by Mary Smith
Chapter 25 – Garnet
I’d released every emotion I had built up inside as I danced. I slumped on Daisy’s shoulder, clinging to my older sister.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered in my ear and held me tighter. “I love you, Garnet.” Daisy pulled away, wiping my face. “You danced so beautifully.”
“Thanks,” my voice croaked from all of my tears.
“Garnet,” she tucked a rogue strand of hair behind my ears. “Why did you dance for us today?”
I looked at her. Had she really forgotten? Maybe the engagement had thrown her off. “Today’s the 12th; Mom’s been gone for six months.”
Daisy slapped her hand to her forehead. “Gah, I’m so stupid. How could I have forgotten that?”
“Well, you did get engaged today,” I reminded her.
“That’s not an excuse. Man, you are right about me, Garnet; I’m self-centered.”
I watched Daisy mentally kick her own ass. I wasn’t trying to make her feel bad.
“Do you know what I hate?”
I shook my head.
“I wasn’t there,” Daisy paused. “Our fight reminded me that I cared about status over family.” Daisy’s eyes welled up. “I should have been there when she died.”
“Well, I’m going to give it to you straight; you’re right.” Yes, it was the meanest thing I would ever truly say to her, but it was the truth. Daisy could have made it in time to be there with mom. However, she ended up staying on campus instead of coming home. Dad was out of town on another business trip, leaving me there alone with Mom as she took her last breath.
“I would never expect anything but the truth from you.” Daisy’s small smile appeared on her face. “I guess the boys were tired of hearing us cry.”
I turned and saw we were the only ones in the studio. “I guess so.”
“It was Dash, wasn’t it? He was able to get you to dance.”
I smiled. “Yeah, he told me to be me again and that I needed to get my life back. I’ve been dancing for the past couple weeks, just a few times though.
Daisy’s shocked expression faded. “I’m happy for you. I’m truly glad that you have someone in your life you can lean on.”
I could hear a sad tone in her last sentence. I used to confide everything to Daisy before she left for college. Before I stopped being her best friend.
“Do you remember what Mom would yell at us when we fought?”
Daisy nodded. “She always said that sisters shouldn’t fight, because we were each other’s first friend.”
I giggled. “Every time, she would say that.” I felt another lump in my throat. I needed to be me again. “Daisy, you were my first friend. You’ll always be my big sister, and I love you.”
Daisy yanked me closer to her, almost crushing me in her hug. “I love you, Garnet.”
“Daisy, I can’t breathe.” I was serious; she was choking me.
“Sorry,” she let me go. “I was excited.”
“I can tell.” I rubbed my neck and figured it would be sore in the morning from her tight grip.
“How about we get out of here and head home?”
“Nah, how about we leave and get some ice cream?”
“Yes,” she loudly clapped, jumping up to her feet.
I went into the changing room, which was more of a broom closet, and changed my shoes. When I came out, Daisy was still standing there waiting for me.
We gave each other a quick hug and headed outside. Dart and Dash were leaning against the car.
“We’re in dire need of ice cream,” I announced as Dash opened the door for me.
“As long as Dart’s buying, let’s go.” Dash chuckled.
We all piled into the car. We laughed, teased, and joked with each other all the way to the ice cream shop.
We were a family.
Chapter 26 – Dart
The rain was pouring down, and I could barely see out of the large windows, as Dash and I lifted weights. Because of the storm, we weren’t able to take morning practice outside. My arms were worn out from the training, and I knew I didn’t have another round in me. Dash kept pushing me, but I was exhausted.
I quickly took a shower in the locker room, and raced over to class. I was becoming more excited about graduating. I was going to start my life with Daisy soon. I chuckled as I strolled into the classroom. Daisy had thought I was dumping her? Impossible! I loved her too much to leave her. I would never leave her side.
Ever.
I sat through one boring lecture and then another. I didn’t realize I was so tired. I barely kept my eyes open. I figured I had been so nervous about asking Daisy to marry me that my body was now relaxing since she had said yes.
It was still raining when I got home, and I decided to take a nap. I fell onto my bed and closed my eyes. The sound of the rain against the window was like soothing music.
I thought of Daisy on our wedding day. Her blonde hair, her sexy body, her brown eyes, all wrapped up in a white dress. I would honeymoon with her where there would be a beach. I loved seeing her in a bikini, and I’ve always wanted to make love with her during a gorgeous sunset on the beach. I drifted to sleep thinking about my future bride.
~~
I woke up with a start when my bed began to shake. “Damn you, Dash.” I cussed my twin. “I was sleeping.” I adjusted onto my back and rubbed my eyes.
Dash laughed and lay with his head down by my feet. When we were younger we would get in this same position and talk or just listen to music. Mom used to say we must have been like this in the womb, because we were most comfortable this way.
“Why are you napping, old man?”
“I was tired, but I feel a little rested now.” I stretched my arms over my head. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Considering it’s Monday, hopefully, I’m doing my girlfriend,” he chuckled loudly.
“Geesh, Dash,” I shook my head at him.
