New Boy [Daniel Seavey]

thirty

Sometimes I don't want to deal with all my problems. Like right now I don't want to deal with anything. I don't want to deal with Bailey. I don't want to deal with the attitude that Ma is giving me. I'm not used to everyone being iffy.

"What is it now?" Daniel asks from my bed.

"I don't want to deal with everyone and everything," I say flopping next to him.

"Then don't." 

"But I can't run away from my problems for the rest of my life." 

"But you can for a while," Daniel rebuttals.

"And how am I gonna do that? Ma's one of my problems and I live under her roof."

"Then don't live under her roof."

"Daniel I'm seventeen, I can't just walk out of my house anytime I want." 

"But you are old enough to make your own choices." 

I laugh, "I'm really fucking not. She makes all my choices for me and when she's not Dad is. They treat me like I'm seven and then sometimes they don't." 

"Then start making your own decisions. Start right now." 

"What are you implying?"

"That you pack a bag and grab your shit and come to my house. Spend the night with me and Tyler. We can dip out of school tomorrow and hangout, go to Retro's, go to the library, whatever you want," Daniel rambles on.

"All of that sounds nice, but I love Ma."

"Walking out doesn't mean that you don't love her, Ashlyn. It means you need your space and if she can't respect you for that..."

"Daniel she's my mother, not my fucking roommate." 

Daniel laughs, "who gives a shit Ashlyn do what you want to do." 

I shake my head, "fine." I get up off my bed and grab a duffle bag and throw some clothes and shoes into it, not knowing how long I'll be at Daniels, I throw in more than I probably should. 

"How long do you plan on staying at my house?" 

"Um until you kick me out?"

"Got it." 

I turn around and throw my laptop and its charger in my duffle bag, along with my phone charger.

"I should probably drive my car to your house so I have my car, right?" 

"Yeah," Daniel says stretching.

-

"You left her a note?" Daniel asks laughing.

"Yes! Daniel, I would have felt beyond guilty if I didn't leave her something."

"I think your child self should come over here and give me a kiss," Daniel says with a soft smirk.

"Oh really?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"Yes really." 

"Maybe if you ask the right way."

"Princess, can I please get a kiss? I miss your soft lips on mine." Daniel asks with a frown and puppy dog eyes.

I shake my head and lean in to kiss him, "you're lucky that I like your lips." 

"I think you like more than my lips," Daniel murmurs. 

"Well, I wouldn't know that." 

Daniel kisses me and then chuckles, "I was talking about my abs, but if you want to talk about my dick that's great too." 

I can feel my face turn to fire, "topic change please."

-

"What do you mean you've never had it?" 

"It just hasn't been something I've ever had to try."

"How have you never had to try salmon?" Daniel asks in disbelief.

"Because I haven't had the fucking reason to Daniel!"

Daniel laughs, "well good thing I'm making it." 

"With what?" I ask jumping to look over his shoulder.

"Butter and seasonings?" 

"Fancy."

He laughs, "I mean if you say that I guess so, but not really. I make this all the time, but I've never had someone else try it. So it might not be your thing."

"Anything that you like I'll try," I say wrapping my hands around his waist. 

We stand like that for a while, but then my phone rings. I walk over to my phone and pick it up. "Hello?" 

"Where are you?" I hear Ma ask.

"A friends house." 

"Daniels?" 

"Yeah." 

"When are you coming back?"

"When I feel like I won't get judged or whatever."

"You need to come home now," Ma demands.

"Nope." 

"Why not?"

"Because Ma, I don't want to come home right now."

"Will you be home soon?" Ma asks with a lightened tone.

"I should be, but I think this will prepare us for when I need to move out." 

"Okay." 

And then she hangs up.

"Salmon and veggies are ready." Daniel sings.