Good Girl Gone Bad

~26~

Mani

Scrolling through my mom's instagram almost in tears, there was a knock on my window. Declan. I'm not in the mood. I quickly check my reflection then go unlock the window. Declan quietly calmed in and he wrapped his arms around me. "Hey" I grinned, trying to sound peppy. Still standing he doesn't say anything. "Declan?" No answer.

After about a minute I felt wetness on my shoulder. Was he crying? "Declan. What's wrong?" I asked. He sniffed. Still completely silent. I played with his hair, hopefully soothing him. "You can talk to me." I walked him over to my bed to sit, my legs slightly aching from standing. I tried to let him go and get him to look at me but he held me tightly. His head buried in my neck, tears falling on my shoulder.

"Do you wanna go somewhere? Somewhere else?" I said, attempting to get his mind off of whatever was bothering him. His tears subsided. He nodded. "Okay let me go see where Darren is. You are in no state to climb out a window or drive." He looked at his lap once I was out of his arms. I left the room.

Darren ended up being in the shower so I rushed Declan downstairs and out the door. As always, Declan's car is parked on the far side of the house. We sprinted towards it and got in. I sat in the driver's seat.

This was the dumbest idea I've had today. For the following reasons: I didn't tell Darren, I haven't driven in a good two years, and finally I don't know any good places to take him. He was looking out the window. Still not speaking. I haven't heard his voice once today. I started the engine, which made a slight noise. He looked over at me. Finally, I smiled at him. His face was red and slightly puffy. He smiled back. It wasn't real. Forced.

"I will be back. Declan needs me, it's 911" I texted Darren. He immediately read it but didn't answer. He must be out of the shower. I switched gears, then pulled out of the parking spot and sped off. Declan was watching me closely. He probably thinks I'm gonna wreck his car which I probably will.

Where should we go?

I don't want to take him anywhere he might know. We reached our first stoplight. I never really knew how to stop without being abrupt. Declan looked at me. "Sorry" I smiled awkwardly. He shook his head with a small smile. The light turned green and the car jerked forward. He looked over at me again. He was halfway on the floor. I might kill us. "You might want to put your seatbelt on". I suppress my smile while he struggles to get out of the small space. How did he even fit there in the first place? Once he got fully back on the chair he quickly put his seatbelt on. I made a sharp left onto the highway.

I've never seen Declan this quiet in the six months we have known each other.

Where to go? Then it hit me. I turned at the nearest exit. I turned the radio on to get rid of the awkward silence.

He got his phone out and started texting. Weird. It's probably just Georgie or something. 

author's note:

i told you. sorry it just makes more sense to see it from both sides. goodnight/day.