loosing game | daniel seavey

chapter twenty four

My heart raced as I stood in front of Daniel's door. Nervousness flooded over me as I reached up and knocked on the door. The white Tesla sat outside so I knew he would be here. I looked down at my feet as I waited. After about a minute I grew tired of waiting and began to walk back down to my car, giving up.

"Malia?" The sweet sound of Daniel's voice made me stop and turn around. He wore a baggy hoodie that drowned his already small figure with basketball shorts. His hair hung low, free of the products he usually puts in it. "W-What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?" My heart turned at the sight of him so down. He nodded and opened the door for me.

We sat on his couch in silence for what felt like forever. I took a really good look at Daniel. The bags under his eyes were deep. His eyes weren't the usual light blue. They were more of a gray shade. He looked drained. Empty. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair. I noticed the bruises that ran across his knuckles.

"What happened to your hand?" I broke the silence. Daniel looked at his hand and shrugged.

"I got mad the other night and punched my piano. It's fine though, I'll be fine." Daniel spoke as if his anger outburst meant nothing. It was his playing hand, God forbid it was something more than just a couple of bruises.

"Can I?" I pointed to his hand. He nodded and held it out for me. I moved next to him and took his hand in mine. My fingers gently moved across the bruises, causing him to flinch. For some reason seeing Daniel flinch under my skin sent something threw me. I moved back to my spot. I looked away as the sudden tears threatened to spill. "I-I'm sorry."

"Malia, you didn't hurt me. I-I just flinched because they're still new. It didn't hurt me really, don't apologize." Daniel went to reach for me, but I stood up and turned away from him.

"No. I'm sorry for everything."

I could feel Daniel standing directly behind me. Tears rolled down my face, I couldn't turn around and allow him to see me breakdown. But, as Daniel always does, he took my hand and turnt me around. I hesitated before looking up and seeing he was in the same state as me. His big blue eyes were filled with tears.

"I can't tell you how much I regret that night. Seeing the hurt on your face at the bottom of the steps killed me. I never wanted to hurt you. I really don't know what got into me that night. But I regret every moment I ever shared with Amelia." Daniel's voice was shaky as he spoke. He exhaled deeply and he shook his head.
"You told me you loved me and you said you were in last place. But you were never last place, second best, or any of that. I'm just an idiot with a troubled past and a slight alcohol problem. You have always been first place. Malia,you make me want to be a better person for you. I know I'm definitely not the guy you deserve. But God I will spend forever trying to be a better man if that means you'll forgive me for fucking up again. Because I love you too, Malia. God knows I do. I love you."

Speechless. I had no words after hearing Daniel pour his heart out to me. I sat there and looked at him, my heart and mind internally arguing on what to do.

"Malia, please say something." Daniel's voice was filled with sadness and his hand left mine.

I didn't say a word. I couldn't. I did what my body was telling me to do. I reached up and pulled Daniel's face to mine. Our lips moved gently in sync just as they always had. The saltiness of our tears tinted our mouths. I pulled away and smiled slightly. I wiped away the few remaining tears on Daniel's face.

"You are beyond perfect. I don't deserve anything more than who you already are. Because that's the person I'm in love with. I'm in love with you, Daniel. We both have issues we need to fix. We can fix them together. I know we can."

Daniel nodded and pulled me close to him. His hands wrapped around my waist as mine snaked around his neck. We stood there for a while. Just embracing the presence of each other.

"Forever is a long time, Malia. But God knows I'll spend all of that time loving you and only you." Daniel's whisper sent chills down my body. And for the first time in a while, I really did feel like this was real.