Dance in the Rain

D.I.T.R. - 11

*Pic of Desiree

“Lenny?” I asked, smiling a little at my good luck. I laughed breathlessly and he smiled weakly at me. I hadn’t seen him in ages and it was good to see a familiar face from all the strangers I’d seen in the past five hours or so.

“Hey Dez, long time no see,” I could tell how much this was actually affecting him. How much Summer’s disappearance was hurting him emotionally. I grabbed his shoulder in a comforting way,

“It’s going to be alright,” I comforted him and stood up, as did he, and pulled him into a big hug. Although he wasn’t showing much emotion, the hug said it all. The way his body was stiff the whole time sometimes his body shook with silent, uncontrollable sobs.

After a couple of minutes he calmed down and I glared at anyone who was giving us strange looks, “What are you doing here?” He asked his voice croaky and hoarse.

“Well I kind of ran away,” I smiled sheepishly. When he gave me a questioning look, “Long story short; Samson almost strangled an old friend, who betrayed me a couple of years ago, after I made up with him.” I shrugged sadly as to why Samson would do that.

“Do you have somewhere to stay?” He asked smiling a little at me.

I looked up at him through my lashes, “That was where I’d be hoping you have a spear couch?” I asked, sort of suggesting. He smiled softly at me,

“Yeah sure, I’ll just get some food for dinner which is why I’m here and we can go.” He smiled once before joining the line. Since I didn’t really have anything to do, I stood next to him in line, “How’s life?” He asked trying to make small talk.

“Alright, I guess. I’m sort of going to be a mum soon, if you could call it that.” I shrugged and put my hands in my blue hoodie’s pockets. Lenny looked at me with a small amused smile,

“Wow, Dez I never thought of you to be the one to get knocked up at sixteen. I thought you’d wait till at least eighteen.” I punched his arm lightly and rubbed my stomach,

“Do I really look that fat at the moment?” I asked slightly bending my back to stick my belly out, “Nah I’m joking. Mum and dad have given up on Callum.” I said sadly, a silent tear ran down my cheek from the pain Callum must be feeling.

“Oh my goodness, Dez I’m so sorry.” Lenny pulled me into a little side hug and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Don’t apologise to me, it’s Callum that’s being robbed of his childhood. He finally gets a chance to have a family that see’s him as more as an accident that wasn’t meant to happen and just needs to be taken care of for eighteen years before getting dumped. I just hate mum and dad SO much at the moment.” I buried my face in Lenny’s chest and he hugged me, comforting me.

“Hey bro, who’s this?” John asked from behind us. I looked up and he saw who I was. He just stared at me shocked before seeing my puffy eyes which was quite embarrassing since we were still in the middle of Hungry Jacks. John held his arms out for me and I walked slowly over to him, being enveloped in his strong arms. I felt the warmth from the paper bag holding fries and a burger in one hand and the coolness from a coke in the other, slightly soaking my hoodie.  Even though I hardly saw these guys, I still was closer to Justice Crew than my parents, “What’s wrong, Sam?”

John and Lenny have always called me Sam because if I was older and had less hair, you could almost pass Samson and me as twins. When we were little, everyone thought we were twins even though he’s almost ten years older than me. People back then must’ve been pretty stupid since Samson was basically twice my size when he was fifteen and I was only nine.

“My parents have given up on Callum,” I mumbled into John’s chest. I had my wrapped around John’s neck because he decided to hug my waist. He lifted me up slightly and carried me out of the restaurant and to their car. I let out a little squeal of shock but just rested my head on his shoulder. I just needed to rest. I got into their old, beat up Toyota. I patted my pockets to find my phone when I realise I must have left it on the table. I groaned and was about to get out when someone walked past my door. In the next second, Lenny sat in the driver’s seat and threw my phone over his shoulder onto my lap. I sighed with relief and thanked him.

He pulled away and was on our way to John and Lenny’s place - that they usually shared with Solo but since he’s still with Samson, he won’t be there - when John turned from where he was sitting in the passenger’s set and asked,

“Where’s all your stuff?” Looking at me curiously,

“I don’t have any,” I replied, “I’m really sorry and grateful for you guys to give me a place to crash. As soon as my friend Ryan left me and Samson almost attacked each other and he accused me of some stuff and I got so angry I just ran. I ended up in the airport and caught the next flight out of there, which happened to be to Sydney Domestic. I thought of you straight away, even though I wasn’t really thinking that much. I know you’re going through a lot but I will seriously not be a problem. All I need is a couch and I’ll be out of your hair. I can even to house work to help out.”

I sighed and broke eye contact with John to look out the window. House lights or closed curtains rolled by.

“Don’t be silly, Dez. You’re basically family if you’re related to one of us. You can even have Solo’s bed until he gets back.” He smiled slyly, “Maybe even after he gets back,” He raised his eye brows a couple of times before winking at me and turning back around in his seat.

I scoffed at him, “What are you implying John?” I asked playfully, “That I’d sleep with a twenty two year old, that’s like six years!” I knew he was only joking and that’s when realised how much I really need my family in my life. How much I do take loving friends and family for granted.