Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Becca -

We laid on the couch and watched TV.

She sat on the end that reclined and put a pillow in her lap.

Lightly she played with my hair as I laid there.

Dani: ‘Ok, let me get something to help us sleep.’

She patted my back, signaling me to sit up.

‘Don’t you think we’ve done enough? We smoked, drank, and you gave me those pills…’

She looked a little unhappy.

Dani: ‘I was going to make some chamomile tea, but if you think you’re better off without it, feel free to pass.’

‘Oh, no, sorry. Tea would be great.’

She went to the kitchen.

I felt embarrassed, and like I may have hurt her feelings.

Unsure what to do, I went to kitchen and got up on the counter.

‘Can I help?’

Dani: ‘Wouldn’t want your hands dirty with this herbal tea stuff, but here, take these.’

She handed me two pills.

‘More pain pills?’

Dani: ‘Yeah, the heavy hitting stuff. Ibuprofen.’

She whispered, sounding sarcastic, and annoyed.

‘Look, if you’re mad or offended, you can say it. I can go home, or call a friend. I didn’t mean to be rude.’

Dani: ‘I’m sorry, it’s me. I would be asking if I were you too. I gave you pills and lit up today before even saying hello. My head is just killing me, before you saw us outside, that guy, might have pushed me into a wall hard enough to dent it with my head. I fought back, then there was you. I guess settling down it’s just catching up to me, making me more irritable. I’m really sorry. My ex was the dealer, not me. Yeah, I have weed, and pills, but nothing crazy around here. I really cleaned up.’

‘Dani why didn’t you say something? If you have a concussion, sleeping isn’t safe. You need to make coffee, not tea.’

Dani: ‘Oh you want to play my mother now.’

‘No, look, you’re in charge, fine, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t careful too. If it was me would you let me sleep?’

Dani: ‘You’re cute, but annoying. At least let me make tea so you can rest. I’ll go to the garage, keep myself busy.’

‘No. Come on it’s summer. Let’s stay up watching movies. You should be safe to sleep by daylight.’

Dani: ‘Stay up watching movies? You’re really a wild party girl, huh?’

‘Well as fun as I imagine you would be to party with, maybe I think it would be just as nice to watch movies. Maybe get really wild and cuddle, heat up some Chinese.’

Dani: ‘Think you could handle some ice cream too?’

‘Now you’re getting serious. What kind?’

Dani: ‘I have vanilla in here, but there are a few flavors in my deep freezer outside in the garage.’

‘By all means, turn the water for tea off and lead the way.’

We went out to the garage, and she punched in a code on a keypad.

‘Pretty secure for a...wow.’

It was all so new, and stylish.

There was a loft above, with a small stair case on the side.

There were instruments in a small room in the corner.

A nice living room set up in the open space.

A few couches, recliner, large TV.

Small kitchen space, with the basics.

‘Not what I expected from the old looking wooden exterior covered in neon lights from bar signs.’

Dani: ‘Having the connections to my ex that I do, there are risks. So when I moved in here, I agreed to let him renovate this as, well, I guess a safe house. No windows, no paper trail to him, there’s a bunker below if shit really hit the fan. Water and food stay stocked. If his guys need to lay low, they can come here, but I can say no. It’s for me. I mainly use it to write music, and the deep freezer is handy. I, don’t ever really let anyone see out here.’

‘I feel special then.’

She smiled and stepped towards me.

Dani: ‘Don’t take this the wrong way. You are special. You’re a wonderful girl, and you deserve someone to treat you special, but I’m not trying to be this huge thing in your life. I’m not trying to be anything with a label. I want to hang out with you, be your friend, all of that. I’m not saying you don’t matter enough to be more, or aren’t worth more, but that’s not what I am after. I just wanna play. I just wanna have some fun, with you.’

Courage stirred inside me and out of nowhere, I kissed her.

‘I just wanna play with you too.’