All She Ever Wanted - Oneshot

All She Ever Wanted

Tears spilled freely from Thea's chestnut eyes. The Christmas lights that illuminated the normally quiet suburban street invaded her vision. Cheers, laughter, carol singers. All of these sounds meshed together to create an unpleasant buzzing in her ears. It drove her almost mental.

"So Thea, how long do you think you'll be in a job this time? Hope you have a tolerant boss. Although I've heard jewelers can be very particular about how they like things done."

"Shut up Paula. It's not like the sun shines out of your butt any more than it does mine."

"Thea, that's quite enough. We'd like to enjoy Christmas for once without you bickering with your sister."

"How about I just leave you all in peace."

Silence

"You're free to do as you wish dear."

Her mother's words had pierced through her like a sharp knife. She had no choice but to leave. That's what they really wanted after all. She power walked down the street to her car, almost tripping over her two left feet more than a few times. Her beige reindeer sweater and well-worn Levi's did hardly a thing to shield her against the frosty breeze. She'd never regretted her decision to come home for Christmas more than she did tonight.

"Thea," Daniel called out from behind.

She didn't want to hear his voice. It was adding fuel to her meltdown. She quickened her pace, knowing full well that it would increase her risk of falling flat on her face by about 20%.

"Thea wait."

His voice projected from closer. Damn his nimble football legs. He grabbed her petite shoulders and put an end to her escape.

"Please, Just let me go."

Her chin quivered trying to steady her trembling voice.

"Thea, don't just leave. Please try to see their point of view. Your family haven't seen you in almost a year and the only thing you could manage to do was criticize everyone at the table." Daniel was always comfortable telling Thea how he saw things, since the first time he saw her walking to school dragging her feet. He made sure to tell her she'd trip sooner or later if she kept at it. And he was there when she did, time and time again, making sure he'd catch her before the other kids had yet another reason to laugh at her.

"Criticize everyone? How am I supposed to behave when all my mom and sister do is pick apart everything I do?"

Daniel looked on at Thea, unwilling to interject.

"Do you think because of my Asperger's that I don't know when people are passive aggressively judging me? That because of my Asperger's I don't have real human emotions?" she continued with tears morphing into anger.

"You know I don't think that Thea." Daniel swiped the snowflakes off his face, appearing agitated.

"Do I though? Isn't that why you chose a nice respectable normal girl like Evelyn?"

"What?" He blinked slowly, as if taking a little extra time to process what Thea was saying.

She looked away from Daniel's strong, clean-cut face.

"Nothing... doesn't matter."

Thea took a few more steps toward her car and dropped into the drivers seat. Daniel wasted no time, joining her in the passenger seat. She sighed in defeat. Any effort to deter him was futile. They sat in silence. She rubbed her icy hands together to generate some warmth. He took them into his large encompassing hands and blew on them. She watched him. His tender gaze calmed her.