Familiar Faces [a donnie darko fanfic]

Chapter Five

Bayley left first, picked up by her mom. That day was great for accomplishing a lot. The first scene was completed after all the mapping out and character planning. Donnie stayed for dinner with the permission of both his mom and mine.
"Like I said the other day," he began as he helped me organize my papers. "We make a great team and your friend makes this a great trio."
"I'm glad you guys are getting along and it's not some weird silence or hostility."
We went to the kitchen, hand in hand and began to help my mom with dinner. Dylan sat in the living room doing homework. "Hey Dylan, would you like to be in the movie?" I asked.
"What's it about?" He sounded interested but his eyes did not leave his papers.
"Some kid aging with his town because he's very involved. You don't have to be in the whole thing, we just need you for probably a couple scenes."
"I'm in," he decided. I returned to the kitchen.

Donnie's mom came to pick him up this time. I had never actually met her, but I had seen her that one time at the bus stop. She came in and sat down on the couch for a little while.
"Someday soon, you'll have to come to our house," she told me with a smile. Donnie gave her a hardly noticeable nudge. "How about tomorrow after school? Would you like to have dinner with us?"
"It's fine with me," my mom input. "Just as long as she's home by seven to finish any homework.
Mrs. Darko told me to call her Rose but I didn't feel comfortable doing so. She and Donnie left shortly after the invitation was extended to me.
"Want me to pick you up tomorrow from his house or will he walk you home?" my mom asked.
"I'll call you when I know for sure. Close to seven, I'll call. If Donnie doesn't want to walk me home or his parents don't want him to, I'll let you know."

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Come Wednesday morning, I was a little nervous. I was comfortable in my own home but I didn't know if I would be at Donnie's. "I want you to come to therapy with me, maybe you can understand this better," he had said.
We left to go to Dr. Thurman after school. "That's really sweet that you're going with him," his mom piped up. Donnie squeezed my hand and smiled.
Before we went in, I began to shake a little. "Am I actually allowed in here?" I asked in a whisper.
"Yes, I can have people in here," he assured me. "It's ok." Dr. Thurman walked in, beaming at us.
"And who's this?" she asked, sitting down across from us.
"This is my girlfriend, April," Donnie introduced. Dr. Thurman reached out to shake my hand and I did the same returning a smile.
"I've heard about you quite a few times," she interjected in an amused tone. "You're absolutely beautiful."
I blushed and Donnie leaned over in my space, nodding with a goofy grin. I thanked her and sunk back into the couch.
"Now, we're going to treat this like usual, but April, if you feel the need to voice any concerns about the situation or Donnie specifically, please don't be afraid to do so," Dr. Thurman informed us.
"I have a concern," I whispered. Donnie squeezed my hand. Dr. Thurman turned to me. "Will this endanger him?"
"There is a chance, yes," she answered truthfully. "Not to alarm you, I'm sorry. Donnie sleepwalks, I don't know if you knew or not. That's quite dangerous considering he hardly knows where he'll end up in the morning. And his daylight hallucinations... he could perceive these as real things and feel as though he is actual danger. This might cause him to guard himself with a weapon and/or end up in a threatening place he might not be aware of."
I sighed deeply and leaned into Donnie. "Have you put him on any medication?"
"Yes I have, not the highest dosage, though. I don't want him to be living as though all he's doing is managing his condition but considering recent events, I might put him on a higher dosage."
Donnie turned to me, smoothing his pant-leg with his free hand. "She thought I should... uh- tell you about my friend. His name is Frank." His face grew red and I felt his palm sweat a little against mine. "He's different than any other friends I have."
Seeing as Donnie looked to embarrassed to continue, Dr. Thurman jumped in. "He's a 6ft bunny rabbit."
"He tells me to do stuff and he wants me to follow him into the future," he said quietly. I grazed the top of his hand with my thumb. I felt a pang of sorrow and a wave of confusion. It must be awful to see things no one else sees and it drives you up a wall.
"Is there anything else you need to talk about?" Dr. Thurman pressed. "We have 30 minutes left of the session."
Donnie shook his head slowly and turned his head away, like he had something on his mind.
"What is it Donnie?" I asked him, rubbing his arm gently. He turned back to us and sighed.
"Roberta Sparrow... My father almost ran over her the other day. When I got out she told me...." he trailed off, as if he couldn't remember anything. Dr. Thurman prodded him with a smile and I did so with a squeeze of the hand.
"Every living creature on earth dies alone," he finished curtly. His therapist looked puzzled.
"Does that scare you? Being alone?"
"I don't want to be alone," Donnie choked out. "I know I'm not and I'd really like to believe that- I have April, but sometimes I do feel alone. Not in the same way entirely."
"In what way? Do you feel alone spiritually?"
"I don't know... I could spend my whole life debating it, weighing the pros and cons. But in the end, I still wouldn't have any proof so I just don't debate it anymore. It's absurd," he responded and let out a bitter laugh.
"The search for god is absurd?"
"It is if we all die alone," he closed, leaning against me. I touched my fingertips to Donnie's cheek.
"I'll be here until then," I whispered, disregarding Dr. Thurman for a moment. My heart ached for Donnie and his troubles.
"You have wonderful support there," Dr. Thurman pointed out softly. "Hold on to that."