“Hey, you asked.”
“I guess I did.”
“What about you?”
I looked out my window and saw the sun was shining brightly. “The rain stopped.”
“Yeah, a little bit ago.”
My room filled with silence, as we continued to lay in my bed. I glanced over at Dash, and he wanted to say something. I knew to wait until he was ready to talk.
“I think my feelings for Garnet are changing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I like her. I care about her. But—”
“Do you want to break up with her?”
“No, I don’t want to do that at all.”
“So, are your feelings for her stronger?”
Dash shut down. He rubbed his hands hard against his face. He was thinking about my question, but I already knew the answer. “Have you told her?”
Dash shook his head.
“What are you waiting for?”
He shrugged.
“Dash, come on.” I sat up on my elbows and stared at him. “Talk to me.” I was tired of waiting for him to say something.
“What did you feel like when you fell in love with Daisy?”
Instantly, joy pumped through me thinking about her. “I felt like I could conquer the world. It was, and still is, the greatest high of my life.”
“You still feel that way?”
“Every second I’m with her.” I didn’t even have to think about it. I knew. I’ve always known. Daisy and I were meant to be together.
Dash was still staring at the ceiling when I laid my head back on the pillow. I watched his face; it held an expression I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
“Dash, are you scared to tell her?”
He softly chuckled. “Scared? Me? Come on, Dart. Scared isn’t an option for me.”
I pinned him with a serious look, knowing he was full of shit.
“Okay,” he gave in a little bit. “Maybe, I’m nervous,” he finally admitted.
“It’s not a bad thing to be nervous, Dash. Hel
l, I was petrified when I thought about asking Daisy to marry me.”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
I sat up. Sometimes my brother was as stubborn as a mule. “Why can’t you, one time, admit how you feel?”
“Dart, I’m not you,” he raised up. “I’m not romantic, or lovey, or any of that stuff that girls like.”
“You don’t have to be any of that. You only have to be Dash Terrance.”
“Well, I’m pretty good at being me,” he joked.
“Dash, I can see how much Garnet cares for you. I can see it in you, too. When you feel that time is right, you will tell her.”
He smirked at me. “When did you become so wise?”
“I’ve always been the smart one.” I laughed, and Dash did, too. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you. I’d never thought I’d see the day that you were in a committed relationship.”
Dash scoffed. “You and me both, but,” he smiled, “I’m different around her, and I’m not pretending with her.”
“See,” I slapped his shoulder. “She’s a good thing.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he played off my comment.
I had an uneasy feeling, deep in the pit of my stomach. “Dash, I want you to know that I’m really proud of you. I mean it, you’ve got a bright future ahead of you, and I know Mom and Dad are proud, too.”
“Thanks, Dart it’s weird that in a few months we are heading into different directions.” Dash’s voice resonated with a sadness I’d never heard before.
“It’s a good thing, though. I’m off to marry Daisy, and you are heading to the NFL.”
“I hope so.” He ran his hands through his hair.
“I have no doubt in my mind that one day, I’ll see you on a professional team.” Dash was made to play football, like Garnet was to dance, and I was to be with Daisy.
“I never thought we would be separated.”
“Dash, I’m always connected to you. It doesn’t matter what state I’m in, I’m right next to you. No matter what, I’m your number one fan, and I love you.”
Dash nodded. “I love you too, Dart.”
We heard the front door open, and Daisy’s voice yelled my name.
“Up here,” I yelled down to her.
“Hey guys,” Daisy appeared in my doorway. “Um, am I interrupting something important?”
“Nah, I was heading out. Thanks, Dart.” Dash jumped off the bed and left.
“Everything okay?” Daisy cautiously asked me.
I stretched my arms out to her, and she eased into them. I smiled up at her, grabbed her hips, and threw her onto the bed.
“Dart,” she went into a fit of giggles. A rush of elation pumped through me when she touched my cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, Daisy.” I kissed her softly on the lips. “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s take the bike out, and go for a long drive.”
“Oh,” she pouted her full lips at me. “I can’t today. I really need to catch up with my lab work.”
“Daisy,” I teasingly whined.
She laughed. “You know how important it is for me to graduate with high marks this year.”
“I know, I know,” I kissed her again.
“Love you, and maybe tomorrow we can have another sex marathon, before you head out for the game.”
“You have yourself a date.”
Daisy laid her hand on my chest, her breathing still soft. I took her hand and kissed it. “I can’t wait to start my life with you.” I whispered to her.
“Me, too.”
“You mean everything to me, Daisy.” I gazed into her brown eyes. “There’s no one in the world I want but you.”
“Dart, I can’t wait to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.”
I captured her lips in mine, and showed her how much she truly meant to me. I could have kissed her for all eternity and it still wouldn’t have been long enough.
“Dart, if I don’t leave now, I never will.”
I kissed her neck. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
She moaned. “Please don’t, I really have to go.”
“I know, but come back soon.”
“Okay,” she gave me one more kiss.
