When Does It End? Dave X Reader-Insert

Chapter 13

I woke up for a second time that morning, feeling groggy. After a glance around the room, I realized that Dave was no where in sight. I got up and decided to use this opportunity to take a shower.

I wandered into the hall and searched a few cupboards, as silent as I could be. I found the towels, grabbed one, and went to the bathroom. The entire apartment so far seemed to be eerily empty of Striders and movement. The quiet was almost deafening.

I started to run the shower and left it running so it would warm up. I went back to Dave's room, grabbed some clothes, and started to go back. A glint of something on the nightstand caught my eye. I stopped and slowly walked over, looking at a phone. Next to it was a sticky note. It read:

"[Y/N],
I convinced my bro to get you a phone, just in case you need to contact either of us. My number and my bro's number is in it already. You can do whatever you want on it. It's a new-ish Samsung model. The Galaxy S8 I think. I hope it helps pass the time whenever you're alone.
- Dave"

I picked up the phone and turned on the screen. The lockscreen was a selfie of Dave. I unlocked it with a swipe, and the homescreen was a second selfie, this time with Bro too. This made me smile. I left the phone on the nightstand, and returned to my shower.

My shower was quick, and I found more notes next to important items left for me, like a hairbrush, a toothbrush, deodorant, essentials for a teenage girl. I went back to Dave's room and picked up the phone again. I tried to navigate it, which was a little difficult, but I got the hang of it.

I found my contacts, clicked on Dave's, and sent a simple "Thank you" to him.

Minutes passed, and I got bored. I left the room, and walked around the apartment. I noticed again how messy it was, and decided to clean it for the Strider brothers. I picked up trash first, then laundry, then put all the weird toys in a pile in the corner of the room. I found a vacuum, and some cleaner, and did some deeper cleaning.

The sun was in the late afternoon sky, littered with clouds, when Dave and Bro came home. Bro stepped in slowly, Dave stood in the doorway. I looked up at them from where I was, cleaning a couple stains out of their living room carpet.

I smiled at them. "Welcome home!"

Bro smiled back. "Thank you for cleaning, [Y/N]. I appreciate it."

Dave stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind him. Bro walked off to his room, and I finished cleaning the stain as Dave watched.

"You didn't have to do this." Dave said, sitting next to me.

"But I wanted to. It's the least I can do for staying here." I replied.

Dave seemed like he wanted to argue more, but he stopped himself. Instead he said, "Do you wanna play some games? You need to relax a bit." He stood and offered his hand to me.

I smiled and took it, letting him help me stand. "Sure. I should put this away first."

"I'll help."

Together, we put away the cleaning supplies I had pulled from the closet, then walked back to the living room. Dave set up Super Mario Bros and handed me a controller.

The two of us played until a knock came from the door, and Bro promptly answered it.

"Pizzas here, kiddos." Bro took two pizza boxes from a dude outside, exchanging money with him.

Dave paused the game and scoot closer to me so Bro could sit on his other side. The pizzas were set on the coffee table, side-by-side, and opened.

One was plain cheese and the other was pepperoni. The brothers reached for pepperoni, and I reached for the cheese. I picked out a smaller piece and nibbled on it while the boys ate a pizza and a bit more on their own. I took three slices, and I felt full. Fuller than I had in a while.

I excused myself and went to Dave's room. I picked up my phone from where I left it next to the bed and looked at it. I opened it, looking at Google. I had an opportunity I didn't have before. I could find records of my mom's case without my dad looking at the search history on the only computer in our house. I opened Google. I searched my mother's name.

At some point, I continued my search for the case laying down. Dave joined me on the bed, and I knew he was reading over my shoulder. At the time, I was looking at crime pictures. Blood staining carpets, evidence markers. And an interview on my father, asking what happened. There was even a recounting from me. I don't recognize the words. I hardly recognize the room these pictures were taken in. But I knew it was my parents room. I didn't notice the tears falling down my face until they fell off, onto the pillow below me.

Dave's hand took away the phone and put it on the bedside table, screen down, and turned me to face him. I looked at him through blurry eyes, then looked down. He pulled me to his chest, and I cried.