Runaway

Chapter 20

„Have you found him?" Marina asked impatiently, putting her hands on her hips and staring at Brian. He was totally uninterested in what she was asking him as he was putting water slippers in one of the boxes. To speak the truth, Marina was already getting on his nerves. Daniel was the only thing the Latina could talk about.

„I haven't looked for him," he answered indifferently.

The rest of their friends were watching them. The man called them to come to his store, hoping for a quiet evening after his somewhat boring and idle day. Nikki was the only one who didn't join them. From the date night, Brian and the others hadn't seen her for much.

„Brian...it's been three days!" Marina almost screamed in his face, being very upset. „You really aren't worried? His parents told me he is on Sanibel. Go after him."

„No," Brian replied immediately. „We should let him to calm down and to compose himself. He'll come home...as always."

The Latina groaned in frustration.

„Marina, I think Brian is right. Dan can take care of himself. It's not his first time to be like that," David tried to calm her down but he made contra-effect.

„How can you say that?" she shouted. „This is serious. Don't you see what he caused? Nikki's barely getting out of her room and he completely disappeared. We need to find him before he does something stupid again."

„And do what?" Brian exclaimed bitterly, leaving water slippers. He got into her face. „Damn it, as if he ever listens to anyone. Daniel is doing what the hell ever he wants and it has always been like that. He hurt Nikki so badly and then disappeared, neglecting everything in Naples. Don't you see it, Marina? Daniel doesn't care about anyone, except himself...and Sofia. If I have a chance to see him now, I'd probably punch him."

The Latina was ready to strangle Brian.

„You should be his best friend," she replied, raising her voice. „How can you say that? You should help him and be here for him...as he was for you and all of us when Sofia died. Or did you forget about that?" she hissed angrily, now addressing everyone in the room. She was on the verge of tears. „He was there for me. He was the only one there for me when I lost my best friend."

Then, Marina realized she had started a story she didn't want them to know but it's was already too late. She started and now she had to finish. It seemed like her response finally caused a reaction. Brian was blinking rapidly, looking surprised.

„I was calling him when I wasn't able to breathe anymore and when my heart was falling apart from the pain. Every night. He was there. Every time. He knew what to say to calm me down. Don't you understand? He was there for each and every one of us...we just needed to call him. And because of that, he hasn't moved on properly. While he was trying to be our support, he suppressed his own emotions and never accepted Sofia's death. And where are we now, when he needs us? We're discussing whether we should interfere."

Brian stopped breathing. Daniel was Marina's support system after Sofia died? He wondered why didn't she call him? He was her boyfriend.

„Marina..." he started but the Latina lifted her hand, heading toward the exit.

„Wait...where are you going?" he yelled, going after her and stopping her from leaving.

„At Sanibel. I'm going to help my friend."

The man shook his head.

„You can't go alone. When you arrive it'll be much darker."

„I don't care!" she hissed.