Chapter Twenty-Five
With the new plan approved, Dane was released back to rehab by Dr. Zander. Tommy made sure to introduce him to his roommate, a sullen teen named Joe, who was covered in tiny slashes and burn marks. Dane had been nervous about being back and alone, but even more nervous about rooming with a stranger. He turned on his tablet and began an episode of his favorite pony show.
“You’re watching the ponies?” his roommate asked. Dane just shrugged. “That’s so lame. That show is for little girls.”
Dane felt his stomach heave at the thought of this kid judging him. He ground his teeth and turned it to the wedding episode. He wondered if Bas had seen this one. Dane was working on becoming a guard pony strong enough to protect the entire palace with just the goodness of his horn. And, yeah, he sometimes felt like he was walking around in a drugged stupor, puppet to his overactive brain, but in the end he would overcome it and save the day.
Halfway through the first part of two, his new roommate was peering over, straining to see the screen. Dane turned it his way.
“Want to come watch?”
The guy shook his head. Dane shrugged again, but by the beginning of the second part, Joe was crawling on the bed beside Dane. They finished the wedding story arc and watched the episode with the male pony chasing after a doll and laughed hard, then discussed the merits of having cutie marks, wings, horns, or just a sassy attitude. When Dane finally went to bed, it was to the sound of his new roommate snoring. He hugged his rainbow pony and hoped that the next day would bring better things and more time with his friends. He dreamed of ponies, Bas, and pizza.
He was up early, showered, dressed, and in the cafeteria before Joe even rolled out of bed. Dane’s new shadow was the nurse he’d punched Sunday night.
“Sorry again for hitting you,” Dane said.
“We’re good. Let’s get you fed.” The man loaded up a tray full of fruits and veggies for Dane.
“Can I try the muffin too?” Dane pointed to the blueberry muffin beside the fruit bar.
“Sure.” The nurse added one to his plate and guided Dane to a table. There was no more fighting over eating. Dane ate methodically, ticking away the colors in his head in tandem with the rainbow. Roy G Biv. He’d have to work on finding yellow and purple. He was just finishing up the muffin when everyone else began to trickle in and Dane’s nurse received a call.
“Your friend is here. Now you’re not going to do anything stupid, like throw up all that food you just ate, are you?”
Dane shook his head. He had a busy day ahead, and he’d need energy for it. “I’m not really a throw up sort of person,” Dane added. “The muffin worked for yellow and blue, but I need purple food now. Maybe I can ask Ru about the eggplant. That was purple on the outside. What other purple foods are there?”
“Purple grapes? The nurse asked, his gaze falling to the breakfast bar. The only grapes there were green. “Cabbage is purple sometimes. And blackberries. I’ll see if we can have them added to the list.”
“Thanks,” Dane said. “Have to get my colors in.” He followed the nurse to the main entry waiting area where Ru stood with Tommy.
“Two for one deal today, Dane.” Tommy smiled at him and patted him on the back. “Dimitri is waiting for us. And I want to learn how to make his pizza too.” Tommy looked a little wired, but off, bouncing from foot to foot. Dane frowned at him and glanced at Ru, who shrugged but shared his frown. They made their way to the car and Dimitri’s restaurant, Tommy talking the whole way, something about a blond with a rack.
Ru leaned over and whispered, “I’m going to send him home to sleep it off. So just give me a few when we get to my uncle’s place, okay?”
Sleep what off?Dane wondered. Tommy’s eyes were wide, entire body fidgety, like he just couldn’t stop moving. They stopped in a parking lot beside a big, flat-looking building. Ru patted Dane’s hand, got out, and spoke to the driver. He was back a second later, talking to Tommy. Dane tried hard not to listen to their whispered conversation until it was clear that they were both angry.
“You’re not helping like this. Go home,” Ru hissed at Tommy.
“I have his power of attorney. Means I have first dibs.”
“What is he, a kid we’re fighting over in a divorce? Seriously, you need to get cleaned up. We’re going in. If you’re still like this later, don’t bother coming over.”
“After all I’ve done for you—”
“You’re unraveling. Stop now, before it’syouwe’re rescuing. What are you even on?” Ru buckled the seat belt around Tommy, who hadn’t been strapped in the whole time, and backed away. He motioned to Dane to get out of the car. Tommy struggled to get up, fighting with the seat belt like he didn’t realize it was there.
The cold air hit Dane hard. He shrugged his hood over his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. He should have grabbed his puffy coat. Ru got out and slammed the door shut on Tommy’s ranting. Dane stared at him. Ru stared back, looking more sullen than Dane was used to seeing him.
“Let’s go in. Being around Dimitri will help us both feel better.”
The car drove off, and Ru led Dane to the back door. The man who opened it was large enough to be a football player and a half. He was easily six foot five and three hundred pounds.
“A brick house,” Dane muttered, realizing the analogy he’d read a hundred times before really fit. “You’re huge!”
The man offered a hand the size of a plate and a wide smile. “You must be Dane. I’m Dimitri, Ru’s uncle. I’m Italian. We like food, family, and cooking. And except for my nephew here, we’re all pretty big. Come on in out of the cold.” He grinned at Ru. “Come in, boy,” Dimitri told them, stepping out of the doorway after Dane shook his hand.
They followed him to the kitchen. The kitchen was… wow. Dane couldn’t help but stare at the space, the wide-open endless counters and super clean machinery. The floor shone, clean enough to eat off of, with walls a mash of metal tiles stamped with different world locations on them. Lots of elbow room and prep space.
