The Two Of Us

chapter 18

Darcy's POV

Mummy is cooking in the kitchen. I am playing with my dollies. I braid her hair just like mommy would let me. My daddy is fighting with my mommy about home-schooling.. it's a funny word.

Uncle hairy-bushy... i used to call him... uncle charles...My dad says. he and mom. She cries out loud. Dad screams at her. I'm scared. I've never seen him like this. I run into my room. I hear dishes breaking. I start crying. I hear them arguing. I start singing to myself so i won't hear them. But i can hear talking about him. My mommie would go on trips with him. She would return home late. She would disappear at night leaving me alone. Mommie and uncle would talk till late night. Dad comes home drunk. Talking silly things. I would laugh. My mom would start crying and scream. Loudly.

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I wake up covered in cold sweat and frantically search my surroundings. I'm drenched. I take huge gulps of air. Adrenaline has flooded my bloodstream, spiking through my system like a dangerous dagger. WHY do I get such horrible dreams? I check the time. It's still 4.00 am. I try to sit up. I have been disturbing Hazel and Zoë so much. Waking up screaming... geez they must feel like living with a ghost. I scoff at myself. Tomorrow's the third weekend since I've started here...I haven't heard anything from dad or will or Rose. Just some stories that Will posts on instagram... Neither dad nor Rose called me. They never paid that attention to me. But sitting here I feel horrible. Three weeks they didn't speak to their daughter, don't they miss me?

Henry and Davis went to visit his parents. It was such a long day. Hazel's parents will be coming tomorrow to visit her and Zoë will be going to Seattle to visit her sister. Can't people stay away from their parents for at least two months? Come on Darcy you are being unfair... my subconscious mocks me.  I sigh. I guess I am, Hazel has stayed with me for the first week and zoë for the second week. I feel so terrible for myself. Ughh! What am I going to do tomorrow. Henry and Davis should be back. The nightmares keep getting worse. I need something to distract me.

Davis? Huh? His name is a welcome distraction from my current situation. I smile a rare smile. Should I check his profile on social media? Maybe? Why not? I blush inwardly. I take the phone and open instagram. Hoping this would distract me. I search- Davis.. Davis what? What the actual fuck? I don't even know his last name. Yay my life.

"Ugh!!" I actually groan to myself. I look around, Hazel and Zoë are still asleep. Phew! Stupid me and myself... I should get his number... And as expected, in a few moments, with nothing else to think, my thoughts gradually drift back to my mom. And then the darkness closes on me... no darcy, keep it at bay. think of something else. I command my subconscious but it is too dazed to listen.

I seriously wish mom was here. I wouldn't have had to spend my weekends alone. She was nice. My hearts twists when I think about her. She was the only person I loved the most in this whole world. Of course I love my dad too... no matter what. But when she died a part of me broke and I don't think anyone will ever be able to fix it.

She always came home late. But she used to come in my room when I would be sleeping, kiss me on my forehead, and she would say that she loved me so much. Sometimes I would be awake... listening her voice... apologizing for her delay. My chest tightens at the memory of her. She might not have been the best mother in the world. But I just loved her so much. the proximity I felt... I had gotten used to it. the suddenly... she died. I start crying thinking about her.

I pull the blanket over my head and cover mouth with the pillow. Trying to make minimum noise. And before I know it, I drift off thousands of miles away.

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It's been almost one week since I've seen Davis. I've grown pretty close to Henry in this one month at Lawrence. Nothing really happened this week except my dad actually called me on Wednesday.

"Hey kiddo, how are you?" I swear I would have had a heart attack right there.

"Im fine, it's been really great here." Except you didn't care enough to call your daughter for one month... I mean one whole month?

"Really? I knew you'd fit right in there. Your mother would have been really proud of you." He says, bringing tears in my eyes.

"Yeah. And how are things at home? How is Rose? And Will?" I ask. Ignoring the bile rising in my throat at the mention at mom's name. hurriedly brushing off the tears.

"They both are great. We all have been busy here, honey. We all miss you so much here." Oh yeah? Really? I snort and try to cover it up with a violent fit of coughing

"I've missed you all too. So much. But listen I gotta go. My next lecture would be starting in 3 mins... I'll call you later." I say and hand up the phone quickly.

Its friday today which means Law. And law means Davis. I blush furiously at the thought. I quickly get ready. Hazel and I, we manage to reach in time before the lecture starts. I spot Henry and go sit beside him. I look a around for Davis but he's not there. I seriously think that he has been avoiding me lately. I mean I haven't seen all week. My female hormones will literally burst if I don't kiss him soon. Whoa there... what are you thinking McField?

"Where is Davis?" I ask Henry.

"Missing him already?" He a asks pouting and putting on a puppy eyes. Hazel raises her eyebrows at me. She is sitting across me. Well we three and a guy I-don't-know, we all are sitting on a circular table. Damn that professor who changes the seat arrangement every lecture. Every damn lecture. Well, back at hazel.

I put on a straight face I say "just asking." I glare at him. And he understands that Hazel doesn't know.

"Whats going on?" She asks us. Eyeing me suspiciously.

"I ship them." Henry says sounding  as-a-matter-of-fact.

"Oh." She says and looks away.

Making sure that she Isn't listening to us I turn a stone cold glare at him again

"Sorry.. I didn't know." he mouths me

"Where is Davis?" I whisper.

"He's a bit sick." He says looking anywhere but at him. I give him my cold stare.

"He's avoiding me, isn't he?" I ask him.

"No." He says barely audible.

So he is... we open our assignments and start discussing it.

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It's almost noon. People mostly go out to have lunch, dinner, everything. So the canteen remains empty. Not that it does not serve good food, it tastes fine. Zoë joins us the fountain, and we make our way at the canteen. The line is pretty short so we quickly grab our plates go to find a table.

Hazel and Zoe have been so supportive. They have not once complained about me screaming at night. They would just come and hug me tight and say 'it's all right, just a bad dream, honey.'

We start talking. Eating. Talking about what we are going to do tomorrow. Weekend. Ugh! I have literally started hating that word. I glance around and see a few people talking. I eyes stop dead on their track and my insides turn to ice. I stand up suddenly. I start walking toward the end of canteen. He just a few steps away. His back is turned at me and he is talking on his phone. His long hair which have reached his shoulder. He is wearing a blue suit and a trouser. Geez, I could recognize his voice anytime. I can't believe it.

"Charles Haywood?"