“Hey, I’m gonna take off,” Rachael said, sadly, and I nodded.
“Yeah, me too. What a bummer, man.” Tessa said, grimacing. I agreed.
“Hey, Rach, it wasn’t your fault. None of us knew that she’d react that way to the scary movie.” I patted her on the back, reassuring her.
“Yeah, but still. I shouldn’t have been forcing her. This was supposed to be for Gabi, and she left.” Rachael frowned.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, Rach.” Tessa said.
“Yeah, she’s probably just sleeping right now. And Alyssa‘s probably in Eric‘s lap right now, which is a good thing,” I smiled reassuringly, and she returned it, although, less convincing.
“Relax, she’s probably fine,” John chimed in, and Rachael nodded before leaving, Tessa trailing behind her. She waved with a sad smile, and I just nodded back.
I sighed and walked over to John. He immediately wrapped his arms around me, and I inhaled his clean scent. He smelled like soap, and I loved it.
“Look’s like it’s just you and me, Dais.” he whispered into my hair.
“Yep,” I sighed, hugging him closer to me, not willing to let him go.
“What’s wrong, kitten?” he asked, running his fingers through my hair. I just realized how much I loved it when he did that, how much it calmed me down.
“Tonight was supposed to be for Gabi. We were supposed to have an all girl’s night. You know, movies, junk food, beauty products, and the ritual burning of Kenny’s pictures; a sleepover. It was an epic fail, though. I just wanted to help her out. She seemed so sad.” I whispered into his shirt.
“Did we ruin it for you?” John asked.
“Nah. It was a fail from the beginning. We probably shouldn’t have let Rach pick the movies. I should’ve known that she’d pick a horror movie.” I laughed, and he chuckled quietly.
“I’ll sleepover tonight, kitten, just so you won’t be alone.” He wrapped his arms around me and we began to sway to inaudible music, like last night.
“Good, I want you to stay.”
—
The next day, I woke up in a pair of arms, and smiled through my groggy state. I turned towards his chest, and snuggled deeper into him.
“Good morning, kitten,” he said, kissing my forehead.
“G’morning.” I said, stretching out to get rid of my sleep, and he laughed.     “Agh, I feel so bad. I don’t have a nickname for you.”
“It’s fine. “Hot Stuff” will do,” he wiggled his eyebrows and poked my ribs.
I giggled and said, “I was thinking more along the lines of “Big Headed,” but, hey, whatevs.” he scoffed and began tickling me to death. I squealed, and squeaked and squirmed, until I heard our front door open and close. John stopped tickling me and looked up to.
“Geez, I can hear you two all the way next door,” Alyssa said, walking into my room.
“What the hell, ‘Lyss? How’d you get in?” I asked her, sitting up quickly.
“The front door was unlocked. I thought you guys were making breakfast, or something so I came over to steal some food.”   
“You left it unlocked?” John asked, looking at me incredulously.
“I—I don’t know. We just—I just—” I stuttered.
“Daisy, that’s unsafe.” John said, acting like I didn’t know that it was.
“I know that, John. I just forgot, geez.” I said.
“I’m sorry, I just—I don’t know what I’d do without you. Promise me you’ll remember to look your doors tonight; all the windows, the balcony door, front door, everything.” he said.
“I promise,” I said.
“Cross your heart?” he asked, finally lightening the mood.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my heart. It was from the movie UP, but ever since we had gone to see it together, he’d made me do it every time I promised him something.
“Good,” he said, pulling me in for a hug.
“Geez,” Alyssa said. I’d forgotten that she was standing there, watching us. “you two are sickingly sweet. You guys don’t even have breakfast.” she whined, and I laughed.
“I’ll go make some.” I jumped up, and John got up with me.
“No, let me,” he said, smiling at me.
“Man, twice in a week? You must really like me,” I grinned cheekily at him and he rolled his eyes at me, pulling on a t-shirt. All three of us walked into the kitchen, and there sitting at the counter was Halvo.
“Uhm. Hi?” I said, making it sound like I question. I hadn’t realized that he was here. “Whaaat are you doing here, Eric?”
“Hahah, well, about that…” Alyssa laughed nervously.
“I kinda—”
“We sorta—”
“Uhm, yeah.” they both said simultaneously.
My eyes widened, realizing what this meant. I let the boys talk while John made breakfast. I quickly walked up to Alyssa and grabbed her arm, bringing her over to the living room.
I sat her down and loomed over her with my hands on my hips. I could be a pretty intimidating Asian chick if I wanted to, ya know.
“Spill.” was all I said.
“Uhm, what—” she asked with shifty eyes and I cut her off.
“Don’t “uh, what” me. I know you did the dirty. Spill. Deets. NOW.” I demanded.
“There isn’t much to say, really…” she looked uncomfortable.
“Wow. That bad?” I asked her.
“Let’s just say if he were bad, why would I want to go back tonight?” she asked rhetorically and skipped back over to the kitchen while I had a mini freak-out in our living room.
“Kitten?” John asked, looking over at me, right when I was doing the happy dance, and I stopped in mid-air.
