His Sick Obsessions

Chapter Fourty Five: Meme

I felt Danny get out of bed. I was awake but I wasn't ready to do this. I kept my lids closed, only pretending to be in a peaceful sleep. I mean, the night wasn't bad. After I talked to him I started to enjoy myself. Until it came to sleeping, I don't care that we are sharing a bed, I care that this is all some agreement we made. I'm not ready for a relationship, my last one broke off early when my mental health became too hard to handle. I needed help, serious help. Being locked away is the exact opposite when it came to helpfulness.

I exited the master bedroom silently, running a hand through my hair. I'm over thinking. I grabbed a drink from 'my room' if I could call it that. It was dream turned nightmare come true. The room was a like a clipping from different magazines. I felt like the out of place model. The liquid went down smoothly, Danny sure knew how to pick my things. It was crazy how much he learned about me without truly knowing me at all. With every passing day our memories became distant, a stranger in the mix all along.

How do I accept this? Do I pretend it's some never-ending-fairytale-vacation? Or do I put the truth at my feet and step on it? Knowing this 'vacation' was like a sunset at Alcatraz. How bad is this? I mean, it could be a sweet gesture. But there's more people involved, people to make sure I won't escape. He choked me the first encounter. Where can I lay my trust? I needed a second opinion. I needed Serena.

Wasting no time I threw my dirty clothes in a tall, plastic laundry basket. Cleaning myself up and getting dressed I left the room. Of course running into Danny.

He grabbed my palm lightly, like the start of a dance. A bright smile playing at his lips. He bounced on the balls of his feet lightly.

"Hungry for some eggs and bacon?" He asked innocently.

"Sure" I couldn't help but laugh lightly at his excitement.

I became less excited when he led away from Serena's room. I will make sure he lets me see her. I needed help with all of this. He set a plate in front of me, steam bouncing off the plate. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast with jelly. I was impressed at the dedication he took to making the breakfast. He poured me a glass of orange juice and I thanked him. He sat down, his plate mirroring mine.

"Is Serena going to come eat with us?" I asked trying not to sound too concerned.

"She's still asleep. She had a late night" He said before tearing his piece of bacon in half with white teeth.

I nodded. How could she sleep? I was still getting used to things and I was here first.

"How did you sleep?" I asked shyly, trying to figure out the best way to lead the conversation where I wanted it.

"Good. How about you, darling?" His eyes gleamed like my first question was actually me accepting this.

"Really good... I like the bed" I said trying to hide how uncomfortable last night was.

He smiled at me before gulping down some of his drink. I swallowed as his eyes took me in hungrily. I wasn't a model, I wasn't sexy, I was barely pretty. Decent at most. I mean I've had two boyfriends. If you count middle school as dating grounds. If you don't, I've had one. Besides him I am too far to be this looked at. This wanted. It was weirding me out.

"So, Danny" I started. He smiled at the way I said his name, "Is it okay if I see Serena after breakfast?" I asked.

He wrung his hands. His smile unaltered, a new almost angry emotion brewing underneath it. I bit my lip as he continued to wring his hands.

"I'll have to check with her. Make sure she's ready and dressed. You can see her, but not alone" He declared.

I nodded fake agreeing. I needed his trust. Leaning over the table slightly I put my hand over his.

"You and I can still hang out later. I just want to catch up with her, see how she's holding up. Don't worry" I smiled.

His features lost all traces of anger as they filled with joy. Good, this is... Good. I finished the food quickly after our talk. He looked displeased but that was our deal. When he finished he stood up.

"Go to the living and watch tv, I need to see if Serena is dressed. I'll come get you when she's ready" He said distantly.

I nodded, without a word walking to the living room. I sat patiently waiting, the tv playing reruns of reality tv. Reality. What does that word even mean anymore?

When the time on the tv told me twenty minutes had passed I was done waiting. I couldn't sit around any longer. When I neared her room I heard Danny talking, I didn't turn the corner. Instead I stood and listened.

"Like I said in there, make sure she stays in line. If she says anything out of bounds about me or being here, you let me know. I want everything to run smoothly" He said in a lowered yet powerful voice.

"Got it" I heard the other voice say.

It was either Dalton or Blake, I wasn't good at names. I hurriedly and silently walked back to the living room. Breathing deeply to hide any sign that I ever left. Only a few minutes later Danny resurfaced. So Serena won't be a hundred percent honest. That sucks. I mean I figured if someone is with us she wouldn't say everything. But the fact he needs to reassure her means something happened.

"Come on" He said leading me to her room.

Before I went in he pulled me into a hug. Pausing in the embrace. When he let go he walked away, disappearing down the hall. I headed in. Serena was sitting on the couch in the back of the room, I glanced at where they made her sleep. I had it good, well in comparison. I had a bed and the items I've dreamed of. She had a sheet and her small makeup case.

She smiled up at me and I sat down next to her. In the mix of after breakfast I managed to grab my book. I clutched it lightly. Who I now remembered as Blake sat on the floor across from us. He wasn't watching us, instead his eyes were busy on a tablets screen.

"How is everything?" I asked trying to find the right words. The right words only them clawed at the surface, did he hurt you?

"Well," she started but her train of thought faltered when she looked up. I followed her gaze quickly as Blake stared. Her eyes went back to mine. "Fine. Really, I mean as good as this can get" She said.

I nodded. This is not fine, so far from fine. I just want straight answers, I wanted to scream.

"How are you?" She said brushing hair out of her face.

"I'm... Flustered. Everything is so one sided, not even just about Danny. Just... I can't explain it. It's like trying to see through dirty glass. It's bugging me about what I don't know..." I trailed off. Again these weren't really my words either. Sure they spewed out but not really in the way I intended.

"I know the feeling" She said quietly.

"Have you been in a lot of relationships?" I asked softly.

"I've been around. But I guess only two that ever mattered" She said in a wise tone.

"Do you think you could give me advice?" I asked. I needed guidance.

"Well, I've only been in love once. Through the heartbreak and misery I learned nothing" She said simply.

"Why didn't it work out?" I asked wanting to know know more about her.

"They showed me that it was okay to be loved. That I could love them back and not be scared. When I changed my life for them, they decided I wasn't the one and they went with their friend" She said. I could hear the heartbreak in her tone.

"Did you try to get them back?" I asked trying my best not to sound rude.

"I did. But then... Then they died. I still don't know the truth and what changed. I gave them what they wanted and it wasn't enough" She said.

"How did he die? I mean, if you don't mind" I asked. I loved the discussion of death. Death is peaceful.

She was silent for awhile. Just sitting and staring at her hands, "Car crash... They died on impact" She answered.

After a bit more time she let out a huff of breath, "But I think my last relationship might help you" She said.