The session ended with a greater understanding on my part. I now knew the very extent of Donnie's troubles. We went back to his house for dinner; my nerves messed with my stomach. I had only seen his house from the outside, the interior definitely gave it a run for it's money.
A beautiful chandelier hung above us as we walked through the door. There was a large, twirling staircase that lead up to Donnie and his parents' rooms.
"My mom is still making dinner, you want to jump on the trampoline?" Donnie asked. I nodded and he grabbed my hand.
The sun was already slowly starting to set. The air was brisk and harsh, making me shiver as we stepped outside. Donnie scooped me up in his arms and ran to the trampoline. His body heat warmed me, shutting out the cold. "I should've brought my coat," I said with a laugh.
Donnie began to jump; I screwed my eyes shut, slightly afraid of the motion. I held onto Donnie tighter. The sorrow and troubles brought along from the therapy session melted away with our laughter.
"Put me down," I cackled. "Please." Donnie bounced into a sitting position and let me go. I bounced onto my back, face up to the yellowing sky.
"You ok?"
"Yea, I'm fine. I landed on my back alright." I playfully kicked him. He grabbed my foot and began to pull me towards him.
"I'll attack you with kisses," he threatened. He pretended to look angry and pulled my face to his. My cheeks and lips received several sloppy kisses. I squirmed away, giggling.
"Dinner's ready!" Donnie's mom called from the door. We both jumped from the trampoline and rushed inside.
"Good thing, too. I'm hungry," Donnie stated, opening the back door for me. Everyone else was seated at the table, besides us and Mrs. Darko who was preparing the plates.
I sat across from Samantha, whom I had met only briefly. The older next to her I assumed to be Elizabeth. At the head of the table was Donnie's father.
"Hi, I'm Eddie, Donnie's dad," he introduced. "You must be April."
"Yes, that's me," I said with a smile. "Nice to meet you."
Mrs. Darko set out all of our plates. I thanked her, but sort of hesitated before eating. I didn't know whether or not this family said grace.
"What are you waiting for?" Donnie whispered. "We don't say grace."
Elizabeth laughed. "He's right, we don't." She waved. "I'm Elizabeth by the way. Donnie never shuts up about you."
"I know her," Samantha announced. She turned to Donnie. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"Yes, Sam," he drawled before shoving a forkful of spaghetti in his mouth.
"I feel bad for her," Samantha said. She was too young to know much about filtering her words. We all began eating.
"So how'd you two meet?" Mrs. Darko asked and took a sip of wine. Donnie and I both turned to each other.
"On the bus," I chimed and at the same time Donnie said "the bus."
"Wow, did you guys plan that out?" Elizabeth inquired sarcastically.
"Yea, planned it out more than you've got your life planned out."
"Oh, can it," she bit at him. Mrs. Darko shot them both death glares.
"Enough, please," she commanded and that was the peak of dinner that night.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
"I haven't been taking my medication," Donnie blurted. He offered to take me home on his bike; I sat on the handlebar. I turned as much as I could.
"Why?" Donnie concentrated on the road, avoiding my worried and alarmed eye contact.
"I hate it, April," he whined. "I feel like... I'm not myself."
"Yea well when you don't take it, you're you with a problem that needs fixing. I'm saying this because I care. Please try."
"Fine. For you, not because anyone else said or wants," he said with a tone of finality. I reached behind me and patted his hand.
"I don't want you to live in fear," I hummed to him, "Please understand that."
When we arrived at my door, Donnie gave me a sweet kiss goodbye. His lips were soft like always. The kiss lingered as we both slowly pulled away. "Thank your parents again for me?"
"Certainly, my beautiful girl," he smirked. I squeezed his hand one last time.
"You can do this, Donnie. But you don't have to alone."

A/N: again, I'm sorry for another short chapter. I'm writing it like this so the updates will be more frequent. Hope everyone's doing well.