Anxious

Chapter 10: Pineapple Pizza

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The giant, motel bed made a loud crack as they flopped down, simultaneously. Dan and Steph(Delight) laughed at the same time, which threw them into a fit of giggles. He had been driving for 10 hours straight (minus two bathroom breaks); they were both delirious and strung out from the road.

"I'm starvin'. I want pizza."

"Are you kidding, girl? No one is going to have pizza at 8am."

She pouted. She always got her way with him, but Dan wasn't sure how he could pull off this request.

It had been about a month since they had escaped The Crew, and the two of them were inseparable. They had hid out at the campgrounds until Steph's eye got better. Then, they came down to Redding, California to make a little home for themselves at a lodge/hotel.

They had just gotten back from their second trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. Steph's plan was to make The Crew believe she and Dan had run to Vegas, not somewhere north. She was a pretty clever young lady; Dan appreciated having her around. She drove him nuts most of the time, but he was sure he did the same to her. They balanced each other; his weaknesses were her strengths and vice versa. She had thoughtful ideas, knew what she believed in, and wasn't scared to voice her opinion. Stephanie Mae's heart was always in the right place; Dan just thought she dreamed too big, and tried too hard to play mother to the world. 

Of course, Dan didn't think that way. Everyone was guilty until proved innocent, in his mind. He trusted no one... except for this wild woman. He had fallen for her hard. She made him feel alive, and for the first time in his meaningless life, he felt a sense of purpose. She brought all the good out in him. Steph liked to say they were "made for each other", and although he wasn't ready to admit it to her, he knew in his heart, she was right. 

They were in love, a love neither of them had ever known. This should have frightened a guy like Dan, but it didn't. There was just something about her, like she was this missing piece that made him whole. He knew they would make it, because nothing else mattered to him. Nothing mattered apart from what she wanted, and right now, she wanted pizza.

"Will you settle for the diner next door, babe? They might make you a pizza at this time of day," he paused. "If you bat them pretty, green eyes."

She rolled them, and put her hand on her hip.

"Whateva. Let's go! I'm so hungry!"

They were seated at a booth, near the back of the restaurant, and sat on the same side together. They couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other, and didn't care what kind of attention it received. 

A young man quickly rattled off the specials of the morning, and waited patiently. 

"Do ya have pizza?" Steph whined.

"Sure. It's listed on the dinner menu. Would you like me to get you one?"

"Nope. I just want pineapple pizza."

Dan added, "Make it the biggest one you got & bring some to-go boxes."

Steph kissed him on the mouth. "Oh yummy, baby! You're amazin'!"

The waiter, extremely uncomfortable, backed away slowly when Dan and Steph began a fiery make-out session. They smooched and cuddled until their food arrived.