Incandescent

CHAPTER FIVE.

"Are you sure it's open?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at Dave.

"Yup. Pretty sure." He said, walking past me and pushing the door open. "See?"

I stood there staring at the opened door. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach I couldn't shake. "I'm not going in there. It's way too dark, what if someone's robbing the place?" I whispered.

"Seriously? Dude, the sign says open." Dave said, pointing at the dull sign above the door. The look I gave him made him roll his eyes and he marched inside like he owned the place. Is he insane!

"Dave!" I yelled after him. "If they attack you I'm not coming to help you!"

"It's so scary." He said sarcastically.

I stood there for a few seconds before running into the darkness. "Ow!" I hissed after bumping into something. "Dave!" I called. No answer. They killed him didn't they? For fuck sake Dave, I can't lose you too.

I felt around, searching for a light switch. "Dave this isn't funny—"

"Surprise!" They yelled and almost gave me a heart attack.

"Ah!" I yelled and grabbed my shoe and throwed it at the first person I saw, which was Stephan, Dave's partner. "Damn, sorry Steph," I said when he groaned. Dave walked towards me laughing.

"That was funny as hell," Dave said with tears in his eyes. "That scream and you throwing your shoe—damn, you remind me of your mother!"

"Shut up," I grumbled. He laughed harder just to spite me.

"Ah!" He mocked when I walked away and went to the bar. I ordered two beers for Dave and me and said hi to a few people before giving Dave his beer. He's talking to a tall redhead dressed in a skintight dress. "Thanks. Stacy—this is Damian. Damian—" I tuned him out when the door opened and Tanya walked in wearing a yellow dress that hugged her body magnificently. Wow. She had cut her hair and styled it in waves from the 20's era or so—I have no idea what they're called but it suited her. I walked towards her and she smiled the moment she saw me. She mouthed hey before hugging me.

She pulled away and undid the first two buttons of my shirt. "You look great." She said over the music.

"Thanks, I have you to thank for that," I said. "Do you want a drink?"

She shook her head. "No, I only came here to say congratulations on your divorce and to say goodbye." She said. I blinked at her.

"Goodbye?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm moving to New Jersey for a few months...maybe longer....depending on how well things go." She continued. I took her hand and lead her to the patio upstairs.

"Well, I'm happy for you," I said after closing the door behind us. She shivered and hugged herself. I shrugged off my jacket off and wrapped it around her.

"Thanks." She said.

I looked out at the city and back at her. "I've been thinking about you," I said. She leaned against the rail with a sigh, the wind was ruining her hairstyle.

"As much as I was trying not to...I couldn't get you out of my head." She said. She pulled me away when I pulled her into me. "No Damian, I can't....well, you can't." I frowned at her. "I'm ready to settle down and you won't be ready for a while and I can't wait for you—"

"I can be ready—"

"No," she began and handed me my jacket, "you need time to get over Lynette and enjoy being single. I don't want to be your rebound."

I shook my head. "Tanya, I'd never hurt you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did." I proclaimed. She smiled sadly and went on her tiptoes to cup my face.