Lilacs Forever

Chapter 18: Hot Chocolate

When Delilah got out of the building she saw her bus leave. Great, she muttered to herself. She stood at the bus stop as two people were already sitting down on the bench, waiting for the next one.

She felt drops fall onto her head. It started to rain hard. She frantically hurried under the roof of the bus stop, but it didn't change the fact that she was already soaking wet. The cold air bit at her ears, she felt her cheek and it was like ice. She looked at the people around her, some were talking to one another, probably about their plans for the weekend. Others were staring at their phones or staring blankly into nowhere. It didn't matter anyway whether they cared or not because her problems were not theirs.

The bus came an hour and a half later. When she entered the bus, she found it packed with people. So she held onto the little things that dangled above the seats, her purse clutched in her free arm. The man next to her sneezed. She flinched. Delilah looked outside, it was downpouring. That would be the last thing she saw from that window because it was getting dark.

When she arrived at her bus stop by home, the sky was already pitch black. The rain became a little lighter, which was a relief. She stepped down the stairs of the bus, only for her foot to splash into a deep, cold puddle. As the bus left, some water from the wheels splashed her too.

Jacob was in his pajamas, most likely taking out the trash because he had two big trash bags.

"Hi Delilah! How's it going?" He called out but Delilah just briskly walked past him, without saying a word.

She reached into her bag and fumbled for the keys. They dropped to the ground so she had to bend to pick them up. Which hurt her feet because her shoes were soaking wet and it was cold and it made blisters on her heels and toes. She finally picked them up and opened the door, sloppily hanging her purse.

A shower... A shower, yes, that's what I need.

Delilah quickly went to the bathroom, her soaking wet clothes clung onto her body, making it hard to undress. She stepped into the shower and turned on the faucet. Cold water spurted out, it felt as if she were thrown into an icy lake. She yelped and stepped away, waiting for the water to get warm. It didn't.

So, she jumped into the shower and quickly wet her hair, frantically putting on shampoo and body wash. The cold air stung her wet body as she towelled herself dry. She put on pajamas and flopped down her bed. Delilah got out her phone.

Mom. She'll know what to do.

She dialed her mother's number but she didn't pick. After being left on voicemail three times, "Aargh!" Delilah threw her phone across the bed and buried her head in the pillows.

—-

As Delilah was sulking under the covers, she heard a knock at the door. She got up and headed to the door, timidly peeking out.

"Y-yes?"

It was Jacob,with an umbrella. "Come on, we're going to Honey Bea's"

"Tonight? But it's late."

"It's open till midnight."

"B-but I'm in my pajamas!" She started to panic, yes she was in her pajamas but she wasn't wearing a bra either. Her face flushed red.

"I'm in pajamas too, we can both go. Get a jacket."

"O-okay..." she locked the door and frantically put on a bra. She then put on a jacket, grabbed her purse, and headed out.

"W-why are we going to Honey Bea's?" She asked as they hurried down the hallways.

"I don't know what you're going through right now but I think you need to talk it out."