Lost Soul

Chapter Eighteen: Dragon

I don't move from the tub until my legs have fallen asleep and are sending prickles up and down. At least it's made my injured foot numb, so I can't feel the constant sting of the electrical burn anymore.

I don't realize how long I've sat there until someone raps on the bathroom door.

"Raven?" Daniel's voice calls. "Winston found some clean clothes he thinks might fit you. I was going to have one of the girls bring them to you, but they're all asleep."

I shuffle to the door and crack it open.

He glances down, then realizes I'm in nothing but a towel. His eyes snap back to mine, cheeks burning red.

"Thanks," I mumble, but don't grab the clothes. I shuffle back to the tub and crumple back onto my spot. My legs tingle.

He sets the clothes on the sink and turns to leave, then pauses. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks.

"About what?" I whisper.

He turns back to me, keeping his eyes on mine. "Rae."

I shake my head. "I'm going to get her back."

He sighs and nods, turning to the door.

I catch his sweatshirt sleeve and he freezes. He half turns to face me. "You okay?"

I scoff, "what kind of dumbass question is that?"

He shrugs one shoulder. "I'm not good at this."

"Can you- can you stay?"

He settles on the toilet and nudges my foot with his. "I'm here," he assures. "You're not alone." He glances at the door. "I can get one of your friends, if you want. Someone who knows you better."

"Who?" I ask, quietly. "Ava's pissed I didn't tell her about what Erick did. Alex hasn't talked to me in three years. Everyone else... I met at the same time as you."

He chews on his lip. "Well, then, someone that's better at this than me."

"Better at what? Sitting?"

"Comforting people," he mumbles.

"I don't need comforted," I sigh. "There's nothing anyone can say to comfort me. My best friend is..." I shake my head. "She's hurt. I just don't want to be alone right now." I hug myself. "I'm not good at being alone."

Daniel studies my eyes, then reaches out and puts a hand on my knee.

I close my eyes, soaking in the feeling.

Maybe someone else would be better. Maybe James could make me laugh despite everything. Maybe I could finally get answers out of Charlie. Maybe I can ask Izzy about her sister again and learn more about the intricacies of ballet. Maybe anyone else would be easier to talk to.

But Danny doesn't push, and I like that.

Everyone else seems to expect things from me, even Cat, who doesn't even know me.

But Danny doesn't push. He doesn't make me open up about things I don't want to.

It's easy to get along with him. It's easy to tell him things.

"Are we friends?" I ask.

He blinks at me. "I'd like to think so."

"Even though we just met not that long ago?"

He shrugs and hums in the back of his throat. "Time is weird like that. Someone you've known for years could be someone you hate, like Erick. Someone you met five minutes ago could be someone you get along with better than anyone. If I spend all my time worrying about if I've filled up the friendship bar with someone, I'll never actually form a friendship."