Freak Genius

Chapter 9: DAN

Chapter 9: Dan

            Macy stuffed Dan through the front door. He tripped into Della who scampered away, drawing up her arms. Macy snickered earnestly, pointing at him. Brittany appeared around the corner just as Macy entered the house. Dan pulled the door closed behind her. Brittany rolled her eyes, forcing Macy into the basement with her pillowcase. Dan descended the stairs to the basement after Macy. He heard Brittany close behind. He was soon facing Macy lying on the floor, her stomach heaving. Dan raised his eyebrows. Macy just continued to lie on the floor. Brittany hopped down beside Dan and looked down at her friend. “Just go over her.”

            Dan did as he was told and stepped carefully over her. He lifted his head and found himself surrounded by long suede couches. A large screen television was positioned at an angle in the corner. The floor was a dark spruce color and glossed over neatly.

            Macy hurdled up to Dan’s shoulder. They proceeded into the room together. Macy found solitude in the cushions of the chair furthest from the door. Dan sank into the couch across from her. Brittany waddled in and pilfered Macy’s pillowcase. She tossed it by the TV then parked herself next to Dan.

            Dan put his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder gently. Her neutral colored hair reached down to the seat. Macy avoided looking at them by staring at the ground. Brittany suddenly launched into the air. “Macy, have you told Dan yet?” Macy lifted her head. “Told him what?” Dan eyed them both suspiciously. “Am I supposed to know something?” he asked curiously. Brittany rolled her eyes. “Stephen Star and Macy are going to homecoming together!”

            Dan froze. “What?” Macy smiled, realization dawning on her. “Oh yeah! He asked me while Brittany was driving me home!” Dan felt his bodily functions cease momentarily. “He did?” His vision went out of focus, and an aching in his bones commenced. The perfectly shaded wooden planks of the floor became a swimming pool of glossy brown liquid. Macy scoffed. “Yeah… Jeez, don’t get too excited. We don’t want to have to call an ambulance.” Dan shook his head violently, trying to make the blurred spots of color look like shapes. “I just don’t understand why you would want to go with Stephen Star… I told you; there is something messed up about this. I think you might be better off going alone.”

            Brittany shrugged Dan off and glared at him. Macy shook her head. “Did you really just say that?” She turned to Brittany, “He just said that.” She then focused on a point behind Dan’s head, “I might be better off going alone? Dan I’ve been alone for too long. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to feel like I belong.” Dan stood, struggling to cool his rising temper. Brittany braced herself. “You think Stephen Star will make you feel like you belong? You think going to homecoming will make you feel like you belong?”

            Dan didn’t know why he had said it. He knew exactly what she thought he was implying. She was thinking that he’d meant she didn’t belong no matter who she went with. He didn’t feel that way in the slightest. Then why did you say it?

            Macy’s eyes misted a little. Brittany squirmed from the clutches of the couch cushions to join him on her feet. “Dan! That was uncalled for!” Macy, however, blinked away the mist and brushed it off. “No, Brittany. It’s fine. You would almost think he was jealous.” Brittany chuckled, but it set Dan off on a rampage. He knew she was kidding. But she couldn’t think he was jealous. He wasn’t jealous.