The Dark of You (GxG)

33. Happy birthday

I followed Rylan up to a huge old house with my suitcase in hand as the snow covered the ground over my ankles. When we reached the door in the dark, it was opened by a short, dark-skinned lady who seemed to have aged nicely, considering her gray hairs that stick slightly out. 

"Rylan," she grinned so brightly at her. It was that kind of happiness my mother had every time she saw me after a few days away.
"Happy birthday," Shantelle raised her hands, but then clenched them back down to her side. It seemed as if she wanted to pull Rylan in for a hug but kept her ground. I furrowed my eyebrows as I realized what Shantelle has just said. 

"Hi," Rylan said tiredly, but there was warmth in her tone. Then the older woman turned to me. 

"It's so nice to meet you, Hadley," Shantelle reached out her hand for me, but then she pulled me into an awkward hug which was really surprising. 

"Nice to meet you too," I said stiffly but slowly relaxed as the smell of cinnamon came to my nose. Her hug is so comforting as if it was from a giant teddy bear. 

"Rylan mentioned that you would come along," She let me go and indicated for us to follow her inside their house. I didn't expect Rylan's foster family to live so out in the country like this. From what I could see, it must have been a farm back in the day as there was an old barn further down the gravel road. 

"I didn't expect Rylan to have a company with her. She never does," Shantelle sort of mocked, which made me press my lips together to hide my mischievous smile. I have a feeling I might get to know Rylan a lot more than before. 

"I hope you can share a room because I don't have another," 

"It's fine. I can use the couch," Rylan interrupted her foster mother, but Shantelle stopped abruptly and we both nearly crashed into her. She stared at Rylan firmly. 

"We both know that is not possible," She glared at Rylan. 

"It's fine," She disagreed.

"No," For a moment there, I thought  Shantelle was literally going to stamp her foot on the floor.  

"I-I can take the couch," I said quietly, too scared to interrupt the argument between them. 

"Unless you want to be woken up at five in the morning by screaming kids, be my guess," Shantelle rested her hands on her ample hips as she stared at me. I closed my mouth and shook my head. 

"Okay, then," was the last thing she said as we followed her down some stairs and passed a few doors until we came to the end of the hall. Rylan's foster mom opened the door and turned on the light. A small bedroom came into view with a middle-sized bed in the corner and a mattress already laid on the floor. The room has nearly no decorations; only a few wardrobes leaned against the wall next to a door.  

"I'll see you in the morning and try to get some sleep," Shantelle smiled, but then stared at Rylan knowingly for a moment longer, then closed the door behind her.

"Is this your room?" I asked because I have a feeling it is as it's so empty. 

"Yes," She said and threw her bag onto the floor. 

"You didn't tell me it's your birthday," I mentioned somewhat hurt by it, but Rylan only shrugged. 

"What? Are you one of those who are scared of a number?" I grinned and she stared firmly with her blue eyes. 

"Happy birthday, Rylan," I said much softer than I intended, it almost became a whisper.
"If I had known I would have,"

"No," Rylan interrupted me and I nodded as I took the hint. Any attention that comes her way always seems to need to ricochet off her. She is too modest for her own good sometimes. 

"So, what's the deal with the couch?" I asked curiously as it sounded like there was a story there. 

"There was an incident last time I was here," She scratched the back of her neck as she looked around. I raised my eyebrow as her discomfort could have been spotted miles away. 

"What?" I chuckled. "You had sex on the couch and got caught kind of incident?" I asked and Rylan clenched her jaw tightly as she glared at me. 

"No," She said through gritted teeth but then let out a sigh as she rubbed her forehead.

"I fell asleep on the couch once and I scared Matt's oldest daughter, Rylee, last time I was here.  She could nearly look me in the eye the rest of the day," She explained sadly and pained by the reminder and my lips parted.

"How did you manage to scare her?" I asked gently. 

"Never mind that," I interrupted my first question as I shook my head.

"Her name is Rylee?" My eyebrows shoot up and Rylan let out an annoyed sigh. 

"Rylan, Rylee? No, just me that sees it," I threw my hands up in disbelief. 

"It's nothing," She said and found her way over to the door to our left, which she opened to expose a bathroom. I walked over and leaned onto the doorframe with crossed arms as I still want an explanation for the name. Rylan furrowed her eyebrows as she noticed that I didn't move to let her through the door. 

"Please tell me," I begged and Rylan closed her eyes as her jaw tightened.  

"When Tucker died, Matt found his comfort with drugs and alcohol. Shantelle had tried everything. He had almost overdosed when I had returned from the military and I talked to him," She shrugged as if it didn't matter. 

"He went into treatment and met his wife Cleo there and well in his mind, I saved his life, which isn't true. Anyone could have done it," She explained finally, annoyed and uncomfortable as her body tensed.

"Yeah, well, you were the one who did it, Rylan, that's the point," I told her and yet again she let out a frustrated breath as she wanted to pass me and I let her this time. Then I went through my suitcase to find the t-shirt that I always sleep in and a pair of sweatpants. I usually wear shorts, but Rylan said it would be cold at night, so I took them instead. 

"Can I use the bathroom?" I asked as Rylan was busy with her bag. 

"Go ahead," She didn't even glance at me as she was picking out her own clothes. I brought along my toothbrush, and toothpaste to the bathroom and then closed the door behind me.

After changing clothes and brushing my teeth I opened the door to the bedroom to find Rylan already settled in on the mattress on the floor. I presume that means I'm taking the bed. I crossed the room and slid underneath the cold but fresh sheets with a shiver. 

"What's with the t-shirt?" Rylan asked randomly, but also curiously. 

"It was my mother's shirt. The only one she had left that fit me," I told her and silence filled the awkward tension in the room. 

"Your mother liked Queen?" Rylan sounded amused and I grinned at the unexpected warmth in her voice. It's these occasions with Rylan that make my heart change into a calm and pleasant rhythm. The sort when I listen to a delicate song that is so great to the extent that I close my eyes. Then I fall into a domain ruled by nothing but my desires and dreams. I want to be there forever cause there is nothing else that could compose such an extreme high. A stimulant that pulls me over the waves until I'm left with peace of mind. Rylan is tranquility. A stillness that provides comfort and serenity. Something I never had. Never had with anyone. 

"There was not a day where it was not on," I smiled at the memory of how my mother would sing along to the songs. It could be anywhere, in the kitchen when she cooked or when she did the laundry and even sang to me before bed.

"She loved them and had all the albums, even posters on the walls," I chuckled as I stared up at the ceiling as the memories washed over me. 

"Your mom sounds lovely," Rylan said and the smile I had on my face vanished just like that. 

"She was. She really was," I breathed out sadly. 

"Goodnight," I said as I turned to the side to face away from her. 

"Goodnight, Hadley," Rylan whispered into the silence.