I walked her to the door, and I felt her lips one more time, and then she was gone. “Dash, I’m taking the bike out, and I’ll be back in a few.” I yelled at him in the living room.
I jumped on the bike and headed out of town. The sun was out, but I could still see a few dark clouds on the horizon. I knew I wouldn’t be out long; I just needed a little alone time.
I thought about Daisy, the love of my life. I knew that she and I would always be together. I wasn’t lying when I told her there was no one else in the world I wanted but her.
Then Dash came into my thoughts. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother. He was my best friend. Seeing him in a relationship showed me how much he was growing up. Pride was a word that didn’t justify how I felt for my life right now.
We were all reaching our goals and doing it together. We were doing it as a family. I knew Mom and Dad were looking down, and they were happy for us. I only wished that they were here.
I kicked the motorcycle into the next gear, and headed into the curve. I never saw the water on the road.
Chapter 27 – Dash
The wind was so cold, but I wasn’t; I didn’t feel anything. I stood there, staring at a pile of dirt. The brown and red soil that now encased my brother, my twin, my best friend.
The last four days were a blur. I felt like I was walking through a fog, and there was no one around me.
My eyes didn’t move from the freshly dug up earth in front of me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight. I wanted to cry. And all at the same time, I wanted to die.
How was I going to go on without Dart by my side?
“Dash,” Garnet’s voice was soft, and she laced her fingers with mine. “Everyone’s gone. Are you ready to go?”
I looked down at her, but I didn’t say a word. I’ve hardly said anything to her, or anyone, for that matter.
I turned back and saw Daisy leaning up against her car. Daisy’s red, puffy eyes were the most visible things on her face. I still can hear her screams in the hospital when they told us of Dart’s death.
“Dash, come on, let’s go.” Garnet guided me away from the grave and to the car. None of us could use Dart’s car; we couldn’t bring ourselves to get into it.
Garnet drove us home, and without a word, I walked across the street the moment she put the car in park. I sat on the couch and listened to the eerie silence around me.
I wanted to wake up from this dream now. I wanted my brother there. I’d do anything, or give up anything, to have him back. I felt one hot tear roll down my cheek.
I swiped it away and stood up. I headed to the kitchen, opened the cabinet, grabbed the bottle of tequila, and went to my room.
I paused at the top of the stairs. Dart’s bedroom door was still closed. I prayed that he would open it, and yell ‘surprise’, but that wasn’t going to happen.
I walked into my bedroom and sat on the floor leaning against my bed. I cracked the seal on the bottle and let the warm liquor burn down my throat.
The memories of us were flooding my brain, and I felt like I was drowning. I drank more, hoping that the liquor in the bottle would heal my broken soul.
My thoughts fell to the first time we played football. We were six, and I remembered Dart’s helmet was too big. Dad told him not to worry; he would grow into it. I laughed at the words now, taking another drink from the clear bottle. Dart was always the biggest cheerleader on the team. Telling everyone what a great job they’d done, to keep their head up, and help them with the play.
Yep, that was my brother.
The Saint.
And now he was gone.
I was alone.
“Dash,” I heard Garnet’s sweet voice. “I brought you something to eat.” She came into the room, sitting down next to me.
I too
k another drink, not speaking to her.
“I also brought you some water.” Garnet went to reach for the bottle of liquor, but I switched hands, keeping it away from her.
She dropped her hand, not pushing it any further. She began to pull the food out of the bag. She tried to hand me the sandwich, but I continued to stare straight ahead.
“Dash, you need to eat, at least a little something. Please,” Garnet was begging.
When I looked into her brown eyes there was only sadness.
“Go away, Garnet.” My voice was rough, because I hadn’t talked in so long. “Leave me alone.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Go away,” I yelled at her this time, trying to make her leave.
“I’m not going anywhere, until you eat. So knock it off.” She raised her voice to me.
I turned away from her and kept drinking. I wasn’t going to do anything but drink.
That was it.
Garnet stayed in my room, eating her food. She didn’t speak; she just sat by me. Once her food was gone, half of the bottle I was drinking from was too.
“I’ll leave this here. I need to go check on Daisy.” She touched my arm, but I jerked away from her. “I’ll come back later.”
I laid my head back on the side of the bed. The alcohol was making my eyes heavy. I closed them, hoping that when I opened them this nightmare really would be over.
~~
I felt as if the ocean was around me. The water was on my face. I moaned, feeling the sea swaying back and forth. It made my stomach turn and flip.
I was being tugged on. My eyes fluttered open; I could see Garnet trying to get me into the bathroom.
“You have to help me a little, Dash.” Garnet grunted. She got my face into the toilet, and I threw up all the liquor I had drunk.
A washcloth was on my neck. “We need to change your clothes and get you cleaned up.”
Everything was out of focus, and my head wouldn’t stay up. It was all fuzzy. “Dart. I need Dart.”
“Sshh, Dash, it’s going to be okay.” Garnet’s voice sounded sweet, almost angelic. “I’m here, Dash. Lift up your arms.”
I didn’t know if I did what she commanded, because everything went black.
