Insane

Chapter 11

"So, Ashy, you ever gonna tell me your backstory?" Daniel asked me with raised eyebrows.

He asked that every day ever since we've been dating. Which was about two months, going on three, and every time the laugh would come easier.

"I told you, Danny boy, I don't remember it," I said and scrunched up my nose, only to have him kiss it.

"Would you tell me if you did?" He asked and I simply shrugged in reply.

Daniel sighed and rolled on the bed so he was practically on top of me now, staring at me with his nose pressed into my cheek. "You are so difficult."

I just have him a cheeky smile and closed my eyes. "Yet here you still are," I said and Daniel didn't move away.

"It makes things more interesting, does it not?" Daniel said. Now I could feel the cool metal of his glasses on my temple.

"I suppose so," I said and rolled off the bed so I was in the floor, looking up at the ceiling. I guess I forgot how small my bed was. There was a small amount of pain but it went away as I began laughing at Daniel's slightly scared expression. Soon he began laughing as well and offered me a hand to help me back up onto the bed. I took it and pulled myself up.

Daniel's staring at me again, his glasses somehow made their way to my nightstand. "You okay?"

I smiled and nodded. "Fine," I said and itched my forehead.

Daniel brushed the hair away from my forehead and smiled. "You, my good man, need a hair cut," he said and continued to knock my hair back and forth.

I swatted his hands away. "I think my hair looks just fine, thank you," I said and stuck my tongue out at him.

Daniel just shook his head and leaped off my bed as my mom called for us to come eat.

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Life had been so much better with Daniel around. I actually liked life. I liked to be around people. I even let him drive me to the mall once where we spent the entire day. I knew how to smile again. I knew how to laugh again. Gideon had faded into a happy memory instead of this sad weight I had to carry. I was happy, Daniel was happy, and life was perfect.

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"Danny! Open mine first!" Olivia, Daniel's little sister, cried and pushed a brightly colored box towards Daniel.

I was sitting on their couch, cross legged, and sipping on some hot coco. Outside the snow was falling ever so gently and Daniel's entire house smelled like cookies and cinnamon. Oh how I loved Christmas.

Daniel's mother, Cathy, was sitting beside me, beaming at her children. I had learned that Daniel's father, Patrick, had died a few years ago from cancer and that Daniel's older sister, Amanda, lived in California with her husband and baby. Apparently they had a very nice pool.

"Ashwin! I got you one too," Olivia giggled and handed me a medium-sized gift bag.

I smiled at her and set down my coco before taking it into my hands. "Awe, Liv. You didn't need to get me anything," I said.

"Just open it already," Olivia insisted and I pulled open the bag. Inside was a yarn-and-bead bracelet that had; "Ash" spelled out in letter beads.

I smiled at her and slid the bracelet on as she beamed at me. "Thank you. I love it so so much," I said and wrapped her in a hug.

After they were done handing out presents and opening them up, I stood and grabbed a garbage bag where I kept my presents for them.

And so I pulled out each of their presents, handing two to Olivia, one to Cathy, and two to Daniel.

Olivia was the first to open hers. I had gotten her a dainty little metal tiara with little fake diamonds and my mother had made her a little princess dress to go with it. (My mother loved Olivia) She beamed at her presents then back at me, thanking me repeatedly.

Cathy opened hers next. I got her a cool artsy mug I bought at a craft show the month before.

Then came Daniel's turn. Inside his was a little picnic basket keychain and a little yogi stuffed bear. Daniel seemed a bit confused by the present and I smirked.

"Yogi steals picnic baskets, right? Well, you stole my heart by taking me on a picnic. I thought it was rather clever myself," I explained and Daniel broke into a grin.

"I have something for you as well," he said and handed me a gift bag. Inside was a bag of grapes, which made me laugh, and a necklace. The pendant had something written on it and I had to get real close to read it.

To the one who owns my heart. Remember that you will always have me, no matter what.
~ Daniel.
I looked up at him and smiled, practically leaping into his arms.

Daniel laughed and hugged me to his chest. "Merry Christmas, Ashwin Greene."

"Merry Christmas."

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I should've known it wouldn't last...