Myriad- Daniel Seavey

16.

Today was the day that Daniel would find out that he would be in the top 24 or not.
I woke up feeling absolutely horrible.
I still hadnt eaten much anything, but i just wasnt hungry.
I got dressed and went to Adanna's room to hang out with her before they had to leave.
i knocked on her door and she let me in.
"How are you doing?" she asked me softly.
I waved my hand at her and said, "Todays about you, not me."
She still looked concerned, but said, "Im nervous."
"If you werent nervous, you wouldnt be human." i said quietly.
"Should i curl my hair or?" Adanna asked me, reaching for her curling wand.
I nodded and said, "Want me to do it for you?"
she nodded.
We watched a movie on tv while i wrapped piec after piece of hair around her wand.
I was almost done when Lovey barged in.
She startled me so much that i jumped and hit the curling wand on my face near my eye.
"Fuck, Lovey!" i cursed as the pain sizzled through my skin.
"Im sorry!" she exclaimed and took the curling wand from my hand.
"Oh good lord, Aubree, its already starting to swell." Adanna stated.
"Yay, now when i sob about Daniel it will physically hurt me," i said sarcastically.
I saw Adanna and Lovey exchange a glance.
i ignored it and ran cold water by my eye.
It was swollen and red, but it wasnt too bad.
"Adanna, i can finish your hair now," i said and walked back into the room.
i finished up and her hair and we all went back to our rooms to get ready.
I walked through the door and saw Keri and Daniel sitting at the counter.
"Whoa, what happened to your eye?" Keri exclaimed.
"Curling wand," i said simply and walked to my room.
i got back in my room and looked at Daniels old bed.
i felt my eyes well up with tears once more, but blinked them away quickly.
I looked in the mirror to see my eye almost swollen shut near the outer corner and flaming red.
"Fuck, i look like a freak," i whispered to myself.
"Keri, can i have an ice pack for my eye?" i asked as i walked back to the kitchen.
She got me an ice pack.
"Are you hungry, Aubree? Youve barely eaten a thing these last few days," she asked, concerned.
That made Daniel turn his head and look at me.
"Im just not hungry," i said with a small voice.
Honestly, i wasnt hungry. i didnt feel like eating. Its not like food was going to make me skinnier anyways.
I saw Daniel furrow his brows, but he didnt push it or ask me anything about my not eating.
My eye's swelling had gone down a little, and we left to see if Daniel was in the top 24.
The car ride was sullen again, no laughing or belting out song lyrics.
Just everyone sitting in comfortable silence.
Daniel's knee bounced up and down, up and down.
My phone buzzed with an alert from.. Daniel?
From Daniel
-Why arent you eating
To Daniel
-Not hungry
i clicked my phone off and he didnt text back again.
But he knew something was wrong.
We arrived at the place where the next part was going to be held.
Daniel, again, didnt look at me once while his parents wished him good luck and hugged him.
I looked down at my uggs, not saying a word.
The lump in my throat returned, but no tears came. I guess thats progress.
Adanna and Lovey made it and i was so happy for them!
Daniel's turn arrived and we waited nervously for him to deliver the news.
He walked out of the room slightly crying, and that made my heart skip a beat, but he announced that he made it.
His parents jumped up and down and shrieked happily.
I clasped my hands together and smiled really big for him. He so deserved to make it.
He actually looked up at me, and i said quietly, "Congrats,"
He gave me a half-smile, but that one half-smile brightened my mood so much.
He was interviewd quickly for the show before we left.
In the car, Keri asked me, "Aubree, since you and Daniel broke up, do you still want to stay with us?"
I felt sad, but i replied quietly, "I think i should go home."
i saw Daniel stop bouncing his knee up and down (again).
We planned for me to go home the next day.
I promised to watch American Idol on tv.
I missed Daniel so much.
At the room, i packed up my bags.
We were all hanging out in Adannas room again, and playing truth or dare.
It was Trevors turn.
He looked around the room before deciding on me, "Aubree, truth or dare?"
"Truth i guess," i said quietly. i really didnt want to talk to him.
"Will you forgive me?" He asked sincerely.
i took a moment before shrugging, "Sure."
It was my turn, and an idea flashed in my mind.
"Daniel, truth or dare?"
He looked surprised at my picking him, "Dare."
"I dare you to take a shot of ketchup."
Something flashed in his eyes, a memory.
(flashback to chapter one lol.)
He didnt get up for a moment, he just looked at me and shook his head.
We didnt have a shot glass, so we just measured out what we thought could be a shot.
He took it and everyone gagged.
He moved on to the next person, then the next, then the next.
Before we all separated, i told them i was leaving the next day, and i got hugs.
"We'll miss you," Adanna whispered as we hugged.
Once we left, and Daniel and i started walking back to the room, i stopped in the hallway.
I took a moment and blinked away the tears again, the sorrow of leaving my friends was becoming a little too much.
(shoutout to shawn mendes love ya)
That night, i could barely sleep.
The next day at the airport, i felt numb.
I was actually going home to nothing.
I hugged Keri and Jeff and thanked them abot a billion times.
I placed my arm around Daniel for hug.
He stiffened up, and halfway hugged back.
He smelled so good.
"Bye," i whispered, and walked away.
I heard Daniels parents get mad at him for 'being rude' by not hugging me back or whatever.
i couldnt care less tbh.
i walked to my plane seat, and put away my backpack and my small suitcase.
This plane didnt have tvs, so i was stuck with just my phone and earbuds.
I eventually drifted off uncomfortably into a restless sleep, dreaming of Daniel and me together again.