We watched 'Alvin & The Chipmunks' without speaking much, singing along with the songs.
"I totally don't know these words." Dannie said about one of the songs the chipmunks were singing.
"I only know the words when someone else is singing them at the same time or when I look them up online." I said.
After that was over we watched 'Garfield The Movie'. I checked my watch.
"It's eight-thirty." I replied.
"Are you sleepy?" Dannie asked, taking a small bite of her strawberry shortcake. I noticed she didn't take big bites when she ate, she just took her time as if she were savoring the flavor.
"No, not really." I replied. The rain was still pouring and it had gotten dark out already. Once Dannie turned off the DVD player and put it away the only noise I heard was the rain, our quiet breathing, and Emmy barking inside. I listened as Dannie climbed into her sleeping bag and curled up. It sounded like she was shivering.
"Wish Hale were here to hug you?" I teased.
"Shut up." She mumbled, then laughed. I smiled and crawled into my own sleeping bag.
"So I have a really unimportant question." Dannie said, closing her eyes and preparing for sleep.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Why did you bring all your clothes in shopping bags?" She asked.
"I actually didn't bring clothes. My dad took me shopping for them." I replied. "I couldn't have snuck into the building to meet him if I had to drag around a suitcase, anyway."
"Ah." Was her only reply as she drifted into sleep.
After a couple of hours, I was still shivering in place, unable to sleep. I unwillingly crawled out of my sleeping bag and slipped on my sneakers. Then I slowly and quietly (as I possibly could) unzipped the tent door and exited, zipping it up behind me. I hurried to the house for my hoodiw, which was still inside, only to find the back door locked. I assumed to myself it was probably Jen who did this, just to get on my nerves.
I walked around the house to the front and headed down the street towards the nearest gas station so I could get a couple of magazines and a flash light to see when I read. It only took me about twenty minutes to get there, but by the time I did I was soaking wet.
Once inside I made my way to the back to get a bottle of water. Once I had that, I went to the magazine rack and picked up two that looked interesting. I didn't see a flashlight, but I was sure of the possibility that Dannie might have one in her duffle bag.
Before I was even close to the check out line, I spotted Hale and Zaydon.
"What are you doing here?" Hale asked, immediately spotting me.
"This is just wacky." I said, giving a small smile. "I couldn't sleep."
"Yeah, we're just pulling an all nighter." Hale replied.
"Nice." I said. Then gave Zaydon a small wave. He only gave a slight nod, then walked away.
"Does he hate me or something?" I asked.
"No, it's not that." Hale replied uneasily.
"Then what it is?" I asked. Hale shrugged.
"He's having a hard time." Hale replied. I realized that was all he was comfortable with saying on this subject, and decided not to press him for more details.
"I'm gonna go pay for this and head home." I said.
"Later." Hale said and walked to the back to meet up with Zaydon.
The lines were long, so by the time I was up to pay, Zaydon and Hale were already in the other line next to me. I handed the cashier a twenty and waited patiently for my change. She put my stuff in a plastic bag and handed me my money, which I shoved in my pocket. On my way out I waved goodbye to Hale and Zaydon; Hale being the only one to wave back. I frowned and left.
Back at home I hurried into the tent as quickly as I could. Dannie was still asleep, turned the other way now with her back to me. Hardly even snoring at all. I set the bag down, suddenly feeling very sad and tired. I kicked off my sneakers and got into my sleeping bag, curled up into a ball, and fell asleep. I guess a walk was all I needed.
****
The next morning the rain had died down to just sprinkles. Dannie was awake before me, having already found the bag and flipping through a magazine.
"Ah, you found them." I replied, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah, when did you get them?" She asked.
"Last night." I replied. "I ran into Hale and Zaydon at the gas station."
"Really?" She looked excited.
"Yeah, Hale was nice but Zaydon kinda seemed like he could care less about everything around him." I replied.
"Oh, sorry." Dannie said. "He gets like that sometimes."
"How come?" I asked but Dannie shrugged.
"I don't really know anything about Zaydon except that he lives with Angela." Dannie replied.
"Oh." I whispered.
"Angela's not his biological mom." Dannie told me. "He just calls her mom because that's basically what she is to him. Angela's so sweet."
"Where's his real mom? And dad?" I asked her, even though she'd previously said she didn't know.
"He doesn't talk about it." She answered, turning a page in the magazine. "I've tried to get him to spill, but he just gets mad."
"You know so much about everyone, yet so little." I said and she smiled.
"I'm skilled like a ninja." She replied with a laugh. I rolled my eyes and smiled. Dannie cracks me up.
