Sunshiny Things (Original)

Ch. 29 Undoubtedly

Freya

"Hey mom," Dace says as he goes to kneel by the bed in the middle of the room.

"Dace," the women laying in the bed exclaims the best she can. "How's my boy?" Daces mom reaches over and gently pats Daces cheek, causing him to smile and reveling an iv tube that's attached to her arm.

"Mom," Dace calmly says as he takes her hand and sets it by her timid body on the bed. "I have someone I want you to meet." Daces head goes to my direction in the doorway as well as his mothers. I look at Dace for a moment who is giving me a small smile, before looking at his mother who is doing the same as well.

"Hello, sweetie," Daces mom says but I don't say anything back. I just continue to stand in the doorway like an idiot, speechless and unsure of what to do. "Don't worry, I don't bite." My eyes grow wide at her words as I notice that she's noticed my nervousness. I give her a smile and a slight laugh in return, before walking into the room and to where Dace is.

"Of course," I finally mange to mutter. "Um, I'm—I'm Freya...Miss. Darrow" She automatically gives me a wide smile, which causes me to smile back instantly as well.

"So this is the girl you've been talking about, Dace," she says to him and I look down at an already flushed Dace. "And please honey," she starts back up again which causes me to look back at her. "Call me Melanie." I give her another small smile and push my glasses up my noes. I examine Melanie, eyeing her entire appearance. Her skin is pale and a little blotchy in some areas, but it still seems to posses some type of glow. A flowery bandanna is covering what I assume her bald scalp, and her eyes hold the same golden honey color as Daces. Given the sate that she's in, she still manages to keep an impeccable amount of beauty.

"Freya," I hear Melanie call out, snapping me out of my thought and examination.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I ask sheepishly and kind of embarrassed. She gives me a slight laugh, which instantly manages to clam my nerves some how.

"I asked how you two met." I gulp down a lump in my throat as I ponder on my answer and her question. I can't tell her that we went to some high school party and Dace tried to fill me up without my consent. So I just settle for, "Through a friend." I look over a Dace who is looking at me with a smile.

"Well, I'm glad that friend decided to introduce you two, you're adorable. Dace isn't she adorable?" Melanie questions, and I instantly feel a blush creep its way onto my cheeks.

"Undoubtedly," I hear Dace respond from next to me. I look over at him with a slight surprised expression plastered on my face due to his answer but he just smiles his warm, familiar smile at me. Well I now know for a fact that the Darrow's all have contagious smiles.

"You two should get going," Melanie says breaking mine and Daces longing eye contact. "I know you probably have better things to do them hang out with this old lady." I laugh slightly at her words and so does Dace as he finally stands up from his crouching position.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Melanie," I tell her and she nods her head once.

"Ditto."

~

Dace moves the gear in his truck, putting it in park outside of my apartment complex. The car is filled with silence. Just like it's been the entire ride there and back. I didn't mind if though. It gave me time to think and process what Dace has just graciously shared with me. And to be honest, It makes me feel even worse that I haven't shared any information about myself with him.

"So," I start off trying to finally break the comfortable silence. "That's your mom." I look over at Dace who is just staring out at the still road in front of him as he rest his head on his hand that's propped up on the window next to him.

"Yep," he quietly responds after a couple of beats. I look down at my hands in my lap, finally realizing that I'm still in my pajamas. Great. So much for a good first impression. "Breast cancer," I hear Dace say again quietly from next to me. I look back at him and watch as he slowly turns his head to look at me again. He has a look on his face that tells me that it's hard for him to talk about the subject, and it makes me want to wrap my arms around him and never let go.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" I timidly ask which causes him to let out a deep sigh that I can tell he's been holding.

"It's not something that I like to really parade around," he says and I furrow my eyebrows slightly. "I'm not ashamed or anything," he quickly covers up his own words. "I just don't want people feeling sorry for me. And I especially know my mom doesn't want that either." I look at his eyes and try to send off some reassurance with my own as we stare at each other. I know what he means, believe me. And quite frankly, I don't blame him. If I could be known as the girl that doesn't have dead parents and just be known as Freya, then I would.

"Thank you," I finally respond, still keeping locked eye contact with him. He furrows his eyebrows slightly just like I did, indicating that he wants to know why. "For sharing with me." I reach over the cup holders that separate our seats and surprise both me and Dace by placing my hand on top of his and giving it a slight squeeze. Dace looks down at our skin to skin contact, before looking back up at my eyes but I just smile. It feels right. This feels right. Undoubtedly. "I'll see you on Monday," I tell him before sliding my hand from his and hopping out of the car with one final smile.

~~~