Dart and Dash

by Mary Smith

  She flipped her bone straight hair off her shoulders and shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “I wish you would try out for the dance team.” Daisy smiled sadly at her.

  Garnet didn’t say anything, instead taking a drink from her beer bottle.

  “Have you chosen a major?” Dart asked, trying to stay away from the dance issue.

  That was Dart. If he knew someone was uncomfortable or even sad, he wanted to alleviate it. Even if that meant changing the subject and pretending the initial one hadn’t happened. I swore his soul already had angel wings attached.

  I was nothing like my brother, contrary to what he thought. Dart was the only person I cared about; everyone else could leave me alone. Well, except when I was horny and wanted some company. I’ve never been one for relationships. In fact, I’ve never been on a date. What’s the point of wasting all that money, if you’re just going to have sex? I just skip the beginning and middle stuff and go straight for the end game.

  “English.” Garnet answered.

  “She’s going to be a teacher, like Mom was.” Daisy added for her.

  I caught Garnet rolling her eyes, and she chugged the rest of the beer. “Anyone want another?” She tossed the bottle in the recycling grabbed another.

  It looked like Mr. Bowlings had a point about the drinking problem. I sipped my beer, still watching her. The small talk continued, mainly Daisy talking about her sorority’s charity events. If there was one thing that Daisy was good at, it was talking. I’d be surprised if Dart even gets a word in during their conversations.

  The pizzas arrived; Dart and I polished off two of them, while the girls shared the other. When we finished, we all went back upstairs and finished Daisy’s room. I wasn’t surprised that most of her boxes were shoes, purses, and clothes.

  By the time we were done, I couldn’t stand being in the room with Daisy and her high-pitched voice another moment. She would squeal with the opening of each box. I’ve never seen anyone excited about her own possessions.

  I didn’t even say good-bye. I just headed across the street to my house. The whole day started catching up to me and I lay down on the couch, putting my arm over my eyes. I was almost asleep when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket.

  I groaned, pulling it out, and looking at the display. It was a mass text from one of the guys on the team. They were having a party at their place. Now, this piqued my interest.

  A party of that size would bring out one of favorite things…girls. Of course, there would be an Ohio River size of alcohol flowing, which even made me even more interested. Maybe this night wouldn’t be a total loss to me.

  I settled back into the couch just as Dart came through the front door.

  “You get the text?”

  “Yep.”

  “You going?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, are the girls.”

  I opened my eyes. “You think we should let crazy Garnet loose with the whole team?”

  “She’s not crazy; just a little wild,” Dart clarified. “I think she’ll be okay.”

  “I’m not so sure. I mean she downed those beers faster than I did.”

  “I’ll watch her. Plus, Daisy will be there too.”

  That statement made me laugh. “Please, Daisy will be gossiping with every girl there, and you’ll be following her like a lost puppy. Garnet will probably be with a different guy every five minutes.” I knew this because I had seen it with other incoming freshmen girls.

  It was their first time away from home, and they thought they could handle anything put in front of them. In the end, those girls would end up puking their guts out on Fourth Avenue the moment they left the bar.

  “Dash, stop being an ass. You don’t know Garnet. She’s going to adjust to college life fine.”

  I ignored him closing my eyes again.

  “I’m going to get ready. I’m driving the girls over; you want to ride with us?”

  “Nah, I’ll take the bike.” I mumbled, letting the sleep finally take me.

  ~~

  When I woke up from my well-deserved nap, I almost thought about not going to the party. Who was I kidding? I was Dash Terrance, and I wouldn’t miss a party. I rolled off the couch and hit the shower.

  As I was getting ready, I heard Dart talking to Daisy on the phone. He yelled he was leaving, but I didn’t answer him back. I laced up my motorcycle boots and headed out the door. The party was down toward Ritter Park, so I didn’t have that far to go. I jumped on my 2012 Kawasaki 2X-14R. If I’d ever love anything more in this world than my brother, it would be my motorcycle.

