Why Can't We? / Daniel Seavey

10|more trouble

After going to the supermarket I went home and started preparing dinner. I was making a simple pasta dish that I learned how to cook a couple years ago. Plus I finally had some food in my kitchen. I opened the doors to my deck to let in the fresh air. It felt good, my life felt good, I felt like I had everything together. I set the table nicely for six people and went to go get changed. I put on a pair of blue jeans and a black off the shoulder top. I put on some more makeup and threw on a watch. I had to change the time on my watch to accommodate California's time zone. I went back into the kitchen and finished up the meal. 6:54 pm. I put on some music to calm my unusual nerves. Stand by me by Ben E. King came on and I sang and danced around the kitchen with a wooden spoon in my hand. 

I heard my door creak open,"Mom I'm home!" Zach yelled. I laughed

"You're late son! When I say seven I mean six thirty!" I said sarcastically pointing at him with the wooden spoon. 

"Sorry, mom!" Zach yelled back plopping onto my couch. Jonah, Jack, and Corbyn followed Zach's movement but Daniel walked into the kitchen and took the wooden spoon from my hand and placed it on the counter.

"May I have this dance?" He asked holding out his hands. I smiled and took his left hand with my right and placed my left on his shoulder. He wrapped his right hand around my waist and pulled me closer as we swayed back and forth to the song. "I love you." He said after a moment of silence between us. I bit my bottom lip and he spun me under his arm. He pulled me back into his arms.

"I love you too," I said after returning to my original position. "As long as I have you, Daniel, I will be content with the rest of my life." I didn't have to look to tell he was smiling. The song ended and I lifted my head to be greeted with Daniel's gorgeous blue eyes. I kissed his cheek and parted with him. He pouted but I pointed to the pot of sauce and pasta that was now simmering to keep warmth. "Who's hungry?" I asked. The four boys on the couch ran and sat at the table. I set the pot of pasta down on the table as the boys chattered. I sat between Daniel and Jonah. 

"Oh did I ever tell you guys?" Daniel asked as I took his plate to pile pasta onto. I added some Italian bread.

"Tell us what?" Corbyn asked.

"On Saturday when I was with Alaska, a fan gave me a box of condoms and the Fifty Shades of Grey movie." 

"No fucking way," Jack said helping himself to pasta.

"Yeah, It was so funny. But I kept both." Daniel said nudging me. I laughed and shook my head. 

"Anyway..." Jonah trailed off, "Thank you for dinner. All of us hadn't had a home-cooked meal in lord knows how long." 

"That is a fact," Jack said stuffing his face. 

"Well, it is my pleasure. We can make it a tradition to have dinner at my place every Sunday." 

"That actually sounds great," Daniel said starting to eat.

Dinner was, to say the least, interesting. And that night we shared many laughs and many jokes. I have only known these boys for days, but already they made me feel like I belonged here. Jack was definitely was funniest, no matter the situation he could make a joke or a sarcastic comment about it. Jonah was the most level-headed out of the group and there was certainly no doubt about it. Zach was like the little brother and pretty much got away with everything. Corbyn was funny and could make everything into a meme without a second thought. Daniel was special, he was definitely shy. But had his moments. 

"I feel like you know just about everything about us, what's some of your hobbies?" Corbyn asked putting his chin into his hands and staring at me intensely. I tried to keep a straight face as all of the boys copied Corbyn's actions. I gave in and laughed.

"Well in high school I was training to become an Olympian for freestyle snowboarding. Which was super radical but I ended up falling in love my Freshman year and he ruined my career. Then in my years following, I enjoyed surfing and boating." There was a moment of silence as I sat back in my chair.

"How he ruin your career?" Jonah asked I smiled. 

"Well," I started sighing. I leaned over the table. "That kid raped me, which no one expects and I should've continued my training. So really it was my fault, but in the end, it was probably for the better." 

"Oh my god, Alaska," Daniel started. But quickly I cut him off.

"It's truly nothing, I don't talk about it often since I'm better than that." 

"Well. at least you're here now, cheers to that," Jack said raising his glass. We all did the same and continued with a lighter subject. The rest of the evening was pleasant and luckily the boys didn't forget to bring dessert.

-

Later that night we sat outside on my desk just after sunset. The boys were humming a song I didn't know the lyrics to. I sat at the end of the couch and leaned my back against the arm. I rested my legs on Daniel and he played with the rips in my jeans as he sung. And for some reason, it was comforting. Five boys sat on my deck that night, and each one of them I would take a bullet for. But then something interrupted, my phone started to buzz so I ripped it out of my pocket. Autumn. I let it ring for a second deciding what I was going to do. 

"Are you gonna answer that?" Daniel asked as the rest of the boys harmonized. 

"Yeah, I'll be right back," I said getting up from my spot and walking inside. "What do you want Autumn?" I asked as I answered the call. I shut the sliding glass door behind me and walked further into my apartment to ensure Daniel or the other boys wouldn't hear my conversation. 

I heard Autumn take a deep breath from the other side of the line. "You need to come home-"

-

/Daniel/

"Daniel, does she do that a lot?" Jonah asked. I looked inside and the conversation she was having made her look upset. 

"She always gets a ton of calls from an unknown number and her sister-" I leaned in and put my elbows on my knees. "I think she's in trouble." 

"Woah, maybe her family just misses her?" Zach asked using an unsure tone. I furrowed my eyebrows together and we shared a moment of silence. 

"Go check on her," Corbyn said. I nodded my head and got up. I opened the sliding door and quickly closed it behind me.

"Autumn I know-" 

-

"You know I can't come home. I'm building a life here and I'm happy-"

-

"Autumn-"

-

"You know what they'll do to me."

She hung up the phone angrily and turned around. She was startled for a moment. The air became stiff and she looked at me with this tired look. She sighed. "Alaska, what's going on?" I asked taking a step towards her. 

"You remember how I told you I wasn't in trouble?" She asked engulfing me in a hug.

"Yeah, what about it?" I asked wrapping my arms around her waist. I rested my head on the top of hers.

"I think I'm in trouble."