Okay?” He replied unsurely, “Just text me when. Bye!” he hung up and I literally died. My soul left my body with loads of disappointment on its back. What just happened? Before I could literally kill myself, I ran down stairs and headed straight to the fridge. There was no way I’d think about this sober. I reached for the back of the fridge and there I found my poison. Tantarara!

“What are you doing?” Peter questioned as he entered the kitchen. I guiltily removed my head from the fridge and gave him a strained smile. He just raised his eyebrow and gave me a questioning look. “What are you hiding behind your back?” I fixed my gaze on Peter’s face as I slowly moved my freezing hands to the front. He just sighed and invited me to sit on one of the stools by the island. I just quietly took my sit as Peter brought me a spoon.