  I started it, and the vibrations of the bike and the sounds overtook me. I couldn’t explain the sensation I got every time I was on the bike. It was almost like sex…almost. I slammed the visor of my helmet down and pulled out of the driveway.

  After I found a spot to park, I followed the sounds of the bass and the crowd of people on the porch. I heard several teammates yelling my name and someone handed me a drink.

  I pushed through the people, checking out each girl to see who might be going home with me tonight. Red, blonde, brunette, there was a wide variety for my choosing. A hard slap on my shoulder brought me out of the menu that was on display for me.

  “Bro, what the hell?” Dart’s looked sternly at me. “You just got here and already you’re looking to leave?”

  I smirked at Dart. “I’m only browsing. I haven’t decided who will be on my dessert plate tonight.”

  “You’re a pig.”

  “That isn’t a new topic.” I chugged my beer, still glancing throughout the room. “Holy shit.” I choked on my drink.

  “What?”

  “Is that—,” Unable to finish the statement. I only pointed.

  “Oh, I see you’ve noticed Garnet,” Dart chuckled.

  My mouth was hanging open. Her red hair hung loosely around her shoulders. She had on a deep emerald green corset that accentuated her hourglass figure. Much shorter than Daisy, her matching green mini skirt displayed her killer legs.

  “No, Dash,” Dart growled. “I know that look.”

  “What look would that be?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. Garnet is off limits to you.”

  I rolled my eyes at my twin brother. “Whatever,” I told him and turned my attention back to Garnet.

  Chapter 3 – Garnet

  The alcohol raced through my veins and I swayed my hips to the music. I let it overtake me, as it always did when I danced. Dancing was something I loved to do, more than breathing. Since Mom died, I couldn’t really give a fuck about anything but drinking and sex.

  It kept my mind away from the fact that my mom was gone. She was my best friend and for the last year of her illness, I was the one that took care of her. Dad was always too busy with whatever business deal he was into, and Daisy was trying to climb the sorority ladder to be more popular.

  Immediately, my head spun to Daisy. Growing up, I’d always looked up to her. I was very shy as a child, unless I was dancing. That’s where I shined. Daisy helped me out of my awkwardness when I started middle school. She taught me how to put on makeup, paint my nails, and flirt with guys. I thought we were best friends and would never grow apart, but we did.

  When Daisy left home all I heard about was how proud my parents were of her, how great she was doing, and how amazing it was that she had Dart by her side. It’s not that I wasn’t proud of her or what she was accomplishing; I was just lost in her shadow.

  When the tempo of the music changed, I decided it was time for another drink. I stumbled through the crowd to the kitchen, where alcohol bottles lined every inch of counter space. I found a bottle of Three Olives Cherry vodka and filled my glass, and then added a splash of Coke to it. I took two large gulps, letting it burn down my throat.

  I walked back into the living room, stood in the corner for a moment, and looked at the crowd. More people were beginning to pile into the small house, and I started to feel smashed int
o the wall. My head was feeling fuzzy as I quickly downed the rest of my drink. I figured I should go find Daisy, since I told her I wouldn’t leave her side, but I totally did.

  I was pushing my way through the sweaty people toward the front door, when I slammed into some guy’s back.

  “Sorry,” I shouted over the music. “Hey, Dash,” I said when he turned around.

  “Hello, Garnet, you look drunk.”

  “Is that a compliment?” I could feel myself swaying from side-to-side.

  “Trust me; it’s not. Where’s your sister?” he grabbed my arm to hold me in place.

  “Um…” My head fell back and I tried to figure out what I was thinking.

  “Shit. Come on, let’s find her.” Dash jerked on my arm, causing me to almost fall. He continued until we were both outside.

  It was so humid you could have cut it with a knife. Right now, however, my only concern was enjoying the tingling sensation from all the alcohol in my body. I closed my eyes, trying to take it all in.

