Chapter 17 (Dakota)
I sat across from Shelby at the local taco place. I had decided that while I was helping out Victoria I should at least try and help out Shelby as well. She wasn't looking very well these days. Right now she sat across from me in a loose tank top that I knew once to be tight, and a baggy pair of sweats that hug loose on her hips. She swirled around a few ice cubes in her glass of water.
The weather was still cold, I could see the faint marks for goose bumps on Shelby’s skin as she watched me and quickly flicked her gaze around the room. Every now and than I could hear a faint sigh leave her lips and I couldn't help but wonder what was running threw her head.
The taco place hadn't been to busy. I didn't want to take Shelby to a busy place, giving her a more relaxing environment to talk to me in. Ony talking wasn't what was really happening here, it was more of me shoving food into my mouth as Shelby watched or looked around the shop.
“Shelbs you have to cheer up. He's getting better. Smile.”
“I just never thought that like after all this time Blake would be the one hurt.”
“Really I could have told you that when I was a kid. He was always the one doing crazy and harmful things.”
“Well yeah but I never thought that he was going to get seriously hurt like this. He was always so smart in knowing what he was doing. Now I look at him and I just think, 'man I was a terrible friend' “
“You wern't terrible Shelbs. You grew up and needed other girls to be around. I know that if you would have tried to talk to me and Blake about woman stuff we would have been lost and confused.”
“Yeah but I didn't have to be so mean to you two after I left. I am sorry Dakota.”
“Don't worry about it Shelby. Just please eat something. Even just a little something.”
“I don't know Dakota.”
Shelby started to grabbed a french fry and looked at it. I watched and waited for her to eat it, knowing that like Victoria the last time she ate was probably before Blake got hurt. She looked up at me, batting her long blond eyelashes at me and making me second guess what she was doing. She slowly ate the fry, chewing it she closed her eyes and I could tell her body wanted more. She quickly took a drink and looked back at me, pain in her eyes.
“That was yummy Dakota, but I really should get going.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home. Mom needs me to baby sit. I guess its an off day so I can't see Blake.” she scrunched up her face and I knew that she was sad, I stood and gave her a hug, watching to make sure that she did indeed walk to her pink convertible and leave in the direction of her house. She did and I relaxed, shoving the rest of my food in my mouth and waiting for it to reach my stomach.
Reyna
I watched the pretty blond girl tightly hug him. His brown hair mixing with hers at their tight embrace. I could see the sadness in her eyes and I wanted to know why. Had he done it?
I held a photo in my hand. A boy with long brown hair was holding a baby wrapped in pink blankets. The picture was old and worn around the edges. The boy couldn't have been more than three years old in the photo, the baby just a new born, home from the hospital. I shoved it back into my back pocket watched him sit down.
I grabbed up the rest of my food and threw it into the trashcan. I took a deep breath and walked closer to the boy. He was sitting with his eyes closed and looking very tired. “Hello?” I breathed trying to not startle him in his desperate state.
“You, you are a friend of Blake's right?” He asked me, his hand stretched out and showing me that I could sit with him.
“Yeah we met a few times. How is he doing?” his face grew sad as he looked down at the trash in front of him. I didn't take my eyes off of him. Studying his face. His brown eyes looking back at me with some sort of familiar way. Her ran her fingers threw her down blond hair.
“Not so good. After his party a few goons challenged him to a race. He won...”
“Why is that no so good. I thought him winning would be a good thing.”
“It is, just not at the price he had to pay for it.” A million thoughts were running threw Reyna's mind. What could possibly have happened to him. The goons beat him up? Would that really result in two of his closest friends being so upset?
“When was the last time you slept?”
“I don't know I have been to busy taking care of Victoria and Shelby.”
“You seem like a really good friend. They are all lucky to have you in their lives. um. Whats your name?” I asked biting at my nails.
“Dakota, Dakota Valentine. Yours?” I held my breath.
“Reyna.” I wasn't about to tell him my last name, I wanted to make sure first that he is who he is. “Where are you from Dakota?”
“Look I would love to make small talk with you Reyna. But I do need to get some rest.”
“Let me drive you. You don't look like you should be driving much. “
“Honestly its okay Reyna I am just going to Blake's to sleep and shower.”
Shelby
Driving my car was proving to be a distraction, which was exactly what I needed my meeting with Dakota didn't really cheer me up in anyway. I know he was trying, I know that he has this side of him that makes him want to take care of everyone, but I just couldn't take it. His over niceness was just making me more and more sad, making me think that if Blake were here he would just be making fun of him.
That thought made me laugh. Blake sitting back and telling his best friend that he was being overly girly. All I could think about was him in the hospital, unable to move and talk. I wish I knew what he could hear, what he could think while he was out like he was.
I had to pull over, tears spilling from my eyes and making my vision blurred. Driving made me scared not being able to see the road anymore. Cars quickly passed me as I leaned my head against the steering wheel. A few honked, causing me to raise my head in wonderment. The sun was setting and I was starting to grow drowsy.
I leaned my seat back, lifting the steering wheel up and curled into a ball, hugging my knee's to my chest. Tears ran down my face and smeared my make up. I turned my car off and watched my car be illuminated by passing cars. Slowly my eyes grew heavy, and the lights from the cars driving bothered me less and less. And soon sleep consumed me.
I awoke a few hours later, my phone singing and buzzing at me to answer it, after looking at the screen I noticed that I had over 30 missed texts and calls.
“Hello?”
“Shelbs, what the hell? I have been calling you for hours!”
“I'm sorry I fell asleep. Whats wrong? Is Blake okay?”
“That's why I have been calling, Shelby get to the hospital as soon as you can. NOW!” and with that Dakota hung up his phone. Leaving my heart racing and panic running through my body. I turned my car on, not caring that it hadn't been moved in hours I flipped around and drove as fast as I could towards the hospital. Blood pumping through me quickly, my nerves on edge.
