STRANIERA

Part 15

The night of Daniel's death:

"Hey V , can I use the car?" We only got one car on our birthday,we have to share it.Sometimes it's one big fight other times we don't care who takes it.This one time Danny really wanted the car ,I said no 'cause I needed it.He wanted it ,I needed it. He ran outside ,threw eggs towards my windows and yelled "Sorry! You need to clean your windows first!" ,ran to the car and drove away. I was so mad that I bought blue hair dye,put it into his shampoo and conditioner and on his toothbrush.He had a dark toothbrush so it wasn't visible.His hair was blue for months and his teeth was light blue,he needed to go to the dentist ,because it wouldn't wear off.
"Where are you heading?" I ask looking away from my laptop ,taking Danny in. I'm sitting cris kross on my comfy bed ,studying.It's about noon ,sun starting to set ,sky purple on a Sunday.I'm wearing grey pants,a grey over-size T-shirt and one hella messy bun."Did you cam your hair?" "Maybe..." "Daniel." "I'm going on a date with Bekka.I can't take her with the bus  to the art museum so can I use the car today.According to me you don't have plans."
"The red hair nerdy ,Bekka?"I frown
"It's strawberry blond." He said offended.
"It's red."
"Strawberry blond."
"Red."
"Whatever! I need to leave in seven minutes."
"You're going to use it even if I say no."
"I know but I'm trying a new thing ,called being polite."
"Parker is coming over ,so the car is all yours."
Danny winks at me and mouth thanks.
"One question Daniel."
He turns in his steps and fold his hands criss cross over his chest.
"What the hell do you know about art?"
He laughs a little.
"Nothing ,that's why you are going to be on standby ."
"Did you hear when I told you Parker is coming over."
"I don't like the guy." He says ,biting on his teeth ,harding his yaw line.
"I know,and I would never understand why."
"He wants to become a gynecologist ,that is weird. His going to be a predator watcher."
"Very good reason." I roll my eyes. I never support his field of  interested ,but it was his choice. I have a big opinion about it ,but I rather keep my opinion to myself.We've been together 3 years. He's good to me,kind,gentle but boring.We've fell into a routine.I have brought it up ,but he has gotten so comfortable,he just sweeps my opinion onder the rug. I love him ,but...there shouldn't be a 'but' ,but there is.He doesn't try anymore.He doesn't write me little notes and hide them in my room,telling me why he love's me, or doing that cheesy thing where he translate the sentence "I love you" to another language,and that whole weak he would tell me he love's me in that language.Or surprise flowers being delivered.Everything stopped after a year of dating.Date nights turned into visiting each other only to study and then fall asleep.Most of the time he falls asleep on his table with his head on his book.I will fall asleep on the leather couch next to his desk.About three hours later I will wake up slowly ,stand up and walk towards his bed to grab a cushion.Walk towards him and gently lift his head ,move the book away under his head,slip the cushion in the books place and gentle put his head on the cushion.I will crab the blanket he threw over me ,and throw it over his shoulders. Take off his black,square glasses and place them next to his lamp.Grab a sticky note ,write "I love you." and stick it on his study book.I'll slip into my strawberry printed flip flops ,grab my books ,put of the lamp ,kiss him gently on the head ,walk to his fridge ,grab a soda and then I'll walk home.
Sometimes I feel like a side character in his life.I just want "us" back,the two strangers who's eyes met in the hallway at school and smile at each other,at break one of us will write a note like 'where were you this morning, I missed you' and slip it into the other person's locker.When we were done with high school we will secretly slip a note under the other person's door that said things like 'can't wait to see Sunday,going to hold you like I am never saying goodbye to you 'cause you are my favorite hello and I'll rather just never say goodbye' But that also came to a stop when he got busy at work (he does part time job's to pay off his college application) ,I still did it for a while ,but stopped when I got no respond.He didn't even mention it.
He never has mentioned anything about the things that stopped between us,and I try not to bring it up because I mean it's not his fault he works and has to study.I have to support him in all his doings.When he is done studying ,things will go back the way they we're and we can be 'us' again ,giving me the opportunity the fall in love with him all over again.
"His just gonna study very PG pictures anyway ,you'll be bored like always doing your own thing ,because he needs to 'concentrate' ,more like inspecting the pictures like a pervert,which as a fact I think he is, so you'll have plenty of time to help me out.Why you're still with that guy I don't know." he rolls his eyes and starts to walk away.
"Because I love him."I said softly,not thinking that Daniel has heard it.
Danny stops in his tracks. " There's a difference between being in love and loving someone. I'm in love with Bekka and I love you because I have to ,you're a gift from my mother ,I can't just throw you away." He heads down stairs fast "I love you ,sis!" ,as he walks to the car I bang at my window ,Danny looks up ,I stick out my tongue,he laughs and gets into the car.