“Yeah?”
“Whaaaat are you doing?” he asked, looking like he was holding back laughs. I dropped my arms and walked over to the kitchen, sidling up next to him.
“Noooooothing,” I said, drawing out the ‘o.’ I looked back at Eric and winked at Alyssa, though, and she turned bright red. Eric didn’t notice anything though. He was just eating the pancakes John had just made, and I laughed.
“C’mon, kitten. Come eat your breakfast. You’ve got work in an hour,” John said, and I hurried to eat the delicious breakfast he had made.
—
“Dammit, dammit, dammit!” I screamed in frustration, pulling on my shoes and cramming a granola bar into my mouth as I ran down the hallway of my apartment. My shower had run a little long, and I was now ten minutes late to my job at FYE.
“Slow down, Dais. You’re gonna trip and break your freaking leg,” John chuckled, pulling me to a stop.
“John, I’m late.” I said, rushing him. “For the fourth time this month. Williams is not going to be happy.”
“Don’t worry, you drive like a maniac. You’ll make it there in no time,” Alyssa joked, laughing as she stuck a bit of muffin in her mouth. I flipped her off. WTF? Where the fuck’d she get a damn muffin? I WANT ONE!
“Muffin’s are on the counter, kitten.” John laughed at the envious look I threw at Alyssa before he said that. I smiled and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
“Thanks, Babe. See you all later tonight.” I said, grabbing a blueberry muffin and hurrying to the door.
“What’s tonight?” Alyssa asked.
“My birthday planning!” I said cheerfully. “It’s tomorrow. We’re going to have a show—”
“Kitten, work!”
“Oh, right, bye!” I rushed out the door.
—
“Daisy,” Dean, my boss, started.
“Look, Dean, I’m sorry. My boyfriend, he got the swine flu, and he’s all sick, and—” I started to make up some elaborate excuse but he cut me off. Foo’ knew me too well.
“Daisy, we both know you’re single—”   
“Hey, am not! Kinda. Sorta. Ish…”
“Ooh, who’s the new guy?” Dean said. He was actually a pretty cool guy. He just hated it when I came in late.
“Not really new…” I trailed off.
“No way! Nuh unh! You and John finally got together?” Dean was also gay, and loved to butt in on my love life.
“Well, not officially, but…”
“But there’s something there! Ha! I knew it!’ Dean laughed. “Well, in that case, you get a free pass.”
“Yay! Thank you, Dean!” I said, kissing him on the cheek and running to go put my FYE vest on.
“But this will be the last time I let you slide, Daisy!” he screamed at me.
“That’s what you said the last fifteen times, Dean!” I laughed, looking back at him, and he shook his head, but I could tell there was a hint of a smile left on his face. Dean was about 40. He was a really lonely man, and I knew that by living through my stories, he was reliving his adolescence. It made me kind of sad that he hadn’t found anyone, yet.
“Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet. Little miss innocent, sugar me…”
I smiled as I recognized John’s ringtone. That’s right, bitch. We’ve got ringtones for each other.
“Hey, babe. Miss me already?” I asked him.
“Sure thing, babydoll.” I laughed. “Dean didn’t yell at you, did he?”
“Nah, it’s like the usual. Just, tell him something about my personal life, about you, and then he’ll totally let me off,” I giggled and he chuckled. I started to rearrange the tabs of where the CDs were, seeing how everyone had placed them far from where they belonged when I caught site of Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop and smiled.
“Good, because if he had..” he trailed off.
“‘If he had…’ you’d, what? Beat him to death with your words?” I teased. And he laughed.
“You get off at six tonight, right?” he asked me, suddenly.
“Yeah, but the mall doesn’t close till nine. Why?” I asked him.
“I want you to go pick up the prettiest dress you can find, and a pair of shoes to match. Any store, any price. Doesn’t matter, just get it, and then wait for me.” he said, not answering my question.
“What?” I asked, but then I heard Dean yelling at me.
“Daisy! Off the phone, girl!”
“Agh, I’ve gotta go. Bye, babe.” I said to him.
“Bye, kitten. Oh, wait! Eric’s going to come by later to pick up your car.”   
“What, why?”
“Just have the keys ready, kitten. See you tonight,” -CLICK-
“Agh, he’s such a tease.” I said out loud, shaking my head at the silly boy.
“Now, who could that be?” Dean smiled knowingly. “Boy toy?”
I laughed. “Yes, Dean. My ‘boy toy.’” I held up air quotes. “Oh, hey, I’ve gotta ask you a question. You’re accepting applicants, right?”
“Well, with how late you’ve been coming in lately,” he gave me a stern look. I laughed. “yes.”
“Well, my friend just moved into town, and she’s been looking for a job. This one open?”
“Sure thing. Anything for a friend of yours, Dais.” I smiled and got back to sorting the CDs.
20 minutes later, Eric walked through the doors of FYE and I threw him my keys. I tried asking him what John had planned but he wouldn’t tell me anything. Jerk just walked out with a grin on his face and my car keys.
