Daniel in the Basement

Chapter 24: getaway

"You need to calm down." Dan says.

"I am calm!" I yell, quickly standing up off of the bed.

"You jumped some random girl at the mall! You threw random people's phones on the ground and yelled at them! You're not calm!" Dan yells back.

I cross my arms. "I thought she was someone else!" I scream back.

All this yelling and screaming. It's too much. Our voices rise with every word we say, trying to top each other. I feel like crying, but I'm not going to. I'm strong. Are you though?

"Even if that was the person you thought it was would you still jump her like that?"

"Yes!" I yell. "I would."

Dan throws his hands up in frustration. "Gah!" he yells. "What's wrong with you? Who are you even looking for?"

"None of your fucking business!" I scream. "You know who it is anyway." I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" Dan asks.

"Nothing." I say pushing past him and walking out of the room. I walk into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of apple juice. Dan walks in and leans on the counter opposite of me. He just stares at me as I sip my juice. His arms crossed and his usual bright blue eyes are a stormy gray. "There could be something wrong with you, Alex. Something in your brain."

"My brain is fine." I say flatly.

"You never know." he says.

"I said my brain is fine." I say louder.

"You went completely mental today, Alex! I had to bail you out of jail! We owe all those people new phones! Something isn't right." he yells.

"Dan!" I scream. The tears are flowing now. "There's nothing wrong with me! I'm completely fine."

"So what happened earlier then?"

"I. Don't. KNOW!" I yell. I fling the glass at the wall and it shatters. I slide to the ground and cover my eyes with my hands. Suddenly my body wracks with sobs I didn't even know I had.

Dan drops to his knees beside me and rubs my back. He tries to take my hands away from my face, but I won't let him. "Alex," he says softly. "Alex, stop crying, love."

When my sobs subside I whisper, "I'm sorry, Dan. I'm just so stressed."

"What's wrong?"

"Things at work and then the miscarriage and it's all just building up."

"What's happening at work?"

I shake my head. "It's nothing for you to worry about." I wipe my eyes and rise up off the floor. Dan follows suit. We both walk to our bedroom. Dan sits on the bed and I walk to the closet to find my suitcase. When I find it I pull it out and throw it on the bed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Dan asks.

"Yeah," I nod, "I think I have to get out of here for a while. We both do."

Dan pulls out his suitcase too. "You're right. We need this. We need a break."

***

"Are you sure you want to leave now?" Ruby asks.

"Yes, but this has to happen first." I say ringing the doorbell. Mia opens the door and smiles, "Alex, Ruby, hey! Come on in."

I smile and walk inside, Ruby behind me. "Hey, Mia." we say in unison.

"Would you like a drink? Something to eat?"

"No thanks." I say.

Mia nods and leads us to the living room. "Have a seat."