The Midnight Within

Chapter 16

Mia set a steaming cup of coffee laced with rum down in front of Daniel. It was very late, she was tired and still feeling creeped out by what had happened to her in the bath. The last thing she wanted was to try and make someone else feel better. " Are you on crack? " Mia stared at him from over the rim of her own wine glass. " You have to go home or call your mother, better yet I should call your mother for you. " " I know I know, I should go back and try to make things right with Nick but you didn't see the look in his eyes. If I go back now, he's going to have me arrested for assault or some shit. "" You did assault him. Not that he doesn't deserve to be assaulted. And how did this happen again? I thought you were driving around with Zakk. " " We had a fight and he's pissed at me too. " " About? " She really didn't want to know but he looked so sad when he said it she had to ask. " Nothing. It's stupid and I was wrong. " Mia rolled her eyes at him as she drained the glass. Leave it to Daniel to burn all his bridges in one night. Skipping the refill she drank straight from the bottle instead. It had been one hell of a week and she really wanted to get drunk or at least tipsy enough to sleep." She understood all too well what an angry shitty parent was capable of. Nick was a well liked and respected man; anything Daniel might say to the contrary would go unheard, and Zakk could be as much as a shit as Daniel at times; yet, her heart broke for him. " So what's the plan? " She was not yet ready to let him move in, even if she had made the offer before. She knew from experience that she was not a good roommate or landlord. She valued her space too much, it was also part of why she was still single." I don't know, sleep in the dugout at the ball park for now. " His face was a mask of pain, what little she could see of it under his thick dyed hair." Too close to home and it's going to be freezing tonight. " She poured more rum into his coffee. " Sweet face, you know you can't run away from your problems, I know it sounds glamorous, but you can't hide for long, especially if you didn't do anything wrong, Trust me, I know. "Wracked with guilt about leaving Jessie and fighting with Zakk he let the tears slide silently down his face. " What the hell am I going to do? I can't go to juvie or military school, I would die first. " Rocking back and forth Daniel swayed on the barstool with his head in his hands. Mia was one of the few people he had openly cried in front of. She had seen him cry when Britt had broken up with him and on the night Zakk had to kill his best friend to save both Daniel and Trez's lives. Mia had soothed him then as she did now, and he loved her for that.Mia set the bottle of wine down, moving around the counter she silently wrapped her arms around his too thin shoulders. Closing her eyes she laid her cheek against the top of his tangled mop of hair. " Shhh. It's going to be ok sweetie, I will help you, I bet it's just a huge misunderstanding and you will be home tomorrow night in your own bed. " She knew it was a lie, knew she couldn't get him out of whatever punishment Nick would hand out, but it was what he needed to hear the most right now. He also needed to calm down, think about what he was doing and maybe she could get him to at least call his mother to let her know he was ok.Daniel felt comforted in the shelter of Mia's hair and began to relax. He leaned his head back to stare up into her startling green eyes, eyes that seemed to get darker when she was feeling any kind of strong emotion. " Thanks, You know how much I love you right? " He brought his arms up, linking his hands behind the back of her neck. He pulled her head down, surprising her with a wet kiss." You are so drunk. " Mia stated flatly, breaking the kiss. Hurt that he could be so stupid she fingered a strand of his long dark hair. They were playing a dangerous game, one she might lose if she didn't do something to distract him. " Come on hot shot. I know just what you need. "Daniel mistook her words, grinning triumphantly up at her. One of his hands slid up her inner thigh, his dark eyes lingering on her full lips. " Oh yeah, what do you have in mind? "Mia resisted the urge to let go of him and watch as he fell flat on his face. Instead she hauled him to his feet. Walking him down the hall she steered him into the bathroom and sat him down on the toilet." Ohh bathroom sex. Wanna take a shower? " He pulled off his shirt and went for his fly.Mia rolled her eyes again as she turned around to rummage in the bathroom closet. When she turned back she was holding a pair of sheers and a bottle of hair dye. " Nice try asshole. " Laughing gleefully she went to work. Later that night, Daniel stood looking at himself in the large ornate mirror that hung by the door. His once wild mop of hair was now streaked blood red and cut to his collar bone. He didn't know if he liked it yet and wondered what Zakk would have said. Behind him Mia was asleep on the couch with Cooper and Scary draped over her legs, Both cat's watching him with wide wary eyes. It looked like his one shot at finally hooking up with Mia was long gone, just like the urge to drink rum ever again. His head was still throbbing and he couldn't sleep. Reaching for his smokes he quietly opened the door and slipped out. If he couldn't entice Mia, he would have to find another form of entertainment.Outside, the wind had picked up making him he shiver against the cold as he slowly walked down the dark block. Hesitating at the corner, he tried to make