  I could hear Daisy’s voice but it sounded far away. She and Dash were arguing, at least I thought they were. He released my arm, and I fell up against something hard. When I cracked my one eye open to see, it was Dart’s car. I rotated slightly seeing, Daisy and Dash in front of me, with Dart in between them.

  “Don’t tell me how to take care of my sister, Dash,” Daisy yelled at him.

  “Well, maybe if you watched her more closely, she wouldn’t be so drunk, and falling all over the place.” He pointed at me.

  “Everyone calm down.” Dart told them. “Let’s get her home.”

  “I wanna stay.” I said. Well, I think I said it.

  “Hell no, get in the car.” Dash opened the door. “I’m done babysitting.”

  “Grow up, Dash.” Daisy continued to raise her voice, “You helped her outside, that was it.”

  “Excuse me,” Dash stepped closer to my sister. “Weren’t you the one that told your dad that you would watch out for her?”

  “I know what I told him,” she growled at him. “I was letting her have some fun.”

  “You bitched at her earlier for a couple beers and now look at her.” Dash continued with the same tone.

  “Enough, both of you.” Dart opened the front passenger door. “Daisy, get in, and let’s go home.”

  She cut Dash another mean look before reluctantly getting into the car. I finally fell into the backseat.

  I lay out on the plush soft leather and closed my eyes, letting the alcohol-induced calmness take me over.

  Chapter 4 – Daisy

  I lay in my bed, replaying the night in my head. I know I promised Dad that I would look out for Garnet, but I didn’t think that she was really that bad; until I saw her last night.

  I had been wrong.

  I took a deep breath and tried to figure out what I was going to do to fix it. The sad thing was I had no clue.

  “Stop worrying,” Dart mumbled next to me.

  “I thought you were still asleep.” I curled up into his side.

  “Nah, I could hear your brain working, and it woke me.” He kissed the top of my head.

  “Ha. Ha,” I laughed sarcastically at him. “I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with Garnet.”

  “Daisy,” Dart’s voice was firm. “Let her work through it on her own. She’ll figure it out.” He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly.

  Garnet had never been this way before. After Mom died, she’d changed from the amazing person she’d been.

  “I love you, Daisy.”

  I smiled, looking up at Dart’s beautiful blue eyes. “I love you.”

  I stayed in his arms all night; until he told me he had to go home. It was Sunday morning and Dash always cooked on Sunday. I would go over when it was ready. It was something that they had always done.

  After I got cleaned up and dressed, I went into Garnet’s room. Just like when she was a little kid, she’d kicked the blanket off, and was only curled up with a sheet.

  Last night, I tried to wipe away as much of her black makeup as I could, but I could still see traces under her eyes. I studied her face and saw the features of my baby sister. The one who was tender hearted, the dancer, and my best friend. I knew she was still in there, but I needed to break down hard shell that she was hiding behind.

  “Garnet.”

  She didn’t move.

  “Garnet,” I said louder, shaking her.

  She moaned.

  “Garnet.” I shook her harder.

  “Go away.” Her voice was husky as she started waking up.

  “No, get up. We need to go over to Dart’s place for breakfast.”

  She popped her eyes open. “Do I look like a person who wants to eat?”

  “Every Sunday morning we all eat together, and you’re coming along. So, please get up and ready,” I gently ordered her.

  “I can’t move, and I’m not hungry.” She closed her eyes, snuggling into her pillow. Her deep red hair splayed across it. I missed her light brown hair; it was exactly like Mom’s.

  “I’m not leaving until you get out of that bed.” I figured I needed to be more forceful if she wasn’t going to get out of the bed.

  “Go away, Daisy.” Her jaw was tight, and I knew she was growing frustrated.

  “Nope.”

  Garnet opened her eyes again, giving me a mean look. She knew I wasn’t going to leave. I had my own stubborn streak in me.

  “Fine,” Garnet yelled, jerking the sheet away. She got up and headed into the bathroom.

