Dareen

20# Fire and Rain

Song: Fire and Rain- Birdy.
Dareen
"Dareen, answer me." Harry yelled as he continued banging on the bathroom door.
I don't get why he's panicking; it's not like I'll hurt myself because of a man anyway. They're all not worth it.
"You shouldn't cry either." A voice in my head reminded. I agree with it, but I can't hold myself.
"What's wrong?" I heard Christina's voice.
Oh, so now they won't let me off without telling them everything.
But, I can't tell anyone.. anything.
"Dareen, open the door and let's talk." Christina called out.
"She's not replying. Call Elliot maybe he knows what's wrong with her." I heard Harry's perfect suggestion, and in a matter of seconds, I unlocked the door.
"Don't call him." I snatched the phone out of Christina's hand.
"Dareen, you really worried us." Harry sighed wrapping his arms around me.
"What's wrong with you?" Christina frowned.
"Nothing. Just a small problem at work. I don't wanna talk about it." I sighed as I walked back to the bathroom to toss fresh water on my face.
"Seriously? Am I supposed to believe that?" Harry raised a brow.
"If you want to help me, take your boyfriend and leave." I told Chistina as I walked past them and to my bedroom.
"Leave her alone, Harry. I'll talk with her later." I heard her telling him, and after a few moments, I heard the front door being slammed shut.
Hugging the pillow, I let it all out.
How could I be so naïve?
How did he lie to me that easily?
How did I give him everything I had when- when he gave me nothing?
----
Elliot
"Where are you going?" Ethan asked as he stood by the doorframe.
"I'm going to my father's beach house to calm down and think. I'll come every now and then to check on you." I smiled faintly.
"I'm so sorry, Elliot. I-I don't know what to say."
"Then be silent, Ethan cause I honestly don't have the energy to talk."
"What am I going to tell Linda when she asks about you?"
"Tell her anything. I don't know." I shook my head as I zipped my backpack.
"Should I call them to bring your car from the company?"
"I'm going with the motorcycle." I dismissed.
"You said-"
"I did say that it's dangerous, but I need to do that, Ethan. Now goodbye." I sighed pulling him in a quick hug.
"Call me when you reach there."
"I will." I nodded as I walked to his room to kiss Alice goodbye.
She was sleeping, so I didn't worry if she will refuse to let me go.
"Are you sure that you're sober, now?"
"Yeah." I nodded as I put on my helmet and turned the key in the ignition.
"Bye." I yelled over its roars and he nodded waving as I sped away.
-------
"I'll take these." I told the woman behind the counter.
"Fifty dollars, sir." She smiled as she handed me the bag and I handed her the notes.
The sun is setting, and that's the time when I feel so lonely. It's a strange hour of the day especially when you're alone.
Letting out a sigh, I walked back to the house. Setting the bags on the counter, I pulled out my ringing phone. It's Linda.
Letting out a sigh, I pressed the phone to my ear.
"Yes, Linda?"
"Where did you go? I can't understand a single thing from Ethan."
"I'm in the beach house, and I'm planning to stay here for a while." I sighed.
"Why are you staying there, son? Did anyone bother you here?" She sighed.
"No, Linda. I want to stay alone for a while. Don't worry about me."
"But-"
"Shh- I'm not young anymore. I can take care of myself."
"Just tell me what happened!" She protested.
"It's just a problem at work that I need to figure out a solution for it."
When she didn't answer, I told her that I need to use the bathroom and hung up.
I'm here to think without distractions.
---------
Sitting by the fire, I started replaying all our moments together. Let me tell you, that was quick, but it isn't over, yet.
After thinking for so long, I reached the decision of giving her time to think without calling her. I explained myself, and all she needs is sometime alone. Maybe then, she'd agree to see me and talk again.
I love this girl, and I'm not letting her go... ever.
Running through the list of contacts, I hesitated as my finger tapped on Christina's name.
Yeah, I agreed to leave Dareen to think without distractions, but I need to make sure that she was okay. Knowing Harry, he'd flip shit if he knew what had happened, and he'd pressure her too much, but Christina is understanding.
Pressing the phone to my ear, I waited for her to answer. After a few rings, she finally did.
"Elliot, are you okay?" She sounds asleep.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up, but I need to talk to you."
"It's okay. What's wrong?"
"How's Dareen?"
"You're asking me this? You're her boyfriend-"
"There's a problem, and I don't want to annoy her further. She won't even answer my calls, and I really don't want to pressure her, but I can't help but worry." I sighed.
"It looks like a big problem cause I've never seen Dareen's tears till now." She sighed and I closed my eyes in shame.
"She's staying alone?" I whispered.
"Yeah, and don't worry about her. We're keeping an eye on her. I think if you stayed away, she'd be better."
"Christina, please. It was something out of my control."
"I don't care what happened. I only care about Dareen's smile that is not on her face anymore because of you. Stay away, Elliot. That's better for both of you, and I won't tell anyone about this call. Goodnight." With that, she hung up leaving me even more worried.
Why is that happening to me? Why?
-------
Dareen
"Christina, let's go." I yelled as I picked up my keys.
"I'm here." She smiled approaching me.
"Girls, take these." Harry handed each one of us an apple.
"Okay, goodbye." I said quickly as I skipped the stairs with her behind me.
"I don't understand why you're rushing so much!"
"Harry, don't forget to take Picky for a walk." I called out.
"Okay." He rolled his eyes.
"I just want to know what's wrong with you." Christina sighed as we got in my car.
"Nothing's wrong with me." I dismissed as I sped off.
"You can lie as much as you want, but don't expect me to believe you." She sighed.
"Then, don't." I shrugged swiching lanes before I got to the campus' parking lot.
"Dareen, you're getting on my nerves. If you're mad because of that piece of shit then don't let your anger out on me!" She looked annoyed, but I couldn't care less.
"Then don't bring up the subject again, and don't even utter his name. let's go. We're late." I glared at her as I got out of the car and slammed the door shut.
-------
"Dareen!" Ethan's disgusting voice called out. Ignoring him, I continued walking without even looking back till he jumped in front of me.
Not giving him much attention, I sighed as I tried to walk past him, but he blocked the whole space.
"What do you want?" I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"We need to talk. It's very urgent."
"Then talk." I shrugged.
"Let's talk in this room?" He suggested pointing at an empty/ dimly lit classroom.
"Are you seriously out of your mind? Do you think that I will agree to sit with you in private without anyone knowing? How could I make sure that an asshole like you won't touch me?!" I raised my voice.
"You're right. I'm sorry. Let's sit there." He pointed at the cafeteria.
"If you have something to say, I'm listening here. If not, then don't waste my time." I stood my ground.
"I have." He stopped me. "What happened yesterday is all my fault. Elliot has nothing to do with it all."
"He sent you, right?" I frowned.
"He left the house. He didn't know that I was going to talk to you, and I want it to stay that way, please."
"What am I supposed to do?" I scoffed.
"Forgive him. It's my mistake, Dareen."
"You're a rapist and he's a liar! Both of you are sick assholes." I glared at him in anger, but didn't dare to raise my voice as people were passing by.
"He was waiting for the right moment to tell you. He was afraid of you freaking out just like you did!" He continued to defend his brother.
"You know what? It was all my mistake, but now I'm learning from it. That's why I will forget everything you told me, and that day, and the days that I spent with Elliot. Tell him to forget about me as well." Nodding slightly, I turned around walking back to the parking lot.
That's the right thing to do. I'm not going to mourn over a liar. He lied about his own brother, and I think that he lied about his feelings to me as well.