a decision about what to do next. He couldn't go home, not for a while anyway. He could always walk down to the Quick Stop, but he didn't enjoy playing big brother to Trez and the younger kids that hung out on the stone fence that separated the cemetery from the Quick Stop parking lot. He also couldn't be seen with Trez, or so Zakk kept telling him. Across the street Matty and Will's huge old Victorian loomed all dark and spooky meaning they were either still at the bookstore or down at the lanes for karaoke and before he knew it he was moving down the cracked sidewalk towards lake street, his mind a million miles away from the here and now. The wind picked up even more, blowing wet leaves across the dark street, making him wish he had taken his long trench rather than the light hoodie he wore most of the summer.He stopped in front of a huge white house to put his smoke out on the gate, not even realizing whose house he was at until he looked up at the blue front door. He was standing at the foot of Kate's walk. He loved this street and the older homes that lined it. With their expansive yards and ornate woodwork they seemed to remain in another era. He lit up a fresh clove, loitering near the gate, hesitant to move on. He wanted to go up to the door, could see the lights on and knew she would not turn him away, she wouldn't be happy to see him and what if she was not alone? He had heard she was dating some professor from the college but he had yet to see her with anyone new. He looked down the street to see a cop car turn the corner and realized the houses closest to him were bathed in red and blue light. It was time to keep moving even if he didn't know where to go. Head down he crossed the street, the memories of Kate were too much on top of everything else that had happened to him. She had made it pretty clear that she would not lose her job over what she deemed a silly affair. Turning around he went back up the street and crossed into the park. He sat on the swings, shivering and smoking. Mia had been right, he would not be able to sleep in the dugout tonight. He would just have to take his chances. Standing up he began to walk towards Zakk's. Wide awake and fully immersed in a vampire RPG game, Zakk sat at his cluttered desk, the only light coming from his computer screen and tip of his smoke. So into his online role-play he didn't hear the light taps at his bedroom window. He almost fell out of his chair when he did glance over and saw a face pressed against the glass. He should have known Daniel would show up. Growling, he debated getting up, reluctant post a pause during game play. Quickly posting a BRB, he snuffed out the blunt and got up from his chair with a resentful scowl. He padded silently over to the window not surprised to see Daniel shivering in the bushes. He wanted to leave him there but if he didn't let him in the dog would start barking and wake up both is mother and his little brother." What do you want? " Zakk snapped, glaring down at his friend." You have to let me in. I think I really fucked up this time Zakky. " Daniel didn't wait to be invited in, he grabbed the sill and hoisted himself over it and into the room before Zakk could close the window on him." What the hell did you do to your hair? " Zakk fingered a strand of red as Daniel's feet hit the wooden flooring. He tried and failed to hide his admiring smile, he was, after all supposed to be angry with his best friend." Mia did it. " Daniel mumbled, trying to steady himself and not fall backwards out the open window. Zakk had told him a million times to go around and use the back door but somehow climbing in this way seemed so much more rebellious.Grabbing his arm Zakk steadied him, whispering fiercely. " Shit dude be quiet, you wake up my mother and I am fucking toast. " He cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the halfway open door, unsure weather to be even more angry at how drunk his friend was, or the fact that he didn't bring anything with him. Daniel grinned, put his finger to his lips and said a little to loud. " SORRY. I will be quiet. " He swayed drunkenly into Zakk, planting a wet kiss on Zakk's surprised mouth. He tasted of rum and spiced coffee, reminding Zakk of too many winter nights spent at Mia's playing cards, and drinking hot-toddies. He grabbed Daniel by the arm hauling him over to the bed and sat him down. Silently he moved to close the bedroom door. When he turned around he almost knocked Daniel over." I am so sorry Zakky." He blurted out. His cold hands suddenly crawling over Zakk's shirtless chest and drawing a protest from him that was effectively cut off by Daniel's tongue in his mouth. ~ What was he thinking? That he could just show up and make things all better by giving in? ~Daniel tugged him towards the bed, pushing him down. He kissed a wet trail down his chest. For a guy who would not admit that he liked guys, Daniel sure as hell knew what he was doing. " I'm a fuck up Zakky, " He breathed, dragging his black nails over Zakk's thighs. " And I just want to forget. "Thinking he was talking about their fight Zakk scowled down at the top of Daniel's head, trying to ignore the hot ache in his groin. " You can't just play me like that, you know."Daniel stopped what he was doing long enough to grin up at Zakk. " I know, and I really need to forget so shut up."Further protest from Zakk was lost as Daniel went back to what he was doing. He was soon carried away by drug heightened lust, his speech on hurt feelings and apologies all but forgotten as Daniel at last took him into his mouth.