—
Four hours later, some intense sorting, and with my feet all sore, Janet, the other worker, came in and took my spot, leaving me open for my lunch break.
“Daisy!” someone screamed at me from behind. I whipped around and was met my Alyssa.   
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked her.
“Just thought I’d surprise you during your lunch break.”
“Cool, cool.” We got Chinese food and sat down at one of the tables near FYE and talked about my phone call with John and what he meant.
“He obviously wants to take you out before your birthday! Awh, how sweet.” she gushed, and I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, hey, I got you a job here too, if you want it.”
“That’s great! Of course I want it.” she said.
“Haha, well, I just have to inform you that our boss is gay.” I laughed at the expression on her face.
“Hahaha, ‘kay. That works, too.” she laughed and we talked about more aimless things before she got a phone call from Halvo. They were getting so into each other, and I thought it was the cutest thing in the world. As long as she didn’t break his heart. Ten seconds later, I realized my lunch break was over.
“Shit, my lunch shifts over. See you at home,” I said and bolted. Two more hours left, babe-ehh.
—
T-minus 5 minutes…
T-minus 4 minutes…
Three…
Two…
One!
“ByeDeanseeyouatmybirthdayconcertomorrow! Loveyougottagobye!” I said, all in two breaths and bolted out of the store, so fast that I ran into someone.
“Oof!” I said, falling onto my butt.
“A little excited there, Dais?”
“John! Hey!” I said, taking the hand he was holding out for me, allowing him to pill me up. “I didn’t think you’d be here so soon.”
“Haha, clearly,” he smirked, and I slapped his shoulder. “Do you know where you want to go?”
“Uhm, yeah. Right next door, there are these pair of polka dotted pumps that I’ve been eying for forever.”
“Lead the way,” he said, and I smiled, taking his hand and pulling him towards the store. I took him towards the pair of shoes, not knowing that he planned to get them for me, so when he bought them, I was really shocked. Sometimes, I’m so dense when it comes to these damn things.
“Hey, tomorrow’s you’re birthday, and I’m going to spoil you rotten until that day is over.”
“Just until that day is over?” I asked cheekily.
He laughed. “Nah, I guess not. I guess you’ll just have to live with being spoiled, because I plan on spoiling you for the rest of your life,” he whispered in my ear, and I smiled, blushing like a madwoman. “Onto the dresses.”
“…tease,” I said, and poked him in the ribs, running off into Macy’s, leaving him laughing and stunned.
He let me roam around a while, browsing the dresses, before I finally found one that was cute, flirty, and was on sale.
It was this yellow strapless ruffled dress. The sash across the middle was silk, and the material of the dress itself was fun, and so, I skipped up to John and told him that that was the one that I liked.
“Yellow, of course,” he laughed and shook his head at me. He got the dress for me, and as we were walking about of Macy’s, all of the monitors in the mall switched to the Fox 35 News.
We stopped walking, and looked up at the TV screen.
“Breaking News: Tempe, Arizona policemen have reported that a patient from the local asylum has broken out of his cell this evening and is on the loose. We are informed that he is possibly armed, and highly dangerous. Folks, grab your kids, wife, girlfriends, lock your doors, and stay tuned. We will keep you posted…”
“Oh my God,” I gasped. I knew Rach had Garrett, Rhianna had Nick, Lauren had Pat, Tessa had Jared, Alyssa was probably with Eric, but no one had gotten to Gabi yet, and seeing how Kennedy and her were broken up, she was probably all alone in that big house. “John, Gabi,” I said, tugging on his shirt, and his eyes widened.
“On it.” We took off, running towards his car and I pulled out my phone.
I dialed my apartment to see if everyone was there, just in case we were overreacting for no reason, but I got voicemail. “Dammit.”
I dialed Eric’s next and he picked up, second ring. “Daisy? Where are you and John?”
“Mall. Where is everyone?” I asked. “I called the apartment, but no one answered.”
“That’s because we’re all ‘Lyss’s place. Look, just come over to her apartment. Everyone’s here.”
“We’ll be there in a bit.”
“What’d he say?” John asked, throwing my bags in the backseat of his car while I got buckled up.
“Everyone’s at Alyssa’s place. Whew. For a second there, I thought ‘Gabi, oh no,’” I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I know, same here. What an inopportune time for Kennedy and her to break up.”   
“Right?”
Ten minutes later, we were at the complex and John and I ran as fast as we could up the steps. John knocked on her door. “Halvo, ’Lyss, open up. It’s us, John & Daisy.” We waited a few seconds with no reply. “Halvo, open up, man!”
I was about to start banging on the door too, when my apartment door opened. “Hey, we moved everyone here. My apartment was getting too crowded,” Alyssa said.
“You should’ve called, I was about to have a fucking heart attack.” I said. “Is everyone here?”
“Yeah, Eric, Rach, Garrett, Kennedy, Lauren, Pat, Rhianna, Nick, Justin, Austin,  Tessa, and Jared.”
“And Gabi?” I asked, looking around at everyone‘s blank faces. “Guys…where’s Gabi?” I asked, slowly.
Chapter by: Nickie.