Built

January 27th, 2016

I wake up to a sandpaper tongue and the sound of knocking at my door.
"Hey, Dakota," it was Noah. "Open the door or I'll open it myself. I know where you keep your spare key." I pat Sweetheart on the head before getting off the floor and walking towards the door. I open it just as Noah started to knock again. "Oh, hey, I brought donuts," he says holding out the box to me. I step aside and let him in. "Are you okay? You look kinda rough." I look down at myself and laugh.
"Yeah, I just woke up,"
"It's ten thirty."
"Yeah, and I just woke up." He stares at me for a couple of seconds.
"Okay." He walks away and set the donuts on the counter before leaning against it and shoving his hands in his pockets. I take a few steps towards my bedroom.
"Eat a couple donuts and watch some TV if you want," I say. "I'm gonna get dressed. "Oh and could you please-" I turn around and see he's already started the coffee.
"Hm?" He turns around to look at me with a donut in his hand.
"Nevermind," I smile at him. He smiles back.
"Okay."

I quickly throw on jeans and a t-shirt and brush my hair through. I brush my teeth and I put it into a messy bun, then walk back out to my livingroom and grab a donut from the box. Noah pats the couch and I walk over and throw myself down next to him. I let out a sigh.
"I'm assuming you didn't sleep well," he asks, not looking away from the TV. I shake my head and finish the donut. "What happened this time?"
"I had a nightmare which caused a panic attack," I say, finally tuning into the show Noah had picked. It was a cartoon, Steven Universe.
"I'm sorry," he says. I lean on his shoulder and sigh again.
"It's okay," I tell him. "It happens a lot."
"I know, but I'm still sorry."
"Me too."

Later on that night we went to a Dave 'n' Buster's with Tyson, Matt, and Jenna. I was playing ski ball with Jenna when the boys came back from the giant Fruit Ninja game.
"Hey best friend," Noah says. I throw my arms in the air with a cheer as time runs out and I win.
"Aw, damn it," Jenna laughs.
"Hey best friend!" I say as I give Noah a high five. He laughs.
"Completely wrecking everyone tonight, are we?" He says with a smile.
"Yeah, of course," I take the drink from his hand and take a sip. I do it often and he's gotten used to it. He knows I feel safer that way. "Oh!" I exclaim, handing it back to him. "Air hockey! You and me versus Tyson and Matt!" I throw my hands up in the air again and spin around to face the other two boys.
"How about it?" Noah says to them.
"You're on!" Matt shouts and runs over to the air hockey table, everyone else following suit. We start the game and it gets so intense the puck flies off the table and almost hits Jenna in the face. She hands it back to us and some kids giggle at another game machine a little ways away. I smile at them and continue playing. Soon I notice the kids' parents walk up. Mom and dad, typical family. But something seems wrong, or unsettling. In slow motion I watch the mom and dad collect the kids and start to leave the building. It's so weird, the way he looks. I have deja vu. It's like I knew him. Maybe I did, or do. He wasn't a coworker, I know. Maybe someone I'd just seen at a coffee shop or something. No, he was far too familiar for that. But I still don't know-
I was pulled out of my thoughts by shouts.
"Nooo!" Noah cries.
"Booyah!" Tyson says. I look at Noah.
"What happened?"
"We lost 'cause you weren't paying attention!" He laughs at me. "You okay? You zoned out there for a second."
"Yeah," I mumble I turn back to where the family was walking. They weren't there.
"Dakota?"
"Nothing, they're gone," I shrug.
"Who's gone?"
"It's," I sigh, shaking my head. "It's gone." He stares at me again.
"Okay."