Surrender

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

As I sleep, all I see is Peter’s face. Everywhere I turn his hazel eyes are glowing in the darkness I can’t find my way out of. I want to open my eyes and escape, but the darkness gets thicker and I slip further away. When I do wake up, I’m sweating and my right eye is swollen shut. My nose on the other hand isn’t as sore as I thought it would be. I stretch and release some of the tension in my muscles. My stomach growls and I realize I didn’t eat at all yesterday. I prop myself up and look around the room, watching as the dust is illuminated by the streaks of sunlight coming in through the window. They float gracefully in the sunlight, dancing around each other before disappearing into the shadows. I look over at the clock on the nightstand, it’s almost noon. I yawn and rub the sleep out of my eyes, throwing the covers off of me and swinging my legs over the edge. I quickly make the bed and pull out a pair of shorts and a light blue t shirt. I put on some deodorant and make my way down stairs, wondering if Harry and Darcie are up yet. As I descend the stairs I can hear loud laughter coming from the kitchen. Well, I guess that answers my last question. The fact that they were hitting it off so well rubbed me the wrong way. I can tell that I’m slowly slipping into the role of the third wheel and it’s making me bitter. I reluctantly make my way across the living room and push the swinging door open. They’re sitting at the counter hunched over bowls of cereal, laughing and talking loudly, their eyes never leaving each other’s faces. But that isn’t what makes my mouth drop open. Darcie’s long, thick brown hair is gone. It’s cut short into a pixie cut, a little shaggy at her neck and around her ears. Her hands instinctively fly to her head, pulling at the ends as she stares at me, hoping for my approval.

“What did you…why did you…how did you…?” I stutter, still trying to process the change. Her neck is longer than I thought, and her features are far more defined.

“This morning. Harry helped me.” She says blushing. I look at Harry, he’s chewing a huge mouthful of cereal, looking at me cautiously.

“But…why?” I ask her, my voice coming out with a puff of air. She wiggles on the stool and fidgets with the hem of her shorts.

“I just…needed a change, ya know? I mean, it was so long and it reminded me of Peter and everything that happened, and I couldn’t look in the mirror and remember all of that anymore.” She exhales sharply, still looking at me with that same hope of approval. I see Harry put another spoonful of cereal in his mouth, looking back and forth between the two of us.

“I love it,” I say, going to her and touching her short, fluffy hair, “It suits you, it really does.” I smile at her and pat her cheek, like I always do. Her eyes light up with joy and she goes back to her cereal, chewing happily. There’s a third bowl on the counter and my stomach growls at the sight. I sit down next to Harry and pour some Cocoa Pebbles into the bowl, followed by a big helping of milk. I dip my spoon into the bowl and begin to eat rapidly, trying to satisfy my hunger.

“Geez, Rae.” Darcie says in an embarrassed tone. I glare at her and continue to eat, pouring more cereal in my bowl.

“I like a girl who can eat.” Harry says, winking at me. I hide a satisfied smile and keep eating, watching as Darcie pours more cereal into her bowl from under my lashes.

“So,” Harry says, pushing his bowl away and leaning onto his forearms, “What are the three of us going to do today?” I can probably name 5 things he wants the three of us to do. Darcie sets down her spoon and clasps her hands together, holding them under her chin, grinning.

“Okay, I have an idea, but you can’t say no.” She says, looking at me. I swallow and wipe a little bit of milk from my chin.

“Why would I say no?” I ask, a little offended.