The entire day Dalila barely moved from the living room and only then it was to use the bathroom. She considered going back early but her parents refused and told her she was in no condition to drive, she knew they were right. She also knew that when she got back that the friendship between her and Steve would be over. Dalila tried hard not to think of Bryce but then his mother called, he consumed her mind.
“He won’t eat?” her mother whispered from the kitchen. “Really?” She paused. “Ok hon, well let me know if there is anything we can do to help. No, she’s barely moved either and won’t eat. We’ve just got her to stop crying. All right, we appreciate it.” She hung up the phone when her father walked in.
“Is Dalila still sleeping?” she asked.
“Yea”
“That was Pat, Bryce’s mother on the phone. She said Bryce came home, laid on the couch, and hasn’t moved an inch. Says he’s just clutching the ring he bought for her. He won’t talk or eat, he doesn’t even sleep. He didn’t tell her what happened but she figured it out and wanted to call and see how Dalila is holding up.”
Dalila curled into a fetal position. She wanted nothing more than to cry right now but they didn’t come. Sleep wouldn’t take her either, she just laid there feeling miserable. All she could think about now was Bryce, laying on his couch. She closed her eyes tight and held her knees to her chest until finally, she could sleep.
Bryce didn’t know what day it was, he didn’t even know what the time was. He did know that Dalila had went back to school. Her mother dropped by to check on him when they got back from driving her. She was all he could think about. His mother tried talking to him but he didn’t talk, his throat burned. He could hear his mother in the kitchen which reminded Bryce that he was hungry. He didn’t know if he’d eaten since that night. Slowly he sat up and rubbed a hand over his face. He needed a shave and badly. His mom walked into the room with a tray of food, she looked like he felt.
“You moved…” she gasped while setting the tray down on the coffee table.
“Yeah..” his throat was sore.
“And you’re talking.”
“I’m sorry mom.” He could see the worry across her face ease a little.
“You’ve better be! You scared us all half to death.” she sat at his feet.
“I’m feeling a little better.”
“Yes, I see this.” she paused. “What happened?”
“A lot of misunderstandings…”
“You two broke up over some misunderstandings?” Bryce didn’t want to talk about it but she had been through hell with him and she deserved some answers.
“That and she said she needed space, having a boyfriend right now would complicate things.”
“Mmm.” she nodded.
“How is she?” Pat pushed herself off the couch and walked towards the hallway.
“About as good as you… Now eat before you’re skin and bones.
When Dalila got back to school she noticed that Steve was sporting a black eye. Even though Bryce never said anything about punching him, she knew it was from him and that it was well deserved. She wasn’t quite sure how to tell Steve to go to hell politely so she just avoided him until one night after class. He ran up behind her.
“D! Wait up!” he yelled but she didn’t slow down. He ran faster and finally caught up to her. “Are you avoiding me?” he chuckled.
“Yes” she said sternly and kept walking.
“What’s wrong D?” This time she stopped and turned to face him.
“First off, my name is Dalila. Secondly I’m not sorry about your black eye. Thirdly, you can take your nice guy act and shove it up your ass.” She turned around and stormed off.
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