“Did you reach out to her first?” Dave raises his eyebrow.
“Does it matter?” Parker questions in a tone that tells me he most definitely did.
But I don’t care about this juvenile drama. Right now all I want is to go back home, and be alone.
There’s only one other person I would tolerate the presence of, but I have no idea if she feels the same.
I don’t spend toomuch time at Jameson’s before making an excuse to go back home. Once I’m pulling into my driveway I see the other car still at Bailey’s so any attempt at taking her goes out the window.
Even though I know it’s going to be difficult to go to sleep, I’m going to try. My mind is tired from the socialization. Things like that take it out of me more than a workout does to my muscles. That, I can push through, being around people and needing to think about how to talk to them, hold a conversation,and bepersonable? That takes effort, and it’s something I’d rather avoid if I can.
I look over into Bailey’s room from my window, but it’s dark, and I’m sure she’s downstairs with Sutton.
Bruno jumps onto the bed, and makes himself comfortable at the end of it. He rests his head on his paws while I strip down to my boxers to climb under the covers and attempt to get some sleep.
As soon as my head hits the pillow I know it’s going to be a futile attempt, but still I close my eyes and try to picture things that may help. Peaceful things.
Sunflowers.
I don’t know why that’s what comes to me, but it is. A field of sunflowers, and ahead of me is long dark blonde wavy hair bouncing as someone walks ahead of me. I start to walk closer, to see her. To confirm it’s who I think it is.
The flowers surround us, blowing in the wind. As I get closer she turns to look over her shoulder and gives me the softest smile. I need to get to her, I want to feel her in my arms.
I speed up my steps, but before I’m able to reach her there’s a familiar whirring sound of a helicopter. I look up and around trying to find the source of it. Bailey is still ahead of me, and she’s getting further and further away.
The source of the noise makes itself known as the machine falls from the sky. I cry out for Bailey, but she’s running right in the direction it’s falling. I call out her name again, racing towardher but it’s coming down so fast and I feel like I’m running through sludge.
The helicopter hits the ground in a fiery explosion and I scream out one more time, but this time it’s real.
My throat is sore, I’m covered in sweat and breathing heavily as I look around the dark room.
It isn’t real.
None of that was real.
But it’s exactly what happens in my mind when I try to find peace within it to go to sleep.
Bruno’s sitting up looking at me.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, trying to convince us both.
I scrub my hand down my face, and look over at Bailey’s window though it’s still dark. I’m not sure how late it is, and I don’t care to look.
I know the chances of me falling asleep again are slim to none. That’s why I resort to my oldest and best coping mechanism I’ve yet to find. Pulling my clothes on, I grab my keys and tell Bruno I’ll be back.
When I get outside I see the Jeep that was at Bailey’s house is gone and her whole house is dark like she’s asleep. I debate for just a minute, then say fuck it. I need to check and make sure she’s okay.
Rationally, I know my mind made up what I saw, but part ofit still feels real and that’s the excuse I give myself as to why I bang on her front door harder than necessary. It takes her a moment to open it, and when she does, she looks pissed.
“What do you want?” She folds her arms across her chest. I can’t help but notice she’s changed into sleepwear and isn’t wearing a bra.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” I grunt, not wanting to explain further than that.
Her eyes drop to my hand where my keys are. “Where are you going?”
“Where I always go in the middle of the night,” I tell her,reallynot wanting to explain.
She raises an eyebrow, and tilts her head to the side. “And where is that?”
