Billboards and Benches

Chapter 9

"Dylan?" He mumbles weakly letting the door creak open. She's been hidden in her room since Christmas. It's New Year's Eve and he's worried. Though it's only been a week he doesn't want her stuck in her bedroom. He went out and with her help and the resume they made together he managed to get a job so as he works four days a week she sits in her room. She's in a rut and she needs some time to get out of it. She'll be back to normal soon enough she's going to have to be. Without her parents constantly shovelling money into her account she doesn't have the funds she's used to so she's been relocating everything. She has her house payments set up she has a grocery and gas fund set aside and she's currently just sitting at home because she doesn't know what else to do. "Dylan?" He steps in looking for any signs of life. He can see a shadow in the bathroom so he walks towards the part of her bedroom he never dared enter. "Dylan?" He calls gently and she likes her head out in his direction.

"Yeah?" She smiles putting her robe on and walking towards him. She grabs his arm leading her into her bathroom. He stares around completely forgetting his reason for entering. The vanities are gigantic and the shower is beautiful. She has a bath and a jacuzzi. She has a whole other side to her bathroom that he has yet to explore but he won't go near it unless she shows him herself.

"I-I was just coming to see if you were gonna," he pauses and looks over at the sink. He doesn't even understand the sink. He stares at the table like surface with a faucet attached to it in complete and utter awe. Her bathroom is so clean and organized. You could never tell someone life's here by looking at Dylan's room. The only thing that might indicate life is the fact that she never makes her bed. He would know. Every day at about two thirty in the morning shawn tries to leave and Dylan's always awake to catch him. His escape plans can start any where from two thirty to four and she's always ready to stop him. He doesn't know how she does it but she's always out on her doorstep when he starts to think he escaped. Every time she brings him back into her bedroom and sleeps pressed against him so he won't leave. It's comforting to him though it worries her every time she tries. She's horrified that one day he's going to decide that he really just wants out and he'll leave. He could overpower her any day. He's been eating he has the strength to simply push her away and she couldn't do anything about it.

"If I was gonna?" She chuckles taking him out of her bathroom. He sits on the bed and she's quick to throw on some clothes so that she can continue to play with his hands. Something about playing with his fingers makes her feel calm. He doesn't understand it. She thinks that it helps her to know he's real and he's here. Gerald was never around she never got to touch him or hold him and half of the time she forgot about him or she'd think she was going crazy and she made someone up. She doesn't like thinking that she faked a human being in her life.

"Are you gonna come eat breakfast with me. Monique cooked. I'm not sure what yet but I made you a coffee to go with it. Iced of course." He smiles and she chuckles laying in his chest.

"You're cute. I like you a lot." She giggles. He looks nervous and she sighs playing with his curls. She adjusts them and starts down the stairs on her own leaving him to follow at his own pace. He moves slowly but she is okay with that. She'll wait in the kitchen for him and when they sit for breakfast all will be well.

"Dylan!" Gerald smiles while she walks into the kitchen. Her jaw drops as she stares at the man she never wanted to see again. He holds an apple in his hand. She just studied him she hadn't seen the man in six months. There was a brief visit two or three months ago when their son was conceived but that was a layover that they both had in the same place. There was enough time for them to hide in a bathroom. He wasn't even sober.

"Get out of my house." She mumbles pointing at the door. She doesn't want the two men meeting. Shawn would be understandings but Gerald would make a big deal out of it and she doesn't want that. She doesn't want the scene caused. "I want you gone. Now!" She growls and he rolls his eyes.