  Once I heard the shower start, I started making her bed. When I went to fluff the pillows, I saw something. It was a picture frame. I softly gasped when I saw the picture. It was the four of us and had been taken at one of Garnet’s last dance performances before Mom died.

  I remembered it because I had come back home after my first year at Marshall. Garnet’s brown hair was tucked under a large top hat, and she was dressed in a girly tuxedo. Her smile was bright as she clung to her first place trophy. It was in the tap dancing division. I had always thought she would dance on Broadway someday. I was so proud of her.

  My eyes teared up looking at Mom. Her bob styled hair-do was in perfect place, as was her tan pantsuit. Her light brown eyes were shining with pride for Garnet, and the family. This was shortly before she got sick. She lost all of her hair and became so thin; it was still hard to picture how sick she really became.

  I missed her every day. I wished she were here now. She would have known how to handle Garnet and this situation. Maybe Garnet wouldn’t be acting this way if Mom hadn’t died.

  “My diary is under the mattress.” Garnet was standing in the doorway in her black robe.

  “You don’t have one.”

  “That’s true.” She walked into the room and over to her closet.

  I finished making the bed, placing the picture under the pillow where I found it. “You seem in a better mood since you showered.”

  She scoffed. “Not really. I’m pretty sure I have a marching band in my head at this moment.”

  When she turned back to me she was slipping on a tank top, and without thinking, I groaned in disgust. “I hate that tattoo.”

  Garnet narrowed her eyes at me. “I love it, so don’t start.”

  She had gotten the monstrosity on her eighteenth birthday. I thought it was the dumbest thing she could have ever done to her body, but she was proud of it.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yep.” Garnet flipped her long hair into a ponytail, wiggled into a pair of black flip-flops that matched her jean shorts. Garnet glanced at herself in the full-length mirror, smoothing her red tank top down. I noticed that she had layered the black make up on, just like last night.

  We walked across Sixth Avenue to the boy’s house. I loved our location. It was close to campus, and there were numerous apartment buildings around us, and students everywhere most of the time. The aroma hit me when I opened the door. Dash might not be my favorite per
son, but he could cook.

  “We’re here.” I announced, heading for the kitchen.

  It didn’t matter how many times I suggested some minor décor changes to the guys, they just weren’t going to make them. This place was a picture perfect bachelor pad: posters on the wall, limited furniture, and a large TV with a gaming system attached to it.

  Dash was sitting a large bowl of scrambled eggs on the table as I went to kiss Dart.

  “Garnet, you look nice,” Dart said as we all settled into our seats.

  “Thanks,” she gave him a tiny smile.

  We began to pass the food around, and for a little while we ate in silence.

  “Garnet, you still excited for classes to start tomorrow?” Dart asked.

  I admired how he tried to make her feel so welcome.

  “Yeah I guess,” she shrugged.

  “Well, I know I’m happy this is my last year,” I said excitedly. No more school for me.”

  “I agree,” Dart added. “What about you, Dash?”

  “Yep,” he said while shoveling food into his mouth.

  I don’t know what it was, but I hated the silence. I couldn’t stand it much longer as everyone continued to eat.

  “Garnet, you seemed to have a good time last night.” Dart gave her a sweet smile.

  “It was neat.” She picked at her toast. “I assume you drove me home; thank you for that.”

  “Ha,” Dash scoffed. “I’m the one that lug your ass up the stairs.”

  “Well, thanks.” She gave him a sarcastic grin.

  “I’m glad you had fun.” I tried to give her a true smile, but it was hard because she’d been very drunk, and I shouldn’t have let it get that far.

  “I’m sure she had a blast passing out in the back seat.” Dash continued.

  “You’ve done it too, Dash.” Dart gave him a hard look.

  He rolled his eyes at his brother, but didn’t say anymore. We all went back to our food, not saying anything else. Garnet and I helped clean up the kitchen when we were all done. Dart told me that he and Dash were going to lift weights. I gave him a big kiss.

  “I’ll see you tonight.” I winked at him.